The Lake County Child Care Planning Council has supported Lake County since 1991, providing important services and supports to child care providers, families and other agencies. Legislation provided that each county in California create a local planning council to work toward availability and affordability of high quality child care.
The local council reports jointly to the Lake County Board of Supervisors and the Superintendent of Schools. Its work includes conducting a countywide child care needs assessment that is used by grant writers and other agencies to secure increased funding for Lake County programs, a strategic plan for child care in Lake County, data collection and tracking to determine where Lake County has child care shortages and how Lake County can improve the quality and availability of child care.
The California Department of Education, along with local educators, expressed surprise at the drastic 50-percent cut to the local planning council budgets, retroactive to July 1. Council staff and fiscal agent, the Lake County Office of Education, are attempting to develop a workable budget and strategic plan, given this dramatic reduction.
The collaboration and work that takes place through the planning council is critical to ongoing availability of quality, affordable child care in Lake County. Over the past decade the council has organized and collaborated to bring nearly 2,000 hours of professional growth opportunities to Lake County child care providers, which has had a significant impact on the quality of care children receive. Some of the other projects that resulted from these collaborations include the countywide Lake County Cares for Our Kids advocacy effort, which includes participation from a large number of agencies and organizations to raise awareness of child abuse prevention and the importance of quality early care and education.
Additionally, the Early Childhood Educator of the Year Award program is in its third year. It serves to recognize excellence in educators serving young children through a process of nominations, extensive selection committee work and final countywide recognition.
This is only a small example of the work done by this local group of educators and professionals. The value of this council and the collaborations that occur cannot be overstated.
Our main goal is to ensure that nearly 20 years of work are not destroyed in this drastic elimination of funding. For more information on the council”s work and how to support its initiatives, visit www.lakecountychildcareplanning.com or call 994-4795.
Shelly Mascari
Lake County
