DEPARTMENT: Human Services
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Melody Woosley
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
FY 2018 Child Care Services Program
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes budgetary, grant, and associated contract related actions for the City’s FY 2018 Child Care Services (CCS) Program, including:
a) acceptance of grant award from Workforce Solutions Alamo in the amount $ 47,390,468.00 for the period of October 1, 2017 - September 30, 2018;
b) a total program budget of $51,068,525.00, including an in-kind match of up to $3,638,057.00 and $40,000.00 from program income, and a personnel complement of 61 positions; and
c) approval for the Director of the Department of Human Services to execute any and all documents related to acceptance of this grant, to include acceptance of additional grant funds, if awarded and in-kind funds as available in the City’s budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
For over 26 years, the Department of Human Services (DHS) has managed the CCS program in Bexar and 12 rural counties comprising the Alamo Workforce Development Areas. The program provides subsidized childcare for families meeting income and other qualification requirements. In Fiscal Year 2017, the CCS program has served an average of 8,500 children on a daily basis with over 4,166 children on a waitlist to receive subsidized childcare.
Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) administers the State’s subsidized childcare program through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Child Care Development Block Grant. TWC determines the allocation for childcare services based on federal appropriations, local needs, and contracts with Workforce Solutions Alamo (WSA), the local workforce development board, to implement the program. Through a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process, WSA awards contracts with local agencies to provide program services.
In response to a RFP released by WSA on March 13, 2017, DHS submitted a grant application on April 12, 2017. DHS was notified of grant award on June 16, 2017.
ISSUE:
This ordinance authorizes acceptance of grant funds in the amount of $ 47,390,468.00 for the period of October 1, 2017 to September 30, 2018 with a total program budget of $51,068,525.00. The total budget includes program income of $40,000.00 and $3,638,057.00 of in-kind matching funds from the City of San Antonio General Fund, which support early childhood and after school delegate agency contracts. The City’s contribution of in-kind draws down an additional $6.7 million in federal funds for direct child care assistance.
In FY 2018, the program will serve an estimated 8,500 children daily.
Awarded funding will provide operational costs including a personnel complement of 61 positions and direct child care subsidy payments to 568 child care vendors.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should authority to accept funding not be approved, WSA would award funding to another agency to provide child care services to the Alamo Workforce Board Area. Such an action may delay the provision of services to the community and may negatively impact currently enrolled children and families.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes the acceptance of grant funds in the amount of $ 47,390,468.00 for the period of October 1, 2017 - September 30, 2018. Required program match includes up to $3,638,057.00 of in-kind matching funds comprised of City of San Antonio funding and $40,000.00 from program income. Contractual funding will be allocated from this award and the grant will also support a personnel complement of 61 City positions in the Department of Human Services.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this ordinance authorizing budgetary, grant and contract related items for the FY 2018 CCS Program. Continuation of program operations will ensure uninterrupted services to the community.