EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL March 9, 2022, 8:30 A.M. CITY HALL, BOARD AND COMMISSION ROOM #1101 301 WEST SECOND STREET, AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the Early Childhood Council may be participating by videoconference. Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely by telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once, either in-person or remotely, and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation. To register, contact Caitlin Oliver, Program Coordinator, Austin Public Health, at 512-972-6205 or Caitlin.Oliver@austintexas.gov. AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first five speakers to register will be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES from February 9, 2022, meeting 2. PRESENTATIONS a. Briefing from the Housing and Planning Department and discussion on the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Action Plan Community Needs Assessment Presenters: • Jamey May, Housing and Community Development Officer, Housing and Planning • Natasha Ponczek, Program Manager, Austin Public Health • Helen Howell, Public Health Program Coordinator, Austin Public Health • Katie Horstman, Senior Research Analyst, Housing and Planning 3. NEW BUSINESS AND POSSIBLE ACTIONS a. Fiscal year 2022-2023 City budget recommendation to maintain current Austin Public Health funding for early childhood b. Topics to bring to Joint Inclusion Committee c. Community Engagement Work Group updates i. Discussion about establishing a work group to connect community members to the Early Childhood Council d. Discuss times and locations for the April 12, 2022, and August 13, 2022, ECC regular e. Preliminary results of the Austin-Travis County Child Care Staffing survey meetings 4. STAFF UPDATES a. COVID-19 updates b. Child care center at the Dove Springs Austin Public Health facility FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS a. Update about Head Start from Child Inc and Austin ISD 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 Caitlin Oliver, Program Coordinator, Austin Public Health, at 512-972-6205 or email: Caitlin.Oliver@austintexas.gov, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Early Childhood Council, please …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Early Childhood Council 20220309-3a: Budget Recommendation that Current Early Childhood Investments be Maintained WHEREAS, in the City of Austin only 36% of children under age 4 living in households with low-income are receiving any early learning services at all; and WHEREAS, 90% of these children age birth to 4 are children of color; and Whereas, decades of research prove that disadvantages begin the moment children come into the world because children born into poverty and children of color are disproportionately born early, at low-birth- weight, or with chronic illnesses, and are less likely than their peers to be ready for, or successful at school; and WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on the early childhood sector in Texas with an estimated loss of 22% of the state child care supply, as well as disproportionate impact on communities of color in Austin; and WHEREAS, current City investments in early childhood programs align with the goals and strategies of the Austin/Travis County Success By 6 Strategic Plan – a robust, data-driven community strategic plan designed to coordinate efforts, improve child and family outcomes as well as build more efficient and coordinated systems for equitable access; and WHEREAS, the investments align with the City of Austin Strategic Direction Strategic EOA.10: “Create equitable access to quality Early Childhood Education (ECE) by supporting families who do not qualify for existing free programs and cannot afford quality programs on their own, increasing availability of quality ECE programs, and encouraging living wages for ECE providers”; and WHEREAS, these investments also align with the Strategic Anchors of SD 2023 including equity, affordability, sustainability and resiliency, proactive prevention and community trust and relationships; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Early Childhood Council recommends that the City of Austin maintain all current investments in early childhood programs and infrastructure including but not limited to: o Social Service Contracts o Staffing (2 FTE) positions specifically for early childhood through Austin Public Health o Leases for city-funded early childhood facilities o Essential infrastructure such as Family Connects and WIC programs that specifically serve families with young children prenatal to age 5. Date of Approval: _____________________________ Record of the vote: Attest: _____________________________________________
Community Needs Assessment Early Childhood Council Discussion and Public Hearing on community needs and spending priorities for the FY 22-23 Action Plan Agenda Review of FY 20-21 Performance Federal Reporting Process Community Needs Assessment/ Public Comment Schedule Provide Your Feedback Review of Past Performance A look at services provided with federal funding in FY 20-21 FY 20-21 Accomplishments Snapshot • Total number of people served through federally funded projects: 3,552 • Total number of people/households earning Extremely Low-Income (<30% MFI) served: 2,688 • Total number of federal dollars spent: Entitlement: $9,765,175 CARES Act: $10,196,749 4 Population Served by Income 2,688 3,000 2,500 2,000 1,500 1,000 500 0 411 406 85 Extremely Low Income (<30% MFI) Very Low Income (31%-50% MFI) Low Income (51%-80% MFI) >80% MFI 5 Population of Austin Vs. Population Served by Race Population of Austin Vs. Population Served by Ethnicity 120.00% 100.00% 80.00% 60.00% 40.00% 20.00% 0.00% 32.41% 33.90% 67.59% 66.10% Population Served, FY 20-21 Population of Austin, 2019 Not Hispanic/Latinx Hispanic/Latinx People Served by Investment Category Investment Category Persons/Households Served Special Needs Assistance Homeless Assistance Renter Assistance Homebuyer Assistance Homeowner Assistance Housing Development Assistance 33 Total 878 1,153 1,327 43 120 3,552 Austin Small Business Relief Grant Program Investment Category Businesses Served Other Community Development Assistance 89 8 FY 20-21 Services Provided- Goals vs. Outcomes Select Programs Childcare Services Youth/Mental Health Services Senior Services • Goal: 179 • Actual: 151 • Expended: $390,612 • Goal: 159 • Actual: 147 • Expended: $188,490 • Goal: 175 • Actual: 184 • Expended: $123,995 Tenant Based Rental Assistance Homelessness Services* Tenants’ Rights Assistance • Goal: 85 • Actual: 113 • Expended: $979,663 • Goal: 1,118 • Actual: 426 • Expended: $1,638,420 • Goal: 527 • Actual: 297 • Expended: $287,223 *This category includes Rapid Rehousing and Shelter Operation and Maintenance, funded by the Emergency Solutions Grant FY 20-21 Services Provided- Goals vs. Outcomes Select Programs Down Payment Assistance Architectural Barrier Removal-Owner Minor Home Repair • Goal: 25 • Actual: 43 • Expended: $1,585,999 • Goal: 80 • Actual: 29 • Expended: $567,166 • Goal: 200 • Actual: 85 • Expended: $781,409 Homeowner Rehabilitation Loan Program • Goal: 9 • Actual: 6 • Expended: $748,584 *includes General Fund dollars) Rental Housing Development Assistance • Goal: 411 • Actual: 335 • Expended: Federal: $269,585; GO Bonds: $22,057,711 Ownership Housing Development Assistance • Goal: 16 • Actual: 42 • Expended: Federal: $202,562; …
Community Needs Assessment Early Childhood Council Discussion and Public Hearing on community needs and spending priorities for the FY 22-23 Action Plan Agenda Review of FY 20-21 Performance Federal Reporting Process Community Needs Assessment/ Public Comment Schedule Provide Your Feedback Review of Past Performance A look at services provided with federal funding in FY 20-21 FY 20-21 Accomplishments Snapshot • Total number of people served through federally funded projects: 3,552 • Total number of people/households earning Extremely Low-Income (<30% MFI) served: 2,688 • Total number of federal dollars spent: Entitlement: $9,765,175 CARES Act: $10,196,749 4 Population Served by Income 2,688 3,000 2,500 2,000 1,500 1,000 500 0 411 406 85 Extremely Low Income (<30% MFI) Very Low Income (31%-50% MFI) Low Income (51%-80% MFI) >80% MFI 5 Population of Austin Vs. Population Served by Race Population of Austin Vs. Population Served by Ethnicity 120.00% 100.00% 80.00% 60.00% 40.00% 20.00% 0.00% 32.41% 33.90% 67.59% 66.10% Population Served, FY 20-21 Population of Austin, 2019 Not Hispanic/Latinx Hispanic/Latinx People Served by Investment Category Investment Category Persons/Households Served Special Needs Assistance Homeless Assistance Renter Assistance Homebuyer Assistance Homeowner Assistance Housing Development Assistance 33 Total 878 1,153 1,327 43 120 3,552 Austin Small Business Relief Grant Program Investment Category Businesses Served Other Community Development Assistance 89 8 FY 20-21 Services Provided- Goals vs. Outcomes Select Programs Childcare Services Youth/Mental Health Services Senior Services • Goal: 179 • Actual: 151 • Expended: $390,612 • Goal: 159 • Actual: 147 • Expended: $188,490 • Goal: 175 • Actual: 184 • Expended: $123,995 Tenant Based Rental Assistance Homelessness Services* Tenants’ Rights Assistance • Goal: 85 • Actual: 113 • Expended: $979,663 • Goal: 1,118 • Actual: 426 • Expended: $1,638,420 • Goal: 527 • Actual: 297 • Expended: $287,223 *This category includes Rapid Rehousing and Shelter Operation and Maintenance, funded by the Emergency Solutions Grant FY 20-21 Services Provided- Goals vs. Outcomes Select Programs Down Payment Assistance Architectural Barrier Removal-Owner Minor Home Repair • Goal: 25 • Actual: 43 • Expended: $1,585,999 • Goal: 80 • Actual: 29 • Expended: $567,166 • Goal: 200 • Actual: 85 • Expended: $781,409 Homeowner Rehabilitation Loan Program • Goal: 9 • Actual: 6 • Expended: $748,584 *includes General Fund dollars) Rental Housing Development Assistance • Goal: 411 • Actual: 335 • Expended: Federal: $269,585; GO Bonds: $22,057,711 Ownership Housing Development Assistance • Goal: 16 • Actual: 42 • Expended: Federal: $202,562; …
REGULAR MEETING Wednesday, March 9, 2022 EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL MINUTES The Early Childhood Council (ECC) convened on Wednesday, March 9, 2022. Board Members in Attendance: Chair McHorse, Vice Chair Worthington, Council Members Alvarez, Demby, Gordon, Hedrick, Hosking Pulido, Huston, Paver, and Schennum Staff in attendance: Caitlin Oliver, Donna Sundstrom, Cindy Gamez, and Michelle Rodriguez CALL TO ORDER – Chair McHorse called the meeting to order at 8:37 a.m. CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL No citizen communication. 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES from February 9, 2022, meeting – Member Huston moved to approve the minutes from the February 9, 2022, regular meeting. The minutes were approved by a unanimous vote of 8-0 (Vice Chair Worthington and Member Demby not on the dais at time of vote). 2. PRESENTATIONS a. Briefing from the Housing and Planning Department and discussion on the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Action Plan Community Needs Assessment Presenters: • Jamey May, Housing and Community Development Officer, Housing and Planning • Natasha Ponczek, Program Manager, Austin Public Health • Helen Howell, Public Health Program Coordinator, Austin Public Health • Katie Horstman, Senior Research Analyst, Housing and Planning The Housing and Planning Department (HPD) and Austin Public Health (APH) presented an overview of the City’s federally funded HPD programs in fiscal year 2021-2022 and requested feedback on the FY22-23 action plan. Under the FY20-21 action plan, HPD served over 3,500 individuals. Many of the programs ran into difficulties during the pandemic. For example, some programs were paused because activities were not able to be held in-person. For the Tenants Rights Assistance program, which offers repair remediation services, some tenants fell behind with paying rent during the pandemic which meant they were not in “good standing” to petition repairs. Some programs, like Child Care Services CV, are ongoing, whereas some programs, like RENT, have concluded. The presenters reported that over 3,000 households served by the following programs had children under 5: • Down Payment Assistance • Architectural Barrier Removal • Minor Home Repair • Homeowner Rehabilitation • RENT 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 The presentation slides with additional details and program statistics have been posted to the Early Childhood Council website as backup material. Helen Howell works closely with HPD to manage the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Special Needs Assistance contracts. She provided an update on FY20-21 activities and outcomes related to child care assistance. Services under this contract that relate to child care are the following …
