Res 2023-024/approving a funding contract with Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area providing general funds of $100,000.00 for childcare programs

Home Browse Search

• Parents who do not earn a sustainable wage are paying caregivers who are not earning a sustainable wage to take care of their children. • Even with subsidy reimbursements to child care providers, typically only 80% of the published rate is covered, requiring child care providers to operate in a deficit in order to accept subsidized children. ($9,364 *80% =7,491.20) The COVID-19 pandemic has caused disproportionate suffering among vulnerable and socioeconomically disadvantaged portions of the population. Given this information, there is a critical need to support early care and education scholarships for residents in San Marcos. CURRENT ENVIRONMENT Through federal, state, and local child care funding, Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area is able to provide scholarships for eligible families. Eligibility for families: • Each parent, step-parent or guardian, living in the household, must be working, attending school, in training/other educational program, or a combination of these, at least an average of 25 hours a week over a review period or actively looking for employment. • Meet income guidelines based on gross household income (before taxes)and family size.' • The person applying for services must have primary custody of the child(ren) needing services. • Families must live within Rural Capital service counties: Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Fayette, Hays, Lee, Llano, or Williamson. • Families who owe recoupment, anywhere in Texas, are not eligible to enroll or continue services until the recoupment has been paid in full. *Based on the household income calculations, the family may still be required to pay a portion of child care, referred to as a Parent Share of Cost. GOALS`& PRIORITIES Our goals for this funding opportunity are to offer families an identifiable source of child care information and financial assistance as they continue to navigate post pandemic life, support the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development of children, strengthen the child care industry and to provide a community resource for child care needs in this ever-changing environment. This funding will support the gap in the cost of child care as families work toward financial independence. There are two project component priorities that are important as we evaluate the funding strategy. Continuity of care is a critical factor of quality in early care and education, this will prevent disruptions in care which hinders family capacity to gain or maintain earnings. This funding strategy also will support families who apply for typical funding but are over the income limits but still less than the City of San Marcos income limit. Both of these components will help our children have access to high-quality child- care services. This funding strategy will ensure child care services for families with low to moderate incomes in San Marcos, Texas who: • Are no longer eligible for the Workforce Solutions typical funded (CCDF) program due to earning income over 85%of the State Median Income, but still under the City of San Marcos Income Limits. (e.g., Figure 1) 4 1 P a g e