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Reports and Publications ::
2003 Report
Status of 2001 Recommendations - Child Care/Early Childhood
In 2001, the Partnership recommended improving the availability and quality of child care and early childhood programs, especially for low-income families. For the most part, County action on these recommendations are pending a "strategic assessment" to be contracted out by DHS. DHS projects that the contractor will begin work in late January 2004, with completion in late May 2004. The package of recommendations is summarized below, along with any developments that have occurred in 2003. (The Partnership's 2001 and 2002 reports have detailed background on each of the recommendations.)
Increased subsidies: The Partnership recommended increasing funding for subsidies for quality child care for an additional 100 low-income children, and adding 1 DHS child care eligibility worker to manage this increase.
Status: DHS was able to add 30 additional subsidized slots in FY 04 by accessing $195,000 in Federal "pass-through" funds to reimburse the County for local expenditures. In FY 05, approximately 16 additional subsidized slots will be made available through State funds, which require no local match. Additional staff is not required to accommodate the 46 additional slots.
Increase income eligibility for subsidies: The Partnership recommended increasing the income level for subsidy eligibility to at least 200% of poverty level.
Status: The Partnership's recommended eligibility level has not been adopted by the County because a local match is required to make up the difference from the current 185% of poverty level. However, this issue is currently under discussion at the State level. The County is awaiting the State decision since there is a good possibility that the State income eligibility level will be increased even beyond the Partnership's initial recommendation and the local match would not be required.
Train child care providers, staff and parents in child development, and recognizing delays: The Partnership has recommended training for DHS child care staff, providers, and parents on recognizing developmental delays and linking children to services. This is also a focus of Governor Mark Warner's recently-announced Pre-Kindergarten Agenda, which includes more training for child care providers and parents in early childhood development.
Status: Twenty-five licensed providers will be getting their Infant-Toddler Child Development Certificates at Northern Virginia Community College in spring 2004, and another group of 30 providers have enrolled in this program. Additionally, some basic training on child development is provided to providers through the DHS Child Care office as part of its licensing process and ongoing education efforts. The Child Care staff attend additional workshops and trainings on an individual basis. Parents have not yet been reached with this kind of training.
Recruiting providers: The Partnership recommended more active recruiting to increase the number of licensed providers, possibly through contracts to community-based non-profits.
Status: There has been no new activity in this area.
Make more space available for early childhood programs: The Partnership also recommended that the County work more proactively with private organizations and churches to make more center space available.
Status: Currently, the County and the Arlington Community Action Program are seeking funds to support the renovation of the George Mason Center to relocate Head Start classrooms currently at the Reed School and First Baptist Church at Ballston. Additionally, a South Arlington presence for Head Start is under discussion as part of the County's expansion of the Arlington Mill Center. Northern Virginia Family Service has been able to expand the Early Head Start Center to 22 slots with federal funds. Most of the children in this center will receive County subsidies. Several new opportunities have come about through the efforts of the non-profit and faith community. Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church has added spaces for 18-month-olds, responding to the need for care for younger toddlers. The Grace Community Church has opened a preschool for 16 residents of AHC's Woodbury Park complex; and Congregation Etz Hayim has opened a preschool for 37 children.
Classrooms for at-risk 4-year olds: The Partnership supports Arlington Public Schools adding more classrooms for at-risk 4 year-olds through the Virginia Preschool Initiative.
Status: Seven and a half classrooms have been added in the 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 school years, bringing the total to 18 classrooms County-wide.
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