Agenda - 12-14-2004-7a - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: December 14, 2004 Action Agenda Item No. ~-q SUBJECT: Social Services Board Request to Establish a Day Care Trust Fund With the $100,000 Reserved in the Social Safety Net DEPARTMENT: Social Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy Coston, ext 2802 TE<_EPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To consider a request from the Social Services Board to release day care funds appropriated in the Safety Net Fund to the Department of Social Services (DSS) in order that DSS can provide subsidy to additional families on the Department's day care waiting list. BACKGROUND: The Orange County Commissioners, in recognition of the growing need for affordable childcare for families who live in Orange County, identified funds that could be used to provide additional subsidy. The Commissioners requested that the Social Services Board develop a plan for the use of $100,000 in Social Safety Net Funds designated for this purpose, The Social Services Board formed a day care task force representing day care providers, the Orange County Partnership for Young Children, the Social Services Board, Child Care Services Association, the Board of County Commissioners, the County Manager's office and Social Services staff to explore needs and resources, Many families in Orange County need financial assistance with childcare and the need for this assistance continues to grow faster than the resources available. Over $3,5 million in federal day care subsidy funds, administered by Social Services, and over $1.3 million in state Smart Start subsidy, administered by Child Care Services Association, will be spent this fiscal year for families who live in Orange County. Even with these expenditures, approximately 140 unduplicated Orange County families eligible far subsidy from Social Services are waiting to be served. The impact of waiting far childcare is not only felt by the children and families in need, but also by the employers of these parents and by the entire community, Currently, same families have waited over nine months to receive subsidy, The Social Services Board has reviewed the findings of the day care task force and supports its recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners allow Social Services to use $100,000 to seed a Day Care Trust Fund that has as its goals to increase the resources