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18 <br /> Scholarship Funds/Matching Funds: <br /> Employers set up scholarship funds so that their employees get help to pay for child care. This is <br /> similar to the government run subsidy program,but the funds are private,and are earmarked for the <br /> employees of a specific business. These programs can be managed by the same groups that manage <br /> regular subsidy funds;Orange County Social Services and Child Care Services Association. The <br /> amount of money committed by the employer may also be matched by Orange County under the <br /> Department of Social Services scholarship plan. <br /> UNC works with Child Care Services Association to fund scholarships for students and university <br /> employees. Students give to their own scholarship fund via activity fees, and the university donates <br /> money to directly subsidize eligible employees. <br /> Direct Donations. <br /> Direct donations can be made to subsidy programs to help alleviate the waiting by all families. This <br /> method is used more often by public entities. <br /> The Town of Chapel Hill donates $10,000 annually to Child Care Services Association to support <br /> child care in Orange County. <br /> The Town of Carrboro donates $5,000 annually to Child Care Services Association to support child <br /> care in Orange County. <br /> Underwriting. <br /> Costs of starting up or running a child care program can be underwritten by donating space,utilities, <br /> etc.to help lower costs of care. <br /> Orange County currently donates space utilized by several child care centers in the county,including <br /> Cedar Grove Day Care Center and Community School for People Under 6. <br /> Benefit Options: <br /> Many employers in Orange County, including Orange County Government, offer flexible spending <br /> accounts and/or other benefit plans to their employees that aid families in meeting their child care <br /> needs. <br /> POSSIBLE STRATEGIES <br /> Based on the information above provided to the Task Force, the following possible strategies were <br /> identified. <br /> 1. Seek additional funds for subsidy including requests to government entities and private <br /> funding organizations. <br /> 2. Develop partnerships with employers to create additional opportunities to maximize <br /> resources. This may include sponsorships,matching funds,benefit packages,direct <br /> contributions for subsidies or direct provision of child care. <br /> 3. Identify alternative incentives available for employers to provide to their employees that will <br /> not adversely impact any subsidy payments. Provide information to all employers on <br /> subsidy rules and these alternatives. <br /> 4. Continue to explore other child care models that may work for local employers. <br /> 5. Initiate a marketing campaign to inform employers of the role that child care plays in their <br /> workplace and educate employers regarding options to assist their employees in securing <br /> affordable,quality care. <br /> 6. Plan for child care sites at new large developments. <br /> 8 <br />