Item 5- CORRECTED GAVA presentation — original pdf

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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 covered by City or Prop A allocations for BCN or that may have a long timeline for distribution while this strategy is ready for activation Budget asks (Cont.) $3M Family Stabilization Grant sustained funding and continuation of existing criteria including those with families $5M Funding for the Office of Equity & Inclusion Permanent allocation of at least $1.3 million or more towards Family Stabilization Grants in the budget Ideally, increase to $3 million so the City (in collaboration with grassroots partners) can invest in more families, as we know that need grows as the cost of living in Austin rises Recommendation to prioritize families with children birth to three years of age as a potential strategy for getting it passed again where there may be some reluctance to continue it more broadly Consider key council members: ie, MPT Vanessa Fuentes, and new council members to champion this grant and EC priorities Dedicate $2M for continued immigrant supports and services Inclusive of majority of FFN home- based providers in our community with focus on keeping families together and stability for children Passport navigation and fee support Know Your Rights clinics Mental health services Don’t stop at the PROP! Resource Relative FFN CAREGIVING City Investment in Relative Caregiving Travis County Prop A complements existing City Funding Supporting families and community well-being is a crucial, sustained investment that complements the city's commitment to public safety, creating a stronger and more resilient community for everyone. It’s time to support relative caregivers with professional development & economic support. Travis County Prop A should invest in relative caregiving (FFN). How will the City take the lead and innovate? Recommended Readings Questions/Comments