BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Early Childhood Council 20220412-2biv: Affordable Housing for Families WHEREAS, the City of Austin Strategic Plan section Economic Opportunity & Affordability contains several strategies to reduce inequities in availability of affordable housing: Strategy #5: Develop and act on recommendations to reduce the number of households and businesses displaced from Austin due to unaffordability; Strategy #7: Acknowledge Austin’s history of racial segregation and counter it by applying an equity perspective to the City’s land development code and associated programs and policies, aligning with community priorities as articulated in Imagine Austin, and ensuring affordable housing options throughout Austin; and Strategy #8: Define and enact our response to homelessness focusing on efficient and effective use of our resources to address disparities, prevent homelessness, and support housing stability WHEREAS, almost 32,000 children under 6 in Austin live in households with low incomes (less than 200% of federal poverty level, which is slightly under $53,000 per year for a family of 4); WHEREAS, families with children need housing that includes at least two bedrooms and, in many cases three or four bedrooms; for example, social services often require that children of different genders have separate bedrooms; WHEREAS: enrollments in AISD have declined over the last several years in part because families with children are moving to outlying areas in order to find affordable housing; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Austin Early Childhood Council encourages the Austin City Council to prioritize the needs of families with low incomes for affordable housing, including increasing the availability of 3 (and 4) bedroom units. Date of Approval: _____________________________ Record of the vote: _____________________________ Attest: _____________________________________________
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Early Childhood Council 20220412-2biii: Recommendation related to community engagement for APH social service contracts WHEREAS, the Strategic Direction 2023 identifies GOVERNMENT THAT WORKS FOR ALL as a strategic outcome that includes believing that city government works effectively and collaboratively for all of us— that it is equitable, ethical and innovative; and WHEREAS, in 2016 the City of Austin established an Equity Office to focus on advancing equity in all aspects of City operations; and WHEREAS, the Equity Office works across all City departments and with major institutions, non-profits, and other community organizations working in Austin to build capacity and leadership in working from a racial equity lens; and WHEREAS, a June 2018 report regarding the implementation of the Equity Assessment Tooli identified weaknesses in community engagement by City departments but also strengths within Austin Public Health which “Uses formal processes to gather community feedback, including: focus groups, client surveys, public meetings, stakeholder groups, consulting with social services contractors and quality of life”; and WHEREAS, principals of equitable public engagement (premised on the belief that everyone has the right to be involved in decisions that will affect their life) includes providing equitable financial compensation to individuals and communities with lived experience, valuing their time and expertise in planning and implementationii; and specifically, for early childhood systems, centering parent voice in developing recommendationsiii; and WHEREAS, among major U.S. metro areas, Austin saw the 12th biggest increase in the cost of living from 2010 to 2020, according to a new analysis of federal dataiv; and WHEREAS, “Care work is vital to individual, household, and economic stability. Unfortunately, this highly demanded and demanding work is deeply undervalued and undercompensated. The care workers who allow those in their care—and their families—to flourish are paid persistently low wages with few employer benefits.”v NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Early Childhood Council encourages the Austin City Council to consider requirements in City-funded social service contracts that: • Include opportunity for community and client voice and input by requiring community and client engagement and feedback in the development and implementation of programs and services; and • Provide a stipend to compensate for community member and client participation in planning and implementation of programs; and Include Cost of Living Increases for social service contracts for staff • Date of Approval: _____________________________ Record of the vote: _____________________________ Attest: _____________________________________________ i https://www.austintexas.gov/edims/pio/document.cfm?id=300307 ii https://www.urban.org/urban-wire/community-voice-expertise iii https://earlysuccess.org/allies-convene-to-share-tips-and-best-practices-for-centering-parent-voices/ iv https://austin.culturemap.com/news/city-life/02-01-22-austin-spike-in-cost-of-living-filterbuy-aus/ …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Early Childhood Council 20220412-2bii: Early Head Start and School-based Child Care WHEREAS, the City of Austin Strategic Plan, Economic Opportunity and Affordability Strategy 10 is to 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; WHEREAS, the City of Austin Strategic Plan, Economic Opportunity and Affordability Strategy 11 is to advance economic mobility by equipping and empowering families with wrap around services over a multi-year period so that parents can succeed in the workforce and children are prepared to succeed in adulthood; WHEREAS, almost 32,000 children under 6 in Austin live in households with low incomes (less than 200% of federal poverty level); WHEREAS, increasing access to high quality early care and education for infants and toddlers is a state and local priority for both the United Way Success By 6 Coalition and the Texas Prenatal to Age 3 Collaborative agenda; WHEREAS, a stimulating and nurturing environment during the first three years of life is centrally important for cognitive and social development of children; WHEREAS, the number of child care spaces available and affordable for parents with low incomes is very small in comparison to the need; WHEREAS, school-based child care helps parenting adolescents to stay in school and to graduate, which in turn is a benefit for their own futures and those of their children; WHEREAS, school districts attended by many students in the city other than AISD do not currently offer child care (e.g., Del Valle); NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Early Childhood Council encourages the Austin City Council to increase funding for child care services under the Community Development Block Grant for a) Early Head Start and b) expansion of the Teen Parent Child Care Program to provide child care for teen parents who are enrolled in districts other than Austin Independent School District (AISD). Date of Approval: _____________________________ Record of the vote: _____________________________ Attest: _____________________________________________
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Early Childhood Council 20220412-2bv: Recommendation to prioritize early childhood education workforce and families with young children in City anti-displacement planning WHEREAS, the City of Austin Anti-Displacement Task Force was created and charged with setting metrics and goals, and giving preliminary recommendations for displacement prevention; and WHEREAS, for families in Austin, child care is the second highest cost behind housingi, and lack of access to affordable child care was one of the top barriers to workforce participation; and WHEREAS, in Austin/Travis County there are almost 32,000 children under age 6 living in households with low-income (approximately 200% of the federal poverty level), and 90% of children living in poverty are children of color –only 10% are non-Hispanic White; and WHEREAS, child care programs are experiencing an unprecedented staffing crisisii that is impacting child care access for families in Austin; including • 89% of programs surveyed have experienced difficulty hiring staff in the past six months (95% of programs that accept child care subsidies) • 75% of programs surveyed report current staff vacancies • 56% of these programs are under-enrolled due to staffing shortages and 43% are limiting hours as a result WHEREAS, according to the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment, the median wage for child care programs in Texas is $10.14/houriii and the City of Austin living wage is $15; WHEREAS, in Texas, compared to all workers in all other sectors with similar demographic characteristics (e.g. gender, race/ethnicity, education) child care workers earn 19.2% less than other sectors; and WHEREAS, national data indicates that the predominately female (94%) early care and education workforce is more racially and linguistically diverse than K-12 teachers. People of color comprise 40% of early care and education professionals, and 22% are foreign born;iv and WHEREAS, local child care programs cannot increase wages without increasing the cost of care for families which disproportionately impacts families with low-income who have the least ability to pay for child care; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Early Childhood Council recommends that the City of Austin Anti-Displacement Task Force prioritize families with young children living in low-income households, and the early childhood education workforce, in anti-displacement efforts, especially in • Preserving and expanding the supply of affordable housing • Preserving and growing small businesses and cultural assets • Controlling land for community development • Income and asset creation by providing needed services - childcare, transportation, …
REGULAR MEETING Tuesday, April 12, 2022 EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL MINUTES The Early Childhood Council (ECC) convened on Tuesday, April 12, 2022. Board Members in Attendance: Chair McHorse, Vice Chair Worthington, Council Members Alvarez, Bliss Lima, Conlin, Demby, Gordon, Hedrick, and Huston Staff in attendance: Caitlin Oliver, Donna Sundstrom, Cindy Gamez, and Michelle Rodriguez CALL TO ORDER – Chair McHorse called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Two people provided public comment. The first speaker, Zenobia C. Joseph, requested that the ECC include access to transportation in recommendations regarding affordable housing for families with young children and that the ECC ask City Council to reconnect people who live North of Highway 183 through public transportation. Joseph also commented on City competitive bidding for social service contracts and expressed concerns about access for new providers to receive funding. The second speaker, Laura Olson– a mom, former early childhood educator, and Organizing Director of GoAustinVamasAustin!– requested that the ECC schedule evening meetings to accommodate the schedules of working families and that future meetings include multilingual interpretation and translation of agendas. Olson also asked that the ECC prioritize families with young children in anti-displacement and affordable housing strategies and that the ECC prioritize opportunities for equitable investments in Austin’s Eastern Crescent. 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES from March 9, 2022, meeting – Member Gordon moved to approve the minutes from the March 9, 2022, regular meeting. The minutes were approved by a unanimous vote of 9-0. 2. NEW BUSINESS AND POSSIBLE ACTIONS a. Annual ECC officer elections Member Hedrick moved to recommend re-election of Cathy McHorse and Matt Worthington for the Chair and Vice Chair positions, respectively. Chair McHorse and Vice Chair Worthington were re-elected by a unanimous vote of 9-0. b. Policy Work Group updates i. Workforce Solutions Capital Area request to add appointee to the ECC Prior to the City Council’s 10-1 decision for appointing members to boards & commissions, Workforce Solutions (WFS) Capital Area appointed someone to the ECC. After that decision, WFS no longer had an appointed person. Adding a 14th member to the ECC requires an ECC bylaw amendment and a City Code amendment. The policy work group decided that now is not the right time to pursue this request because of the community engagement with WFS already in motion. Members discussed considering equitable makeup of the ECC and the criteria for expanding appointed positions, possibly …
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 …
EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL February 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 AGENDA CALL TO ORDER Public comment will be accepted in person and by phone. To make a comment by phone, register to speak no later than noon the day before the meeting by contacting Caitlin Oliver, Program Coordinator, Austin Public Health, at 512-972-6205 or email: Caitlin.Oliver@austintexas.gov. CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first five speakers to register will be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns not on the agenda. 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES from January 12, 2022, meeting 2. OLD BUSINESS a. Update from the Community Engagement and Policy Workgroups on a response to the Workforce Solutions Capital Area letter to the ECC that was discussed at the January 12, 2022, meeting 3. NEW BUSINESS AND POSSIBLE ACTIONS a. Joint Inclusion Committee and Community Engagement Work Group updates- Raul Alvarez i. ii. JIC/Quality of Life (QoL) Commission Budget Town Hall on Affordability and Resiliency (February 16, 2022) Joint Inclusion Committee (JIC) Budget Timeline/Process - Budget proposals are due to the JIC by March 14th if individual boards/commissions seek JIC endorsement b. Policy Work Group updates- Anna Lisa Conlin i. American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding update ii. Discussion of fiscal year 2022-2023 budget recommendations, including brief review of ECC budget resolutions from the past two years iii. Austin-Travis County COVID-19 Child Care Task Force survey on child care 4. STAFF UPDATES staffing 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 b. Updates from organizations/programs receiving ARPA funds 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 contact Caitlin Oliver, Program Coordinator, Austin Public Health, at 512-972-6205 or email: Caitlin.Oliver@austintexas.gov.
STRATEGIC PLAN | 2019-2023 ARPA INVESTMENTS PROVIDE ADDITIONAL CHILD CARE FUNDING TO ADDRESS GAP CREATED FOR FAMILIES DUE TO CHANGES IN EMPLOYMENT STATUS Original request: $6M *Create a step-down child-care fund for Workforce Program Graduates to mitigate the benefits cliff. * Increase funding for Continuity of Care Program Workforce Solutions Capital Area - Continuity of Care Expansion City: $1,965,104 - Anticipated Council Action March 24 County: $906,399 - in process Prioritize funding for infants/toddlers on subsidy waitlist, Additional priority populations: training programs, Travis County (outside COA) ARPA INVESTMENTS PROVIDE ADDITIONAL CHILD CARE FUNDING TO ADDRESS GAP CREATED FOR FAMILIES DUE TO CHANGES IN EMPLOYMENT STATUS Original request: $6M *Create a step-down child-care fund for Workforce Program Graduates to mitigate the benefits cliff. * Increase funding for Continuity of Care Program Workforce Solutions Capital Area - Child Care Access Family & Community Engagement Navigator & Supervisor City: $370,588 - Anticipated Council Action March 24 County: $168,233 - in process Funds to provide the Child Care Subsidy Contractor with the necessary staffing support to more efficiently and effectively connect families with low-income who are in need of child care services in Travis County to child care providers with child care service openings ARPA INVESTMENTS STABILIZING THE CHILD CARE WORKFORCE Original request: $1M Wage Supplements & Tuition Supports Workforce Solutions Capital Area - Child Care Essential Worker Premium Pay City: $765,945 - Anticipated Council Action March 24 County: $385,785 - in process Expand the Jeannette Watson Wage Supplement to include awards for professionals with a Child Development Associate credential (CDA); provide an annual premium pay wage stipend for two years to Jeannette Watson recipients in addition to their Jeannette Watson award. Annual premium pay wage stipends will also be provided to non-credentialed essential child care professionals (including center support staff, such as cooks and cleaners) with tenure in the child care sector. Tuition Support through T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Texas Scholarship Program City: $157,000 - pending Council Action (April 2022?) Additional wrap-around supports to early childhood professionals who are pursuing higher education in the early childhood field: includes completion bonuses after the first semester, second semester, and upon contract completion; commitment bonuses; and quality staff retention incentives for sponsoring centers. ARPA INVESTMENTS SUSTAIN & SCALE INNOVATIVE INFRASTRUCTURE TO INCREASE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE QUALITY CARE MEETING THE NEEDS OF ALL FAMILIES Original request: $2.2M *PreK Partnerships Hub *Family-Based Child Care Networks PreK Partnerships Hub City: …
REGULAR MEETING Wednesday, February 9, 2022 EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL MINUTES The Early Childhood Council (ECC) convened on Wednesday, February 9, 2022. Board Members in Attendance: Chair McHorse, Council Members Alvarez, Bliss Lima, Conlin, Demby, Gordon, Hedrick, Hosking Pulido, Huston, 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 January 12, 2022, meeting – Member Demby moved to approve the minutes from the January 12, 2022, regular meeting. The minutes were approved by a unanimous vote of 9-0 (Member Schennum not on the dais at time of vote). 2. OLD BUSINESS a. Update from the Community Engagement and Policy Workgroups on a response to the Workforce Solutions Capital Area letter to the ECC that was discussed at the January 12, 2022, meeting Member Gordon said the Community Engagement Workgroup has discussed potentially offering their support to Workforce Solutions (WFS) in the development of a community engagement group, which was one of the recommendations the ECC members made to WFS in 2021 to improve customer service. Member Conlin, Chair McHorse, and Member Huston shared that the Policy Workgroup discussed responding to WFS with some follow-up requests, including: 1) a regular monthly update to the ECC concerning WFS progress on the recommendations the ECC made; 2) that the ECC have a representative on the WFS Tiger Team or that WFS consult with the ECC members on what community members to include on the Tiger Team; and 3) an opportunity to discuss interpretations of the customer service data that WFS shared with the ECC members. Member Conlin noted that the City is in the process of incorporating performance measures into contracts with WFS that incorporate customer service satisfaction. Member Hedrick posed the idea of including Baker-Ripley, the company WFS contracts with for child care services, in the conversation about customer service improvement. Member Hosking Pulido asked that the response to WFS include a request for a list of the onboarding training that child care services staff receive. Chair McHorse encouraged ECC members to review the spreadsheet that WFS provided to the ECC, which includes the customer service data for child care services. McHorse plans to send a follow up email to WFS with the additional requests discussed at today’s meeting. 3. NEW BUSINESS AND …
