REGULAR MEETING of the EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL JANUARY 15, 2025, 9:00 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 via 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 by telephone. To register to speak remotely, call or email Caitlin Oliver, Program Coordinator, Austin Public Health, at 512-972-6205 or Caitlin.Oliver@austintexas.gov. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS/COMMISSIONERS: Cathy McHorse, Chair Eliza Gordon Cynthia McCollum Brianna Menard Hilda Rivas Ellana Selig Choquette Hamilton, Vice Chair Tom Hedrick Andrea McIllwain Alice Navarro Casie Schennum AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first five speakers to register prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Early Childhood Council Regular Meeting on November 13, 2024 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS Appoint Andrea McIllwain and Eliza Gordon to the Early Childhood Council Quality-of- Life (QoL) Study Workgroup DISCUSSION ITEMS Presentation from UpTogether regarding their recent work in Austin and the organization’s fiscal year 2026 budget recommendation to City Council Presenter: • Meng Qi, UpTogether Southwest Partnership Manager Presentation from Austin Public Health and the Economic Development Department regarding the implementation of a network hub for home-based child care providers in Austin-Travis County Presentation from Go Austin Vamos Austin (GAVA) regarding City of Austin investment in home-based relative (or FFN- Family, Friend, or Neighbor) child care for FY 2026 Presenters: • Michelle Mejia, Early Childhood & Family Health Lead Organizer • Monica Guzmán, Policy Director Presentation from the Success By 6 Coalition regarding budget recommendations for FY 2026 Presenter: • Barbara Grant Boneta, Director, Austin/Travis County Success By 6 Overview from the ECC Budget Workgroup of the Fiscal Year 2026 City of Austin budget process and discussion of potential ECC recommendations STAFF BRIEFINGS Briefing from Caitlin Oliver, Austin Public Health (APH), updates from related local early childhood groups such as Austin Chapter of the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children, Austin ISD, Travis …
City of Austin Early Childhood Council Budget Input Presentation January 2025 UpTogether is working to change systems that perpetuate poverty. Together, with our members, partners, and community organizations, we: ● Invest in families and individuals experiencing financial hardship; and ● Amplify stories and data to show the impact of investing in people and provide evidence that it works Capital People must have access to sufficient capital to invest in their own lives. Community People benefit from the power of community and naturally and routinely exchange social capital to support one another. Choice People are experts in their own lives and must have full choice and control over their time and resources. Work to Date in Austin Austin Site Launch With support from St. David’s Foundation, Google, and MSDF, we launched our site in Austin to invest in 380 inaugural members. Central TX 12-Month Pilot We launched the Central Texas 12- Month Pilot, investing in 173 households (163 in Austin and 10 in Georgetown) with $1,000 per month for 12 months. St. David’s Foundation and other local philanthropic partners funded the pilot, while the City of Austin signed on as a learning partner . Family Stabilization Grants In August 2023, the City of Austin allocated $1.3M towards the Family Stabilization Grants to provide more families with $1,000/month for 12 months. 2020 2022 2024 2018 2021 2023 COVID-19 Relief Efforts City of Austin Pilot Together with local philanthropy, the City of Austin Equity Office, City of Austin Innovation Office, and Austin Public Health, UpTogether invested $14.4M directly in 7,490 Central Texas households most impacted by COVID- 19 ($500 to $2,000/household). In May 2022, the City of Austin approved a $1.18 million guaranteed income pilot with UpTogether using general funds. In partnership with the Equity Office and St. David’s Foundation, we are investing in 135 households with $1,000/month for 12 months. Family Stabilization Grants - Continued In August 2024, the City of Austin again allocated $1.3M towards continuing Family Stabilization Grants in the 2024 - 25 year. Connect Our signature online platform where members gain access to opportunities for unrestricted cash transfers, surveys, social groups and more. Through UpTogether Connect , we: ● Lea rn w it h members , ● Inves t in t hem, a nd ● Support t hem in ma king connect ions w it h ot hers . 5 Impact Measurement ● Housing stability ● Food security ● …
Austin-Travis County Family Child Care Educator Network WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2025 EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL CAITLIN OLIVER, AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH Planning grant $25,000 grant from Home Grown, called the “Building Comprehensive Networks (BCN)” grant In 2024, we planned a comprehensive support network for home-based/family child care providers in Austin-Travis County. The Austin-Travis County Family Child Care Educator Network will include supports for all types of home-based providers: Licensed • Registered Listed • • • Family, Friend, & Neighbor (FFN) • All home-based providers (Licensed, registered, listed, FFN) • Geographic Region: City of Austin and Travis County Target Population Outputs • Year 1: 50 home-based providers are network members • Year 2: 75 home-based providers are network members Long-term Outcomes/Impacts • Improved provider well-being • Improved economic well-being and sustainability • Improved home-based child care (HBCC) quality • Improved child health and development and family well-being Funding: • City of Austin program funds • Home Grown implementation grant • Affordable Child Care Now initiative Staffing: • City of Austin staff (including in-kind staffing) • Staff person with FCC experience Materials: • Business tools (e.g., Texas Child Care Tools) Physical space: • Space for network meetings Existing infrastructure: • Collaboration with United Way, GAVA, AVANCE Provider Voice: • Provider advisory committee • Other opportunities as they arise (e.g., feedback at trainings) Main activities in Year 1 Strengthening systems of support Peer mentor program Monthly meetings Trainings Resource sharing Financial relief grant program for eligible registered and licensed providers National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) membership Connecting providers and families to resources 2025 (Year 1) Budget $75,000 implementation grant from Home Grown $75,000 from the City of Austin in matching funds, approved in fiscal year 2025 budget City of Austin in-kind staffing to support implementation of the network Majority of Year 1 funding will be used to hire a person to run the network and for the financial relief grant program. Additional funds are needed to fully fund the network in 2025 and expand the network in future years. Next steps ▪ Execute contract with Home Grown for the $75K implementation grant ▪ Economic Development Depart to hire a network staff person ▪ Roll out financial relief grants for eligible home-based providers ▪ Form the Provider Advisory Committee ▪ Recruit network members Questions Cindy Gamez Program Manager, Economic Development Department Cynthia.Gamez@austintexas.gov Caitlin Oliver Early Childhood Program Coordinator, Austin Public Health Caitlin.Oliver@austintexas.gov
Bloom where you are Planted GAVA | City of Austin Budget Recommendations: FY 2026 Investment in Home-based Relative Care (FFN) Early Childcare Council Meeting January 15, 2025 Michelle Mejia, Early Childhood & Family Health Lead Organizer Monica Guzmán, Policy Director What is Friend, Family, Neighbor (FFN) Child Care? “FFN is a broad term encompassing many types of caregivers, typically those who have a previous relationship with the children for whom they care. They are the grandmothers, nanas, aunties, abuelitas, family, friends and neighbors who care for children. “ One in four children in the U.S. under the age of 5 is cared for by a grandparent some or all of the time their parent is at work (ZERO TO THREE 2017). https://homegrownchildcare.org/parents-choose-quality-when-they-use- family-friend-and-neighbor-care/ Parents with sick children Food service workers Stay-at-home parents City employees Who utilizes and Benefits from FFN childcare? First responders Expecting parents Healthcare professionals Teachers Non-traditional hour workers Caregivers of elders *These are some of the groups we have encountered Importance of Community Organizing in FRiend FAMILY Neighbor Communities Increases family child care quality, safety, and health through professional development, home improvements, technology support, and peer networks Economic stability for working class & low income families Cultural & lingusitic connection Brings people out of the shadows and most importantly our children who are in FFN spaces Increased access to services and resources Community organizing is a process through which people most affected by inequities collectively build power, develop leadership, and take direct action to address systemic issues. RAPID Early childhood SUrvey: preliminary Local Data Budget asks $350K Implementation of a direct assistance program pilot for thriving providers Integrate Home Grown Thriving Providers Project into BCN to address economic stability caused by low wages for their care work and Austin’s affordability crisis; focused on those providing FFN relative child care (aunties, grandparents, family members caring for children they are related to) Monthly payment model for relative caregivers Offer a pathway to become listed providers $75K Sustain funding for Austin Public Health to continue Building Comprehensive Networks (BCN) partnership with HomeGrown to support strategies for home-based child care GAVA supports City of Austin & Travis Co collaboration for $500K Prop A funding for essential network program costs not funded by $75K $200K Implementation Funds for Building Comprehensive Networks strategy for a Mobile Lending Library for home-based family child care providers to increase access to quality Early Childhood learning materials …
Austin/Travis County S COA Budget Discussion Success By 6 Coalition The Success By 6 Coalition is a network of child and family advocates — providers, parents, policymakers, civic leaders, and experts — working together to transform our early childhood system. 90% of brain development happens before age 5. Maintain Funding Social Service Contracts High-Quality Childcare Fee Waivers - - - - - - - - adjustment) $768,157.08) Family Connects Homegrown Implementation Grant Match ($75,000 annually through grant) Start Up Costs for Pre-K Classrooms (consider increasing funding to at least $170,666 for 8 classrooms to reduce reduction in number of classrooms addressed) Incorporating an annual cost of living adjustment for all social service contracts (5% COLA PreK Partnerships, Shared Services (previous amount awarded through ARPA funds for FY 25 is Family Stabilization Grants ($1.3 million, consider increasing to support more families) New Investments for Consideration: - Additional EDD FTE staff focused on early childhood projects/contracts - Meeting one time funding requests from partners that received smaller social contract awards for technology and staff retention requests Thinking about the future - Planning for Travis County Prop A implementation is still taking place, with resource allocation and timing being unclear - Early Childhood funding cliff that needs to be addressed THANK YOU
ECC Budget Workgroup Discussion – 1/15/25 Members: ECC – Hilda Rivas, Alice Navarro, Tom Hedrick; GAVA – Laura Olson; Sx6 – Barbara Grant Boneta; APH – Caitlin Oliver, Rachel Farley; EDD – Cynthia Gamez Process/Timing – one-month acceleration over prior efforts • ✓12/18 Initial meeting • ✓ 12/18-1/8 Lock in January ECC meeting attendees and gather input • Today Further community input at ECC • Today ECC meeting and discussion of priorities from community attendees and APH • 1/15-2/6 Finalize recommendations and consolidate into a formal recommendation for broader ECC discussion. • 2/12 ECC discussion and vote on any formal communications to Council • 2/12 Pass on information to the JIC 1 Context • City budgets are challenged/tight • ARPA dollars rolling off – significant service reductions • Travis County Prop A – want Early Care $ to be net increased (no budget shifting to County) 2 Budget Item or Program Name Recommendation - for Comments Fee Waivers for Qualifying Childcare Centers, Economic Development Grant Program These are not one time, some ambiguity on baking these into city budget Discussion Continue Fee Waiver Process One Time COLA adjustments of 5% in FY 25, several programs Make COLA adjustments annually and incorporated in contracts. 2.5% estimated for 2025 Best practice PreK classroom start-up funds Fund an additional $36,266 (added to $134,400 current) Without funding, classrooms are reduced from 8 to 6/7 EDD EC staffing Fully fund a full-time staff person for contract management Temporary employee is rolling off and needs to be replaced with full time position Seek clarification and more permanent funding APH considers this one-time funding since it comes from 1115 Waiver/DSRIP. Maternal infant outreach program. Services for African American women with low income during pregnancy and throughout the first year postpartum, including health education, resource navigation assistance, one-on- one home visits, birth education, and labor and delivery support Family Connects Homegrown and BCN, Implementation of a comprehensive support network and resource hub for home-based childcare providers Expand FFN Focus All ARPA-related funding Point out service reductions Determine what services are at risk with reduction in funding from FY ‘24 to ‘25 APH Recommendation to be discussed 1-15, also input from GAVA Need an accurate view of service reductions post ARPA reductions 3 Integration with Travis County Prop A Budget Item or Program Name Comments Recommendation - for Discussion Sustain or expand these programs Sustain or expand these programs …
Program Name Description EDD Childcare Contracts - EDD General Fund FY25 Amount FY24 Amount Agency Availability Notes Austin Public Health Early Childhood Investments Table Mainspring Magic Quality Investment Project This program expands the training and professional development opportunities offered to teachers to enable them to build skills and expertise in areas aligned with the three pillars of Mainspring's successful model - Innovative Learning, Health & Wellness, and the Whole Family Approach. Mainspring Schools Childcare for Black Mothers RISE will provide free or low-cost, short-term, culturally congruent, high-quality drop-in childcare, for Black mothers who are a part of the Black Mama’s Village in Central Texas for children 6 weeks through age 5. Drop- in care is a back-up childcare option for parents when they need temporary, short-term care. Rise Child Development Center Quality Childcare Collaborative (QC3) (includes Continuity of Childcare System Services) Programming to increase childcare quality, including Director Mentoring, CLASS Training, and the Jeannette Watson Wage Supplement Program; Temporary “bridge” funding for children in subsidized childcare who would otherwise be terminated or not enrolled due to federal funding rules. Workforce Solutions Capital Area Workforce Board $34,000 $71,400 Ongoing This contract was first funded for 6 months in FY24 under a new award from the APH Early Childhood RFP. FY25 Includes a one-time 5% COLA of $3,400. $68,064 $142,933 Ongoing This contract was first funded for 6 months in FY24 under a new award from the APH Early Childhood RFP. FY25 Includes a one-time 5% COLA of $6,806. $1,118,210 $1,174,121 Ongoing FY25 Includes a one-time 5% COLA of $55,911 KinderCare at Bergstrom Tech Early Childhood Consulting Childcare Leadership Academy Rent and operating expenses (OpEx) for childcare program on City-leased property at Bergstrom Technology Center KinderCare $307,214 $304,188 Ongoing Childcare consulting services $75,000 $75,000 Ongoing Training for facility directors, assistant directors, and staff interested in leadership roles to develop leadership pipeline for childcare sector and improve center quality and stability. Raising Austin dba Together 4 Children $351,270 $351,270 Ongoing EDD Workforce Development dollars Premium Pay Wage Stipends Wage stipends for qualified childcare staff, up to $2500/year to improve staff retention and care quality. $519,924 $480,076 One-Time FY23 funding of $1M from EDD Workforce Development dollars; rolled into WFS ARPA contract. Amounts listed are balances utilized each fiscal year $2,473,682 $2,598,988 Ginsberg Kershner & Associates Workforce Solutions Capital Area Workforce Board Total Austin Public Health Early Childhood Investments Table Program Name Description Agency …
Austin-Travis County Family Child Care Educator Network WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2025 EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL CAITLIN OLIVER, AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH Planning grant $25,000 grant from Home Grown, called the “Building Comprehensive Networks (BCN)” grant In 2024, we planned a comprehensive support network for home-based/family child care providers in Austin-Travis County. The Austin-Travis County Family Child Care Educator Network will include supports for all types of home-based providers: Licensed • Registered Listed • • • Family, Friend, & Neighbor (FFN) • All home-based providers (Licensed, registered, listed, FFN) • Geographic Region: City of Austin and Travis County Target Population Outputs • Year 1: 50 home-based providers are network members • Year 2: 70 home-based providers are network members Long-term Outcomes/Impacts • Improved provider well-being • Improved economic well-being and sustainability • Improved home-based child care (HBCC) quality • Improved child health and development and family well-being Funding: • City of Austin program funds • Home Grown implementation grant • Affordable Child Care Now initiative Staffing: • City of Austin staff (including in-kind staffing) • Staff person with FCC experience Materials: • Business tools (e.g., Texas Child Care Tools) Physical space: • Space for network meetings Existing infrastructure: • Collaboration with United Way, GAVA, AVANCE Provider Voice: • Provider advisory committee • Other opportunities as they arise (e.g., feedback at trainings) Main activities in Year 1 Strengthening systems of support Peer mentor program Monthly meetings Trainings Resource sharing Financial relief grant program for eligible registered and licensed providers National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) membership Connecting providers and families to resources 2025 (Year 1) Budget $75,000 implementation grant from Home Grown $75,000 from the City of Austin in matching funds, approved in fiscal year 2025 budget City of Austin in-kind staffing to support implementation of the network Majority of Year 1 funding will be used to hire a person to run the network and for the financial relief grant program. Additional funds are needed to fully fund the network in 2025 and expand the network in future years. Next steps ▪ Execute contract with Home Grown for the $75K implementation grant ▪ Economic Development Depart to hire a network staff person ▪ Roll out financial relief grants for eligible home-based providers ▪ Form the Provider Advisory Committee ▪ Recruit network members Questions Cindy Gamez Program Manager, Economic Development Department Cynthia.Gamez@austintexas.gov Caitlin Oliver Early Childhood Program Coordinator, Austin Public Health Caitlin.Oliver@austintexas.gov
Bloom where you are Planted GAVA | City of Austin Budget Recommendations: FY 2026 Investment in Home-based Relative Care (FFN) Early Childcare Council Meeting January 15, 2025 Michelle Mejia, Early Childhood & Family Health Lead Organizer Monica Guzmán, Policy Director What is Friend, Family, Neighbor (FFN) Child Care? “FFN is a broad term encompassing many types of caregivers, typically those who have a previous relationship with the children for whom they care. They are the grandmothers, nanas, aunties, abuelitas, family, friends and neighbors who care for children. “ One in four children in the U.S. under the age of 5 is cared for by a grandparent some or all of the time their parent is at work (ZERO TO THREE 2017). https://homegrownchildcare.org/parents-choose-quality-when-they-use- family-friend-and-neighbor-care/ Parents with sick children Food service workers Stay-at-home parents City employees Who utilizes and Benefits from FFN childcare? First responders Expecting parents Healthcare professionals Teachers Non-traditional hour workers Caregivers of elders *These are some of the groups we have encountered Importance of Community Organizing in FRiend FAMILY Neighbor Communities Increases family child care quality, safety, and health through professional development, home improvements, technology support, and peer networks Economic stability for working class & low income families Cultural & lingusitic connection Brings people out of the shadows and most importantly our children who are in FFN spaces Increases access to services and resources Community organizing is a process through which people most affected by inequities collectively build power, develop leadership, and take direct action to address systemic issues. RAPID Early childhood SUrvey: preliminary Local Data Budget asks $350K Implementation of a direct assistance program pilot for thriving providers Integrate HomeGrown Thriving Providers Project into BCN to address economic stability caused by low wages for their care work and Austin’s affordability crisis; focus on those providing FFN relative care (aunties, grandparents, family members caring for children they are related to) Monthly payment model Offer a pathway to become listed providers $75K Sustain funding for Austin Public Health to continue Building Comprehensive Networks (BCN) partnership with HomeGrown to support strategies for home-based child care GAVA supports City of Austin & Travis Co collaboration for $500K Prop A funding for essential network program costs not funded by $75K $200K Implementation Funds for Building Comprehensive Networks strategy for a Mobile Lending Library for home-based relative care providers to increase access to quality Early Childhood learning materials & resources Provides funds not currently …
