HomeMy WebLinkAbout013106 Item 2ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: January 31, 2006
SUBJECT: Child Care Task Force
DEPARTMENT: County Manager
ATTACHMENT(S):
Background from Retreat Notebook
Action Agenda
Item No. a
PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) No
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Gwen Harvey, Assistant County
Manager, 245 -2307
Nancy Coston, DSS Director, 245 -2802
PURPOSE: To further discuss a proposal to establish a Child Care Task Force
BACKGROUND: Establishing a broad -based Child Care Task Force was one of the issues the
BOCC discussed briefly at its annual retreat under the heading of "Changing Human Services
Landscape ". This is an opportunity for the BOCC to take the discussion further, including any
comments or feedback on the charge, composition, and timeline of such as Task Force.
Regarding composition, the BOCC noted it would be important to include Economic
Development (Dianne Reid) among the members.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The BOCC may wish to consider allocating an appropriate sum of
money from its contingency to help off set administrative expense or miscellaneous
supplies /materials necessary to support the work of the Task Force.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board discuss the proposed
Child Care Task Force and provide any feedback and direction to staff.
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Child Care Task Force
Background
On November 29, a special briefing for Orange County employers on the impact
of child care on today's workforce was sponsored by the Chapel Hill- Carrboro
Chamber of Commerce, Hillsborough /Orange Chamber of Commerce, Orange
County Board of Commissioners, Orange County Economic Development
Commission, and the Triangle United Way.
Principal conveners /facilitators included Michele Rivest, Orange County
Partnership for Young Children and Sue Russell, Child Care Services
Association. Presenters from the County included Nancy Coston, Social
Services, and Dianne Reid, Economic Development. Commissioners Carey and
Foushee were in attendance to provide welcoming remarks and help introduce
the topic.
The November briefing was essentially a networking event to engage local
employers in learning about options that presently exist and the need to secure
additional resources for affordable day care solutions. At the end, Commissioner
Foushee brought forward the recommendation to create a new "County
Commissioner's Task Force on Child Care and Workforce" to carry the
conversation further. Such a task force, as suggested by the event organizers,
would ideally include broad representation from employers and the private sector
and have as its goals increased community awareness, increased private,
business, and public financial contributions, and improved workplace support for
children and families.
Staff understands from follow -up with Michele Rivest and Nancy Coston that the
final shape of the proposed task force, including recommended charge,
composition, and staff support needs is (as of this writing) still in draft format. A
meeting to iron out the details and bring forward a finished product is being
organized by Rivest to include Commissioner Foushee, Russell, and Coston.
BOCC Discussion and Direction to Staff: