|
CITY OF VANCOUVER ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT |
Date: |
November 30, 2004 | |
Author: |
Carol Ann Young | |
Phone No.: |
604-871-6042 | |
RTS No.: |
4548 | |
CC File No.: |
2402 | |
Meeting Date: |
December 14, 2004 |
TO: |
Vancouver City Council |
FROM: |
Director of Social Planning |
SUBJECT: |
2004 Civic Child Care Grant Report 3 of 3 |
RECOMMENDATION
A. THAT Council approve a Research and Innovation Grant of $15, 000 for Westcoast Child Care Resource Centre, to support the work of the joint Child Care Council; source of funds: 2004 Child Care Grant Funds, 2004 Operating Budget.
B. THAT Council approve a Program Development Grant of $5,000 for Westcoast Child Care Resource Centre, to assist in the development of #1 Kingsway; source of funds: 2004 Child Care Grant Funds, 2004 Operating Budget
C. THAT Council approve a Research and Innovation Grant of $3,841 for Kiwassa Neighbourhood House, for the Continuous Quality Improvement Project, source of funds: 2004 Child Care Grant Funds, 2004 Operating Budget.
GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS
The General Manager of Community Services RECOMMENDS approval of A, B & C.
COUNCIL POLICY
In 2004, Council approved the Child Care Protocol - A Commitment from Local government which set out to maintain and expand licensed childcare spaces in the city by 5% in the next two years, while recognizing the essential role senior government has in terms of operating funding and support.
The 2003-2005 Capital plan provided funding for a joint-use civic facility in the Mount Pleasant district comprising:
· $4.85 million for a branch library;
· $1.5 million for a Childcare facility;
· an additional $1.15 million for the Community Centre, and
· $175,000 for a sustainable pilot project.
In 2002, Council approved the strategic plan for childcare. "Moving Forward" - Childcare: A Cornerstone of Childhood Development, which sets out a vision of child development hubs throughout the city.
In 2001, Council approved the purchase of the property at #1 Kingsway as a joint use development concept for the site.
In 1990, Council approved the Civic Child Care Strategy which set out to:
· support the viability, accessibility and quality of existing childcare services;
· assist childcare initiatives in high need areas;
· encourage and support efficient, coordinated administrative services required for a childcare system in Vancouver to lever other sources of childcare funding, whenever possible.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this report is to seek Council approval for a Research and Innovation Grant and a Program Development Grant to Westcoast Child Care Resource Centre. The Research and Innovation Grant is to provide consultative and contracted support for the Joint Child Care Council and the Program Development Grant is to support the planning and development of #1 Kingsway Child Development Hub.
In addition, this report seeks Council approval for a Research and Innovation Grant for Kiwassa Neighbourhood House to complete the necessary revisions to the quality planning materials and tools; for printing, and status report on the Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) project.
BACKGROUND
In 2003, Council, Park and School Boards approved the Child Care Protocol - A Commitment for Local Governments. As one of the first implementation strategies of the Protocol, a Joint Child Care Council was established to provide leadership in seeking resources, planning, development, co-ordination, problem solving and monitoring of childcare and child development services. A broad workplan was set out in the Protocol and the first task of the Joint Child Care Council was to further develop the workplan with responsibilities and timelines.
The Joint Child Care Council has now been established and has met three times. While some work is well underway, it is apparent that the Joint Child Care Council needs support to achieve its objectives. The Joint Child Care Council directed the Child Development Coordinator to seek Council approval for use of the Research and Innovation Grant of $15,000. to support the work of the Joint Child Care Council. Staff from Park and School Boards were also directed to seek approval for $10,000 each to contribute to the work of the Joint Child Care Council. These funds would be held by Westcoast Child Care Resource Centre to contract with consultants, as required, to assist the Joint Child Care Council in its work.
This report also seeks approval of the Program Development Grant of $5,000 for Westcoast Child Care Resource Centre to participate in the initial planning and development of the #1 Kingsway Child Development Project, as identified in the Mount Pleasant Child Care Needs Assessment of 2003.
Finally, this report seeks Council approval for a Research and Innovation Grant of $3,841 for Kiwassa Neighbourhood House to complete revisions to the Continuous Quality Improvement Manual print materials and prepare a summary report of the project work and its benefits to the childcare community.
DISCUSSION
Research and Innovation Grant
The Research and Innovation Grant is to encourage and support new childcare research policy or support service initiatives.
Joint Child Care Council
The joint Child Care Council was established in the Spring of 2004 and is comprised of elected officials from City Council, School and Park Boards, community, staff and research institutions. The initial workplan required that the Joint Child Care Council report back on its progress by December, 2004. The Council has met three times. Work, to date, has included:
· Orientation
· Development of a workplan
· Review of existing policies and practices of childcare services across civic government
· Setting of Capital priorities
· Review of staffing functions resources
· Communications outline for Federal/Provincial Proposal
· Meeting with Federal/ Provincial officials
To continue the work of the joint Child Care Council, support and resources are necessary. Grant funding will enable the Joint Child Care Council to carve off pieces of work, as required, to enable its progress. A more detailed report will be available in the new year when the Child Development Coordinator provides a Report Reference to Council.
It should also be noted that the Joint Child Care Protocol set out to maintain and expand childcare services by 5% (430 spaces) over the next two years. To date, 253 licensed childcare spaces have been opened.
The $15,000 Research and Innovation Grant will assist the Joint Child Care Council in completing its work.
Continuous Quality Improvement
The second Research and Innovation grant is to complete the Continuous Quality Improvement pilot project. This was a project funded in 2001 and 2002 to develop a series of tools, workshops and resources for childcare grant recipients, to plan and implement quality strategies in a more systematic manner. A steering committee was established to oversee the CQI project and provide guidance and advice to the process. A number of childcare providers from organizations that receive City funding participated in the training and workshops and have adopted the use of the materials and strategies produced from the project.
Kiwassa Neighbourhood House provides support and leadership to the project team, along with Vancouver Society of Children's Centres and the YMCA. Feedback from participants has been useful and there is a need to revise the CQI training manual based on user feedback, print project materials and prepare a summary report on the project activities and findings. Once the report has been completed, there may be opportunities to seek other funding to make this project more widespread. The $3,841 Research and Innovation Grant would enable Kiwassa to complete this phase of the project.
Program Development Grant
#1 Kingsway
The Program Development grant is to provide assistance to a non-profit society with non-capital costs associated with developing new childcare services, particularly in high need areas of the city.
In 2002, City Council approved a 49 licence-space childcare hub at the new #1 Kingsway Civic facility. The intention of having the childcare hub in the civic building is to provide an integrated approach to child development through the colocation of childcare, library and recreation facilities. The child development hub will also provide administrative support to the satellite programs in the area, specifically the childcare services at Mount Pleasant and or Simon Fraser School.
Westcoast is well positioned to work within a consortium model with community partners to create and deliver a vibrant, multicultural, inclusive childcare and child development service for this neighbourhood. Grant funding will assist Westcoast in working with the City and community partners to create a high quality environment for children and families.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
The 2004 Operating Budget for Civic Childcare Grants is $886,400, with $23,841 proposed for Program Development Grant and Research and Innovation Grant ,as shown below. This report recommends that Westcoast Child Care Resource Centre receive $15,000 to support the work of the Joint Child Care Council and $5,000 to assist in the development of #1 Kingsway Child Development Hub. In addition, this report recommends a Research and Innovation Grant of $3,841 to Kiwassa Neighbourhood House to complete the Continuous Quality Improvement Project.
This would leave $0 funds remaining in the 2004 Childcare Grants budget.
Grant Category |
2004 Proposed Budget |
2004 Allocated |
Proposed Allocation |
2004 Final Allocation |
City Wide & Administration of City Owned Services |
$338,300 |
$338,300 |
$338,300 | |
Program Enhancement |
$228,600 |
$126,150 |
$126,150 | |
Inner City Sustaining |
$130,000 |
$232,025 |
$232,025 | |
Inner City Bursary |
$165,000 |
$161,084 |
$161,084 | |
Program Development |
$5,000 |
0 |
$5,000 |
$5,000 |
Research & Innovation |
$14,500 |
0 |
$18,841 |
$18,841 |
Program Stabilization |
$5,000 |
$5,000 |
$5,000 | |
Total Allocations |
$886,400 |
$862,559 |
$886,400 | |
Remaining Funds |
$23,841 |
$23,841 |
$0 |
CONCLUSION
Social Planning recommends Council approval two grants to West coast Childcare Resource Centre - $15,000 Research and Innovation Gant and $5,000 Program Development and one Research and Innovation Grant to Kiwassa Neighbourhood House for $3,841.
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