The Children’s Funding Project (CFP) Work Group1 White Paper (Version 2)2: Strategies for Local Investment in Early Child Care CONTENTS Overview The Case for Investment In Child Care Goals and Guiding Principles I. II. III. IV. Work to Date V. VI. VII. VIII. Recommended Strategies Costs and Economic Benefits Administration and Governance Next Steps and Timeline I. Overview This memo summarizes the work done by the Children’s Funding Project Work Group over the last 16+ months to understand the state of child care in Austin/Travis County and identify strategies to address quality, accessibility, equity, and sustainability. Pending polling and further stakeholder input, the Work Group recommends holding a Tax Rate Election (TRE) in November of 2024, to raise approximately $50 million to fund four major strategies to increase access to affordable, high quality child care for families who live, work, and play in Austin: Strategies 1. Subsidize Birth Through Age Three Contracted Slots 2. Expand Nontraditional Hour Care 3. Build Quality and Capacity 4. Create a Business-Government Alliance Polling and ongoing discussions will determine whether it is a city or county election. We further propose that the measure require reauthorization by the voters after 12 1 Members include Austin City Council Members Alison Alter, Vanessa Fuentes, Ryan Alter, and José Velásquez and members of their staff; David Smith and Margo Kinneberg (United Way for Greater Austin); Cathy McHorse (Austin Early Childhood Council);Tom Hedrick (Early Matters Greater Austin); and representatives from the Office of Travis County Judge Brown and Travis County Health and Human Services. 2 This white paper dated 2-9-24 has been revised to include clarification regarding the inclusion of Head Start and Early Head Start in our policy proposal, based on input from Child, Inc. (Albert Black). Previous revisions include input from Workforce Solutions Capital Area (Tamara Atkinson), allocation of contingency to two strategies (NTH and Business Government Partnerships), and the recalculation of census and economic data based on those revisions. Strategies for Local Investment in Early Child Care Children’s Funding Project Work Group | 2024 1 years. The Case for Investment in Child Care II. The lack of accessible, affordable child care is a growing crisis at the national, state, and local levels. The case for investment in early child care is compelling from a variety of perspectives: ● Workforce: Studies show that seven parents enter the workforce for every 10 new children in child care. In addition, …
REGULAR MEETING of the EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL MARCH 20, 2024, 9:00 A.M. PERMITTING AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER, ROOM #1406 6310 WILHELMINA DELCO DRIVE, AUSTIN, TEXAS 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 Alice Navarro Corie Cormie Choquette Hamilton Maggie Jaime Casie Schennum Leonor Vargas John Green-Otero, Vice Chair Brianna Menard Eliza Gordon Tom Hedrick Cynthia McCollum Ellana Selig 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. 1. Approve the minutes of the Early Childhood Council Regular Meeting on February 14, 2024 APPROVAL OF MINUTES STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Updates from Caitlin Oliver, Austin Public Health, regarding a planning grant from Home Grown to build a comprehensive network for local child care home providers and SX6 FBCC Workgroup Tour of Family Based Homes on April 20 DISCUSSION ITEMS Updates from the Quality-of-Life Study Workgroup regarding the vendor approval timeline Discussion about ECC officer nominations process Presentation from Margo Kinneberg, Senior Projects Manager at United Way for Greater Austin (UWATX), regarding the Austin Children’s Funding Project Workgroup DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS Discussion to approve a recommendation regarding early childhood investments for the FY 2024-25 City budget Discussion to appoint an ECC member to serve as liaison to the Success By 6 (SX6) Coalition Leadership Team FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 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. or Please Caitlin.Oliver@austintexas.gov, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on …
Building Comprehensive Networks Initiative Home Grown will be accepting applications for the third cohort of our Building Comprehensive Networks Initiative. The Building Comprehensive Networks initiative seeks to support state and local governments and their partners as they build or expand upon publicly-financed comprehensive networks to support home-based child care (HBCC) providers. Comprehensive networks are the connective tissue that joins individual HBCC providers to each other and to system infrastructure, including funding and policy. Regardless of the entity type, comprehensive networks are durable infrastructure that are positioned to tackle the big issues facing our home- based child care sector: quality; sustainability; provider well-being; and connecting providers and families to additional services. Overview of the Building Comprehensive Networks Initiative Benefits: government partners participating in the Home Grown initiative are eligible for: ● Flexible planning grants of $20,000 to support implementation planning ● Support of an expert Planning Navigator from Home Grown ● Monthly Learning Community with fellow states and local government agencies on topics including: the Network Benchmarks and Indicators, provider leadership & leadership team; theory of change; comprehensive network hub structure/model; programs & tools; evaluation. ● Access to guidance documents and resources, including implementation plans, compendium of programs and tools, evaluation toolkit, and more. ● Upon successful completion of the planning period, opportunity to apply for additional implementation funds. Timeline ● November- December, 2023: information sessions to help government agencies and partners assess whether this initiative is a fit for them and determine if they wish to apply and participate. ○ Please register for and attend one of the following: ■ Wednesday, November 15th, 11:00am-12:00 pm Eastern ■ Friday, December 1st, 12:00-1:00pm Eastern ○ Participants will receive an application after attending an information session ● January 15, 2024: applications due to Home Grown ● February 5, 2024: partner selection announced ● March 1, 2024: signed MOUs due; receipt of $20,000 planning grant upon signature ● March-October 2024: implementation planning; support from Planning Navigators; ● November 2024: submit application to Home Grown for implementation funds (up to Learning Community meetings $75,000 per year for two years) ● January 2025- December 2026: implementation period (contingent on approval) Interested to learn more? Register for one of the information sessions: November 15th or December 1st. Or email karen@homegrownchildcare.org with any questions.
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Early Childhood Council 20240320-06: Budget Recommendation Regarding Current Early Childhood Investments WHEREAS, in the City of Austin, 31% of children under age 6 live in households with low income; and WHEREAS, 90% of the children in households with low income under age 6 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, 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 federal, state, and local economic recovery funds invested in early childhood systems and programs are expiring in 2024, including essential worker wage stipends for the early childhood workforce; and WHEREAS, Child Care Scholarship programs through Workforce Solutions Capital Area are at capacity, enrollment is closed, no new funding is available at this time, and as of March 2024, the estimated amount of time a family applying for a scholarship at that time will likely remain on a waitlist before they could expect to be outreached for enrollment is 24 months; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin’s recently announced Infrastructure Academy is intended to expand the region’s skilled trade sector and access to child care is an obstacle for the existing workforce, including the skilled trades; and WHEREAS, the Early Childhood Council has had input from Success By 6, The Children’s Funding Project Workgroup, and GAVA, all calling for significantly increased local government investment in the Childcare sector, 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: ● APH Staff: $171,000 for 2 FTE staff focused on early childhood programs and services ● Social Service Contracts: $13,352,165 to six agencies to provide early childhood services, including early childhood education, infant and early childhood services, and early childhood education quality improvement, for a 12-month term through March 30, 2025, and four 12-month extension options ● …
To: From: Memo: Date: City of Austin Early Childhood Council Austin/Travis County Success by Six Coalition (SX6) SX6 City of Austin FY 2025 Budget Recommendations March 13, 2024 SX6 Goal: All children enter kindergarten happy, healthy, and ready to succeed in school and in life. SX6 is grateful to the City of Austin for prioritizing early childhood through COVID Relief Funds and policy implementation. In the last year, this included: implementing property tax abatement for eligible child care providers through Proposition 2; easing parking restrictions and zoning bylaws to relieve barriers for child care expansion; creating a grant program to help cover the cost of City permitting fees; and including child care as a central component of the Infrastructure Academy. These policies will play a critical role in supporting working parents, providing stability for our youngest, most vulnerable children, and enhancing the early childhood education sector. Austin/Travis County SX6 Coalition’s City of Austin budget recommendations are rooted in equity, data-driven, and aligned with City of Austin priorities. We recognize Austin may experience a budget deficit in FY25 so our recommendations do not ask for increased funding and we encourage maintaining funding levels for existing initiatives. Maintain funding levels for: ● APH Staff: $171,000 for 2 FTE staff focused on early childhood programs and services ● Social Service Contracts: $13,352,165 to six agencies to provide early childhood services, including early childhood education, infant and early childhood services, and early childhood education quality improvement, for a 12-month term through March 30, 2025, and four 12-month extension options. ● Start-up costs for PreK classrooms: $128,000 for six classrooms; one-time cost per ● KinderCare at Bergstrom Tech’s Lease: Annual funding for operating expenses for city classroom funded early childhood facilities ● Maternal and Infant Outreach Program Consider new investments On the horizon Incorporating an annual cost of living adjustment for all social service contracts ● ● Family Connects: Continue in-kind support and look for opportunities to extend the $2 Million in ARPA funding once that investment ends on Dec. 31, 2024. ● Matching funds of $75,000 per year in 2025 and 2026 per the required match to philanthropic funds for the implementation phase of the Home Grown Initiative grant with the City of Austin. ● Support for a dedicated revenue stream to fund the strategies outlined by the Children’s Funding Project Taskforce, which included subsidizing birth-age-three contract slots, expanding the supply of non-traditional hour …
Answers to ECC Budget Workgroup questions Updated 3/19/2024 1. Is there usually demand for 8 pre-K classrooms? Are there ever issues with being able to use up these funds? And if there were extra funds, could they go to Pre-K partnerships? There was only one year during the pandemic in which the City had trouble finding districts that could use all of these funds. That year, we provided funds for classroom supplies to PKP classrooms through UWATX by adding the funds into the City’s exis�ng ARPA agreement with UWATX. If there were an issue being able to use the funds in a given year, we would likely need Council approval to use the funds for a different need/purpose. 2. What is the impact of each of the ARPA funded programs? How many people served, etc.? They are trying to understand the impact of not having this funding anymore. Child care In 2023, WFS used ARPA funds to provide child care for 189 unduplicated children. ARPA direct child care funds were focused on providing care for families needing con�nuity of child care to avoid disrup�ons in care, care for essen�al workers living outside of Aus�n Full Purpose area who were not eligible for other essen�al worker funding, and care for children aged three years and younger and their older siblings. 62% the families served within this funding were from single parent households. These funds prevented child care disrup�ons, reduced the number of families and children on the child care subsidy waitlists, improved access to early educa�on for these children, and helped their parents remain in the workforce. Premium pay essen�al worker wage s�pends 2022 - $2500 • 92 creden�aled child care teachers (AA, BA, or MA) • 29 teachers with CDAs • 137 non-creden�aled child care staff who work in high quality programs 2023 - $1200 • 343 non-creden�aled child care staff who work in high quality programs • (Note, in 2023, Workforce Solu�ons used other quality dollars – i.e. not ARPA funds – to provide premium pay wage s�pends to 81 creden�aled child care teachers and 20 teachers with CDAs.) A follow up survey was sent to the 2023 Jeanete Watson recipients in February. This included those who received addi�onal ARPA Premium Pay S�pends. Of the 212 recipients who completed the survey roughly 1 year from ini�ally applying for Jeanete Watson, 88% (187 out of 212 responses) reported s�ll being …
Strategies for Local Investment in Early Child Care Margo Kinneberg (United Way) on behalf of the Children’s Funding Project Work Group Austin Early Education Council • March 2024 Agenda 1 1. About the Children’s Funding Project Cohort 2. Additional Background 3. The Case for an Investment in Early Child Care 4. Policy Proposal: Four Investment Strategies 5. Cost of Implementation 6. Administration and Governance 7. Next Steps Strategies for Local Investment in Early Child Care Children’s Funding Project Work Group | 2024 About the Children’s Funding Project Cohort 2 • CFP is a national nonprofit that helps communities expand equitable opportunities for children and youth through strategic public financing. • 17+ months in a cohort of municipalities nation -wide • Austin Work Group comprises members of City and County agencies, elected officials and their staff, WFS Capital Area, United Way for Greater Austin, and additional child care stakeholders Strategies for Local Investment in Early Child Care Children’s Funding Project Work Group | 2024 Additional Background 3 • 35+ years of community engagement Success by 6 Coalition, Austin Early Childhood Council • Lessons learned from the pandemic and ARPA investments • Urban Institute study on nontraditional hour care and subsequent pilot • CFP Cost Modeling Strategies for Local Investment in Early Child Care Children’s Funding Project Work Group | 2024 The Case for a Significant Investment in Child Care 4 • Workforce • Affordability • Accessibility • School Readiness • Market Failure • Equity • Social Returns “The business model for child care, which is a market-based system, is broken.[….] Bottom line – it is almost impossible to deliver sustainable, high-quality, full-day, year-round child care for infants and toddlers at a price that families can afford or are willing to pay.” - “Child Care and Economic Development,” TXP, Inc. (Dec 2023) Strategies for Local Investment in Early Child Care Children’s Funding Project Work Group | 2024 Recommended Investment Strategies 5 We propose four strategies to stabilize the industry and increase access to affordable, high quality child care for families in our community: 1. Subsidize birth through age 3 contracted slots 2. Expand nontraditional hour care 3. Build quality and capacity 4. Create a business-government alliance Strategies for Local Investment in Early Child Care Children’s Funding Project Work Group | 2024 Strategy One: Subsidize Birth through 3 Contracted Slots 6 • What are contracted slots? Guaranteed capacity • P a y for …
EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES MARCH 20, 2024 EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2024 The Early Childhood Council convened in a regular meeting on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, at Permitting and Development Center, Room #1406, 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive, in Austin, Texas. Chair McHorse called the Early Childhood Council Meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. Board Members in Attendance: Chair McHorse, Vice Chair Green-Otero, and Members Cormie, Gordon, Hamilton, Hedrick, McCollum, Menard, Navarro, and Vargas Board Members in Attendance Remotely: Staff in Attendance: Caitlin Oliver, Donna Sundstrom, Cindy Gamez, and Rachel Farley 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. There was no public comment. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Early Childhood Council Regular Meeting on February 14, 2024 The minutes from the meeting on 2/14/2024 were approved on Vice Chair Green-Otero’s motion and Member Hamilton’s second, on an 8-0 vote. Members Navarro and McCollum not present at time of the vote. STAFF BRIEFINGS EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES 2. MARCH 20, 2024 Updates from Caitlin Oliver, Austin Public Health, regarding a planning grant from Home Grown to build a comprehensive network for local child care home providers and SX6 FBCC Workgroup Tour of Family Based Homes on April 20 Caitlin Oliver, staff liaison, gave the following updates: • The Austin application for the Home Grown Building Comprehensive Networks cohort was accepted. APH will be receiving $25,000 in planning grant funds. Once the planning grant period is over, the City would be eligible to apply for the implementation grant funds in November, which would require matching funds from the City. More information is in the one-pager posted as backup. • The Success By 6 Coalition’s Family-Based Child Care Workgroup, or FBCC Workgroup, is hosting a Tour of Child Care Homes on Saturday, April 20, from 8:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. The tour gives child care workers & local leaders the opportunity to visit four home care providers and learn more about various programs. Participants will receive a certificate with four hours of professional development credit. The tour is free of cost. Spaces are limited, register by next Monday, March 25, 2024. • The Week of the Young Child is April 6-12. Council Member Fuentes …
1. 2. REGULAR MEETING of the EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL FEBRUARY 14, 2024, 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 Alice Navarro Corie Cormie Choquette Hamilton Maggie Jaime Casie Schennum Leonor Vargas John Green-Otero, Vice Chair Brianna Menard Eliza Gordon Tom Hedrick Cynthia McCollum Ellana Selig 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 Approve the minutes of the Early Childhood Council Regular Meeting on January 10, 2024 DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS Presentation from April Geruso, Planning Department, about updating the 2012 Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan, and possible action to appoint a representative to support the development and implementation of the Imagine Austin comprehensive engagement process Discussion and possible action to change the meeting date for the ECC regular meeting in April Discussion about the budget recommendation process and possible action to establish the Fiscal Year 2024-25 Budget Workgroup DISCUSSION ITEMS Updates from related groups (as needed), including Austin Chapter of the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children, Austin ISD, Child Care Regulation, Child Inc, E3 Alliance, Success By 6 Coalition, Workforce Solutions Capital Area, Travis County, and other groups in attendance Update from Brooke Freeland, United Way for Greater Austin, about the 2024 Best Place for Working Parents initiative Presentation and discussion regarding the Fiscal Year 2024-2029 Consolidated Plan Community Needs Assessment Presenters: • Chris Duran, Housing Department Senior Research Analyst • Julie Smith, Housing Department Community Engagement Specialist • Jamey May, Housing Department Housing & Community Development Officer • Helen Howell, Austin Public Health Social Services Funding Specialist Senior Updates from the Joint Inclusion Committee (JIC) ECC representative, Leonor Vargas, regarding the discussion …
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Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan Community Update City of Austin Boards & Commissions Meeting Winter 2024 What is Imagine Austin & why does it ma(cid:425)er? • Imagine Austin (IA) is the City’s comprehensive plan, a guide for long‐term growth, development, and land use decisions • A comprehensive plan is required by City Charter Article X containing: • Initially adopted in 2012, IA is a 30‐year plan, • 231 Actions & 289 Policies • 8 Priority Programs ‐ Overseeing implementation • 1 Growth Concept Map • 1 Community Vision • It seeks to make Austin a city of “Complete Communities”* * Areas that provide amenities, transportation, services, and opportunities that fulfill all residents’ material, social, and economic needs. Imagine Austin Update – Timeline 4 Q 3 2 ‘ 1 Q 4 2 ‘ 2 Q 4 2 ‘ 3 Q 4 2 ‘ 4 Q 4 2 ‘ 1 Q 5 2 ‘ 2 Q 5 2 ‘ 3 Q 5 2 ‘ 4 Q 5 2 ‘ 6 2 ‘ 7 2 ‘ 8 2 ‘ Project Kickstart SEP ‐ MAR Data evaluation; City staff pre-engagement; Framework development; Contracting Engagement JUN ‐ OCT Plan Update Draft Data ongoing; Active dev. with public input Budgeting / IA integration NOV ‐ MAY Ongoing coordination Implementation Priority Program Implementation Enhancements Today Key highlights of IA update pre‐planning efforts to date • Refinement of plan update goals & strategies (ongoing) • City collaboration (ongoing) with: • Sustainability & Resilience; and Equity • City Departments • Department Leadership • Priority Programs & Champions • Budget Office • CPIO • Equity‐driven Public Participation Planning (draft complete: March/April) Reasons, Goals, Strategies for an update to Imagine Austin: Our Equity Vision The Planning Department acknowledges the history of planning in Austin, and how past planning, including the City’s 1928 Comprehensive Plan and redlining in the 1930s produced continued struggle with displacement and gentrification, and growing disparities across all quality of life outcomes, still felt today. Additionally, the Planning Department acknowledges neighborhood planning, still in place today, covers only a fraction of the city, and even as of 2016 lacked representative decision‐making and transparency. Further, those plans were found to be inconsistent with the citywide vision. In sum, some plans in place today have created planning‐related outcomes both inconsistent with citywide goals, and planning activities with barriers to representative decision‐making. Planning understands this opportunity to learn lessons from the past …
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Discussion on community needs and spending priorities for the FY 24-29 Consolidated Plan for federal grants. Agenda Where Does Our Funding Come From? Planning and Reporting for Federal Funding How We Make Decisions Fair Housing What We've Heard From the Community Programs and Activities Overview Group and Community Input How do we fund our programs? HUD Annual Entitlement Grants Housing Trust Fund Approved City Bonds City Operating Budget Project Connect Anti-Displacement Funds CARES Act The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) allocates entitlement funding to municipalities and state governments. The City of Austin applies for what in recent years has been approximately $14 million in annual grant entitlements across four grants for affordable housing, community development, economic development, and public services. Each year, we plan and evaluate the programs funded by the HUD grants. 4 Planning and Reporting for Federal Grants U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Consolidated Plan (5-Year) Allocates federal resources to housing and community development Action Plan (1-Year) Summarizes actions, activities and federal/non- federal resources in the Consolidated Plan Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) (1-Year) End-of-year report on progress toward consolidated plan 6 Consolidated Plan Funding Sources Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Goal: Provide decent housing and a suitable living environment; expand economic opportunities for low-income people Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) Goal: Benefit low-income persons living with HIV/AIDS and their families by providing supportive services and housing Consolidated Plan (5-Year) HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Goal: create affordable housing for low- income households Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Goal: Assist people to quickly regain stability in permanent housing after experiencing a housing crisis and/or homelessness 7 How are funding decisions made? We are here Community Participation: Community Needs Assessment Available Use of Funding Sources Consolidated Plan Housing Needs & Market Analysis Other Planning Efforts Austin Strategic Housing Blueprint Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice 8 Fair Housing Issues, Experiences • 2019 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (AI) • Potential upcoming "Equity Plan" related to fair housing • Seeking input and surveying on fair housing issues, experiences (details on future slide) 9 What we’ve heard from the Community I need immediate help I need a more accessible process Feedback themes I want the opportunity to build wealth and long-term stability I need help maintaining stability I need immediate help Housing Needs Finding housing Rental Assistance Mortgage assistance Emergency …
EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FEBRUARY 14, 2024 EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2024 The Early Childhood Council convened in a regular meeting on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, at City Hall, Board & Commission Room #1101, 301 West Second Street in Austin, Texas. Chair McHorse called the Early Childhood Council Meeting to order at 9:01 a.m. Board Members in Attendance: Chair McHorse, Vice Chair Green-Otero, and Members Cormie, Hamilton, Hedrick, Menard, and Navarro Board Members in Attendance Remotely: Members McCollum, Gordon, Jaime, Schennum, Selig, and Vargas Staff in Attendance: Caitlin Oliver, Cindy Gamez, and Rachel Farley 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. Michelle Mejia, representing the ATX Early Childhood Grassroots Coalition, provided a list of budget recommendations to support parents, families, and child care providers, specifically nontraditional care and Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) care. Loretta Johnson, a child care home provider in 78744 provided comments requested funding in the city budget to support home-based child care providers. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Early Childhood Council Regular Meeting on January 10, 2024 EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FEBRUARY 14, 2024 The minutes from the meeting on 1/10/2024 were approved on Member Navarro’s motion and Vice Chair Green-Otero’s second, on an 11-0 vote. There was one abstention from Member Hedrick. Member Gordon was not present at time of the vote. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. Presentation from April Geruso, Planning Department, about updating the 2012 Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan, and possible action to appoint a representative to support the development and implementation of the Imagine Austin comprehensive engagement process April Geruso, Planning Department Division Manager, presented an overview of the community update process for the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan. Currently, the department is in the pre-planning process. Imagine Austin is the City’s comprehensive plan dictated by the city charter. The plan is a 30-year vision for land use, growth, and other opportunities. The plan seeks to make Austin a city of “Complete Communities,” defined as “areas that provide amenities, transportation, services, and opportunities that fulfill all residents’ material, social, and economic needs.” The Planning Department is working with other City departments on their equity-driven public participation plan for the update process. The department …
REGULAR MEETING of the EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL JANUARY 10, 2024, 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 Alice Navarro Corie Cormie Choquette Hamilton Maggie Jaime Casie Schennum Leonor Vargas John Green-Otero, Vice Chair Brianna Menard Eliza Gordon Tom Hedrick Cynthia McCollum Ellana Selig 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. 1. Approve the minutes of the Early Childhood Council Regular Meeting on November 8, 2023 APPROVAL OF MINUTES STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Updates from Caitlin Oliver, Austin Public Health (APH), regarding a planning grant from Home Grown to build a comprehensive network for local child care home providers and regarding pre-K classroom start-up funds this fiscal year DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS Discuss and approve updates to 2024 Early Childhood Council regular meeting calendar Discuss and appoint an ECC member to serve as ECC liaison to the Success By 6 (SX6) Coalition Leadership Team DISCUSSION ITEMS Updates from related groups (as needed), including Austin Chapter of the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children, Austin ISD, Child Care Regulation, Child Inc, E3 Alliance, Success By 6 Coalition, Workforce Solutions Capital Area, and other groups in attendance Updates from Margo Kinneberg, UWATX, regarding the cost modeling project of early childhood services in Travis County Presentation from Gayle Yondorf-Chavez, United Way for Greater Austin (UWATX), and Claudia Zapata, AVANCE, Inc., about the strategies and activities of Success By 6’s (SX6) Family-Based Child Care (FBCC) Workgroup and AVANCE’s Quality Child Care Matters (QCCM) program which supports and guides family child care educators to learn new strategies that increase the quality of care for children and …
