Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Supervisor Dave Pine, District 1
Subject: San Mateo County Child Care Partnership Council 2022 San Mateo County Child Care Needs Assessment
RECOMMENDATION:
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Approve the 2022 San Mateo County Child Care Needs Assessment by the San Mateo County Child Care Partnership Council for submission to the California Department of Social Services.
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BACKGROUND:
California Welfare and Institutions Code Section 10486(b)(1) requires Local Planning Councils to conduct an assessment of child care needs in the county no less frequently than once every five years to be submitted, upon approval by the county board of supervisors and the county superintendent of schools, to the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) to aid in determining local priorities for child care.
Local Child Care Planning Councils were established by the State Legislature in 1991 in every county in California. In San Mateo County, the Child Care Partnership Council (CCPC) is that council. It is a publicly funded and appointed body, which is mandated to:
• identify priorities for the local distribution of state funding for early care and education services for low-income children and families,
• conduct an early care and education needs assessment every five years,
• create a county-wide child care strategic plan,
• develop policies, strategies and resources to promote the goals of the child care strategic plan, and
• advise San Mateo County on the potential local impact of state and national policies and legislation.
The Council is co-chaired by Supervisor Dave Pine and County Superintendent of Schools Nancy Magee. Twenty additional members are appointed, with equal representation from parent consumers of child care, early care and education providers, public agencies, and community agency representatives.
DISCUSSION:
The CDSS defines and prescribes data elements to be included in the needs assessment and specifies the format for the data reporting. The needs assessment also includes all factors deemed appropriate by the local planning council in order to obtain an accurate picture of the comprehensive child care needs in the county. The factors considered in the needs assessment include all of the following:
A. The needs of families eligible for subsidized child care.
B. The needs of families not eligible for subsidized child care.
C. The waiting lists for programs funded by the department.
D. The need for child care for children determined by the child protective services agency to be neglected, abused, or exploited, or at risk of being neglected, abused, or exploited.
E. The number of children in families receiving public assistance, including CalFresh benefits, housing support, and Medi-Cal, and assistance from the Healthy Families Program and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.
F. Family income among families with preschool or school age children.
G. The number of children in migrant agricultural families who move from place to place for work or who are currently dependent for their income on agricultural employment in accordance with subdivision (a) of, and paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (b) of, WIC Section 10236.
H. The number of children who have been determined by a regional center to require services pursuant to an individualized family service plan, or by a local educational agency to require services pursuant to an individualized education program or an individualized family service plan.
I. The number of children in the county by primary language spoken pursuant to the department’s language survey.
J. Special needs based on geographic considerations, including rural areas.
K. The number of children needing child care services by age cohort.
The 2022 Child Care Needs Assessment meets the requirements as outlined by the CDSS and includes data on child care supply, demand, cost, and market rates for each category of child care in the county. The 2022 Child Care Needs Assessment also summarizes the results of recent parent and child care workforce surveys.
Summary of Child Care Supply and Demand
The current shortage of child care spaces is about 17,000 for children ages 0 to 12 years old. About 71% of the current demand for child care is being met overall countywide.
• Preschool demand is almost in balance with 94% of demand being met in 2022.
• Infant care continues to have the least amount of supply and only 34% of the current demand is being met or a shortage of about 5,800 spaces.
• School Age supply has a shortage of about 10,300 spaces, with 66% of the current demand being met.
By 2032, the shortage of child care spaces increases to about 22,000 spaces or overall, 66% of demand being met. In the next 10 years, there are about 1,100 new Infant and Preschool spaces planned. Newer child care projects will need to be developed to meet new demand and address current shortfalls.
Summary of Subsidized Child Care Supply and Need
In total, countywide, only 21% of the subsidized care need is being met. About 33,000 children ages 0 to 12 need a licensed subsidized child care space, and only about 7,000 exist currently.
• Countywide there is a shortage of about 26,000 spaces.
• Infants - only 4% of current demand is met
• Preschool - 52% of current demand is met
• School Age - 21% of current demand is met
Highlights of Parent Survey
As part of the Needs Assessment, a countywide parent survey was conducted in the Fall of 2022. One of the most striking results is that 73% of survey respondents stated that they have turned down work due to a lack of child care. Affordability of child care was the highest consideration for families.
Highlights of Workforce Findings
The current child care workforce totals about 5,300 individuals, including teachers, aides, support staff, and owners/directors. To meet the current shortfall of child care spaces would require over 2,800 new staff. Fifty percent of community-based preschools need additional staff and have limited capacity due to staff shortages. The average wages range from a low of $20 per hour to a high of $31 per hour for directors; many Family Child Care Home workers make even less per hour.
Highlights of the True Cost of Care
Most child care providers do not have enough income from tuition, including State subsidies to provide all the goods, supplies, wages, etc. that would equal quality care. The current cost of care does not reflect the rates needed to pay a living wage and most parents cannot afford to pay more. The current State reimbursement rates only cover 57% to 73% of the true cost of care.
The Child Care Partnership Council approved the 2022 San Mateo County Child Care Needs Assessment at their meeting on November 28, 2022, attached.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.