SUPPORTS ITEM NO. 6
CS&B COMMITTEE AGENDA
FEBRUARY 1, 1996
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: January 18, 1996
TO: Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets
FROM: Director of Social Planning
SUBJECT: 1996 Childcare Grants: Funding Level
RECOMMENDATION
THAT Council approve a 1996 Childcare Grants Program budget of
$659,300 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 encourage new childcare initiatives in high need
areas;
- to encourage and support efficient developmental and
administrative services required for a childcare system
in Vancouver; and
- 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.
Approval of grant recommendations requires eight affirmative votes.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this report is:
- to establish a budget ceiling for the 1996 Childcare Grants
program; and
- to recommend or re-affirm the priorities and funding guidelines
for the seven grant categories within the Childcare Grants
program.
BACKGROUND
In 1995, Council approved an overall Childcare Grants budget of
$646,310. During the past year, Council approved 56 grant
allocations.
Total Allocated
- 27 Program Enhancement $181,310
- 16 Inner-city Childcare 138,360
- 0 Program Stabilization 0
- 4 Program Development 20,000
- 3 Research/Policy Dev./Innovations 9,650
- 5 City-wide Childcare 241,940
- 1 Admin. of City-owned facilities 55,050
The 1995 funds directly supported and enhanced the quality of over
2,200 licensed childcare spaces and assisted in the creation of 104
new 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;
- capital grants for 5 new childcare centres.
DISCUSSION
The Director of Finance has advised that the 1996 budget figure is to
be adjusted by 2% over the 1995 Childcare Grants budget of $646,310.
It is proposed that the 1996 childcare grants ceiling of $659,300 be
allocated as follows amongst the seven existing categories:
Proposed
Budget Actual 1996
1995 1995 Guidelines
Program Enhancement 159,000 181,310 159,000
Inner-city Childcare 150,000 138,360 164,000
Program Stabilization 5,000 0 5,000
Program Development 10,000 20,000 14,000
Research/Policy Dev./
Innovations 15,000 9,650 10,000
City-wide Childcare Support 245,310 241,940 245,300
Admin. of City-owned
Facilities 62,000 55,050 62,000
This allocation reflects the City's continued strong commitment to
support inner-city and other high need childcare services and our
increased responsibility for supporting the administration of the
City-owned childcare facilities created through major rezonings and
City projects. It also recognizes that as new provincial dollars
begin to stabilize childcare programs through a Wage Supplement
Initiative, the city dollars originally set aside for emergency
stabilization grants can continue to be shifted to other childcare
priorities. The grant category guidelines allow Social Planning some
flexibility to respond to new or emerging needs within the overall
budget ceiling.
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 administration. It is suggested that these
priorities continue, the funding guideline be established at
$159,000 and the maximum grant size be reduced by $1,500 to
$10,500. This reduction more accurately reflects the size of
grant actually allocated in the past and allows an increase in the
inner-city grant category (see below). The eligibility and
granting process will remain the same. Recommendations will be
brought to Council in July 1996.
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 1995, grants of up to $11,000 were allocated to 14
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 1996, it is recommended that the priorities remain as
originally established, the maximum grant level be increased to
$12,500 and the overall funding level for the category be raised
to $164,000. This increase in the grant size and guideline
reflects the need for continued support to inner-city childcare
programs. It is anticipated that the 14 inner-city centres
identified in 1995 will re-apply and that one or two more centres
may be added to the program. 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. No requests for
emergency funding under this category were required for the past
three years, but it is considered advisable to keep $5,000
available. It is recommended that for 1996, 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 provides 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. It complements the provincial childcare facilities and
equipment program. We do not anticipate a significant call upon
these funds in 1996 as many community groups have indicated that
they wish to see the impact of all the new childcare projects that
have recently opened (25% increase in spaces in past 5 years). It
is therefore recommended that the funding guideline be established
at $14,000 and the priorities, eligibility and granting process
remain as established. Applications are brought forward to
Council three times a year - March/ April, July and
November/December.
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
1995, three projects were funded by the City: a city-wide
multilingual clearing house project, and two needs assessment
projects.
For 1996, it is recommended that priority be given to examining
innovative approaches to expanding family daycare spaces. Top
priority will be given to projects which are of city-wide benefit.
Co-ordination and collaboration with other organizations will be a
prerequisite. The eligibility and granting process will remain as
established. Projects are brought forward for Council
consideration in March/April or July.
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 those city-wide, non-profit
organizations which have developed and are providing:
- 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;
- unique, innovative childcare services which serve as city-
wide models.
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. Eligibility and the granting process remain as
established. The overall funding guideline proposed is $245,300.
Recommendations will be brought forward to Council in March/April,
1996.
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 the recently opened Library Square Children's
Centre. VSOCC will also be working with City staff to design,
develop and open the seven new City childcare facilities slated
for False Creek North and Coal Harbour plus any other facilities
that are built in the Downtown Peninsula through CACs and DCLs.
The society will also be responsible for the ongoing management of
these facilities.
It is recommended that $62,000 be allocated to the Administration
of City-owned facilities grant category. Details of VSOCC's
second year workplan and budget will be reported to Council in
March/April 1996.
CONCLUSION
The Director of Social Planning recommends approval of a 1996
Childcare Grants Program budget of $659,300 to meet the priorities
outlined for the seven grant categories.
* * * * *