ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: November 30, 2000
Author/Local: C.A. Young/871-6042

RTS No. 1757

CC File No. 2402

CS&B: December 7, 2000

TO:	Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets
FROM:	Director of Social Planning
SUBJECT:	2000 Childcare Grants Allocation: Report 3 of 3

RECOMMENDATION

A. THAT Council approve a $5,000 Program Development Grant to Eagles in the Sky Association for the Kidzone Out of School Childcare Program; source of funds: 2000 Childcare Grants Funds, 2000 Operating Budget;

B. THAT Council approve a grant of$18,687 to Kiwassa Neighbourhood House for the facilitation and evaluation of a quality improvement child care mentorship project; source of funds: 2000 Childcare Grants Funds, 2000 Operating Budget.

GENERAL MANAGER’S COMMENTS

The General Manager of Community Services RECOMMENDS approval of A and B.

COUNCIL POLICY

On February 17, 2000, Council approved the 2000 allocation of $679,300 for the Childcare Grants Program. Approval of grant recommendations requires eight affirmative votes.

PURPOSE

This report makes recommendations for the following Childcare Grant categories:

- Research, Policy Development and Innovation Grant
- Program Development Grant

This is the third of three reports regarding the 2000 Childcare Grants Program.

BACKGROUND

On February 17, 2000, City Council approved a budget of $679,300 for the Childcare Grants Program. On May 2, 2000, Council approved allocations totalling $314,413. On May 20, 2000 civic grant programs experienced a 0.5% overall reduction. Childcare grants budget was reduced by $3,200. On July 13, 2000, Council approved $338,000 for the Childcare Program Enhancement and Inner-City Grants, leaving $23,687. A copy of the childcare grants allocations and expenditures is attached as Appendix I.

DISCUSSION

1. Research, Policy Development and Innovation

The purpose of this grant is to encourage and support necessary childcare research, policy development or support service initiatives.

During the childcare grants review process for the enhancement and inner-city grants the Childcare Coordinator observed a number of areas where quality improvements could be made to existing childcare, for example, room set up, child/staff interactions, etc. Then in the Fall of this year, the largest national study on the quality of child care, “You Bet I Care”, was released. While the childcare in British Columbia scored the highest across Canada, there was still considerable room for improvement.

The proposed pilot project would be developed in partnership with the Ministry of Social Development and Economic Security, Vancouver/Richmond Health Board, Kiwassa Neighbourhood House and the City of Vancouver. The purpose of the pilot would be to develop and test a continuous quality control process for child care administrators and staff and would be based on a mentorship model. For example, staff would be trained in the use of a child care rating scale. The scale would be used to assess and plan activities that are directly linked to quality improvements. Pre and post evaluations on quality would be conducted by an independent researcher to determine the impact of the quality improvement process. Findings from this initiative could advise future childcare policy.

2. Program Development Grant

The purpose of this grant is to assist with non-capital costs associated with opening up a new or expanding an existing non-profit, licensed childcare program. Since the recent announcement of the Provincial Child Care Expansion Grant for Out of School Care, a number of existing child care programs are looking at increasing their licensing capacity. Provincial funding is available for capital costs up to $10,000 for existing programs.

Kidzone Out of School Care operated by the Eagle in the Sky Association at 485 Semlin Drive currently offers out of school care at Macdonald School. The families and children in this community face many challenges with social issues such as poverty, prostitution, single parent lead families, substance abuse, etc. The children in this program have a number of extraordinary support needs as a result of abuse, hunger, ESL and a various learning challenges. Application for provincial funding is in process. Given the high needs of this group of children, the City of Vancouver’s Program Development Grant would provide an opportunity to meet the individual needs of the children during the transition and offset additional staffing cost during this period.

CONCLUSION

This is the third of three reports related to the allocation of the 2000 Childcare Grants. Social Planning is recommending for Council approval:

- 1 Research, Policy Development & Innovation Grant $18,687
- 1 Program Development $ 5,000

* * * * *

* The previous allocation for Research, Policy Development & Innovation grant budget was $16,550 and the total child care budget was $679,3000. The revised figures reflect the $3,200 child care grants budget reductions per Council’s May 4, 2000 decision to reduce the overall civic grants budget. Program stabilization funds of $5,000 and the remaining $337 from the City-wide support services allocation have been rolled into the Research, Policy Development & Innovation grant.

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