Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Claire Cunningham, Director, Human Services Agency
Subject: Fourth Amendment to the Agreement with Child Care Coordinating Council of San Mateo for Stage 2 Child Care and Development Services
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing the execution of a fourth amendment to the agreement with Child Care Coordinating Council of San Mateo County, extending the term by 12 months for a new term of July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2026, and increasing funding by $600,000 for a new total obligation amount of $1,490,000, to continue to provide CalWORKs Stage 2 program child care services.
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BACKGROUND:
The California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program helps families with children pay for essentials like clothing, food, housing, and utilities. CalWORKs also offers employment services to help families become self-sufficient. This program is operated locally by the Human Services Agency (HSA).
The CalWORKs Stage 2 program is designed to provide subsidized child care assistance to families who are transitioning off cash aid or have reached a stable employment situation within the CalWORKs program, allowing them to focus on work or training while their children are cared for in a reliable setting, and essentially supporting their move towards self-sufficiency.
Stage 2 is administered annually by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) to HSA to contract with the County’s designated Alternative Payment Program (APP) provider, the Child Care Coordinating Council of San Mateo (4Cs). 4Cs is the only agency in San Mateo County, other than HSA, recognized by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) as qualified to administer state funded child care programs and therefore is considered a sole source provider.
On June 13, 2023, by Resolution No.079752, the Board waived the requirement for a Request for Proposals (RFP) process and authorized an agreement with 4Cs for a term of July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024, and a total obligation amount of $239,198, to administer child care services for CalWORKs Stage 2 families.
On November 11, 2023, a Director-level amendment (“First Amendment”) was authorized to reduce the budget by $7,657 for a revised total obligation of $231,541, with no change to the term to align with the actual allocation amount received after the start of the contract.
On June 25, 2024, by Resolution No. 080533, the parties amended the agreement (“Second Amendment”) to extend the term by 12 months, for a new term of July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2025, and added funding (allocated by CDSS) in the amount of $658,459 to continue providing services for the additional term.
On July 10, 2024, a Director-level amendment (“Third Amendment”) was authorized to add language to the payment terms that allows the annual budgeted amounts to be adjusted as needed to align with the timing of the CDSS allocations, with no change to the term or the total obligation amount.
On December 3, 2024, by Resolution 080785, the County authorized the acceptance of up to $600,000 in funding from CDSS for CalWORKs Stage 2 child care services for FY 2025-26.
DISCUSSION:
HSA is requesting to amend the Agreement with 4Cs to increase the term by 12 months, for a new term of July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2026, and to increase funding by $600,000 to align with the anticipated FY 2025-26 funding allocation, for a new total obligation amount of $1,490,000. Under this amendment, 4Cs will continue to provide Stage 2 child care services to eligible families (enrollment and case management) to help families secure and/or maintain child care. On average, 4Cs serves about 28 children each month and each family is eligible for up to 24 months of child care. So far in FY 2024-25, 4Cs has received 23 new referrals (total of 33 children) and anticipates serving a minimum of 25 children in FY 2025-26.
The Agreement and Resolution have been reviewed and approved by the County Attorney as to form.
The resolution contains the County’s standard provisions allowing amendment of the County’s fiscal obligations by a maximum of $25,000 (in the aggregate).
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2023-24 Actuals |
FY 2024-25 Anticipated |
FY 2025-26 Target |
|
Percentage of families referred for child care services contacted within 5 business days by 4Cs. |
100% |
100% |
100% |
|
Percentage of child care provider payments made within 21 days. |
100% |
100% |
100% |
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
The Stage 2 Child Care contract will positively impact low-income families by providing children with continued opportunities for quality child care for up to 24 months after transitioning off CalWORKs and removing child care as a barrier for families to maintain their employment and to achieve self-sufficiency.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of this amended Agreement is July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2026, for a total obligation amount of $1,490,000. Funding for this agreement is provided by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and is a combination of state and federal funds. Budgetary appropriation for this agreement is included in the FY 2024-25 Adopted Budget and will be included future budgets. There is no Net County Cost associated with this agreement.