Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
J2 <br /> 2. Project #2: County Administration of Child Care Subsidy Program. <br /> a. Type of activity: Funding for service/administrative positions. <br /> b. Description of activity: The Department of Social Services was awarded administrative <br /> money by Orange County Partnership for Young Children to improve the child care subsidy <br /> program. <br /> c. Agencies/organizations involved and their collaboration: Day Care Services <br /> Association and Orange County DSS have initiated a subsidy system for Smart Start which <br /> allows DSS to serve those families who are elibible under our current financial limits and <br /> which permits DCSA to subsidize those families above the DSS limit, but under$25,000/year. <br /> There is very close communication between the two subsidy agencies. Additionally, day care <br /> providers in the community and Child Care Networks are assisting the two subsidy agencies <br /> by working with parent applications for subsidy on site at the child care program or at other <br /> access points most convenient for parents. The real emphasis of the program is to provide <br /> convenient, accessible subsidies which best meet the needs and desires of children and <br /> families. DCSA and DSS communicate almost daily and meet at least once a month. The <br /> addition of a DSS social worker to our unit will allow for a quicker response time on <br /> applications,enhanced services to families, and improved communication/coordination with <br /> other agencies. <br /> d. Target population: Children from low-income households needing financial support to <br /> afford quality child care. <br /> e. Expected outcomes, including time-frame: <br /> +Eliminate the DSS waiting list for child care subidy. <br /> Provide more comprehensive information on community child care services and options for <br /> child care subsidies. <br /> Provide increased preventive services as opposed to crisis intervention. <br /> +Initiate and utilize a graduated payment system,rewarding those facilities that meet higher <br /> standards with a higher rate. <br /> f. Implementation plan, including time-frame: A 1/2-time accounting clerk has been <br /> hired and will begin work on May 3, 1994. A clerical position for the Day Care Unit is in the <br /> interview process, and a social worker should be hired in the immediate future. The <br /> accounting technician will assist with the reimbursement system for child care to insure that <br /> parents and providers receive day care subsidies on a timely basis. The social worker is <br /> needed to work with those families who are able to get child care subiidy through the <br /> availability of the additional Smart Start dollars. The agency has made every effort to meet <br /> clients at their convenience. DSS has extended hours for applications, assisted other <br /> community agencies with their subsidy progams and rotated sites for applications at child care <br /> programs. DSS wishes to continue this so that their will be fewer barriers for its clients. <br /> g . Types of funds: County Administration <br /> h. Total amount: $76,686 <br /> i . Budget: Attached <br /> j. Funding recipient: Orange County Department of Social Services <br /> (1) XX Public ___Private <br /> (2) Federal tax ID#: <br /> (3) Name and Title of person authorized to sign contract: <br /> Marti Pryor-Cook, Director <br /> (4) Name, title, address, and phone of contract administrator: <br /> Marti Pryor-Cook, Director <br /> Orange County Department of Social Services <br /> PO Box 8181 <br /> Hillsborough, NC 27278 <br /> 732-8181, ext. 2802 <br /> 30 <br />