Santa Cruz Child Care Planning Council (CCPC)

1. Santa Cruz Child Care Planning Council (CCPC) Orientation

2. Welcome to the Child Care Planning Council As a new member, you were invited to serve because: • You have knowledge and training that can improve and add to the Council’s wisdom • You are dedicated to children and work at improving their lives • You want to be part of a respected and needed organization that actively works for the betterment of all child care systems and ultimately helps build a stronger, healthier community

3. Mission of Child Care Planning Councils(a.k.a. Local Planning Councils or “LPCs”) • The primary mission of LPCs is to plan for child care and development services based on the needs of families in the local community • In addition to planning, collaboration, and support for the child care systems that currently exist, the LPCs determine local priorities for new state funds • By forming strong community partnerships, each group involved is empowered to share their ideas and concerns as part of the local planning process

4. Mission and Composition of the Santa Cruz County Child Care Planning Council Our mission is to provide leadership for the assessment, development and sustainability of quality early care and education and school age extended learning options in Santa Cruz County. Members are comprised of leaders and experts in early care and education that promote and advocate for quality accessible educational programs that will ensure: • children’s healthy development • school success • a stronger healthier community

5. Council Composition Council members are appointed both by the County Superintendent of Schools and the County Board of Supervisors The by-laws of our council have set our size at 30 members to allow for maximum diversity The California Department of Education mandates that members be appointed equally in each of 5 areas: Consumers, Providers, Community Representatives, Public Agency Representatives and a Discretionary Category.

6. What areas of expertise does the Council seek to reflect?

7. The Council initially functioned as a subcommittee to the Santa Cruz County Children's Network In 1991, the California State Legislature approved funding to establish Local Child Care Planning Councils in each county In Santa Cruz County, the Child Care Planning Council was housed within the Child Development Programs Department of the County Office of Education. History

8. History continued In 1998, the current By-Laws were approved by the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors and the Santa Cruz County Superintendent of Schools In 1999, the Legislature passed an operating budget to support the work of the Planning Councils. Santa Cruz County hired their first Coordinator

9. Rules that govern the way we do business • The Brown Act • California Education Code • Our By-laws

10. Committees • This is where the work of the Council happens • Each council member serves on at least one committee • Committees meet once a month • Council members choose to serve on the committee that represents a facet of the Council’s work that most interests them and which they feel they can contribute the most to.

11. The current committees are: • Executive/Membership • Master Plan Committee • Subsidized Programs Consortium • ECE Conference Planning

12. Executive/Membership Committee Comprised of the Chair and two co-vice-chairs of the Council. Together with program staff the Executive Committee supports the work of the council by: • setting monthly meeting agendas and facilitating council meetings • inviting and arranging guest speakers • recruiting and mentoring new members, approving member applications, facilitating new member orientations and working to ensure that membership represents the diversity of the county and meets state mandates • acting on behalf of the Council on timely issues between meetings • supporting staff in strategizing and carrying out all projects related to the Council • Working to develop council visibility

13. Master Plan Committee Committee Goals: • Strategize process of vetting Master Plan in the community, conduct input sessions, keep track of input and incorporate suggested revisions. • Create an addendum to include community comments and suggestions not incorporated into plan. • Identify and contact potential implementers of the Master Plan. • Act as a “hub” for connection with and between other groups/agencies are already or would be interested in implementing various aspects of the Master Plan. • Create a time line and measurable outcomes for goals in the Master Plan. • Adopt a finalized Master Plan by June 2008.

14. Subsidized Programs Consortium Committee Goals: • Maximize ability to capture, maintain and utilize federal, state, local and private funds for infant/toddler, preschool and SAEL programs. Coordinate and broker full use of funded slots. • Increase family access to child care subsidies and tax credits. • Provide technical assistance and adequate funds to assist programs to meet the particular needs of low-income children, children with special needs, English language learners, ethnically diverse children, homeless and migrant children and foster children, (as well as families working with CPS to maintain the family unit.)  • Act as a clearing house for information and education on the state mandated Centralized Eligibility List. Conduct ongoing CEL business/coordination, fighting bushfires in the subsidy world.

15. ECE Conference Planning Committee Goals: • Develop appropriate, quality training and educational opportunities for the entire ECE and SAEL workforce. • Provide opportunities for leadership development within ECE and SAEL. • And various aspects of the following goals: • Provide technical assistance and adequate funds to assist programs to meet the particular needs of low-income children, children with special needs, English language learners, ethnically diverse children, homeless children and foster children. • Develop and expand linkages within ECE and SAEL programs. • Provide parenting education resources for ECE and SAEL professionals

16. Projects of the Council:Needs Assessment & Master Plan Every Five Years… • The Council conducts a needs assessment of child care in Santa Cruz County • The Council develops/updates a Master Plan for Early Care and Education and School Age Extended Learning in the county.

17. Major Accomplishments in FY’s 07-08 • With funding from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation the Council is leading a countywide effort to produce a comprehensive blueprint for offering voluntary preschool to all children in the last two years before entering kindergarten. • In collaboration with the League of Women Voters, the Council hosted the 27th District Assembly Candidates Forum to educate the public on candidates views on early care and education and K-12 education. • Conducted two countywide training series on the new Desired Results Developmental Profile (assessment tool) for 119 state funded staff and directors • Distributed over $72,000 in professional development educational awards to the ECE workforce in Santa Cruz via the AB212 program. • Council members spoke at the City of Capitola’s Housing Element focus group in an effort to advocate for the inclusion of child care as an essential element in the design of sustainable community. • Council members met with the Santa Cruz City Council to advocate for a fair defunding process for all community based programs that receive city jurisdictional funding. • Planned and held the 2008 Central Coast ECE Conference on Quality Child Care. • Completed the 2008-2013 Master Plan for Early Care and Education.

18. Membership Commitment • Attend monthly 2-hour Council meetings • Attend yearly all-day retreat in June • Join at least one committee and attend monthly meeting. • Attend public events sponsored by Council • Represent Council in the community • Respond to communications from the Council and staff

19. Why Serve on the Council? For the Children!