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COMMITMENT TO THE WELL -BEING OF ALL THE <br />COUNTY'S CITIZENS -HUMAN SERVICES AND HEALTH <br />CARE <br />Comprehensive human and health services are readily <br />accessible and available to all residents. Human services <br />are provided through a network of care and partnerships <br />between government agencies and numerous volunteer <br />organizations. The community is sensitive to and <br />supportive of the needs of different people. Integrated <br />services are provided to enable all people, those with <br />disabilities, those on a low or fixed income, <br />Hispanics /Latinos, and recent immigrants from other <br />nations, to meet their basic needs and be fully included in <br />the community. <br />CHILD CARE <br />Orange County residents, working in conjunction with child care advocacy organizations, are <br />committed to promoting the physical, mental, social, and spiritual well -being and growth of <br />children and their families. Responsible parenting is promoted, encouraged, and taught. Child <br />care quality across the board has improved, and unsafe, substandard day care has been <br />eliminated. Provision of adequate salaries for child care workers has helped improve care <br />quality by attracting and retaining qualified workers. Constructive supervised activities, such as <br />after school care, tutoring, summer programs, and cultural and social experiences, are provided <br />for all young children. <br />Citizens strongly support advocacy of child care issues such as quality care and prevention of <br />abuse and neglect. Quality child care is universally affordable (defined as costing no more than <br />10% of gross income) and accessible. The state government has been successfully lobbied to <br />fund child care at funding levels similar to what the State allocates for K -12 education, making <br />quality child care more affordable and therefore accessible. Costs for child care are also shared <br />with the private sector through their provision of facilities on -site. <br />Child care is readily available for all families. In addition to free - standing centers and <br />congregations, child care is now available in association with senior facilities, schools and <br />businesses. Many businesses have family friendly policies that encourage and support parental <br />care for infant and toddler children at home. <br />SENIORS <br />Senior centers exist throughout the county as part of multi -use community centers. Each center <br />serves as a focal point for comprehensive, integrated services to seniors. Seniors are able to live <br />in the least restrictive environment possible through provision of a continuum of readily <br />available care, from at home assistance to nursing home care. Expanded public transportation <br />provides increased mobility for many seniors. <br />102 <br />