ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: January 19, 1999
Author/Local: P. Coates/6042
RTS No. 00438

CC File No. 2201

TO:	Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets
FROM:	Director of Community Services, Social Planning
SUBJECT:	1999 Childcare Grants: Funding Level

RECOMMENDATION

THAT Council approve a 1999 Childcare Grants Program budget of $672,600 to meet the grant category priorities outlined in this report.

GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS

The General Manager of Community Services RECOMMENDS approval of the foregoing.

COUNCIL POLICY

Council established the annual civic childcare grants program on October 23, 1990, as part of the Civic Childcare Strategy. The overall objectives of this grant program are:

… to support the viability, accessibility and quality of existing childcare services;
… to assist childcare initiatives in high need areas;
… to encourage and support efficient, co-ordinated administrative services required for a childcare system in Vancouver;
… to lever other sources of childcare funding whenever possible.

The budget ceiling for the Childcare Grants program is established annually, prior to the development of recommendations for specific grant allocations.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is:

… to establish a budget ceiling for the 1999 Childcare Grants program
… to recommend or re-affirm the priorities and funding guidelines for the seven grant categories within the Childcare Grants program.

BACKGROUND

In 1998, Council approved an overall Childcare Grants budget of $672,600. During the past year, Council approved 60 grant allocations.

				Total Allocated
	…	19	Program Enhancement	$119,000
	…	22	Inner-city Childcare	$204,800
	…	4	Research/Policy Dev./Innovations	$21,500
	…	4	City-wide Childcare	$252,294
	…	1	Admin. of City-owned facilities	$64,100

The 1998 funds directly supported and enhanced the quality of over 2,500 licensed childcare spaces. Through the funding of City-wide Childcare Support Services, parents, caregivers, childcare boards and community groups were able to access essential information about childcare, receive consultative and referral services and participate in activities, events and workshops which promoted and strengthened quality childcare throughout the City. City funding was key to accessing provincial dollars for continued funding of the childcare support services provided by Westcoast Childcare Resource Centre.

DISCUSSION

The Director of Finance has advised that the 1999 budget figure is to the same as the 1998 Childcare Grants budget of $672,600. It is proposed that the 1999 childcare grants ceiling of $672,600 be allocated as follows amongst the seven existing categories:

	Budget 1998	Actual 1998	Proposed 1999 Guidelines
Program Enhancement	130,000	119,000	120,000
Inner-city Childcare	201,000	204,800	214,000
Program Stabilization	5,000	0	5,000
Program Development	0	0	0
Research/Policy Dev./Innovations	15,500	21,500	20,000
City-wide Childcare Support	257,000	252,294	248,850
Admin. of City-owned	64,100	64,100	64,750

This allocation reflects the City's continued strong commitment to inner-city and other high need childcare services directly and through the provision of support services, and our ongoing responsibility for supporting the administration of the City-owned childcare facilities created through major rezonings and City projects. It also reflects the need to continue research, policy development and network based childcare planning in light of the evolving regional childcare mandate under the Ministry for Children and Families(MCF). The reinstatement of funding under the Program Development category responds to the demand for some new childcare spaces in the southeast sector of the City where the numbers of families with young children continues to rise.

DESCRIPTION OF GRANT CATEGORIES AND RECOMMENDED PRIORITIES

The Childcare Grants Program is divided into seven categories, each with its distinct priorities, eligibility criteria and granting process.

1. Program Enhancement

Under this category, grants are provided in order to achieve greater equity in the delivery and quality of childcare services in the City. Last year funds were targeted at initiatives in high need group daycare and school-aged programs for food supplement programs, child/staff ratios, extended hours of operation and strengthened, co-ordinated administration. It is suggested that these priorities continue, and the maximum grant size be maintained at $10,500 and the funding guideline be set at $120,000. The eligibility and granting process will remain the same. Recommendations will be brought to Council in July 1998.

2. Inner-city Childcare Sustaining Grants

This grant program, established in 1992 as Phase I of a civic Childcare Direct Operating Grant program, is targeted at non-profit organizations providing licensed childcare services to low income, high need families in inner-city neighbourhoods and charging fees to parents that are at or below the City-wide average. In 1998, grants of up to $12,600 were allocated to 22 centres for basic operating costs such as staffing and food costs. Civic funds continue to be essential to the ongoing viability of these programs.

For 1999, it is recommended that the priorities remain as originally established, the maximum grant level be increased slightly to $12,750 and the overall funding level for the category be set at $214,000. This increase in the guideline reflects the need for continued support to inner-city childcare programs. It is anticipated that the 22 inner-city centres identified in 1998 will re-apply and one or two more programs may be added. Some societies may also be eligible for Program Enhancement Grant monies so screening will occur concurrently and recommendations will be brought forward to Council in a July report.

3. Program Stabilization

This grant program has in the past been very effective in preventing the closure of parent run, non-profit childcare centres which experience financial difficulties. Last year there was no request for emergency funding under this category, however, it is considered advisable to keep $5,000 available. It is recommended that for 1998, the priorities, eligibility criteria and granting process established at the time of the Civic Childcare Strategy, be continued. Reports to Council for this category are brought forward as required.

4. Program Development

This grant category was established to provide some assistance to non-profit societies with the non-capital costs associated with developing new childcare services, particularly in high need areas of the city. In 1998, given the existing provincial freeze on Wage Supplement Initiative funding for new childcare programs, no funds were allocated for this category. The freeze has now been lifted and work is being done on a mechanism for setting priorities at the MCF regional level to accept new applications. It is recommended that further allocation under the Program Development category be kept on hold for one more year until the priorities for ongoing funding of new programs in the Vancouver area are finalized.

5. Research, Policy Development and Innovations Fund

The purpose of this grant is to encourage and support new childcare research, policy or support service initiatives. In 1998, four grants totalling $21,500 were allocated. Two of the grants focused on issues related to infant/toddler care, one on administrative requirements of multi-service organizations that are being approached to takeover small parent-run childcare societies, and one grant was for the development and piloting of aboriginal family childcare training.

The massive restructuring of services for children and families under the new Ministry for Children and Families, continues to have significant implications for childcare. It is therefore recommended that priority for 1999 research and policy development projects remain focused on enhancing the sustainability and adaptability of childcare in Vancouver. A $20,000 funding level is recommended. The eligibility and granting process will remain as established.

6. City-wide Childcare Support Services

This grant category fund was created to support the basic infrastructure that is integral to developing a viable, effective, high quality childcare system in the City.

Priority will continue to be given to city-wide support services including:

- information and referral services to parents seeking childcare;
- financial and administrative consultation services to childcare boards and staff;
- information, referral consultation and staff training opportunities for childcare services related to ESL, multicultural and diversity issues;
- information and resource materials related to establishing and operating childcare programs;
- training, networking and collaboration opportunities within the Vancouver childcare community.


Services receiving funding under this category must agree to work closely with City staff to enhance childcare in Vancouver and further the civic childcare objectives. It is also assumed that they will seek additional funding from senior levels of government and other funders.

Eligibility and the granting process remain as established. The overall funding guideline proposed is $248,850. This will cover the four city wide support services currently eligible. It also provides some monies to support the development of childcare leadership and communication mechanisms in each of the six MCF/Health board network areas so childcare issues can be adequately represented across the Vancouver region in Ministry discussions. The Childcare Co-ordinator will be working with childcare operators in each network area to determine how this can be most effectively accomplished. Recommendations for this category will be brought forward to Council in April/May, 1999.

7. Grant for Administration of City-owned Facilities

This grant category was established to support the administrative costs of new City-owned childcare facilities negotiated as conditions of rezonings, bonusing and development permit approvals.

In December 1994, Council approved start-up funding for the newly created Vancouver Society of Children's Centres (VSOCC). VSOCC is now operating Library Square Children's Centre and the recently opened Dorothy lam Children's Centre. In 1999, the new childcare facility in Quayside will be opening and design work on the Western neighbourhood and the second Citygate facilities will begin. The society will be responsible for the ongoing management of all of these childcare centres.

It is recommended that $64,750 be allocated to the Administration of City-owned facilities grant category. Details of VSOCC's workplan and budget will be reported to Council in April/May 1999.

CONCLUSION

The Director of Community Services, Social Planning recommends approval of a 1999 Childcare Grants Program budget of $672,535 to meet the priorities outlined for the seven grant categories.

* * * * *

(c) 1998 City of Vancouver