Santa Cruz County Child Care Planning Council (CCPC)

1. Santa Cruz County Child Care Planning Council (CCPC) 2011 Child Care Expansion Priorities Report

2. Santa Cruz County Priority Report • Santa Cruz County’s priorities for child care expansion reflects the levels of need for additional child care and preschool funding for state and federal subsidized centers serving children 0-13. • This includes Family Child Care programs that receive state subsidizes through contracts with state subsidized centers. • This report reflects the need for state and federal subsidized child care ONLY.

3. Priority Setting Process Priorities are based on: • 2000 Census zip code baseline data is used to estimate the number of children eligible for State Funded Services. • County growth rate percentages for zip codes in the county, supplied by the California Dept. of Finance multiplied by the number of eligible children provides the updated number of children eligible to receive subsidized child care services.

4. Priority Setting Process cont. • Enrollment figures from the October 2009 subsidized child care programs from the California Department of Education (CDE) are used to determine the number of children served/un-served. • Head Start which serves 714 children in part day programs and Migrant Head Start which serves 723 children in full day programs are included in this report. • It is important to note: federal programs have very different eligibility criteria such as migration patterns with large numbers of families in agriculture which may effect changing needs for service. Enrollment figures are included to capture the true number of income eligible children served/un-served in the county. • Voucher style programs such as, General Alternative Payment program funding, CalWORKS Stages 1, 2 and 3 are included in the CCTR full day needs based child care services table. • The data is then analyzed to assign zip code designations of Priority 1, 2, or 3.

5. Priority Setting Process cont. • Santa Cruz County uses Option 1 based upon the size of our population. • County growth rate percentages for zip codes in the county, was supplied by the California Dept. Finance and calculated using the state formula.

6. Priority Setting Definitions for CSPP and CCTR Child Care Needs Based Programs Priority 1: 40% or more of eligible children un-served AND there are more than 150/200 eligible children un-served (150 CSPP and 200 CCTR un-served). Priority 2: 25% or more of eligible children un-served AND there are more than 75/100 eligible children un-served (75 CSPP and 100 CCTR un-served). Priority 3 25% or more of eligible children un-served AND there are more than 50 eligible children un-served (50 CSPP and 50 CCTR un-served).

7. Priority Report Worksheet

8. Combined Priority Settings With Local DataConsiderations

9. Priorities Setting Using Local Data Considerations • Using First 5’s combined risk factor geo-map, zip codes with medium-low, medium high and high levels of risk factors intensified the Priority ranking from 3 or 2 to a 2 or 1 in zip codes 95005, 95006, 95017, 95018, 95065, 95062,95073. • First 5’s combined risk factors include indicators of vulnerability based on: Income and Employment, Teen Parents, Child Welfare, Education and English Literacy. • School District API (Academic Performance Index) scores are an indicator of need for younger siblings and neighborhood peer groups currently enrolled in elementary schools. API scores are as follows; 1-3 below average, 4-6 about average, 7-10 above average. • API scores identify a possible need and vulnerability that can be addressed by early care and education professionals in preschool years to ensure children’s future success in school.

10. Priorities for Santa Cruz County

11. Priority Ranking For Santa Cruz County

12. Priority Setting Summary • Census track income eligibility data, CDE program enrollment data and the priority setting process were used to set local priorities. • In addition, local data considerations were made, using First 5 Combined Risk Factor map, and API scores to alter priority rankings to reflect true need in each zip code area. • Each County Supervisorial District contains at least one Priority 1 zip code designation. • Supportive county data presented provides a strong case for additional subsidized child care services in Santa Cruz County. When additional state funding becomes available. Priority rankings will assist in deciding which zip code areas have the greater need in the county and which income eligible families will benefit. • CCPC takes an extra step in addition to state requirements to customize the priorities to reflect the true need of subsidized child care in the county.

13. Recommendation: • Due to proposed budget cuts at the state and federal levels the Executive Committee recommendation is to submit the Child Care Expansion Priorities for 2011 with no changes, an acceptable option allowed by Child Development Division (CDD). • With looming state subsidized child care program budget cuts for 2011-2012, child care expansion funding may not be a reality for many years to come. • The CDD allows counties to submit previous year’s priorities if they are still valid. The CCPC Chair’s signature is required on the report, but it is not necessary to gather approval signatures from the Board of Supervisors or the Superintendent of Schools. • The Council voted on Thursday, April 14th to submit the Priorities report with no changes.