SUPPORTS ITEM NO. 2
CS&B COMMITTEE AGENDA
JULY 31, 1997
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: July 14, 1997
Dept. File No.
CC File: 2402
TO: Standing Committee on City Services & Budgets
FROM: Director of Community Services, Social Planning
SUBJECT: 1997 Childcare Grants Allocation - Report 2 of 3
RECOMMENDATION
A. THAT Council approve 24 Childcare Program Enhancement Grants
totalling $128,895 as listed in Appendix I, with conditions as
noted; source of funds: 1997 Childcare Grants Funds, 1997
Operating Budget.
B. THAT Council approve 20 Inner-city Childcare Sustaining Grants
totalling $194,500 as listed in Appendix I, with conditions as
noted; source of funds: 1997 Childcare Grants Funds, 1997
Operating Budget.
C. THAT Council approve one Childcare Program Development Grant
of $5,000 to assist Grandview Terrace Childcare Society with
the non-capital costs associated with opening a new licensed
Preschool Program; source of funds: 1997 Childcare Grant
Funds, 1997 Operating Budget.
GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS
The General Manager of Community Services submits Recommendations
A, B and C for CONSIDERATION.
COUNCIL POLICY
On March 13, 1997 Council approved the 1997 allocation of $665,895 for
the Childcare Grants Program.
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
- Program Development
This is the second of three reports regarding the 1997 Childcare Grants
Program.
BACKGROUND
On March 13, 1997, City Council approved a budget of $665,895 for the
Childcare Grants Program. On June 17, 1997, Council approved
allocations totalling $322,500 leaving an available balance of $343,395.
DISCUSSION
The primary focus of the summer cycle of the Childcare Grants Program is
the Program Enhancement and Inner-city Sustaining grant categories.
This year the number of grant applications received for these categories
increased by 25% over 1996 levels and the requests exceeded the 1997
category funding available by over $170,000. While some applications
could be easily excluded because they did not meet the high need
criteria, most of the applications came from organizations serving high
need families and/or providing high need services such as infant/toddler
care. A few of the applications were submitted as collaborative
projects in response to a request from the Childcare Co-ordinator for
applicants to look at cost effective approaches. 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.
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 1997 Childcare Budget
Ceiling Report, it was recommended that initiatives be related to
food supplement programs, child/staff ratios, extended hours of
operation, training of volunteers 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.
Part-time preschool programs are only eligible if exceptional need
is identified. Applicants are asked to complete a one page Phase I
application form indicating the type and estimated cost of the
initiative which their organization would like to undertake. If
the application meets the basic criteria, then the applicant is
encouraged to fill in a detailed Phase II application form.
The following factors are 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 commitment to parent involvement
- effective use of prior grant funding
- a collaborative approach
In total, Phase I Enhancement grant applications were received from
35 organizations. One application was received well after the
deadline and therefore could not be included in the process. Two
applications were determined to be ineligible because the proposed
initiatives did not fit the priority areas noted above, or the
childcare service was clearly serving few low income families. One
application was dropped from the process because the organization
has decided to close their childcare service and one applicant was
transferred to the Inner-city category. In all twenty-nine
applications were moved forward to the next stage and all submitted
Phase II application forms.
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 $12,500 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 of Social Services or require extra family
support. All of the children are considered to be living in high
risk neighbourhood environments.
Twenty-two childcare programs applied for funding under the
Inner-city category. One program was transferred to this category
based upon information submitted on their Phase I Program
Enhancement application. Site visits/interviews were conducted by
the Childcare Co-ordinator. Issues of poverty, illiteracy,
cultural and linguistic barriers, drug and alcohol abuse, unsafe
neighbourhoods, inadequate housing, and the need for preschool
mental health supports continue to be the most frequently cited
concerns. Centres also noted increasing needs for food supplement,
clothing exchange and family support programs. A number of
programs commented on the increasing numbers of children being
enrolled who are in foster care or under the close supervision of
the Ministry.
Social Planning is recommending approval of 20 Inner-city Childcare
Sustaining grants (see Appendix I).
3. Program Development Grants
This grant category provides up to $5,000 to non-profit societies
to assist with the non-capital costs associated with developing new
childcare services, particularly in high need areas of the city.
To date only one application has been received this year.
Grandview Terrace Child Care Society, which in co-operation with
the Britannia Community Centre, operates a "3-5" group daycare and
an after-school daycare program in a City owned portable located
on School Board property, is proposing to open a new part-time
preschool of 16 spaces serving up to 32 children aged three and
four years within the same facility. Staff are recommending a
$5,000 grant. The Grandview Woodlands area has been identified as
a high priority for this type of service. Furthermore the proposed
program will maximise the use of the City-owned portable and
increase the financial viability of the existing programs. The
minimal capital costs associated with this expansion are addressed
in the companion Childcare Capital Grant report.
CONCLUSION
This is the second of three reports related to the allocation of the
1997 Childcare Grants. Social Planning is recommending for Council
approval:
- 24 Program Enhancement grants $128,895
- 20 Inner-city Childcare Sustaining grants $194,500
- 1 Program Development grant $ 5,000
This leaves a balance of $15,000 in the 1997 Childcare Grants Fund for
allocation later this year (see Appendix II).
This year's review points to the necessity for the City and the
childcare community to work closely with the Vancouver Regional
Operating Agency of the Ministry for Children and Families, the
Vancouver Richmond Health Board, the Vancouver School Board and the
Ministry of Human Resources to address the issue of adequate funding for
childcare, particularly in high need neighbourhoods. It also points to
the need for small isolated childcare programs to become linked into the
broader continuum of prevention and early intervention services for
young children. The discussions have already begun and will form a
major part of the Childcare Co-ordinator's workplan for this next year.
APPENDICES on file in City Clerk's Office
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