DATE: September 8, 2026
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Paul Nerland, County Administrative Officer
Andrea Cervantes, Program Coordinator, Early Care & Education
Office of Fresno County Superintendent of Schools
SUBJECT: 2026 Fresno County Child Care Needs Assessment
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute the 2026 Fresno County Child Care Needs Assessment for submission by the Fresno County Child Care and Development Local Planning Council to the California Department of Social Services in accordance with Welfare and Institutions Code §§ 10486 and related Local Planning Council requirements ($0).
REPORT
The Fresno County Child Care and Development Local Planning Council (LPC) is required to conduct a comprehensive child care needs assessment. Approval of the recommended action will allow the LPC to submit the 2026 Fresno County Child Care Needs Assessment to the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and utilize the findings to inform local planning efforts, policy recommendations, and strategic priorities related to early care and education services. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Your Board may opt not to approve the Child Care Needs Assessment; however, this would prevent the LPC from meeting its state mandated responsibilities and may limit the county's ability to effectively identify and address the child care needs of Fresno County families.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The Child Care Needs Assessment serves as a planning document and does not obligate the County to expend funds. The assessment provides critical data regarding the availability, affordability, accessibility, and quality of child care services throughout Fresno County.
DISCUSSION:
Local Child Care Planning Councils (LPCs) were established by the State Legislature in 1991 in every county throughout California. In Fresno County, the Child Care and Development Local Planning Council serves as the designated planning body for early care and education services. The LPC is an appointed body responsible for identifying local priorities for the distribution of state funding for early care and education services for low-income children and families.
Pursuant to state requirements, the LPC must conduct a countywide child care needs assessment. The assessment examines demographic trends, child care supply and demand, barriers to accessing care, workforce challenges, family needs, and the availability of services for children from birth through school age. The findings are used to guide local planning activities, inform the development of a countywide child care strategic plan, support policy development, and identify priorities for addressing gaps in services.
The 2026 Fresno County Child Care Needs Assessment was developed through a comprehensive review of available demographic and child care data and collaboration with public and private partners throughout Fresno County. Information included in the assessment was obtained from federal, state, and local data sources, surveys, and community outreach efforts to ensure an accurate representation of current child care needs and trends.
The Local Planning Council reviewed and approved the 2026 Fresno County Child Care Needs Assessment prior to submission. Upon approval by the Fresno County Board of Supervisors, the assessment will be submitted to the California Department of Social Services in fulfillment of state requirements.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - 2026 LPC Needs Assessment
CAO ANALYST:
Ron Alexander