Agenda - 01-18-1994-IX-C - Laserfiche WebLink

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2 ! Because Orange County has struggled with the issue of child care subsidy for a number of years, the Orange County Partnership for Young Children (OCPYC) prioritized a plan to expand child subsidy programs for families. The DSS has historically maintained a long waiting list of families needing subsidy. Many more families in the community need financial assistance with child care but do not meet the limited income eligibility guidelines. The DSS Board and the Board of Orange County Partnership for Young Children have approved a comprehensive subsidy plan (Attachment I) to address the child care needs of low income families and children. Essentially this plan allocates up to $350,000 of Smart Start service funds for child care subsidy. This plan will be administered by both DSS and Day Care Services Association for eligible families. In order to maximize use of all federal and state dollars for child care subsidy, DSS will administer the subsidy program for all families who are eligible under current program guidelines. Families whose income exceeds current DSS guidelines but is less than $25,000 per year will be funded through Day Care Services Association. Families will share in the cost of the day care based on their eligibility, income, and family size. Families may apply for child care subsidy at the place which is most convenient and comfortable for them: their day program, Day Care Services Association, Child Care Networks, or DSS. Agencies have all agreed to accept applications and forward them to the appropriate source for funding. Many parents will be able to access child care subsidy without ever going into an agency office. While the overall goals of the subsidy plan are to increase the availability of and access to child care subsidy for families earning less than $25,000 a year, the program has three measurable outcomes: 1) reduce the number of children on the waiting list by 150, 2) reduce the number of families who are paying more than 10% of their income for child care by 200 and 3) increase the number of higher quality child care spaces for low income children by 80 spaces. In addition to Smart Start Funds which are available to expand the subsidy program, DSS has been awarded $38,343 in state funds through June 30, 1994 ($76,696 will be available in fiscal year 1994/95) . These funds are to be used to pay for staff and other administrative support needed for the expansion of the subsidy program and cooperation between the various funding sources for child care. An additional $17,911 was awarded by OCPYC for a social work position which will improve and expand services for families receiving subsidy through the Family Support Act.