Agenda - 09-20-1983 - Laserfiche WebLink

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-" •`- ; • ; , • ,■.;.1 M,,rit:44340f4.1i'4/441-4.17C:%:- •-'4Cr • • 1 I. INTRODUCTION This report is in response to a request from the Orange County Board of Commissioners to examine alternative means of delivering enhanced day care services to meet needs outlined in the report of the Child Care Subcommittee of the Orange County Human Services Advisory Commission. It has been prepared by an ad-hoc committee designated by the Board and comprised of Kenneth Thompson, Orange County Manager, Ms. Janice Schopler, Chair, Orange County Board of Socia-gServices and Dr. Michael Sharp, Chair, Child Care Subcommittee of the Orange County Human Services Advisory Commission. Staff assistance- was provided by Rob Addelson, Management Analyst in the Orange County Manager's Office. II_ BACKGROUND1 On May 17, 11983, a report of the Child Care Subcommittee of the Orange County Human Services Advisory Commission was submitted to the Orange County Board of Commissioners for its consideration. The report cites the current state of child care service delivery in Orange County as fragmented and states that a number of child care needs in the community are not being addressed by existing service delivery agencies. The report attributes many of the problems in service delivery to the lack of coordination among existing child care providers as well as institutional , fiscal and legal ; constraints posed on the Day Care Unit of the Department of Social Services, Ithe major agent of day care service delivery in the county. Due to the amount and source of funds (Title XX dollars) the Day Care Unit is restricted as tothe activities it can undertake and the populations it can address. The provision of technical assistance is limited to those centers which are certified or seeking certification which precludes needed assistance to a large number of qther day care providers. Further, the report states that the public's perceptilon of DSS as a "welfare agency" stops many families from seeking information and referral and purchase of care funds from the Day Care Unit thus resulting in uninformed day care choices being made by parents. The report cbncludes with a proposal for the creation of a new agency to coordinate child care resources in the county and to enhance the existing level of services being' delivered. The report argues that a new agency will be better able than the current arrangement, to address the following needs: Need #1 : AdVocacy for child care in all sectors of the community including more stringent standards for non-certified day care homes and centers. Need #2: Enhancement of existing service delivery including: I a. increased technical assistance b , development of additional spaces c. expanded nutritional services d. provision of health supportive services e. naronfi.