ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: June 2, 1998
Author/Local: Penny Coates/6042
CC File No. 2402

TO:	Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets
FROM:	Director of Community Services, Social Planning
SUBJECT:	1998 Childcare Grants Allocation - Report 1 of 3

RECOMMENDATION

A. THAT Council approve four City-wide Childcare Support Service grants totalling $252,294 as listed in this report. Source of funds: 1998 Childcare Grants Funds, 1998 Operating Budget.

B. THAT Council approve one Administration of City-owned Childcare Facilities grant of $64,100 to the Vancouver Society of Children's Centres. Source of funds: 1998 Childcare Grants Funds, 1998 Operating Budget.

GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS

The General Manager of Community Services submits A and B for CONSIDERATION.

COUNCIL POLICY

On January 20, 1998, Council approved the 1998 allocation of $672,600 for the Childcare Grants Program.

Approval of grant recommendations requires eight affirmative votes.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to recommend approval of:

4 City-wide Childcare Support Services grants;
1 Administration of City-owned Childcare Facilities grant;

as part of the first of three reports to Council on the 1998 Childcare Grants Program.

BACKGROUND

The January 20, 1998 Childcare Grants Ceiling Report identified the priorities and granting process for the two childcare grant categories described in this report.

DISCUSSION

1. City-wide Childcare Support Program

This grant category was established in 1992 to fund childcare support services that are integral to developing a viable, effective, high quality childcare system in Vancouver and unique childcare services which stand as city-wide models. For 1998, the funding guideline was established at $257,000.

Four applications have been received for 1998(see Appendix I). The Vancouver YWCA did not apply for funds this year as changes within their organizational structure significantly shifted the mandate and responsibilities of the position formerly funded through the City-wide Childcare Support grant program.

The Childcare Co-ordinator reviewed the four applications and engaged in in- depth discussions with representatives from each of the four services. Applicants were asked to:

- highlight the key outcomes achieved during the past year;
- report on how they had evaluated their service during the past year;
- identify any barriers or challenges which had limited their ability to implement all aspects of their 1997 action plans;
- identify emerging and new needs of families and childcare providers;
- indicate how their service goals and action plans for 1998 would address these needs, complement the new Supported Child Care approach and fit within the new regional structure of the Ministry for Children and Families.

These discussions identified some one-time costs associated with making the services more responsive to the needs of Vancouver families and childcare operators (See Appendix II). Therefore the recommended grant allocations for 1998 reflect a minor increase for operating expenses and one time amounts for specific initiatives. The total of these requests are still within the funding guidelines established for 1998.
The four City-wide Support Service grant allocations are recommended for approval as follows:

Initial One
Request Time Recommended

- Early Childhood Multicultural Services $ 43,712 4,712 $ 48,424 - Information Daycare $ 33,550 3,170 $ 36,720
- Westcoast Child Care Resource Centre $ 90,667 4,983 $ 95,650
(core admin., resource and referral)
- Child Care Financial & Admin. Services $ 64,500 7,000 $ 71,500

$252,294

During this next year, the City Childcare Co-ordinator will be assessing whether or not to replace the city-wide leadership and supports previously provided by the YWCA on childcare issues for the birth to three year old age group, or whether to recommend that the funding should be targeted at other gaps in support services.

2. Administration of City-owned Facilities Grant

The Civic Childcare Strategy called for development of a single-purpose, non-profit childcare organization to manage those new City-owned/leased facilities in the Downtown area resulting from rezoning negotiations or City projects. This grant category was established to fund the administrative costs of this society. The 1998 funding guideline is $64,100.

In December 1994, the Vancouver Society of Children's Centres (VSOCC) was incorporated, and in September 1995 its first childcare service, the Library Square Children's Centre, was opened. VSOCC is now preparing for the opening of the first City childcare facility being built by Concord Pacific. Opening day is scheduled for August 1998.

VSOCC's Year 4 workplan includes:

- ongoing management of Library Square Children's Centre;
- opening and ongoing management of the Roundhouse childcare facility;
- planning for the Quayside childcare facility
- collective bargaining with the BCGEU;
- development of on-site financial systems;
- strategic & resource development planning;
- participation in the Vancouver Childcare Regional Delivery Models Pilot Project;
- ongoing connections with the corporate and community sectors in the Downtown Peninsula;
- exploration of role in Supported Childcare in Network 1;
- exploration of additional services for children and families in Network 1 which could be contracted through other funders.

The VSOCC request fits the grant criteria, can be accommodated within the 1998 funding guideline and is recommended.

CONCLUSION

This report recommends approval of:

- 4 City-wide Support Services grants totalling $252,294
- 1 Administration of City-owned Facilities grant of $64,100

This leaves $356,206 still remaining in the 1998 Childcare Grants budget for allocation to grant categories which are reported in July and/or November (see Appendix III).

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APPENDIX III

Attachments to this Report that do not have electronic copy are available on file in the City Clerk's Office.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver