October 26, 2004
SUBJECT: Update on: Explore the Feasibility of Providing a One-Stop Resource Center for Child Care Providers and Parents “Study Issue”
REPORT IN BRIEF
The purpose of this report is to update Council on the 2003 Child Care Advisory Board (CCAB) Study Issue: Explore the Feasibility of Providing a One-Stop Resource Center for Child Care Providers and Parents, and to make recommendations for future City staff involvement with this project.
On September 30, 2003, staff presented results of the CCAB One-Stop Center Study Issue to Council (Attachment A, RTC 03-331, Feasibility of Providing a One-Stop Resource Center for Child Care Providers and Parents). Council approved the staff recommendation, and directed staff to “act in an advisory capacity with child care related agencies to leverage resources and apply for grant funding to develop and maintain a non-profit resource center independent of the City of Sunnyvale. Staff will update Council on the progress of developing the center in October 2004.”
As a result of Council direction, staff began acting in an advisory capacity to the potential collaborators by convening several meetings with them to further explore the one-stop center project, and to determine each agency’s role in the collaboration. In October 2004, each potential collaborating agency submitted a letter of support to the City for this project (Attachment B, Letter of support from Children’s Creative Learning Centers; Attachment C, Letter of support from the Child Development Incorporated/Choices for Children; and Attachment D, Letter of support from Palo Alto Community Child Care). Because these agencies have demonstrated their commitment to the one-stop center project, staff recommends that the City’s role in this collaboration continue and that staff continue to act in an advisory capacity to the collaborating agencies through October 2005. City staff involvement after this date will be contingent upon significant progress being made on the one-stop center project plan, which will be developed with staff assistance, by the collaborating agencies.
BACKGROUND
On September 30, 2003 staff presented the results of the CCAB Study Issue, Explore the Feasibility of Providing a One-Stop Resource Center for Child Care Providers and Parents to Council. The CCAB developed this study issue based on information received from parents and providers about the lack of parent and provider resources in Sunnyvale. The CCAB envisioned the one-stop center as a conveniently located resource hub where Sunnyvale child care providers and parents could readily access early education resources such as developmentally appropriate teaching and learning materials, bi-lingual and multi-lingual continuing education classes (for providers), and large office equipment including photocopiers and laminators. The CCAB concurred that the purpose of developing a one-stop center in Sunnyvale is to increase the quality of early education to help ensure that Sunnyvale’s children are prepared to enter kindergarten.
Staff explored several potential one-stop center models and recommended pursuing a model that would foster collaborations between at least three local child care related agencies. These agencies expressed preliminary interest in collaborating to develop a one-stop resource center in Sunnyvale. Staff recommended acting in advisory capacity to these agencies by:
- identifying additional collaborators;
- advising collaborators in researching and applying for grant funding to establish and maintain the one-stop resource center;
- continuing to identify space options for the one-stop resource center, including space for training classes;
- advising in developing clear objectives that meet the needs of the Sunnyvale and community;
- advising with the development and implementation of a marketing plan.
Council approved the staff recommendation, which was also supported by the CCAB, and directed staff to “act in an advisory capacity with child care related agencies to leverage resources and apply for grant funding to develop and maintain a non-profit resource center independent of the City of Sunnyvale. Staff will update Council on the progress of developing the center in October 2004.”
EXISTING POLICY
General Plan Goal 5.1H.1 Support efforts to increase the availability, quality and affordability of child care in north Santa Clara County.
DISCUSSION
Since October 2003 staff has facilitated several meetings with three potential collaborating agencies to further explore their interest in developing a one-stop center in Sunnyvale. Staff has provided the CCAB with regular updates about the progress being made on this project at CCAB quarterly meetings. The CCAB is supportive of this project continuing, and for setting a reasonable timeframe and expectations for the staff’s future involvement with this project.
In October 2004, the potential collaborators submitted letters of support to staff, which outline how their respective agency plans to support the development of a one-stop center in Sunnyvale. The collaborating agencies and the support that they are committing to this project are as follows:
1) Children’s Creative Learning Centers (CCLC)
CCLC, headquartered in Sunnyvale, operates child care centers throughout Santa Clara County. CCLC has committed:
- The expertise of Jacqueline Sell, who administers the Intel Family Child Care Network, a collaboration between Intel and CCLC that offers a variety of programs for high quality family child care providers including a small resource center at the Sunnyvale CCLC
- One thousand dollars towards the purchase of supplies after the one-stop center is established
2) Continuing Development, Inc. (CDI), Choices for Children (CFC)
CDI is the parent company for CFC. CFC is a non-profit child care resource and referral agency located in San Jose. CDI/CFC has committed to:
- Attend meetings of collaborating partners
- Research and apply for grant funding with the collaborative partners
- Market the program to child care providers and parents
3) Palo Alto Community Child Care (PACCC)
PACCC is a non-profit agency that provides child care and related services to residents of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. PACCC also operates the Provider Connection, a parent and child care provider resource center in Palo Alto. PACCC has committed to:
- Assist the collaborators with researching and applying for grant funding
- Attend meetings with the collaborators
- Market the resource center to child care providers and parents
Next Steps
The next steps for the one-stop center project include advising the collaborative agencies with developing a project plan that outlines roles and responsibilities for each collaborating agency. Staff recommends continuing in an advisory capacity to the collaborating agencies through October 2005, after which time City staff involvement will be contingent upon significant progress being made on the one-stop center project plan.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is minimal fiscal impact resulting from the recommendation in this report. Resources are allocated in the current Child Care Resources Program operating budget to support staff acting in an advisory capacity to child care related agencies to develop and maintain a non-profit resource center independent of the City of Sunnyvale. Staff estimates that this advisory role will comprise about 50 hours of staff time per year.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made through posting of the Council agenda on the City’s official notice bulletin board, posting on the agenda and report on the City’s web page, and publication of the Council agenda in the San Jose Mercury News.
ALTERNATIVES
- Direct staff to continue to act in an advisory capacity with child care related agencies to leverage resources and apply for grant funding to develop and maintain a non-profit resource center independent of the City of Sunnyvale, through October 2005, after which time staff’s involvement with this project will be contingent upon significant progress being made on the one-stop center project plan.
- Direct staff to discontinue working on the one-stop center project.
- Other options as directed by Council.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends Alternative #1, direct staff to continue to act in an advisory capacity with child care related agencies to leverage resources and apply for grant funding to develop and maintain a non-profit resource center independent of the City of Sunnyvale, through October 2005, after which time staff’s involvement with this project will be contingent upon significant progress being made on the one-stop center project plan.
Reviewed by:
Coryn Campbell, Neighborhood & Community Resources Manager
Prepared by: Kristen Nigriny, Child Care Resources Manager
Approved by:
Amy Chan
City Manager
Attachments
Attachment A, Attachment A, RTC 03-331, Feasibility of Providing a One-Stop Resource Center for Child Care Providers and Parents
Attachment B, Letter of support from Children’s Creative Learning Centers (pdf format)
Attachment C, Letter of support from Continuing Development, Inc., Choices for Children (pdf format)
Attachment D, Letter of support from Palo Alto Community Child Care (pdf format)