ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: July 9, 1999
Author/Local: P. Coates/6042

RTS No. 805

CC File No. 2402

CS&B: July 29, 1999

TO:	Standing Committee on City Services & Budgets
FROM:	Director of Community Services, Social Planning Department
SUBJECT:	1999 Childcare Grants Allocation - Report 2 of 3

RECOMMENDATION

A. THAT Council approve 19 Childcare Program Enhancement Grants totalling $121,000 as listed in Appendix I, with conditions as noted; source of funds: 1999 Childcare Grants Funds, 1999 Operating Budget.

B. THAT Council approve 22 Inner-city Childcare Sustaining Grants totalling $213,000 as listed in Appendix I, with conditions as noted; source of funds: 1999 Childcare Grants Funds, 1999 Operating Budget.

GENERAL MANAGER’S COMMENTS

The General Manager of Community Services RECOMMENDS approval of A and B.

COUNCIL POLICY

On January 20, 1999, Council approved the 1999 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 1999 Childcare Grants Program.

BACKGROUND

On February 25, 1999, City Council approved a budget of $672,600 for the Childcare Grants Program. On July 6, 1999, Council approved allocations totalling $312,925 leaving an available balance of $359,675.

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 1999 category funding available. This year only 3 applications were excluded because they did not meet the high need criteria and 1 application was not eligible because they asked for capital dollars. The remaining applications all 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 1999 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. This year the Enhancement grant application process was streamlined from a two step approach to one step. This was found to be more efficient by both applicants and staff.

The following factors continued to be 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, 26 Enhancement grant applications were received. Four applications were determined to be ineligible because the proposed initiatives did not fit the grant priority areas noted above or the childcare service was clearly serving very few low income families. Three applications were only considered under 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 need neighbourhood environments.

Twenty-two childcare programs applied for funding under the Inner-city category.

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 for Children and Families. The number of aboriginal children in non-aboriginal programs has also increased. It has been identified that there is a need to ensure that these children are receiving culturally appropriate programming and support. The Childcare Co-ordinator will be following up on this issue.

Last year’s concerns about delays in the processing of daycare subsidies by the Ministry of Human Resources seem to have been resolved. However the budget reductions being instituted by the Ministry for Children and Families and the Vancouver School Board are expected to have adverse impact on the additional supports available to high need children and families.

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 continues to underline 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. Clearly those centres like Grandview Terrace, Eagles In the Sky, Hastings Townsite and Sunset, which have chosen to link up to multi-service agencies for administrative support, are more stable in terms of finances. As well these centres have been able to offer more support to the staff, board and families thus positively impacting the quality of care being offered to the children.

CONCLUSION

This is the second of three reports related to the allocation of the 1999 Childcare Grants. Social Planning is recommending for Council approval:

- 19 Program Enhancement grants $121,000
- 22 Inner-city Childcare Sustaining grants $213,000

This leaves a balance of $25,675 in the 1999 Childcare Grants Fund for allocation later this year (see Appendix II).

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	Recommendations for the 1999 Childcare Program Enhancement and Inner-city Childcare Sustaining Grants
	Organization	1998 Total Allocation	1999 Grant Requests		1999 Recommendations		Initiative To Be Funded	Comments / CONDITIONS
			Enhancement	Inner City	Enhancement	Inner City
1	Boat Daycare Society Boat Daycare Centre “3 - 5" Year Care 25 spaces	$10,500	$10,500		$8,000		- to maintain child/staff ratios & continue extended hours of operation	- serves Vancouver Eastside - significant % of single parent families - 48% of families receive daycare subsidy - parent-run board
2	Brant Villa Day Care Society Learning Tree Day Care “3 - 5" Year Care 25 spaces	$10,500	$10,500	$12,480	0	$10,500	- to continue a food program	- serves Vancouver Eastside - significant % of single parent families - 68% of families receive daycare subsidy - high % of children with ESL - parent-run board
3	Britannia Community Services Centre Society Britannia Child Care Centre Nursery School & Britannia Out of School Preschool & School-Aged Care Total spaces operated 95 spaces	$15,600	$10,500	$12,600	$3,000	$12,600	- to continue a food program	- serves Grandview Woodlands & Strathcona - high % of single parent families - 91% of families receive daycare subsidy - significant % of children with ESL - significant % of aboriginal children
4	Cedar Cottage Neighbourhood House -preschool program at Cedar Cottage N.H. and out of school care programs at Dickens, Dickens Annex, Selkirk, Selkirk Annex, Laura Secord, Beaconsfield & Queen Alexandra Elementary Schools Preschool & School-Aged Care Total spaces operated 190 spaces	$11,000	$10,500	$6,000	$10,500	$6,000	- to strengthen administration - to maintain child/staff ratios - to continue a food program	- serves Cedar Cottage-Kensington area - high % of single parent families - 60% of families receive daycare subsidy - high % children with ESL - new Queen Alexandra program , exceptionally high need
5	Collingwood Neighbourhood House -Grenfell & Carleton School Age Program, Duke Street Program, and Collingwood Kindercare Program Infant, Preschool, “3-5" Year Care, Kindercare, School-Aged Care, & Childminding Total spaces operated 219 spaces	$14,000	$7,500	$6,500	$7,500	$6,500	- to maintain child/staff ratios and continue food program	- serves Renfrew - Collingwood area - significant % of single parent families - 60 - 80% of families receive daycare subsidy - significant % of children with ESL - significant % of aboriginal children
6	Developmental Disabilities Association Playhouse Child Centre & Waterside Child Centre Infant & Toddler, “3 - 5" Year Care, Preschool & School-Aged Care Total spaces operated 170	0	$8,500	$4,250	$6,000	$4,250	- to provide a food program at Waterside and to maintain child/staff ratios for infant/toddler programs	- serves City-wide (Special Needs Care), Downtown Eastside and Collingwood areas (descriptions for Playhouse and Waterside) - significant to high % of single parent families - 50 - 100% of families receive daycare subsidy - significant % of children with ESL - significant % of children speak little or no English - high % of aboriginal children - Waterside is the only toddler program in the DTES
7	Eagles in the Sky Association Eaglets Preschool & Kidzone Preschool & School-Aged Care Total spaces operated 70 spaces as of July/99	$16,600	$10,500	$12,600	$6,000	$12,600	- to maintain child/staff ratios and continue a food program	- serves MacDonald School Catchment Area & East Vancouver - high % single parent families - 94 - 97% of families receive daycare subsidy - high % children with ESL - significant % of children speak little or no English - significant to high % of aboriginal children - parent run board with administrative help from a multi-service agency - expanded school-aged program starting July 1/99
8	Eastside Family Place Family Place , Childminding & Emergency Childminding (18 mths - 6 years) 15 spaces	$1,500		$7,720		$2,650	- to maintain child/staff ratios	- serves Grandview-Woodlands & East Vancouver - high % single parent families - significant % of children with ESL - community/parent run board
9	Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House Frog Hollow NH Satellite Daycare, Nursery School and KidsWorld Toddler, “3-5" Year, Preschool & School-Aged Care Total spaces operated 109 spaces	$10,500	$10,500		$10,500		- to strengthen administration and continue a food program	- serves South Hastings-Sunrise & North Renfrew-Collingwood - significant - high % of single parent families - 79% of families receive daycare subsidy - significant - high % of children with ESL - multi-service organization
10	Grandview Terrace Childcare Society/Britannia Community Services Centre Grandview Childcare Centre “3-5 “Year Care, Preschool & School-Aged Care Total spaces operated 101 spaces as of Sept./99	$16,600	$10,500	$12,600	$6,000	$12,600	- to continue a food program	- serves Grandview Woodlands - high % of single parent families - 85% of families receive daycare subsidy - significant % of children with ESL - significant % of children speak little or no English - high % of aboriginal children - community/parent-run board with administrative assistance from a multi-service agency - expanded school aged program starting Sept./99
11	Hastings Townsite Childcare Society/Kiwassa Neighbourhood House Harbour View Daycare “3-5" Year Care 25 spaces	$8,000		$12,600		$12,600	- to continue food program & strengthen administration	- serves Hastings Sunrise/ Grandview Woodlands areas - high % of single parent families - 89% of families receive daycare subsidy - significant % aboriginal children - parent-run board with administration assistance from Kiwassa N.H.
12	Indian Homemakers’ Association of B.C. Eagle’s Nest Aboriginal Head Start Pre-School Preschool 20 spaces	0	$10,500		$1,500		- to provide a food program	- serves the Downtown-Eastside area - high % of single parent families - high % of aboriginal children - no fee for parents because of federal government funding
13	Kiwassa Neighbourhood House Kiwassa Variety Club Daycare, Kiwassa Childminding & Hastings Park Child Development Centre Childminding, Preschool, “3-5" & School-Aged Care Total spaces operated 85 spaces	$16,600	$10,500	$12,600	$4,000	$12,600	- to continue food program & strengthen administration	- serves Hastings Sunrise/ Grandview Woodlands - significant % of single parent families - 92 % of families receive daycare subsidy - significant % of children with ESL - significant % of children speak little or no English - high % of aboriginal children
14	Little Mountain Neighbourhood House Little Mountain Neighbourhood House Child Development Centre “3-5" Year Care - Special Needs Centre 15 spaces	$7,000		$7,290		$7,000	- to continue a food program	- serves Little Mountain Riley Park area - high % of single parent families - 94% of families receive daycare subsidy - high % of children speak little or no English - high % of aboriginal children
15	McGregor Childcare Society McGregor Child Care Centre Infant, Toddler & “3 - 5" Care 37 spaces	$12,600		$12,600		$12,600	- to maintain child/staff ratios, particularly for the toddler program	- serves Mount Pleasant area - 79% of families receive daycare subsidy - significant % of children with ESL - significant % of aboriginal children CONDITION: payment of grant subject to the Childcare Coordinator receiving a letter from VCC confirming their $20,000 contribution
16	Mount Pleasant Child Care Society Mount Pleasant Child Care Toddler & “3 - 5" Year Care 37 spaces	$16,600	$7,500	$12,600	$4,000	$12,600	- to continue a food program and maintain child/staff ratios particularly in toddler program	- serves Mt. Pleasant area - significant % of single parent families - 88% of families receive daycare subsidy - significant %of children with ESL - parent-run board CONDITION: that the Board actively work with the Childcare Coordinator to stabilize the administrative structure of the Society. Grant to be paid in quarterly installments.
17	Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House Daycare Preschool 32 spaces	$12,600	$12,735	$12,735	0	$6,000	- to maintain child/staff ratios	- serves Mount Pleasant area - significant % of single parent families - 59% of families receive daycare subsidy - high % of children with ESL - significant % of children speak little or no English - changing the daycare program to preschool
18	Ray-Cam Co-operative Centre Raymur Place Day Care Program & Latch Key - RayCam Centre Out of School Care “3-5" & School-Aged Care 56 spaces	$17,100	$10,500	$12,600	$5,000	$12,600	- to maintain child/staff ratio and continue a food program	- serves Downtown Eastside - high % of single parent families - 99% of families receive daycare subsidy - high % of children with ESL - high % of aboriginal children
19	Shannon Daycare Society Shannon Daycare Centre Toddler & “3 - 5" Year Care 25 spaces	$10,500	$10,500		$10,500		- to maintain child/staff ratios in the toddler program	- serves Marpole area - high % of single parent families - 80% of families receive daycare subsidy - significant % of children with ESL - parent-run board
20	South Van Neighbourhood House Poppins Preschool Preschool 18 spaces	$2,300		$4,000		$2,300	- to maintain child/staff ratios	- serves South Vancouver area - significant % of single parent families - high % of children with ESL - high % of children speak little or no English
21	Spare Time Child Care Society Spare Time Challenge Club School-Aged Care 199 spaces	$7,000	$5,000		$5,000		- to strengthen administration	- serves South Vancouver / Fraserview, Marpole Oakridge, Mt. Pleasant areas - significant % of single parent families - approximately 40% of families receive daycare subsidy - parent run society
22	St. Michael's Anglican Church Day Care Centre St. Michael’s Daycare “3-5" Year Care 25 spaces	$11,400	$10,500	$6,000	0	$12,600	- to provide a food program and to maintain child/staff ratios	- serves Mt. Pleasant area - high % of single parent families - 99% of families receive daycare subsidy - high % of children with ESL - significant % of children speak little or no English - significant % of aboriginal children CONDITION: Grant to be released in quarterly installments. First quarter contingent upon the Childcare Coordinator receiving a letter from the Church Board confirming sponsorship until August 31, 2000.
23	Strathcona Community Centre Association Strathcona Community Centre Preschool and Strathcona After School Care Program Preschool & School- Aged Care Total spaces operated 125 spaces	$16,600	$10,500	$12,600	$4,000	$12,600	- to improve child/staff ratios & continue a food program	- serves Strathcona area - high % of single parent families - 73% of families receive daycare subsidy - significant % children with ESL
24	Sunset Child Care Society - Sunset Daycare Centre 8064 Buscombe Street Vancouver, BC V5X 3S1 phone: 325-3817 Contact: Louise Corobotiuc “3 - 5 “ Year Care 25 spaces	$10,500	$10,500		$10,500		- to continue a food program	- serves Sunset, South Vancouver -Victoria Dr., Marpole, Fraserview - 74% of families receive daycare subsidy - high % of children with ESL - significant % of children speak little or no English - parent run society with administrative assistance from Little Mtn. Neighbourhood House
25	Thunderbird Neighbourhood Association Thunderbird Neighbourhood Centre Nursery School & Thunderbird After School Care Preschool & School-Aged Care Total spaces operated 50 spaces	$11,000	$5,000	$9,000	$7,000	$4,000	- to maintain child/staff ratios & provide food program	- serves Hastings-Sunrise & East Vancouver - significant % of single parent families - 55 - 60 % of families receive daycare subsidy - high % children with ESL
26	Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society Sundance Daycare “3 - 5" Year Care 25 spaces	$12,600		$12,600		$12,600	- to provide a food program	- serves Downtown Eastside & Grandview Woodlands - high % of single parent families - 100% of families receive daycare subsidy - high % of aboriginal children
27	Vancouver Chinese Pentecostal Benevolent Society Sunshine Corner Daycare “3 -5" Year Care 25 spaces	$8,000	$10,500		$10,500		- to continue a food program	- serves Mt. Pleasant & Riley Park areas - significant %of single parent families - high % of children with ESL - significant % of children speak little or no English
28	YMCA of Greater Vancouver Nanook Day Care (located at Broadway & Clark) Toddler, “3 - 5" & School-Aged Care Total spaces operated 664 spaces	$12,600		$12,600		$12,600	- to continue a food program at Nanook	- serves Mt. Pleasant area - 99% of families receive daycare subsidy - significant % of children with ESL - high % of aboriginal children
29	YWCA Citygate Child Care Centre & Crabtree Corner Infant, Toddler, “3 - 5" Year Care & Emergency Child Care Total spaces operated 113 spaces	$12,600	$1,500	$11,000	$1,500	$12,600	- to provide food programs at City Gate & Crabtree	- serves Downtown Eastside & Strathcona - high % of single parent families - 83% of families receive daycare subsidy - significant % of children with ESL
	GRANT REQUESTS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR FUNDING
30	Bayview Community School Advisory Society Jericho Kids Club Kindercare & School-Aged Care Total Spaces Operated 120 spaces	0	$6,000		0		- funding not recommended	- does not meet high need criteria
31	Creekview Tiny Tots Society Creekview Tiny Tots Daycare Toddler Care 14 spaces	0	$10,500		0		- funding not recommended	- does not meet high need criteria
32	Sexsmith Day Care Association Sexsmith Community School Preschool Preschool 18 spaces	0	$10,500		0		- funding not recommended	- not an eligible project ( request for capital)
33	Sunset Community Association Sunset Out of School Centre School-Aged Care 15 spaces	0	$5,000		0		- funding not recommended	- does not meet high need criteria
33	TOTAL:	$312,400	$237,235	$225,575	$121,000	$213,000		- The 1998 allocation total only includes those groups that reapplied in 1999. The actual 1998 Enhance. & Inner-City total was $323,800.

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Notes:

* new = first time request for a child care grant or did not apply for a grant in 1998 or applied but did not receive a grant in 1998
The number of childcare spaces does not always reflect enrolment which can be higher e.g. many preschool programs offer morning and afternoon classes.

This information is taken from the “client profile sheets” submitted by each applicant with their grant application forms. The terms “significant” and “high” are explained below:

Single parent families Children who speak little or no English

-Significant 30 - 50% - Significant 30 - 50 %
-High over 50% - High over 50%

Daycare Subsidy (provided by the B.C. Ministry of Human Resources) Children who are Aboriginal

-comments noted when over 40% of families receive a daycare subsidy - Significant 15 - 30%

- High over 30%

ESL = children with English as a second language

Children who speak English as a second language

-Significant 30 - 50%
-High over 50%

Grant Category	Date of Report to Council	Proposed 1999 Funding	Recommended to Date
City-Wide Support Services	July	$248,850	$248,825
Administration of City-owned Facilities	July	$64,750	$64,100
Research, Policy Development & Innovations	May/July/December	$20,000
Program Development	May/July/December	$0
Inner-City Sustaining	July	$214,000	$213,000
Program Enhancement	July	$120,000	$121,000
Program Stabilization	as required	$5,000
TOTAL:		$672,600	$646,925
BALANCE:			$25,675

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver