Child Care Task Force

Services, distributed a map showing child care demographics by county. Median household income data was also included to illustrate the income levels throughout the state. All counties in the state show a percentage participation rate in the labor force at over 50 percent for parents with children aged 6-17. She noted that the Department of Workforce Services (DWS) is concerned with the children they serve through the back-to-work program. These homes have one wage-earner, which is usually the mother. All counties could use more child care slots for all age groups from infant to school age. She reviewed the problem statement that contained a briefing of the current condition, the gap, and the desired condition. Child care is an essential support service to employed parents and there are not enough child care slots available for all children in need of care. It is especially acute for infant care and children whose parents work non-traditional shifts. Child care serves two critical functions: 1) to promote and protect children's well being; and 2) to allow wage earners to provide for their families.

     Debra Wynkoop-Green, Director, Bureau of Licensing, Department of Health, reviewed problems and weaknesses in child care:
     .     There is a lack of professional recognition in terms of compensation and benefits contributes to a high turnover rate within the licensed community
     .     There is a lack of quality incentives for child-care providers
     .     There is an increased risk of exposure to communicable diseases and infectious disease, and low rates of immunization adds to the problem
     .     There is a lack of materials printed in a provider's native language
    .     There is a lack of child care for children with special needs
    *     Parents are unable to monitor quality until there is an accident
    .     There is a need to be able to do FBI background screening of licensed providers
    .     Recent changes in statute, rules, and agency responsibilities to administer the certification in licensing of child-care providers has led to confusion on all levels: consumers, providers, regulators, local business, and fire marshals

    Rosalind J. McGee, Executive Director , Utah Children, reviewed the history of Utah Children. She explained that federal and state welfare reform that requires low-income parents to return to work has expanded the problem of child care. Seventy-six percent of women with children between the ages of 6 and 17 are in the labor force. She referred to studies that indicate that early intervention may significantly benefit participating children and their families. Research has found also that government funds invested early in lives of disadvantaged children resulted in reduced burdens on the state. Many law enforcement agencies have joined in asking the legislature for funds for prevention activities, such as after-school programs; however, only 1 out of 10 schools offer the extended day-care programs. A child-care forum was held in April of this year and 137 child care stake holders met to assess the status of child care and make specific recommendations for action and change. The child care forum identified as the major problems and weaknesses:
     .     Low pay, poor working conditions, and high turn over
     .     An inadequate number of quality and affordable slots
    .     Lack of quality child-care slots
    .     Lack of placements for special needs children
     .     Lack of public awareness of optimal ways to support the developmental needs of children
     .     Negative attitudes toward child care
     .     A lack of support from the religious community
     .     A lack of parental involvement in a child's development, child care, and education
     .     The constant change of regulations has caused confusion, resentment and frustration
     .     Lack of coordinated advocacy of child care
     .     The attitude of legislators needs to be shifted to child health, safety, and developmental issues

             Questions and Answers
    Presenters were impaneled and fielded questions from the committee. The committee asked: (1) What were the outcomes from a previous child care task force? (2) Why was there not more reference in the testimony to employer-based care? (3) What should be the role of business? (4) What is the impact of liability insurance on business? and (5) What is the cash-out program?
    
PART 2: Proposals for Study and Improvement

     Eliot Casperson, Utah Private Child Care Association, noted that business owners have a financial interest in child care and recognize the need for government help in achieving a solution. The value of child care, he said, should be dictated by the family. Quality must be considered within the context of cost and affordability to the family. He reviewed a number of recommendations for study and improvement:
    *     Subsidize provider staff salaries to help lower the high turnover in the industry
    *     Provide affordable or no-cost health insurance for child care workers
    *     Provide realistic training within the local community
    *     Provide low cost loans to providers to improve their facilities
    *     Provide subsidies to providers caring for infants
    *     The cash-out program will never achieve the intended purpose unless the state is willing to fund the parent at levels that will allow them to purchase licensed child care
    *     Allow caseworkers to authorize funding on a weekly or monthly basis rather than micro managing hours and days of need
    *     Ensure that a maximum number of dollars go directly to the care of children and not to administrative costs
    *     The administration of grants and grant proposals needs to be revamped and increased in scope to include a larger number of providers
    *     No government agency relating to child care should be funded to carry on redundant services; wherever possible, service seems to be more reasonable at local levels
    *     Determine how private funds donated by corporate sponsors are being distributed
    *     Consider quality within the limits of affordability

    Tracy Halverson, President, Professional Family Child Care Association, stated that safe, healthy guidelines need to be established and run consistently throughout the state. She stated that it takes a professional to be a child care provider, whereas anyone can babysit. Funding for training is the key. She encouraged the Legislature to receive more input from all involved groups before making decisions.

     Dr. Phil Roberson , Education, Child and Family Studies, Utah Valley State College, presented three proposals for the task force to consider: 1) consider realignment of the Office of Child Care, which is in the Department of Workforce Services and child care licensing, which is in the Department of Health; 2) Revisit recent licensing changes - exemptions and loopholes in regulations must be addressed ; and 3) Utah needs a formalized, well-funded child care and early education professional development system with the following components:
     *     A training center, including a lending library of books, videos, and training materials available on loan to Utah providers
    *     A contingent of certified trainers with expertise in the fields of first aid and child safety, child development, program and curriculum, facility and equipment, program and business administration, personnel training and administration, and food and nutrition. The trainers must be available to serve providers across the state. The six state regions that are currently being served by child care resource and referral agencies administered through the office of child care are in the best position to provide community-based care. It should be considered how they can be better used. Using technology to deliver training to remote sites, and at convenient times for home-providers, should also be considered.

     Patrice Spiegel, Program Specialist, Office of Child Care, Department of Workforce Services stated that, in partnership with employers and families, there needs to be an increase in the number of slots being made available to child care providers. She reminded the task force members that recommendations will require work and resources to accomplish.

     Debra Wynkoop-Green, Director, Bureau of Licensing, Department of Health, made the following recommendations:
     *     Encourage the Legislature to consider making health insurance and other benefits available to child-care providers, giving them the incentive to make child care a career choice
    *     Provide training materials in providers' native languages
    *     Increase child immunization rates
    *     Assist the resource and referral agencies to help parents look for child care on-line
    *     Award providers that achieve accreditation
    *     Increase technical assistance to child care centers
    *     Coordinate funds from the Department of Human Services and the Division of Services to People With Disabilities to provide child care services to children with special needs
    *     Increase the availability of child care for infants
    *     Obtain the assistance of the task force to develop a proposal to codify new child care rules during the 1999 legislative session
    *     Draft statutory language to implement a requirement that child care providers submit fingerprints for FBI screening at the initial application for license
                                            
     Rosalind J. McGee , Executive Director , Utah Children, distributed a four-page summary, "Child Care Forum: Defining the Next Steps in Utah" and referred to the recommendations for change associated with each of the 11 barriers identified in her earlier presentation. She encouraged the task force to complete its study early enough so that its recommendations may be incorporated in the governor's budget recommendations.
             
    Questions and Answers
    
    Members of the committee (1) asked whether better data is available indicating the demand for child care (a working parent does not necessarily indicate need _ they may have arrangements available other than provider-based care); (2) asked about using employment centers throughout the state for training; and (3) discussed the status of funding from the federal child food program.

5.    Task Force Study Plan
    
    Rep. Allen acknowledged the importance of the many issues that were addressed, but encouraged the task force members to focus on those issues about which the task force can make recommendations to the legislature that will actually make a difference to children. She suggested that a report on funding be given at the next meeting and on how businesses have become involved. She encouraged the members to make their suggestions to the task force chairs so they can set the agendas around those items on which they most want to focus.
        
    The task force discussed meeting dates and determined they need to meet on the following meeting dates:

     July 28; August 18; September 8, and 22; and October 6, and 20.

    All meetings will begin at 9:30 a.m.

    Senator Blackham recommended that the task force address two tracks: (1) supporting the ideal situation where a mother cares for her children at home; and (2) the reality of parents needing to obtain child care services. The task force discussed this recommendation.

    Representative Allen said that training in terms of the new brain research should be made available for stay-at-home parents.

    Rep. Allen stated that a list of suggested study items will be brought back to the task force for their prioritization.

         6.    Adjourn

    Rep. Allen adjourned the meeting at 11:55 a.m.