Child Care Task Force
Members Present:
Sen. Leonard Blackham, Chair
Rep. Sheryl Allen, Chair
Sen. Robert Muhlestein
Sen. Pete Suazo
Rep. Margaret Dayton
Julie Baker
Rod Betit
Melinda Clark
Ric Higbee
Pat Kreher
Elyce Mouskondis
Joan Nichol
Dee Rowland
Jill Rubadiri
David Sonnenreich
Debra Stone
Members Absent:
Rep. David Jones
Erin Trenbeath-Murray
Staff Present:
Mr. Mark D. Andrews
Research Analyst
Mr. James L. Wilson,
Associate General Counsel
Ms. Wendy L. Bangerter,
Legislative Secretary
Note: A list of others present and a copy of materials distributed in the meeting are on file in the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel.
1. Call to Order and Approval of October 6 Minutes - Rep. Allen called the meeting to order at 9:44 a.m. Approval of the October 6, 1998 minutes was postponed to the next meeting.
2. Business Collaborative to Improve Child Care - Mr. Wilson presented the draft resolution "Child Care Commission Resolution" as requested at the previous meeting. The resolution urges the governor to establish a business commission on child care financing; to identify and assess child care needs within the state; and to develop recommendations to meet those needs, including appropriate financial strategies. He emphasized that this would be a business commission and would be led by businesses. Staffing for the commission would be determined by the governor but could include employees from the Office of Child Care. The task force agreed to the following changes to the resolution:
. Drop "financing" from the title of the commission and make conforming changes throughout the resolution.
. Rework page 1, line 29 reference to parents promoting responsible parenthood.
. On page 1, line 30 delete "16 percent" and insert "approximately 1/4" before "of Utah's children are living with a single parent...."
. On page 1, line 32, insert "many" before "families pay anywhere from 6 to 26 percent of their incomes for early care and...."
. Move page 1, lines 28-29 further up in the document
MOTION: Ms. Rowland moved to adopt the Child Care Commission Resolution as amended by the task force. The motion passed with Sen. Muhlestein and Rep. Dayton voting in opposition.
The amended resolution will be sent to members of the task force for their review prior to the next meeting.
3. Matching Available Federal Child Care Funds - Mr. Andrews reviewed a letter addressed to the Joint Appropriations Commerce and Revenue Subcommittee and the Executive Appropriations Committee from the chairs of the Child Care Task Force. The letter consisted of a recommendation to the Legislature to secure maximum federal matching funds available for child care through FY 2002. The task force agreed to the following changes to the letter:
. Indicate that this funding is required as a minimum to maintain an acceptable child care system.
. Include additional state funds that will be required in FY 2001 and FY 2002.
MOTION: Ms. Rowland moved to recommend to the Executive Appropriations Committee and the Joint Appropriations Commerce and Revenue Subcommittee the need to maximize the state's match for federal funding on an on-going basis through FY 2002. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Blackham, Rep. Dayton, Rod Betit, and Melinda Clark being absent for the vote.
The amended letter will be sent to members of the task force for their review prior to the next meeting.
4. Literacy Initiative - Jan Dole, State Board of Education, presented the Utah literacy initiative "Utah Reads." There are three parts to the initiative: 1) early childhood education, 2) kindergarten through third grade, and 3) older students and adults who have literacy problems.
She noted that children in America have remained constant over the years in terms of reading proficiency but that the standards for literacy have increased and there are more children who are learning English as a second language. Studies show that it is difficult to catch up on reading skills after grade three; therefore, it is critical to be able to give teachers knowledge about how to work with first and second graders.
She explained the Utah Reads initiative. She explained the structure that will accomplish this by teaching parents to create a literacy environment in the home. The initiative will work intensively with schools by providing research-based instruction for teachers. It will also focus on high quality intervention for grades 9 and up for those students that are not reading at their grade level.
The three common components of each part of the program include family, school and community. She emphasized the value of families reading every night at home, especially for ages 5-8. She hopes the initiative will create tutoring programs in every school and help schools collaborate better with the community. The program will work to find what community resources are available to help families, especially those who are learning English as a second language and those living in poverty so parents may be better equipped to help their children.
Lieutenant Governor Olene Walker explained that "Utah Reads" grew out of the"Utah's Promise," program, which committed to a goal of 12,000 children reading. A budget has been drafted, but not finalized. The requested budget is larger because of the task force's focus on making materials and training available to parents and child care providers. She expressed her enthusiasm for this project. She reviewed the role Mrs. Leavitt is playing in the project. She encouraged the task force to endorse this concept, and expressed confidence that every child in the state can be taught to read.
Sen. Blackham commended the "Utah Reads" program and those working with it. He noted that churches play a strong part in the society of Utah's communities and suggested that they be considered as a resource for instructing families. Churches could also help to identify families at risk.
MOTION: Sen. Blackham moved that staff draft a bill to implement the literacy program by spelling out the roles of the various agencies involved in the program. The bill should be drafted so that it will not carry a fiscal note. The motion passed unanimously.
Ms. Baker noted that the State Board of Education has approved the entire program.
5. Training and Quality Improvement - Ms. Kreher discussed a proposal (chart distributed at meeting) to link the level of consumer subsidy to the license status, training, and accreditation of the provider. She said that last week the Department of Workforce Services approved subsidy rates to implement this proposal. The Department of Health indicated that it had information on the same issue that it would keep until it could coordinate with the Office of Child Care. The task force will follow-up on this issue at the next meeting.
6. Child Care Development Fund - Ms. Kreher explained a one-page summary outlining the allocation of the Office of Child Care's FY 99 budget. She indicated that the numbers reflect a very minimal commitment from the state. She said that her budget has not been increased for FY 2000.
Ms. Kreher was asked how she would like to use additional monies if available to her office. She said that she would like to use the money for literacy and to fund incentives for providers to
participate in training. She would prefer to receive input from the community and determine
how they would like additional money spent rather than relying on her own preferences.
Ms. Nichol expressed concern that some of the provider money flowing through the
Office of Child Care goes to programs that serve very few children, are totally funded by that
money and other sources, and don't even operate during the summer. Ms. Kreher responded that
is changing.
7. Child Care in State Government - Ms. Lynette Rasmussen, Office of Child Care, distributed and reviewed "Dependent and Child Care Survey Results and Recommendations
from the Office of Child Care." She reviewed the results of a survey of state employees that
addressed child care and elder care. She said that the Department of Workforce Services and the
Division of Human Resource Management have decided to recommend to
the Governor's Cabinet Council that a group be established with representation from each state agency to:
. create a five-year work/life plan for state employees; and
. study specific child and dependent care strategies and make recommendations.
8. Other Business - Rep. Allen stated that the Child Care Task Force will be reporting to the Workforce Services Interim Committee and the Health and Human Services Interim
Committee in November. She asked that the task force members submit their recommendations
for the November 3, 1998 agenda. These should be items they feel can be finalized at the final
task force meeting. She suggested that the task force plan to meet from 9:30 - 2:00 p.m. and that
lunch be served.
She noted that the Workforce Services Interim Committee will hear a report from the
University of Utah, Characteristics of Families Receiving Cash Assistance, on October 22, 1998, and that an executive summary will be mailed to the task force members prior to the November
3, 1998 meeting. She also noted that the Child Care Task Force is authorized until November
30, 1998.
Connie Millecam, a licensed child care center provider, was allowed to express the
following concerns and opinions:
. Sixty percent of state-funded children are in unlicenced care. If the trend to use unlicenced care continues, there will not be quality center-based child care except in
affluent areas.
. The administration of the cash-out system is one reason for the exodus from licensed child care. There used to be a guarantee of payment, but since there no longer is, a child
care center has to "carry" a child for up to three weeks with no guarantee that payment
will be received from the state.
. The cash-out system pays only when a child is in attendance, but overhead expenses for the provider continue whether the child attends or not.
. Misinformation given to parents regarding their entitlements.
. It can be substantiated that a substantial amount of the cash-out money is not going to child care.
. State-funded children should only go to licensed child care where standards have been set.
. The cash-out system and expansion of unlicenced child care is not in the best interest of children.
9. Adjourn
MOTION: Mr. Sonnenreich moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously at 12:04 p.m. with Sen. Muhlestein, Rep. Dayton, and Rod Betit absent for the vote.
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