DEPARTMENT: Human Services
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Melody Woosley
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
FY 2021 Child Care Quality Services Grant
SUMMARY:
An Ordinance authorizing the submission of a Child Care Services Quality Initiative grant application to Workforce Solutions Alamo (WSA) and acceptance of up to $1,204,793.00 if the grant is awarded. The term of the grant is for one year between March 1, 2021 to February 28, 2022 with up to four one-year extensions. This award will support 10 new positions with revised personnel complement of 80 positions for Department of Human Services (DHS).
Furthermore, this ordinance authorizes the Director of DHS to initiate, negotiate, and execute any and all necessary documents to effectuate the acceptance of the referenced grant, and to execute contract amendments pertaining to this contract. This ordinance also authorizes the acceptance of additional funding, if awarded, in an amount up to 20% of the total amount awarded to the grant.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) administers the State’s subsidized childcare program funded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG). TWC contracts with WSA to implement the program. Through a competitive process, WSA awards contracts to local agencies to provide program services. For over 30 years, DHS has managed the Child Care Subsidy program in Bexar and 12 rural counties comprising the Alamo Workforce Development Area. The program provides subsidized childcare to families meeting income and other qualification requirements.
TWC also contracts with WSA to implement the Child Care Services Quality Initiative, also known as Texas Rising Star (TRS). This quality initiative provides mentorship and assessments to qualify local childcare centers as TRS providers (high quality childcare centers). Currently, the initiative is jointly managed by DHS and another contractor. DHS provides assessments to determine if childcare centers meet TRS qualifications and continues ongoing monitoring for as long as a center agrees to participate in the TRS program. DHS was notified that WSA decided to recompete the Child Care Services Quality Initiative with an expectation that only one grantee would be awarded to manage both aspects of the contract. The RFP was released on November 13, 2020 and responses were due December 15, 2020.
On January 22, 2021, the WSA Board approved an award to the City of San Antonio for full management of the Child Care Services Quality Initiative.
ISSUE:
This ordinance authorizes the submission of a Child Care Services Quality Grant application and associated grant documents to Workforce Solutions Alamo, and acceptance upon award of grant funds in an amount up to $1,204,793.00 for the period of March 1, 2021 to February 28, 2022 with up to four one-year extensions, not to exceed a total of five years.
In response to the RFP released by WSA on November 13, 2020, DHS submitted a grant application on December 15, 2020.
Awarded funding will provide for Child Care Services Quality operational costs including revised personnel complement of 80 positions, which includes 10 new positions.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should authority to accept funding not be approved, WSA would award funding to another agency to operate the Child Care Services Quality Initiative for the Alamo Workforce Board Area. Such an action may delay the provision of services to the community and may negatively impact the implementation of quality standards in childcare centers in the community.
FISCAL IMPACT:
An Ordinance authorizing the submission of a Child Care Services Quality Grant application and acceptance of
up to $1,204,793.00 for the period of March 1, 2021 to February 28, 2022 with up to four one-year extensions, not to exceed a total of five years. This award will support 10 new positions with revised personnel complement of 80 positions for DHS.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this ordinance ratifying the submission of a Child Care Services Quality Grant application and associated grant documents to Workforce Solutions Alamo, and acceptance of grant funds in an amount up to $1,204,793.00 for the period of March 1, 2021 to February 28, 2022 for the CCS Program. Continuation of the Child Care Services Quality Initiative will ensure uninterrupted services to the community.
FISCAL ORDINANCE LANGUAGE:
SECTION 1. The City Manager or designee, or the Director of the Department of Human Services (DHS) or designee, is hereby authorized to submit a grant application and accept additional Child Care grant funds upon award from Workforce Solutions Alamo in an amount up to $788,759.00 for the period beginning March 1, 2021 and ending February 28, 2022 with up to four one-year extensions, not to exceed a total of five years. This award will increase the current budget to support 10 new positions with a revised personnel complement of 80 positions for DHS. A copy of the original grant application is on file with DHS.
SECTION 2. The City Manager or designee, or the Director of the Department of Human Services (DHS) or designee, is further authorized to initiate, negotiate, and execute any and all necessary documents and a grant contract to effectuate the acceptance of the grant referenced in Section 1 of this ordinance and to execute contract amendments pertaining to this contract to include a) carry-over funds, when ascertained and approved by the funding agency through a revised notice of award; b) line item budget revisions authorized by the funding agency; c) modifications to the performance measures authorized by the funding agency and listed in the contract so long as the terms of the amendment stay within the general parameters of the intent of the grant; d) no cost extensions; e) amendments which will provide supplemental grant funds to the grant by the funding agency in an amount up to 20% of the total amount initially awarded to the grant; f) reimbursement increases of administrative funds for each participant served; g) amendments funding one time equipment purchases or defined program services; and h) changes in regulations mandated by the funding agency, if awarded and matching funds are available in City’s budget.
SECTION 3. Should funding be awarded, upon acceptance of this award, new funds and internal order numbers will be created, upon which the award amount not to exceed $788,759.00 will be appropriated in said fund. The budget, which is attached hereto and incorporated herein for all purposes as Attachment III, is approved and adopted for entry in the City books.
SECTION 4. The revised personnel complement of eighty (80) positions, which is attached hereto and incorporated herein for all purposes as Attachment IV, is hereby approved.
SECTION 5. The financial allocations in this Ordinance are subject to approval by the Deputy Chief Financial Officer, City of San Antonio. The Deputy Chief Financial Officer may, subject to concurrence by the City Manager or the City Manager's designee, correct allocations to specific SAP Fund Numbers, SAP Project Definitions, SAP WBS Elements, SAP Internal Orders, SAP Fund Centers, SAP Cost Centers, SAP Functional Areas, SAP Funds Reservation Document Numbers, and SAP GL Accounts as necessary to carry out the purpose of this Ordinance.
SECTION 6. This Ordinance is effective immediately upon the receipt of eight affirmative votes; otherwise, it is effective ten days after passage.