ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: June 27, 2000
Author/Local: CA Young/6042

RTS No. 1544

CC File No. 2402
CS&B: July 13, 2000

TO:	Standing Committee on City Services & Budgets
FROM:	Director of Social Planning
SUBJECT:	2000 Childcare Grants Allocation - Report 2 of 3

RECOMMENDATION

A. THAT Council approve 24 Childcare Program Enhancement Grants totalling $120,000 as listed in Appendix I, with conditions as noted; source of funds: 2000 Childcare Grants Funds, 2000 Operating Budget;

B. THAT Council approve 25 Inner-city Childcare Sustaining Grants totalling $218,000 as listed in Appendix I, with conditions as noted; 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 1, 2000, Council approved the 2000 allocation of $679,300 for the Childcare Grants Program. On May 4, 2000 Council reduced the overall grants budget by $50,000. Of this reduction $3,400 was allocated to the Childcare Grants budget, leaving $675,900 available for 2000 grant approvals.

Approval of grant recommendations requires eight affirmative votes.

PURPOSE

This report makes recommendations for the following Childcare Grant categories:

- Childcare Program Enhancement
- Inner-city Childcare Sustaining

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

BACKGROUND

On February 1, 2000, City Council approved a budget of $679,300 for the Childcare Grants Program. On May 4, 2000 the civic grants programs were reduced by $50,000. The effect on the Childcare grants budget was a reduction of $3,400, and an overall childcare budget of $675,900 for the year. On May 2, 2000, Council approved allocations totalling $314,413, leaving an available balance of $361,487.

DISCUSSION

The focus of this report is on the Childcare Grants Program - Enhancement and Inner-city Sustaining grant categories. Once again, the requests significantly exceeded the available 2000 category funding. This increase in demand may be in part due to the reduction in provincial funding, cost recovery policies for childcare located in school facilities and increases in labour costs. Unlike previous years, many applicants requested the full grant amount, in both grant categories, and there were a number of new applications. This year only 1 applicant was excluded because they did not meet the high need criteria. The remaining applications were deemed eligible for either enhancement or inner city funding and in some cases qualified for both grants. All applications came from organizations serving high need families and/or providing high need services such as infant/toddler care. As in previous years, Social Planning has chosen to make recommendations which stretch the City dollars for the benefit of as many families and children as possible.

The grant review process this year included a review of all applications for completeness, site visits/interviews which were conducted by the Childcare Co-ordinator and Social Planning Analyst and an advisory team review of all applications once site visits were completed. To ensure a broader input in the review process, the Childcare Co-ordinator convened a team including the Social Planning Analyst, a representative from Community Care Facilities Licensing and a childcare consultant on contract with the City. The team reviewed all applications to support proposed allocations and made recommendations for improvementto next years grant process.

As part of the grants review an number of issues were identified by the community, they included issues of poverty, illiteracy, cultural and linguistic barriers, drug and alcohol abuse, unsafe neighbourhoods, inadequate housing, and the need for enhanced staffing in high need areas. Applicants also requested a more streamline approach to grant applications and further clarity between the purpose and parameters of the inner city and enhancement.

1. Program Enhancement Grants

The purpose of these grants (maximum $10,500 per organization) is to provide non-profit, licensed childcare programs with funds to enhance the quality of care offered. In the 2000 Childcare Budget Ceiling Report, it was recommended that initiatives be related to food supplement programs, maintaining child/staff ratios, assisting infant and toddler programs and co-ordinated administration. Priority is given to group daycare and school-aged childcare programs in high need areas and/or under-served areas of the City. Due to the demand on Enhancement grant funds, part-time preschool programs were only eligible for inner city grant funding and only if exceptional need was identified.

The following factors continued to be considered during the grant review process:

- the size, type and location of program
- provision of services for infants and toddlers
- the level of need of the children and families
- the financial need of the service and organization
- the type of initiative proposed
- the extent of parent involvement
- a commitment to service integration.

In total, 24 Enhancement grant applications were received. Six applications were determined to be ineligible because the proposed initiatives did not fit the grant priority areas noted above, were providing only preschool hours of care or the childcare services were clearly serving few low income families. Social Planning is recommending approval of 24 Program Enhancement Grants (see Appendix I).

2. Inner-city Childcare Sustaining Grants

The purpose of this grant is to provide non-profit organizations with up to $12,750 to offset basic operating costs such as personnel and food expenses, so that fees in eligible high need programs can be kept below the city-wide average. While this does not address the larger issue of affordability for low income families, inner-city grants are helping to stabilize fees in high need areas of the City.

Programs eligible for inner-city funding, clearly stand out as serving high need, low income families. A significant number of the children attending these programs have been designated as "at risk" by the Ministry for Children and Families or require extra family support. All of the children are considered to be living in high need environments.

Twenty-five childcare programs applied for funding under the Inner-city category. Only one applicant was deemed ineligible for inner city grant funding due to the profile of families served.

Centres also commented on increasing needs for food supplement, clothing exchange and family support programs. A number of centres are attempting to provide early intervention programs with children and families using the child care centre as the connecting point. It was noted that a number of the children being enrolled in inner-city childcare programs are in foster care or under the close supervision of the Ministry for Children and Families. The number of aboriginal children in non-aboriginal programs has also increased. It has been identified that there is a need to ensure that these children are receiving culturally appropriate programming and support. The Childcare Co-ordinator will continue to follow up on this issue. Social Planning recommends approval of 25 Inner-city Childcare Sustaining grants (see Appendix I).

This year’s grant review points to the continued need for the City and the childcare community to work closely with the Vancouver Regional Offices of the Ministry for Social Development and Economic Security, the Ministry for Children and Families, the Vancouver/Richmond Health Board and the Vancouver School Board to address the issue of adequate funding for quality childcare, particularly in high need areas. It also continues to underline the need for small isolated childcare programs to become fully linked into the broader continuum of prevention and early intervention services for young children, so they access appropriate supports and resources. Clearly those centres like Grandview Terrace, Eagles In the Sky, Hastings Townsite and Sunset, which have chosen to link up to multi-service agencies for administrative support, are more stable in terms of finances. As well these centres have been able to offer more support to the staff, board and families thus positively impacting the quality of care being offered to the children.

CONCLUSION

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

- 24 Program Enhancement grants $120,000
- 25 Inner-city Childcare Sustaining grants $218,000

This leaves a balance of $23,487 in the Childcare Grants Fund for allocation later this year (see Appendix II).

* * * * *

 

Recommendations for the 2000 Childcare Program Enhancement and Inner-city Childcare Sustaining Grants
	Organization	1999 Total Allocation	2000				Initiative To Be Funded	Comments / CONDITIONS
			Grant Requests		Recommendations
			Enhance.	Inner City	Enhance.	Inner City
1	Boat Daycare Soc. Boat Daycare Ctr “2.5 - 5" Years Care 25 licensed spaces	$8,000	$10,500	$0	$5,250	$0	to maintain child/staff ratios & provide extended hours of operation	- serves Vancouver Eastside - significant % of single parent families - 44% of families receive daycare subsidy - parent-run board
2	Brant Villa Day Care Soc. Learning Tree Day Care “3-5" Years Care 25 licensed spaces	$10,500	$10,500	$12,750	$0	$11,500	to continue a food supplement program	- serves East Vancouver - significant % of single parent families - 88% of families receive daycare subsidy - high % of children with ESL - parent-run board
3	Britannia Community Services Ctr Soc. Britannia Child Care Ctr Nursery School & Britannia Out of School Preschool & School-Aged Care 70 licensed spaces	$15,600	$10,500	$12,760	$3,000	$12,750	to continue a food supplement program and provide staff development	- serves Grandview-Woodlands & Strathcona - significant% of single parent families - 74% of families receive daycare subsidy - significant % of aboriginal children
4	Cedar Cottage Nbhd House -preschool program at Cedar Cottage N.H. and out of school care programs at Dickens, Dickens Annex, Selkirk, Selkirk Annex, Laura Secord & Queen Alexandra Elementary Schools Preschool & School-Aged Care 190 licensed spaces	$16,500	$10,500	$4,000	$7,975	$6,600	to strengthen administration between 6 Ctrs, keep fees affordable & provide staff development	- serves Kensington-Cedar Cottage area description all programs - significant to high % of single parent families - 26 to 85% of families receive daycare subsidy - significant % aboriginal children - significant to high % of children with ESL - significant to high % refugee/immigrant children
5	Collingwood Nbhd House Grenfell & Carleton School Age Program, Duke Street Program & Collingwood Kindercare Program Infant, Preschool, “3-5" Care, Kindercare, School-Aged Care, & Childminding 171 licensed spaces	$14,000	$7,500	$6,500	$5,625	$6,500	to maintain child/staff ratios, provide a food supplement program & staff development	- serves Renfrew-Collingwood area description all programs - significant % of single parent families - 28 to 88% of families receive daycare subsidy - significant to high % of children with ESL selected programs - significant % of children speak little or no English - significant to high % refugee/immigrant children - high % aboriginal children
6	Creekview Tiny Tots Society Creekview Tiny Tot’s Daycare Infant/Toddler Care (18 mths - 42 mths) 17 licensed spaces	$0	$10,500	$12,750	$0	$6,375	to provide administrative time and a food supplement program	serves False Creek & Fairview - 50% of families receive daycare subsidy - 45% of children with ESL - 40% of children speak little or no English - 50% refugee/immigrant children - parent-run board CONDITION: Board & staff to contact Westcoast Multi-cultural & Diversity Services to have them come and do a consultation.
7	Developmental Disabilities Association Playhouse Child Centre & Waterside Child Centre Infant & Toddler & “3 - 5" Year Care Waterside: 24 spaces	$10,250	$2,636 (Waterside) $10,500 (Playhouse)	$12,750 (Waterside) $0	$2,636 (Waterside)	$6,375 (Waterside)	- to maintain child/staff ratios for infant/toddler programs & provide a food program for Waterside	- serves City-wide (Special Needs Care), Downtown Eastside and Collingwood areas description for Waterside - high % of single parent families - 100 % of families receive daycare subsidy - significant % of children with ESL - significant % of children speak little or no English - significant % refugee/immigrant children - significant % aboriginal children - parent-run board Waterside is the only toddler program in the DTES
8	Eagles in the Sky Assoc. / Britannia C C Eaglets Preschool & Kidzone Preschool & School-Aged Care 70 licensed spaces	$18,600	$10,500	$12,750	$5,250	$12,750	to expand summer out-of-school care program and provide a food supplement program	- serves Grandview-Woodlands; MacDonald Elementary Catchment areas - high % of single parent families - 90% of families receive daycare subsidy - significant % of children with ESL - high % aboriginal children - parent-run board with administrative help from a multi-service agency
9	Eastside Family Place Family Place & Childminding Emergency Childminding (18 mths - 6 years) 15 licensed spaces	$2,650	$0	$6,912	$0	$2,650	to provide an emergency childminding service as a compliment to existing family place and childminding services	- serves Grandview-Woodlands & East Vancouver - high % of single parent families - significant % of children with ESL - significant % refugee/immigrant children - community/parent-run board * special needs children are incorporated into the inclusionary concept of the centre
10	Franklin Community School Association-Franklin Preschool Preschool 20 licensed spaces *new	$0	$52,800	$0	$0	$0	to explore administration partnership with Kiwassa Neighbourhood House	serves Hastings-Sunrise - high % of children with ESL - parent-run board
11	Frog Hollow Nbhd House Frog Hollow NH Satellite Daycare, Nursery School and KidsWorld Toddler, “3-5" Year, Preschool & School-Aged Care 109 licensed spaces	$10,500	$10,500 (Nursery School & Kid’s world)	$7,000 (Satellite Daycare)	$2,135	$7,000	strengthen admin. support for all Frog Hollow childcare programs, provide food supplement programs & maintain child/staff ratios	- serves Hastings-Sunrise; Renfrew-Collingwood description for all programs - significant to high % of single parent families -18 to 67% of families receive daycare subsidy - significant to high % of children with ESL - significant % of children speak little or no English CONDITION: Contact CCFL to discuss space utilization planning; Inner-city grant targeted to food supplement.
12	Grandview Terrace Childcare Soc./ Britannia CC Grandview Childcare Centre “3-5 “Year Care, Preschool & School-Aged Care 101 licensed spaces	$18,600	$10,500	$12,750	$5,250	$12,750	to continue a food program	- serves Grandview-Woodlands - high% single parent families - 91% of families receive daycare subsidy - significant % of children with ESL - high % aboriginal children - community/parent-run board with administrative assistance from a multi-service agency
13	Hastings Townsite Childcare Soc./ Kiwassa Neighbourhood House Harbour View Daycare Preschool, “3-5" & Kindercare 25 licensed spaces	$12,600	$10,500	$12,750	$3,500	$6,375	to increase days of hot lunch program	- serves Hastings Sunrise - 72% of families receive daycare subsidy - significant % of children with ESL - parent run board with administrative assistance from Kiwassa Neighbourhood House
14	Kiwassa Nbhd House Kiwassa Variety Club Daycare, Kiwassa Childminding Childminding, Preschool, “3-5" & School-Aged Care 25 licensed spaces	$16,600	$10,500	$12,750	$5,250	$12,750	to provide a food supplement program, maintain low fees, provide staff development, enhance multi-cultural component and programming	- serves Hastings-Sunrise & Grandview-Woodlands - high % of single parent families - 85 % of families receive daycare subsidy - significant % of children with ESL - significant % speak little or no English - high % aboriginal children
15	Little Mountain Nbhd House Little Mountain Nbhd House Child Development Centre “3-5" Year Care - Special Needs Centre 15 licensed spaces	$7,000	$2,500	$7,290	$0	$6,190	to provide staff development opportunities to improve quality care and funds to assist with hot lunch program	- serves Little Mountain/Riley Park area - high % of single parent families - 93% of families receive daycare subsidy - high % of children with ESL - significant % of children speak little or no English - high% aboriginal children
16	McGregor Childcare Soc. - McGregor Child Care Centre Infant, Toddler & “ 3-5" Care 37 licensed spaces	$12,600	$9,600	$12,750	$3,379	$7,235	to maintain child/staff ratios, particularly for the toddler program	- serves Mount Pleasant - significant % of single parent families - 84% of families receive daycare subsidy - high % of children with ESL - significant % of children speak little or no English - significant % refugee/immigrant children - significant % aboriginal children - board run by non-profit society board ( members employed by VCC ) CONDITION: Payment of grant subject to the childcare centre receiving a letter form VCC confirming their $20,000 contribution; staff to participate in a workshop on inter-personal skills.
17	Mount Pleasant Community Centre Association Mt. Pleasant Community Centre Out of School Care School-Aged Care 36 licensed spaces *new	$0	$10,500	$0	$3,500	$0	to maintain child/staff ratios, provide staff training and a food supplement program	- serves Mount Pleasant - significant % of single parent families - 58% of families receive daycare subsidy - significant % of children ESL CONDITION: The majority of funding to be targeted to the food program.
18	Mount Pleasant Child Care Soc. Mount Pleasant Child Care “18 mo - 5" Y ear Care 35 licensed spaces	$16,600	$10,500	$12,750	$5,250	$11,500	to assist with costs for the toddler program & a food program	- serves Mount Pleasant - significant % of single parent families - 96% of families receive full daycare subsidy - significant % of children with ESL - significant % of children speak little or no English - significant % aboriginal children - parent-run board CONDITION: Grant to be paid in two installments based on submission of financial statements.
19	Mount Pleasant Nbhd House Mt. Pleasant Neighbourhood House Preschool Preschool 36 licensed spaces	$6,000	$14,970	$10,500	$0	$5,250	to maintain child/staff ratios	- serves Commercial to Cambie, 2nd to 20th - significant % of single parent families - 64% of families receive daycare subsidy - high % of children with ESL - high % of children speak little or no English - high % refugee/immigrant children
20	Pooh Corner Daycare Society Pooh Corner Daycare toddler & “3 - 5" care 22 licensed spaces *new	$0	$10,500	$0	$3,500	$0	to provide a food program	- serves West End - significant % of single parent families - 40% of families receive full daycare subsidy - parent-run board
21	Ray-Cam Co-operative Centre Raymur Place Day Care Program & Latch Key - RayCam Ctr Out of School Care “3-5" & School-Aged Care 56 licensed spaces	$17,600	$10,500	$12,750	$5,250	$12,750	to maintain child/staff ratios, keep fees affordable & continue a food program	- serves Downtown Eastside & Strathcona - high % of single parent families - 100% of families receive daycare subsidy - high % of children with ESL - high % aboriginal children
22	Shannon Daycare Soc. Shannon Daycare Centre Toddler (18 mos. - 3 Yrs) & “3-5" Year Care 25 licensed spaces	$10,500	$10,500	$0	$10,000	$0	to keep fees affordable and maintain child/staff ratios	- serves Marpole area - high % of single parent families - 90% of families receive daycare subsidy - significant % of children with ESL - significant % refugee/immigrant children - parent-run board
23	South Vancouver Neighbourhood House Poppins Preschool Preschool 18 licensed spaces	$ 2,300	$0	$4,000	$0	$2,000	to maintain fees low	- serves S.E.Van (41st to Fraser River, Main to Boundary) - 48% of families receive daycare subsidy - high % of children with ESL - high % of children speak little or no English
24	Spare Time Child Care Soc. Spare Time Challenge Club School-Aged Care 199 licensed spaces	$5,000	$7,000	$0	$5,000	$0	to offset costs of an Administrator/Coordinator position	- serves S.Van/Fraserview, Marpole/Oakridge & Mt Pleasant - significant % of single parent families - parent-run board
25	St. David’s Preschool Society /Kiwassa Neighbourhood House St. David’s Preschool 20 licensed spaces	$0	$0	$2,000	$0	$2,000	to maintain low fees	- serves Hastings-Sunrise & Grandview-Woodlands areas - significant % single parent families - 55% of families receive daycare subsidy - high % of children with ESL - significant % of children speak little or no English - high % refugee/immigrant children - parent-run board with assistance from Kiwassa Nbhd House
26	St. Michael's Anglican Church Day Care Centre St. Michael’s Daycare “3-5" Year Care 25 licensed spaces	$12,600	$10,500	$6,000	$5,250	$9,600	to continue a food program & keep fees low	- serves Mount Pleasant area - high % of single parent families - 84% of families receive daycare subsidy - high % of children with ESL - significant % of children speak little or no English - high % refugee/immigrant children - significant % aboriginal children - religious organization-run board CONDITION: Board to work with the Childcare Co-ordinator to explore administrative support; grant to be released in two installments.
27	Strathcona Community Ctr Assoc. Strathcona Community Ctr Preschool & Strathcona After School Care Program Preschool & School- Aged Care 125 licensed spaces	$16,600	$10,500	$12,750	$5,000	$12,750	to maintain child/staff ratios, to continue food program & maintain low fees	- serves Strathcona area - high % of single parent families - 73% of families receive full daycare subsidy - significant % of children with ESL - significant % refugee/immigrant children
28	Sunset Child Care Soc. Sunset Daycare Centre “2‡ - 5" Year Care 25 licensed spaces	$ 10,500	$10,500	$0	$10,000	$0	to continue a food program	- serves S.Van (Marpole, Fraserview, Riley Park) - 77% of families receive daycare subsidy - significant % of children with ESL - significant % aboriginal children - parent-run board (admin. assistance from LMNH)
29	Thunderbird Nbhd Assoc. Thunderbird Nbhd Ctr Nursery School & Thunderbird After School Care Preschool & School-Aged Care 60 licensed spaces	$11,000	$ 9,000	$ 7,000	$3,000	$7,000	to maintain child/staff ratios, maintain low fees & provide a food program	- serves Hastings-Sunrise area - 46% of families receive daycare subsidy - high % of children ESL - significant % of children speak little or no English CONDITION: Childcare supervisor to utilize the services of the Westcoast Multi-Cultural and Diversity Services.
30	Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Ctr Soc. Sundance Daycare “3 - 5" Year Care 25 licensed spaces	$12,600	$0	$12,750	$0	$12,750	to maintain child/staff ratios, maintain low fees & provide a food program	- serves Downtown-Eastside & Grandview-Woodlands areas - high % of single parent families - 100% of families receive full daycare subsidy - high % aboriginal children CONDITION: Funding to be targeted to fees and food.
31	Vancouver Backstretch Worker’s Society/Kiwassa NH Hastings Park Race Track Child Care Centre 3 mths to 12 years old 30 licensed spaces *new	$0	$10,500	$12,750	$3,500	$0	to maintain low fees, provide staff development & staff time for administrative work	- serves Hastings Park Area - 92% of families receive daycare subsidy - parent-run board with administrative assistance from a multi-service agency CONDITION: Emphasis on Enhancement grant to be placed on professional development for staff.
32	Vancouver Chinese Pentecostal Benevolent Soc. Sunshine Corner Daycare “2‡ -5" Year Care 25 licensed spaces	$10,500	$10,500	$0	$10,000	$0	to maintain child/staff ratios, provide a food program & a parent support night	- serves Mt. Pleasant & Riley Park areas - high % of single parent families - 72 % of families receive daycare subsidy - high % of children with ESL - significant % aboriginal children - religious organization-run board
33	YMCA of Greater Vancouver Nanook Day Care Toddlers & School-Aged Care 25 licensed spaces	$12,600	$0	$12,000	$0	$12,000	to maintain child/staff ratios & provide a food program	- serves Mt. Pleasant area - high % of single parent families - 98% of families receive daycare subsidy - high % aboriginal children CONDITION: Grant to be paid in two installments; the Supervisor and cook to consult with the CCFL nutritionist for menu planning.
34	YWCA Citygate Child Care Ctr & Crabtree Corner “3-5" Years Care & Emergency Child Care 49 licensed spaces	$14,100	$1,500 (Citygate)	$12,600 (Crabtree)	$1,500	$12,600	to provide a food program	- serves Downtown Eastside, Strathcona and East False Creek areas - high % of single parent families - 82% of families receive daycare subsidy - significant % of children with ESL - significant % of children speak little or no English
34	TOTAL:	$332,500	$317,506	$264,312	$120,000	$218,000
					$120,000	$218,000

R:\CC\REPORTS\CS&B\2000\000713\CHILDCAR.WPD

Notes:
* new = first time request for a child care grant or did not receive a grant in 1999
The number of childcare spaces does not always reflect enrolment which can be higher e.g. many preschool programs offer morning and afternoon classes.

This information is taken from the “client profile sheets” submitted by each applicant with their grant applicant forms. The terms “high” and “significant” are explained below:

Single parent families
-Significant 30-50%
-High over 50%

Daycare Subsidy refers to subsidies provided by the B.C. Ministry of Social Development and Economic Security. * One exception to this is the Vancouver Backstretch Worker’s Society where the daycare subsidy includes parent subsidies provided by the Kiwassa Neighbourhood House
-comments noted when over 40% of families receive a daycare subsidy

ESL = children with English as a second language

Children who speak English as a second language

-Significant 30-50%
-High over 50%

Children who speak little or no English

-Significant 30-50%
-High over 50%

Children who are refugee or new immigrant
-Significant 30-50%
-High over 50%
Children who are Aboriginal (First Nations)
-significant 15-30%
-High over 30%

Grant Category	Date of Report to Council	2000 Approved Budget	Recommended to Date
City-Wide Support Services	May	$250,000	$249,663
Administration of City-owned Facilities	May	$64,750	$64,750
Research, Policy Development & Innovations	May/July/Dec.	*$13,150
Program Development	May/July/Dec.	$5,000
Inner-City Sustaining	July	$218,000	$218,000
Program Enhancement	July	$120,000	$120,000
Program Stabilization	as required	$5,000
TOTAL:		*$675,900	$652,413
BALANCE:			$23,487

Note: * The previous allocation for Research, Policy Development & Innovations grant was $16,550 and the total childcare grants budget was $679,300. The revised figures reflect the $3,400 childcare grants budget reduction as per Council’s May 4, 2000 decision to reduce the overall civic grants budget.

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