SUPPORTS ITEM NO. 6
CS&B COMMITTEE AGENDA
MARCH 13, 1997
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: February 25, 1997
Dept. File No.
CC File No. 2401-1
TO: Standing Committee on City Services & Budgets
FROM: Director of Community Services, Social Planning
SUBJECT: 1997 Childcare Grants: Funding Level
RECOMMENDATION
THAT Council approve a 1997 Childcare Grants Program budget of
$665,895 to meet the grant category priorities outlined in this
report.
CSG 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, 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 1997 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 1996, Council approved an overall Childcare Grants budget of
$659,300. During the past year, Council approved 58 grant allocations.
Total Allocated
- 26 Program Enhancement $148,000
- 18 Inner-city Childcare 175,000
- 2 Program Stabilization 10,000
- 3 Program Development 13,533
- 3 Research/Policy Dev./Innovations 14,102
- 5 City-wide Childcare 246,265
- 1 Admin. of City-owned facilities 52,400
The 1996 funds directly supported and enhanced the quality of over 2,200
licensed childcare spaces and assisted in the creation of 75 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 2 new childcare centres.
DISCUSSION
The Director of Finance has advised that the 1997 budget figure is to be
adjusted by 1% inflation over the 1996 Childcare Grants budget of
$659,300. It is proposed that the 1997 childcare grants ceiling of
$665,895 be allocated as follows amongst the seven existing categories:
Proposed
Budget Actual 1997
1996 1996 Guidelines
Program Enhancement 159,000 148,000 133,395
Inner-city Childcare 164,000 175,000 190,000
Program Stabilization 5,000 10,000 5,000
Program Development 14,000 13,533 10,000
Research/Policy Dev./Innovations 10,000 14,102 10,000
City-wide Childcare Support 245,300 246,265 254,000
Admin. of City-owned 62,000 52,400 63,500
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 reflects the need to respond to increased pressure on
the city-wide support services which are providing financial and
administrative management services to small non-profit childcare
programs in Vancouver.
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. The
funding guideline, however, is being reduced by $15,000 to $133,395
and the money transferred to the Inner-city grant category (see
below) in recognition that some of the past Program Enhancement
applications better fit under Inner-city criteria. Collaborative
proposals will be encouraged. The eligibility and granting process
will remain the same. Recommendations will be brought to Council in
July 1997.
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 1996, grants
of up to $12,500 were allocated to 18 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 1997, it is recommended that the priorities remain as originally
established, the maximum grant level be maintained at $12,500 and
the overall funding level for the category be raised by $15,000 to
$190,000. This increase in the guideline reflects the need for
continued support to inner-city childcare programs. It is
anticipated that the 18 inner-city centres identified in 1996 will
re-apply and that one or two more centres will be added to the
program as noted above. 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 were two
requests for emergency funding under this category. It is
considered advisable to keep $5,000 available. It is recommended
that for 1997, 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. Given the
continued provincial freeze on childcare capital funding, we do not
anticipate a significant call upon these funds in 1997. However,
some small expansions within existing facilities may be possible so
it is recommended that the funding guideline be established at
$10,000 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 1996, three
projects were funded by the City: an inner-city family childcare
training project, a family childcare expansion options paper and a
multi-lingual translation project.
For 1997, it is recommended that priority be given to examining
innovative approaches to expanding flexible childcare options. Top
priority will be given to projects which are of city-wide benefit.
Co-ordination and collaboration with other organizations will be a
prerequisite. A $10,000 funding level is recommended. 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 $254,000. This increase is
primarily to address the need for expansion of co-ordinated
bookkeeping services for small non-profit childcare operations.
Recommendations will be brought forward to Council in April/May,
1997.
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 is also working with City staff to design, develop and open
the new City childcare facilities slated for Roundhouse and Coal
Harbour Phase I. The society will be responsible for the ongoing
management of these facilities.
It is recommended that $63,500 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 1997.
CONCLUSION
The Director of Community Services, Social Planning recommends approval
of a 1997 Childcare Grants Program budget of $665,895 to meet the
priorities outlined for the seven grant categories.
* * * * *