HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 04-10-2006 - 9e1ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABS'T'RACT
Meeting Date: April 10, 2006
Action Agenda
Item No. 9-rC ~(
SUBJECT: Childcare Taskforce- BOCC
DEPARTMENT: Board of Commissioner's
ATTACHMENT(S): Under Separate Caver
Membership Raster
Invitation letter
PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Clerk's Office, 245-2130
PURPOSE: To consider making BOCC appointments to the Childcare Taskforce.
BACKGROUND: On November 29, 2005, a special briefing for Orange County employers on the
impact of child care on today's workforce was sponsored by the Orange County Board of
Commissioners and other local organizations, The purpose of this briefing was to begin a community
discussion about the current childcare resources and the needs of children in our community. The
briefing included information about the economic impact of childcare on businesses and some of the
options currently available to employers. Commissioners Foushee and Carey attended the briefing, At
the end of the meeting, Commissioner Faushee recommended that the Board of Commissioners create
a taskforce with broad representation including employers and to charge the group with raising
community awareness, and encouraging greater financial participation by the private, business and
public sectors in providing child care resources.
During the recent BOCC retreat and work sessions, the BOCC further discussed establishing a
Taskforce to study the various issues related to childcare, The BOCC indicated their interest and
support far this concept and provided additional input about the purpose of the task force.
At the BOCC Regular Meeting on Marah 21, the BOCG approved the establishment and participant
make up of the Childcare Taskforce. Letters of invitation were sent on March 23`~ inviting the attached
list of proposed members to an organizational meeting, which has been set for April 1 Sih at noon at
Southern Human Services Center.
There are 2 BOCC vacancies on the Childcare Taskforce.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None.
z
Proposed Members of the Orange County Child Care Task Force
Board of County Commissioners
Chambers of Commerce
Sue Russell-Child Care Services Association Executive Director
Michelle Rivest-Orange County Partnership for Young Children Dir,
Nancy Coston-Orange County Department of Social Services Director
Dianne Reid-Orange County Economic Development Director
Day care providers (appointed by their association)
Sharron Hinton-Orange County Community Services Manager
Town of Chapel Hill
Town of Hillsborough
Town of Carrboro
Neil Pedersen- CHCCS Superintendent
Shirley Carraway- OCS Superintendent
UNC
UNC Hospital
Daycare Services Users/Consumers**
2 (t member and 1 alternate)
4 (two from each chamber)
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
4
**The task force will recruit four families who use childcare. Both Social Services and Child Care
Services Association will recruit these consumers to participate, including families from varying
backgrounds and experiences. Since attending meefings is difficult for some families, particularly
families employed in low wage jobs, other efforts such as special evening focus groups may be needed
to gain additional input from families,
BARRYJAGOBB. GNA/R ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
.S7EPNEN H. HALJC/OTIS, V/CE~WAIR POST OFFICE BOX 81 81
MOSES CAREY, JR
VALERIE P. FOUSNEE 200 50UTH CAMERON STREET'
AIJCEM GOROON
HILLSBOROUGH, I~IORTH CAROLINA 27278
April 10, 2006
Dear Potential Volunteers:
The Orange County Board of Commissioners has created a new childcare task force to create community
awareness of and support for the benefits of early childhood education, to increase private, business and
public financial contributions for child care subsidies or scholarships and to improve workplace support for
children and families. This task force will have representation from employers, government officials and child
care providers and will report its recommendations directly to the Board of Commissioners We believe that
the participation of your organization is critical and would ask that you appoint representative(s) who is willing
to participate actively in these discussions. Please review the attached list to see how many representatives
you are being asked to appoint.
The task force will work to develop recommendations for improving the community's response to the needs of
working families with young children. We know that we have better employees when these parents know that
their children are safe and are in quality programs.. Dependable childcare also results in better employee
attendance. For many Orange County families, attaining such childcare has become very expensive and
many families need subsidies to be able to afford quality care.. The waiting list for subsidy continues to be
significant in Orange County with little hope of relief through additional federal or state funds.
Through establishment of this task force, the Orange County Board of Commissioners is acknowledging the
problem facing both the families and the employers as childcare becomes harder to attain. The goal for the
task force is to work toward community solutions for these issues.
The County is committed to using the time of the committee members effectively and appreciates your interest
in the needs of employees with small children. The organizational meeting of the task force will be on April
18~' at 12:00 at Southern Human Services, Please let either Nancy Coston at ncostonCa.co.orange.nc.us (245-
2802) or Sharron Hinton at shinton onco.orange.nc.us (245-2302) of your appointment to this important task
force. They will also be willing to answer any questions you may have.
Best,
Barry Jacobs, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners
INININ CO.ORANGE NC. US
PROTECT/NG AND PRESERV/NG -PEOPLE, RESOURCES, QUAL/TY OF L/FE
ORANGE COUNTY, NORTH CAROL/NA - YOU COUNT.I
C919I 245213D • FAX (9 1 91 644-024 6