20250326-021 Current Early Childhood Investments — original pdf

Recommendation

BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Committee Joint Inclusion Current 202so326.021: Ea rty Childhood Investments WHEREAS, in the City of Austin, 32% of children under age 6 live in households with low income; and WHEREAS, 94% of the children in households with low income under age 6 are children of color; and decades WHEREAS, prove that disadvanta of research world because children born into poverty and children weight, school; and or with chronic illnesses, and are less likely ges begin the moment children of color are disproportionately come into the at low born early, at than their peers to be ready for, or successful current City investments County Success WHEREAS, the Austin/Travis designed to coordinate coordinated improve access; and for equitable efforts, systems By 6 Strateg in early childhood programs align with the goals and strategies of ic Plan - a robust, data-driven community strategic plan child and family outcomes as well as build more effic ient and WHEREAS, systems and programs have expired or are expiring in 2025; and many of the federal, state, and local economic recovery funds invested in early childhood Child Care Scholarship programs through Workforce WHEREAS, new funding applying outreached is available for a scholarship for enrollment at that time will likely is 24 months; and at this time, and as of December Capital Solutions 2024, the estimated no amount of time a family Area are at capacity, remain on a waitlist before to be they could expect WHEREAS, region's the skilled skilled and the City of Austin's trade sector trades; recently announced Infrastructure and access to childcare is an obstacle Academy to expand the is intended for the existing workforce, including the Early Childhood WHEREAS, and GO! Austin/iVAMOS! Austin (GAVA), in the Childcare investment Council sector. has had input from the community's for significantly Success local government increased By 6 Coalition all calling (SXG) NOW, THEREFORE, Austin maintain to: not limited BE IT RESOLVED all current investments that the Joint Inclusion Committee recommends including programs and infrastructure, that the City of but in early childhood •Sustaining below) Maintain programs, FY25 budget and agencies levels listed for the projects, investments: below: for FY26 (subject to other recommendations Afterschool and Summer Programs: Maintain all programs currently funded by the City of Austin. Implement matching Grown. network a comprehensive and resource hub for home-based providers: funds of $75,000 for the Building Comprehensive Networks implementation city Maintain grant from Home ARPA Roll-Off: Recommend the City Council to direct APH and EDD to work alongside SXG and GAVA to: the early childhood programs and number of residents impacted by the end of ARPA • Evaluate funding, • Share with the ECC and the community • Develop investments a set of recommendations that may be necessary by the end of FY26 with any additional to fill the gap after all ARPA funding ends. the evaluation findings and early childhood Record of the vote: 10-0, Motion Commissioner Wyan, Second Commissioner Benson Date of Approval: March 26, 2025 Attest: _ ___ ____________ Commissioner Bondi, Vice Chair