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ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: November 20, 1996
Dept. File No.
TO: Vancouver City Council
FROM: Director of Community Services, Social Planning
SUBJECT: 1996 Childcare Grants Allocation Report 4 of 4
RECOMMENDATION
A. THAT Council approve one Program Development grant of
$3,533 to the Eagles In The Sky Association to assist
with the costs of opening up a licensed preschool program
at MacDonald School. Source of funds: 1996 Childcare
Grants Funds, 1996 Operating Budget.
B. THAT Council approve one Childcare Research, Policy
Development and Innovations grant of $4,400 to Westcoast
Child Care Resource Centre to update and expand the
collection of translated childcare and child development
materials for use by parents, childcare staff and other
professionals working with young children and their
families. Source of funds: 1996 Childcare Grants Funds,
1996 Operating Budget.
GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS
The General Manager of Community Services submits A and B for
consideration.
COUNCIL POLICY
On February 1, 1996, Council approved the 1996 allocation of $659,300
for the Childcare Grants Program.
Approval of grant recommendations requires eight affirmative votes.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this report is to recommend approval of one Program
Development grant and one Childcare Research, Policy Development and
Innovations grant.
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BACKGROUND
The February 1, 1996 Childcare Grants Ceiling Report identified the
priorities and granting process for the two childcare grant categories
described in this report. This is the fourth of four childcare grant
reports for 1996.
DISCUSSION
1. Program Development Grants
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 under-served areas of the city. It
complements the provincial childcare facilities and equipment grant
program. Two grants in this category were approved earlier this year.
One more request has been received. Another proposal is still in
progress and will be brought to Council in early 1997.
Eagle in the Sky Association, a non-profit society which operates out of
McDonald School wishes to establish a licensed preschool and
child-minding service in an existing on-site, provincially funded,
childcare portable which houses a licensed school-aged childcare
program.
The children living in the inner-city catchment area of McDonald School
are primarily from high need aboriginal and new immigrant families. The
proposed preschool/ childminding program will focus on an early
learning/head start approach and will complement an existing family
drop-in program already operating in the school. While initially the
program will be quite small, it is hoped that by next year, over 80
preschool children from the north Grandview Woodlands area will be
served. To facilitate the immediate opening of this urgently needed
licensed program, Westcoast Child Care Resource Centre will be lending
toys, equipment and books to Eagle In the Sky until the necessary funds
have been raised.
The Eagle In The Sky preschool/childminding proposal fits the Program
Development criteria and is recommended for a grant of $3,533.
The second proposal, which is still under development, focuses on the
needs of the grooms, flat-workers, jockeys, and other race track
personnel at the Hastings Park Race Track. Given the unusual hours
associated with the racing industry (early mornings, late afternoons and
evenings) and the low pay of many of the jobs, childcare is a huge
barrier for the employees. It is estimated that up to 60 young children
are often on-site and safety and
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supervision issues are a real concern. The recently formed Backstretch
of Hastings Park Racetrack childcare committee has asked Social Planning
to consider a Program Development or Innovations grant request in early
January.
2. Childcare Research, Policy Development and Innovations Fund
The purpose of this grant is to encourage and fund two or three new
initiatives each year. The February Grant Ceiling Report identified
family childcare expansion as the priority area. Of particular interest
is increasing access to training and resources for ESL caregivers and
families. Previous City funding has supported the development of family
childcare training in Cantonese, Spanish and Punjabi. Earlier this
year, Ray-Cam Community Association also received funds to encourage
inner-city family childcare options.
The Vancouver Childcare Support Program, sponsored by Westcoast Child
Care Resource Centre, has identified an emerging need for family
childcare training and resources for the Vietnamese, Serbian and
Croatian communities. Expanding the existing collection of translated
childcare and child development resource materials for parents has also
become a priority, given the increasing cultural diversity of the city.
The Westcoast Child Care Resource Centre grant request of $4,400 towards
these initiatives, is recommended for Council approval.
CONCLUSION
This report recommends approval of:
- 1 Program Development grant of $3,533
- 1 Research, Policy Development, Innovations grant of $4,400
These are the final allocations under the 1996 Childcare Grants budget.
No funds remain, refer to Appendix I.
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APPENDIX I
Grant Date of Proposed Recommended
Category Report to 1996 to Date
Council Funding
City-Wide Support May $245,300 $246,265
Services
Administration of May $ 62,000 $ 52,400
City-owned Facilities
Research, Policy Dev. and May/July/ $ 10,000 $ 14,102
Innovations December
Program Development May/July/ $ 14,000 $ 13,533
December
Inner-City July $164,000 $175,000
Program Enhancement July $159,000 $148,000
Program Stabilization As required $ 5,000 $ 10,000
TOTAL $659,300 $659,300