EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 8, 2021, 8:30 A.M. CITY HALL, BOARD AND COMMISSION ROOM #1101 301 WEST SECOND STREET, AUSTIN, TEXAS AGENDA CALL TO ORDER CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first five speakers who register to speak no later than noon the day before the meeting will be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES from August 16, 2021 meeting 2. NEW BUSINESS AND POSSIBLE ACTIONS a. Discussion on Child Care Subsidies – Guest: Nicole Robinson, Director of Child Care Contracts, Workforce Solutions Capital Area b. Community Engagement Work Group updates- Community experiences navigating child care systems c. Policy Work Group updates i. City Economic Prosperity Commission exploring concerns about child care ii. City Council approved Inclusion of child care as requested use in competitive real estate processes and in lease, acquisition, or redevelopment of City property iii. Child Care Regulations translated Listed Family Home Standards into Spanish iv. Digital Inclusion and Early Childhood b. Winter Storm Review Task Force final report update- Aletha Huston c. ECC topics to take to Joint Inclusion Committee 3. STAFF UPDATES a. COVID-19 updates FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Census data trends ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call Rachel Farley, Program Coordinator, Austin Public Health, at 512-972-5093 or email: Rachel.Farley@austintexas.gov, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Early Childhood Council, please contact Rachel Farley, Program Coordinator, Austin Public Health, at 512-972-5093 or email: Rachel.Farley@austintexas.gov.
ECC Member Questions for Workforce Solutions Capital Area 9/8/2021 1. Is there an ongoing mechanism to confidentially track family satisfaction with the Workforce Solutions processes? If so, can we review the data/information? If not, is this currently in future plans? 2. What mechanisms are in place to gather feedback on process issues (application process, client questions, general communications, etc.) from families? 3. What role can the City of Austin play in improving the family interaction with Workforce Solutions? 4. What mechanisms are in place to gather feedback on process issues (application process, client questions, general communications, etc.) from child care providers and community organizations working with families? 5. What mechanisms are in place or can be created to use feedback (from families, providers, and community organizations) to identify when challenges and concerns raised are not only impacting individual families, but are more widespread and systemic? 6. Does Workforce Solutions believe that systemic process change is needed to better serve families? If not, what would it take to create that felt need? If there is agreement that systemic process change is needed, what are the plans to do so? a. Who is involved in the design? b. What funding is available? c. What is the timing? 8. What is the easiest click path to access the online application, aside from someone sending a parent/client a direct link? 9. What training is required for intake staff who manage and process applications and support clients through this process? How is this training funded? Are City of Austin funds utilized for that at all, or could they be? 10. Are the parenting virtual series provided in Spanish? 7.
ARPA Funding Recommendations from Success By 6 Early & UWATX City of Austin approved $11 million for the following recommendations. Recommendation Child care fund for Workforce program grads to mitigate benefits cliff Increase Continuity of Care funding UWATX Pre-K Partnerships Hub to expand access to public Pre-K Expand/sustain family/home-based child care networks Plan and pilot non traditional hours child care system Plan and implement shared services alliance Expand wage supplements and tuition support to recruit and retain qualified early childhood educators Cost of living increase for Ready Families Collaborative programs Family Connects Program expansion by 2,000 births per year and program evaluation DVISD- Expand access to Pre-K4 for those who do not meet state income eligibility but cannot afford Pre-K 4 tuition AISD 1- Full day care for Pre-K 3 (highest option total = $4,125,000) AISD 2- Expand 2-Gen Families as Partners Program Scale United Way’s ConnectATX free navigation service 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 3-year total amounts requested Recommendation Link $4,500,000 Transforming the ATX Early Childhood System $1,500,000 Transforming the ATX Early Childhood System $1,200,000 Transforming the ATX Early Childhood System $1,000,000 Transforming the ATX Early Childhood System $1,000,000 Transforming the ATX Early Childhood System $1,500,000 Transforming the ATX Early Childhood System $1,000,000 Transforming the ATX Early Childhood System $250,000 Transforming the ATX Early Childhood System $3,540,000 Family Connects Supplemental Rec for Transforming the ATX Early Childhood System $1,500,000 DVISD Supplemental Rec for Transforming the ATX Early Childhood System $1,375,000 AISD Proposals to Support High Quality Early Education $429,150 AISD Proposals to Support High Quality Early Education $550,000 UWATX Rebuilding Systems Recs- social svc navigation, WF dev't, school-age child care 14 15 16 Expand 2-Gen United Way workforce development program for young parents with low income in middle skill job training Improve school-age child care in Austin- Youth Program Quality Instrument to assess 36 sites and make site improvement plans Embed Americorps VISTA early literacy and math tutors in out of school time programs $300,000 UWATX Rebuilding Systems Recs- social svc navigation, WF dev't, school-age child care $250,000 UWATX Rebuilding Systems Recs- social svc navigation, WF dev't, school-age child care UWATX Rebuilding Systems Recs- social svc navigation, WF dev't, school-age child care $625,000 $20,519,150
REGULAR MEETING Wednesday, September 8, 2021 EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL MINUTES The Early Childhood Council (ECC) convened on Wednesday, September 8, 2021. Board Members in Attendance: Chair McHorse; Vice Chair Worthington; Members Gordon, Alvarez, Huston, Hedrick, Conlin, and Schennum Staff in attendance: Rachel Farley, Caitlin Oliver, Donna Sundstrom, and Cindy Gamez CALL TO ORDER – Chair McHorse called the meeting to order at 8:41 a.m. CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL – No citizen communication 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES from August 16, 2021, meeting – Member Hedrick moved to approve the minutes. Member Conlin seconded the motion. The minutes were approved by a vote of 7-0 2. NEW BUSINESS AND POSSIBLE ACTIONS a. Discussion on Child Care Subsidies – Guest: Nicole Robinson, Director of Child Care Contracts, Workforce Solutions Capital Area Early Childhood Council (ECC) members asked Nicole Robinson questions based on both oral (at City of Austin ECC meeting) and written community feedback about the child care subsidy system and services by Workforce Solutions Capital Area. Feedback pointed to the need for increased funding to expand the subsidy program and to reengineer the process by which parents interact with Workforce Solutions (WFS). A list of the questions ECC members prepared to ask WFS is included as a backup document for this meeting on the ECC website. Question 1 - Is there an ongoing mechanism to confidentially track family satisfaction with the Workforce Solutions processes? If so, can we review the data/information? WFS tracks customer feedback from the website and the communications team sends daily communications to the child care or workforce team, as is relevant. There is also a monthly report about compiled about the comments and questions WFS receives. WFS has explored doing more direct parent surveys. In the past they have had low response rates to parent surveys. WFS can extract childcare pieces from the monthly feedback reports and share them with ECC members. Question 2 - What mechanisms are in place to gather feedback from families on process issues (application process, client questions, general communications, etc.)? Robinson expressed appreciation for the feedback from parents and future customers that ECC shared with WFS. At the monthly provider meetings, WFS shares out the email address that parents can use to connect with WFS with concerns and inquiries. Parents are encouraged to reach out via email or phone so that the relevant unit can follow up. Parents can also provide feedback on the …
