CHILD CARE OFFICE AND CHILD DAY CARE SERVICES

PROGRAM MISSION: To reduce risks and ensure the health, safety and welfare of children in child care facilities through licensure and training, and to assist parents in becoming more self-sufficient by providing financial support for childcare services to low-income families.

• Licensure of day care facilities helps to prevent risks to children and assure an acceptable level of quality care. The Child Care Office staff licenses early childhood programs; family day care homes; and private, parochial, and technical schools through implementation of three local ordinances. Compliance with standards, as outlined in each code, is determined by licensing studies, announced and unannounced monitoring visits, and the investigation of complaints. Local codes are more stringent than state licensing regulations, which address early childhood programs and only family day care homes with six to nine children. The County licensing program supplements, as well as complements, the state's efforts.

• Training is offered to caregivers to upgrade the quality of care for children. Training is designed in collaboration with the Northern Virginia Community College for family day care providers and childcare center staff on a variety of topics including infant-child CPR, first aid for caregivers (taught in English, Spanish, Bangali, and Hindu), creative activities, health and safety, and language development. Additionally, the Toy Lending and Resource Library provides educational toys, equipment, and resource materials. The Office also provides technical assistance and counseling, issues a quarterly newsletter with resource information, and coordinates with Public Health, the public library and other County agencies for additional training.

• Financial support for childcareis available to low-income families in the form of a subsidy. The Child Care Services staff purchases childcare on behalf of eligible residents after assessing the initial and continued eligibility of residents for day care services. A childcare subsidy is provided for TANF/VIEW recipients and other low-income working families earning up to 185% of the federal poverty level. Parents pay a portion of the day care cost, based on their income and family size. The average monthly day care cost for the County is $525 per child. The Federal and State Child Care Block Grant Program provides the major funding for this program.

SIGNIFICANT BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS:

• Non-personnel costs decrease due to revised projected telephone charges.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES:

Child Care Office

• Five Child Care Specialists conduct licensing studies, complaint investigations, and monitoring visits. The minimum standard is two visits per facility annually; however, staff will continue to give priority to visiting programs where safety hazards or the potential for improved quality of service is identified. These facilities often require several additional visits.

• Problems not corrected within the year are generally unrelated to safety issues. Staff continues to work with the provider to correct the problem.

• The 5% dissatisfaction rate is related to timeliness of the licensing process. Management will conduct a review of the process to reduce cycle time.

Child Day Care Subsidy Program

• The 20% dissatisfaction rate is related to timeliness of the eligibility process and the wait list for services. Management will conduct a review of the process to reduce cycle time.