DATE: February 11, 2025
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Paul Nerland, County Administrative Officer
Andrea Cervantes Woods, Fresno County LPC Coordinator
Fresno County Superintendent of Schools
SUBJECT: Child Care and Development Local Planning Council Membership Roster
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Verify that the members of the Child Care and Development Local Planning Council identified in the Certification Statement Regarding the Child Care and Development Local Planning Council Membership meet the council representation categories mandated by California Welfare and Institutions Code section 10485 and that a good faith effort has been made by the County Board of Supervisors to ensure that the ethnic, racial, and geographic composition of the Child Care and Development Local Planning Council is reflective of the population of Fresno County, and authorize the Chairman to execute Certification Statement Regarding the Child Care and Development Local Planning Council Membership.
REPORT
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The Fresno County Child Care and Development Local Planning Council (LPC) is a forum that supports planning and actions to promote a quality early care and education system that meets the needs of all children and families. California Welfare and Institution Code (WIC) section 10485 states that the County Board of Supervisors and the County Superintendent of Schools shall select the members of the LPC; therefore, it must be brought before your Board annually to make the required findings and to execute the Certification Statement by the California Department of Social Services’ March 15th deadline. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Your Board may opt not to approve the LPC membership roster; however, this would result in the LPC not meeting the California Department of Social Services’ March 15th deadline and potentially disrupt resource allocation to the families with the most need.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended action, as this item is to approve the LPC membership roster.
The State Child Care and Development Division uses the LPC priorities for the purpose of allocating new State and Federal funds within Fresno County. The LPC identifies the local priorities to meet the childcare needs in Fresno County and submits those priorities to the California Department of Social Services. In accordance with WIC section 10486, the State Child Development Division will annually notify the LPC in each county of the amount to be allocated within the county and the timeline for the allocations.
DISCUSSION:
The LPC consists of a maximum of 30 members, with 15 members selected by the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools and 15 members selected by the Fresno County Board of Supervisors. The membership of the LPC shall be as follows: 20% shall be consumers of childcare services; 20% shall be childcare providers; 20% shall be public agency representatives; 20% shall be community representatives; and 20% shall be discretionary appointees as mandated by WIC section 10485. Currently, there are 15 vacancies on the LPC.
The California Department of Social Services requires the LPC to submit a certification statement regarding composition of the LPC’s membership annually by March 15th. The certification statement must be signed by the authorized representatives of the County Board of Supervisors, the County Superintendent of Schools, and the LPC. By signing the certification statement, the Board of Supervisors is verifying that, as of December 1, 2024, the members of the Child Care and Development Local Planning Council listed in the certification statement meet the council representation categories as mandated by WIC section 10485 and that a good faith effort has been made by the County Board of Supervisors to ensure that the ethnic, racial, and geographic composition of the LPC is reflective of the population of Fresno County.
Local Child Care Planning Councils were established by the State legislature in 1991 in every county in California. It is a publicly funded and appointed body that is mandated to identify priorities for the local distribution of State funding for early care and education services for low-income children and families. One of the primary missions of the LPC is to plan for early care and education services based on the needs of families in the local community. Through collaborative efforts with other individuals and organizations interested in the welfare of families, LPCs coordinate and plan to determine local priorities for new State and Federal funds.
The LPC is also required by the California Department of Social Services to conduct an early care and education needs assessment, create a countywide childcare strategic plan every five years, develop policies, strategies and resources to promote the goals of the childcare strategic plan, and advise the County on the potential local impact of State and national policies and legislation. The LPC board meets every other month beginning January of each year (five times per year).
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - LPC Certification Statement
On file with Clerk - Membership by Category
CAO ANALYST:
Ronald Alexander