ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: July 14, 1998
Author/Local: Penny Coates/6042
CC File No. 2402

TO:	Standing Committee on City Services & Budgets
FROM:	Director of Community Services, Social Planning Department
SUBJECT:	1998 Childcare Grants Allocation - Report 2 of 3

RECOMMENDATION

A. THAT Council approve 19 Childcare Program Enhancement Grants totalling $119,000 as listed in Appendix I, with conditions as noted; source of funds: 1998 Childcare Grants Funds, 1998 Operating Budget.

B. THAT Council approve 22 Inner-city Childcare Sustaining Grants totalling $204,800 as listed in Appendix I, with conditions as noted; source of funds: 1998 Childcare Grants Funds, 1998 Operating Budget.

GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS

The General Manager of Community Services submits Recommendations 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

This report makes recommendations for the following Childcare Grant categories:

- Childcare Program Enhancement
- Inner-city Childcare Sustaining

This is the second of three reports regarding the 1998 Childcare Grants Program.

BACKGROUND

On January 20, 1998, City Council approved a budget of $672,600 for the Childcare Grants Program. On June 8, 1998, Council approved allocations totalling $316,394 leaving an available balance of $356,206.

DISCUSSION

The focus of the summer cycle of the Childcare Grants Program is the Program Enhancement and Inner-city Sustaining grant categories. Once again, the requests significantly exceeded the 1998 category funding available. While seven 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. 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 1998 Childcare Budget Ceiling Report, it was recommended that initiatives be related to food supplement programs, maintaining child/staff ratios, assisting infant and toddler programs 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, the applicant is encouraged to fill in a detailed Phase II application form, taking into account the fiscal limitations of the City's overall childcare budget.

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 34 organizations. Seven applications were determined to be ineligible because the proposed initiatives did not fit the grant priority areas noted above; the childcare service was clearly serving very few low income families; or the childcare service was located outside the City of Vancouver boundaries. Three programs consolidated their requests under the Inner-city grant category and one application was put on hold because the service may be closing or transferring to new sponsorship. In all 23 applications were moved forward to the next stage and all submitted Phase II application forms. Based on the additional information, two requests were assessed as being beyond the scope of the City's childcare grant program and two were transferred to the Inner-city category.

Social Planning is recommending approval of 19 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 $12,600 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 for Children and Families 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 and 2 programs were transferred into this category based upon information submitted on their Program Enhancement application. One application did not meet the basic eligibility criteria and one application has been put on hold because of issues related to service continuity. (The Childcare Co-ordinator will be working with the applicant and other agencies in the Downtown Eastside to explore ways to retain this much needed service.)

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 commented on increasing needs for food supplement, clothing exchange and family support programs. It was noted that increasing numbers of the children being enrolled in inner-city childcare programs are in foster care or under the close supervision of the Ministry.

All inner-city centres expressed frustration and concern about emerging delays in the processing of daycare subsidies by the Ministry of Human Resources and some of the smaller childcare operators suggested that they would be facing serious cashflow problems if subsidy payment delays continue.

Social Planning recommends approval of 22 Inner-city Childcare Sustaining grants (see Appendix I).

This year's grant review points to the continued need 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 fully linked into the broader continuum of prevention and early intervention services for young children so they access appropriate supports and resources. These discussions have formed the basis of the Childcare Co-ordinator's workplan for the past year. Resolution of the emerging concerns regarding the daycare subsidy program plus some emerging concerns common to many of the school-aged care centres will be key priorities for the Childcare Co-ordinator during 1998/99.

CONCLUSION

This is the second of three reports related to the allocation of the 1998 Childcare Grants. Social Planning is recommending for Council approval:

- 19 Program Enhancement grants $119,000
- 22 Inner-city Childcare Sustaining grants $204,800

This leaves a balance of $32,406 in the 1998 Childcare Grants Fund for allocation later this year (see Appendix II).

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Recommendations for the 1998 Childcare Program Enhancement and Inner-city Childcare Sustaining Grants
	Organization	1997 Total Allocation	1998				Initiative To Be Funded	Comments
			Grant Requests		Recommendations
			Enhance.	Inner City	Enhance.	Inner City
1	Boat Daycare Soc. - Boat Daycare Ctr "3-5" Years Care 25 spaces	$8,000.	$10,500.		$10,500.		to maintain child/staff ratios & extended hours Condition: Submission of 1998/99 financial plan	- serves Vancouver Eastside - high % single parent families - 70 % of families receive daycare subsidy - parent run board
2	Brant Villa Day Care Soc. - Learning Tree Day Care "3-5" Years Care 25 spaces	$8,000.	$ 8,000.	$10,100.	$8,000.	$2,500.	to provide a hot lunch program & maintain child/staff ratios	- serves Vancouver Eastside - significant % of single parent families - 80 % of families receive daycare subsidy - significant % of children with ESL - significant % of children speak little or no English - parent run board
3	Britannia Community Services Ctr Soc. - Britannia Child Care Ctr Nursery School & Britannia Out of School Preschool & School-Aged Care 95 spaces	$12,500.	$10,500.	$12,600.	$3,000.	$12,600.	to provide a a hot lunch/food supplement program	- serves Grandview Woodlands & Strathcona - high % single parent families - 80 - 88 % of families receive daycare subsidy - significant % of children with ESL - significant % of aboriginal children
4	Cedar Cottage Nbhd House -preschool program at Cedar Cottage N.H. and out of school care programs at Dickens, Dickens Annex, Selkirk, Selkirk Annex, Laura Secord & Queen Alexandra Elementary Schools Preschool & School-Aged Care 165 spaces	$11,000.	$10,500.	$ 2,000.	$4,500.	$6,500.	to strengthen administration between 6 centres, maintain child/staff ratios & provide a food supplement program	- serves Cedar Cottage-Kensington area - significant - high % of single parent families - 43 - 51% of families receive daycare subsidy - significant % children with ESL - significant % of children speak little or no English - significant % refugee/new immigrant children
5	City Hall Childcare Soc. - City Hall Childcare Ctr. Infant/Toddler & "3-5" Year Care 49 spaces	$6,000.	$6,000.		$4,500.		to strengthen administration & continue work with other partners on the "Regional Delivery Model Pilot Project for Amalgamated Stand-Alones"	- serves Lower Mainland - parent run board
6	Collingwood Nbhd House -Grenfell & Carleton School Age Program, Duke Street Program, Collingwood Childcare Programs & Sarah House Infant, Preschool, "3-5" Care, Kindercare, School-Aged Care, & Childminding 219 spaces	$14,000.	$7,500.	$6,500.	$7,500.	$6,500.	to strengthen administration, maintain child/staff ratio's & provide a food supplement program	- serves Renfrew - Collingwood area - significant - high% single parent families - 60 - 80% of families receive daycare subsidy - high % of children with ESL - high % refugee/new immigrant children
7	Eagles in the Sky Assoc. - Eaglets Preschool & Kidzone Preschool & School-Aged Care 50 spaces	$17,000.	$10,500.	$12,600.	$4,000.	$12,600.	to strengthen centre administration, maintain child/staff ratios & provide a food supplement program Condition: Submission of 1997/98 financial statements	- serves Hastings Corridor area - high % single parent families - 75 - 91% of families receive daycare subsidy - high % children with ESL - high % of children speak little or no English - significant % Aboriginal children - high % refugee/new immigrant children - parent run board
8 *new	Eastside Family Place Family Place & Childminding Emergency Childminding(18 mths - 6 years) 15 spaces			$11,300.		$1,500.	to assist with the costs of an emergency childminding service as a compliment to existing family place	- serves Grandview-Woodlands & East Vancouver - high % single parent families - significant % children with ESL - significant % of refugee/new immigrant children - community/parent run board
9	Frog Hollow Nbhd House - Frog Hollow NH Satellite Daycare, Nursery School and KidsWorld Toddler, "3-5" Year, Preschool & School-Aged Care 114 spaces	$10,500.	$10,500.		$10,500.		to strengthen administration for all Frog Hollow childcare programs & provide a food supplement program	- serves Hastings-Sunrise/Renfrew-Collingwood area - significant - high % of single parent families - 27- 62% of families receive daycare subsidy - significant % children with ESL
10	Grandview Terrace Childcare Soc. -Grandview Childcare Ctr "3-5 "Year Care, Preschool & School-Aged Care 71 spaces	$17,000.	$10,500.	$12,600	$4,000.	$12,600.	to maintain child/staff ratios & provide a food supplement program	- serves Grandview Woodlands - high % of single parent families - 88% of families receive daycare subsidy - significant % of children with ESL - high % of aboriginal children - parent run board with administrative assistance from Britannia Community Centre
11	Hastings Townsite Childcare Soc. -Harbour View Daycare "3-5" 25 spaces	$8,000.		$8000.		$8,000.	to maintain child/staff ratios & provide a food supplement program	- serves Hastings Sunrise/ Grandview Woodlands - high % of single parent families - 71% of families receive daycare subsidy - significant % of aboriginal children - parent run board with administrative assistance from Kiwassa Neighbourhood House
12	Kiwassa Nbhd House - Kiwassa Daycare Preschool, "3-5" & School-Aged Care 85 spaces	$16,500.	$10,500.	$12,600.	$4,000.	$12,600.	to strengthen administration, maintain child/staff ratios & provide a food supplement program	- serves Hastings Sunrise/ Grandview Woodlands - high % of single parent families - 88% of families receive daycare subsidy - high % of aboriginal children
13	Little Mountain Nbhd House - Little Mountain Nbhd House Child Development Ctr "3-5" Year Care - Special Needs Ctr 15 spaces	$ 5,000	$ 3,000.	$6,700.		$7,000.	to maintain child staff ratios, strengthen administration & provide a hot lunch program	- serves Little Mountain Riley Park area - high % of single parent families - 80% of families receive daycare subsidy - high % of children speak little or no English - high % of aboriginal children
14	McGregor Childcare Soc. - McGregor Child Care Ctr Infant, Toddler & " 3-5" Care 37 spaces	$12,500.	$10,500.	$12,600.		$12,600.	to maintain child/staff ratios Condition: College funding to be confirmed	- serves Mount Pleasant area - high % single parent families - 76% of families receive daycare subsidy - significant % of children with ESL - significant % of aboriginal children
15	Mount Pleasant Child Care Soc. - Mount Pleasant Child Care "18 mo - 5" Y ear Care 37 spaces	$18,500.	$10,500.	$12,500.	$4,000.	$12,600.	to maintain child/staff ratios & provide a hot lunch food supplement program	- serves Mount Pleasant area - high % of single parent families - 90% of families receive daycare subsidy - high % of children with ESL - significant % of children speak little or no English - significant % of aboriginal children - significant % refugee/new immigrant children - parent run board
16	Mount Pleasant Nbhd House - "3-5" Year Care & Preschool 36 spaces	$12,500.	$25,470.	combined		$12,600.	to maintain child/staff ratios	- serves Mount Pleasant area - significant % of single parent families - 50 - 60% of families receive daycare subsidy - high % of children with ESL - high % of children speak little or no English - high % refugee/new immigrant children
17	Pooh Corner Daycare Soc. - Pooh Corner Daycare 18 mo. - 5 years 22 spaces	$9,000.	$10,500.		$6,000.		to continue participation in the administrative partnerships, "Stand Alone Pilot Project" & provide a hot lunch program	- serves Vancouver, West End and Central Business District - significant % of single parent families - significant % refugee/new immigrant children - parent run board
18	Ray-Cam Co-operative Ctr - Raymur Place Day Care Program & Latch Key - RayCam Ctr Out of School Care "3-5" & School-Aged Care "56 spaces	$17,000.	$10,500.	$12,600.	$4,500.	$12,600.	to maintain child/staff ratio and a hot lunch/food supplement program	- serves Downtown Eastside - high % of single parent families - 99% of families receive daycare subsidy - high % of aboriginal children
19	Shannon Daycare Soc. - Shannon Daycare Ctr Toddler (18 mos. - 3 Yrs) & "3-5" Year Care 25 spaces	$10,500.	$10,500.		$10,500.		to maintain child/staff ratios	- serves Marpole area - high % of single parent families - 40% of families receive daycare subsidy - significant % of children with ESL - parent-run board
20	Shon Yee Daycare Soc. - Shon Yee Daycare "2½ - 5" Year Care 25 spaces	$5,500.	$4,200.	$5,000.	HOLD	HOLD	to maintain child/ staff ratios & provide a food supplement program Comment: Funding will be reviewed if childcare centre viability is confirmed	- serves Strathcona area - significant % of single parent families - 62% of families receive daycare subsidy - high % of children with ESL - high % of children speak little or no English - significant % of aboriginal children
21	South Van Nbhd House - Poppins Preschool Preschool 18 spaces	$ 2,000.	$3,000.	$ 4,000.		$2,300.	to maintain child/staff ratio	- serves South Vancouver area - significant % of single parent families - high % of children with ESL - high % of children speak little or no English - significant % refugee/new immigrant children
22	Spare Time Child Care Soc. - Spare Time Challenge Club School-Aged Care 199 spaces	$ 4,000.	$8,000.		$7,000.		to strengthen administration & participate in special financial analysis project	- serves South Vancouver / Fraserview, Marpole Oakridge, Mt. Pleasant - significant % single parent families - parent run board
23	St. Michael's Anglican Church Day Care Ctr - St. Michael's Daycare "3-5" Year Care 25 spaces	$11,000.	$11,400.			$11,400.	to provide a hot lunch program Condition: Submission of 1997/98 financial information	- serves Mt. Pleasant area - high % of single parent families - 80% of families receive daycare subsidy - high % of children with ESL - high % of children speak little or no English - significant % of aboriginal children - significant % refugee/new immigrant children
24	Strathcona Community Ctr Assoc. -Strathcona Community Ctr Preschool and Strathcona After School Care Program Preschool & School- Aged Care 125 spaces	$16,000.	$10,500.	$12,600.	$4,000.	$12,600.	to maintain child/staff ratios & provide food supplement program	- serves Strathcona area - high % of single parent families - 70% of families receive daycare subsidy - high % of children with ESL - significant % refugee/new immigrant children
25	Sunset Child Care Soc. - Sunset Daycare Ctr "2½ - 5 " Year Care 25 spaces	$ 3,500.	$10,500.		$10,500.		to provide hot lunch program & maintain child/staff ratio	- serves Sunset, South Van., Victoria Dr., Marpole & Fraserview - 52% of families receive daycare subsidy - high % of children with ESL - parent run with administrative assistance from Little Mountain Neighbourhood House
26	Thunderbird Nbhd Assoc. - Thunderbird Nbhd Ctr Nursery School & Thunderbird After School Care Preschool & School-Aged Care 50 spaces	$12,000.	$ 10,000.	$9,000.	$4,000.	$7,000.	to maintain child/staff ratios & provide a food supplement program	- serves Hastings-Sunrise & East Vancouver - significant - high % of single parent families - 54 - 65% of families receive daycare subsidy - high % of children with ESL
27	Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Ctr Soc. -Sundance Daycare "3 - 5" Year Care 25 spaces	$12,500.		$12,600.		$12,600.	to maintain child/staff ratios & provide a food supplement program Condition: Receipt of annual report	- serves Downtown Eastside & Grandview Woodlands - high % of single parent families - 100% of families receive daycare subsidy - high % of aboriginal children
28	Vancouver Chinese Pentecostal Benevolent Soc. - Sunshine Corner Daycare "2½ -5" Year Care 25 spaces	$8,000.	$10,500.		$8,000.		to maintain child/staff ratios & provide a hot lunch/food supplement program	- serves Mt. Pleasant & Riley Park areas - significant % single parent families - 53% of families receive daycare subsidy - significant % of children with ESL
29 *new	Vancouver - Richmond Assoc. for Mentally Handicapped People (new name: Developmental Disabilities Assoc.) -Waterside Childcare Ctr Infant, Toddler , `3-5' , Preschool & School-Aged Care 170 spaces		$8,915.			$5,500.	to provide a hot lunch program	General description for Waterside Childcare Ctr. - serves Downtown Eastside, Grandview Woodlands & North East Vancouver - high % of single parent families - 95% of families receive daycare subsidy - high % of aboriginal children
30	YMCA of Greater Vancouver - Nanook Day Care Toddler, `3-5' & School-Aged Care 664 spaces	$8,000.		$ 8,000.		$8,000.	to provide a hot lunch/food supplement program	General description for Nanook Daycare - serves Mt. Pleasant area - high % of single parent families - 100% of families receive daycare subsidy - significant % children with ESL - high % of aboriginal children
31	YWCA - Citygate Child Care Ctr & Crabtree Corner Infant, Toddler, "3-5" Years Care & Emergency Child Care 113 spaces	$13,000.	$1,500.	$11,000.		$12,600.	to maintain child/staff ration & provide a hot lunch/food supplement program	General description of the Citygate & Crabtree programs - serves Downtown Eastside & Strathcona - high % of single parent families - 50 - 96 % of families receive daycare subsidy - significant - high % of aboriginal children
31	TOTAL:	$309,000	$254,485	$194,900	$119,000	$204,800		- 1997 allocation total only includes those groups that reapplied in 1998. The actual 1997 Enhance. & Inner-City total was $323,395.

Notes:
* new = first time request for a child care grant or did not receive a grant in 1997
The number of childcare spaces does not always reflect enrolment which can be higher e.g. many preschool programs offer morning and afternoon classes.

Comments Section (Penny these are the general categories that I will use for the condensed version which will go as an appendix to your report.)
This information is taken from the "client profile sheets" submitted by each applicant with their grant applicant forms. The terms "high" and "significant" are explained below:

Single parent families
-Significant 30-50%
-High over 50%

Daycare Subsidy (provided by the B.C. Ministry of Human Resources)

-comments noted when over 40% of families receive a daycare subsidy

ESL = children with English as a second language

Children who speak English as a second language-Significant 30-50%
-High over 50%
Children who speak little or no English
-Significant 30-50%
-High over 50%
Children who are refugee or new immigrant

-Significant 30-50% -High over 50%

APPENDIX II

Grant Category	Date of Report to Council	Proposed 1998 Funding	Recommended to Date
City-Wide Support Services	June	$257,000	$252,294
Administration of City-owned Facilities	June	$64,100	$64,100
Research, Policy Development & Innovations	May/July/ December	$15,500	$0
Program Development	May/July/ December	$0	$0
Inner-City Sustaining	July	$201,000	$204,800
Program Enhancement	July	$130,000	$119,000
Program Stabilization	as required	$5,000	$0
TOTAL:		$672,600	$640,194
BALANCE:			$32,406

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver