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6 <br /> OCPYC Next Step Plan <br /> institutions rather than creating new ones <br /> concentrate on improving coordination, quality, delivery, access, and comprehensiveness <br /> provide equity in service delivery for all children <br /> • recognize the value of service deliverers <br /> demonstrate high quality and hold the potential for replication in other communities <br /> • respect the diversity of young children and their families <br /> have measurable outcomes by which activities will be implemented and evaluated <br /> C. Key Problems and Opportunities Addressed by the Plan <br /> Current initiatives focus on addressing key problems facing children and families in the county, <br /> and seek to build on the opportunities that exist by expanding the capacity of existing community <br /> resources. Key problems that will be addressed by this year's plan are: <br /> 1. The general lack of adequate resources to meet the needs of Orange County children and <br /> families, particularly child care subsidies, child mental health needs, and social work support <br /> for families. A great discrepancy exists between the high cost of services and the ability of <br /> low and even middle-income families to pay for needed services. <br /> 2. The need for better quality early education and child care programs. Orange County has a <br /> high demand for quality child care services because we are a county with a high percentage of <br /> working and education-seeking families. Also, with 44% of all single parents with <br /> preschoolers living in poverty, a quality preschool experience is the road to their future <br /> success. <br /> 3. The lack of comprehensive services and the lack of connectedness among service providers <br /> are cited as two of the greatest problems facing families in our community. Family support <br /> services that help link families to existing resources, and education and outreach to parents to <br /> help them locate services which might provide assistance become key solutions to these <br /> barriers. <br /> 4. Barriers that keep families from accessing services, particularly restrictive agency hours and <br /> locations, the lack of information regarding available resources, and transportation problems. <br /> Each of the initiatives funded for Phase I in Year Two continue efforts funded in the first year and <br /> expand the capacity of existing agencies. Orange County is a relatively resource rich county, and <br /> as noted earlier, the Partnership seeks to fund services that are collaborative, involve parents <br /> and/or consumers in the process; and have measurable outcomes. <br /> D. Summary of Key Goals. Objectives. and Strategies <br /> The Partnership's Next Step Plan and long-range plan rests on eight, interlocking vision goals. <br />