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NCACDSS
Child Care Committee Meeting
April 10, 2002
Attendance:
| Gloria Cook |
Durham Co. DSS |
Susan Parrish |
Catawba Co. DSS |
| Terry Keene |
Johnston Co. DSS |
Jay Burris |
Dare Co. DSS |
| Faye Lewis |
DCD |
Patti Stowe |
Mecklenburg – CCRI |
| Denise Hill |
Guilford Co. DSS |
Mary Smith |
Guilford Co. DSS |
| Ron Penney |
DCD |
Nancy D. Guy |
DCD |
| Nicki Griffin |
Franklin Co. DSS |
Jack Daulton |
Caldwell Co. DSS |
| Susan Thompson |
Forsyth Co. DSS |
Shirley Sorrell |
Wake DHS |
| Ron Byrd |
Harnett Co. DSS |
Rickie Lewis |
Harnett Co. DSS |
| Carla Bass |
Robeson Co. DSS |
Linda Leggett |
Robeson Co. DSS |
| Vickie Jackson |
Wayne Co. DSS |
Betsy Bennett |
DCD |
| Tammy Chaney |
Hoke Co. DSS |
Fran Thigpen |
Buncombe Co. CCS |
| Carl Breazeale |
State DSS |
Velvet Newman |
Franklin Co. DSS |
| Lula Jackson |
Anson Co. DSS |
Nancy Wilson |
DCD |
| Cathy Gurganious |
DCD |
Vi Simmons |
DCD |
| Connie McAdams |
CCN-Chatham Co. |
Cathy Dillard |
Vance Co. DSS |
| Kathy Snethen |
Orange Co. DSS |
Sherry Askew |
Lenior/Greene PFC |
| Marcy Colvin |
Cumberland Co. DSS |
Della Sweat |
Cumberland Co. DSS |
| Margaret Guess |
DCD |
Tracy Bryant |
Wilson DSS |
| Brian Gilk |
Price Waterhouse Coopers |
Wanda G Smith |
DACCA- Durham Co. |
| Chris Kenenmann |
Price Waterhouse Coopers |
Cookie Henry |
DCD |
| Debbie Strauss |
Price Waterhouse Coopers |
Susan Moore |
Lenior Co. DSS |
| Natasha Adwaters |
DCD |
Tonya Hester |
Robeson Co. DSS |
| Gay Humphrey |
Lenior Co. DSS |
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Babee Thompson |
Onslow Co. DSS |
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Meeting Minutes:
• Call to Order and Approval of Minutes
Nicki Griffin called the meeting to order at 9:35 a.m. Those in attendance were asked to review the March 2002 minutes. The minutes were approved, with correction to the attendance section to add the last name of Natasha Adwaters.
• Child Care Accreditation
Lee Quick and Neil Waters, representing the Accreditation Council, conducted a presentation to the committee for the Child Care Accreditation. They gave the history on other agency programs becoming accredited. One of the purposes for a program such as child care becoming accredited would be that standards are created by which Accredited Agencies are evaluated. The Accreditation Council has stressed the need for the Child Care Program to be a part of the accreditation process.
Roy Young, DSS Director Union County explained that Union County received their Accreditation. To become accredited there is a process that is to the advantage of counties. He explained how it strengthened their interagency team. Part of the process is educating the community thus strengthening their relationships and partnerships with area programs.
The process for accreditation was explained. S tatewide there are already 11 accredited counties that must be updated every two years. The primary focus for the Child Care program to become accredited is that it will set Performance Standards. The Accreditation Council's future focus will be that rewards are tied to an Accredited Agency.
Nancy Guy thanked them for the presentation. The committee agreed that the Accreditation Handbook be reviewed by DCD and that DCD would come back to the committee with input about the development of this process for the child care program.
• Reports
Expenditure Report- Ron Penney discussed the expenditure reports. The recent allocations, reallocations and reversions were included in the expenditure reports for service month February 2002. The State's spending co-efficients are as follows:
• Non Smart Start 95%
• Smart Start 94%
• Combined 95%
Counties are urged to spend all their Smart Start allocation first. Local TANF funds also need to be considered if available. This will increase the likelihood of potential federal funds carried forward for next fiscal year. Mr. Penney emphasized the importance of spending Smart Start funds first.
Children Served and Waiting List- Ron Penney then proceeded to the Children Served and Waiting List report. The number of t otal children served increased statewide. This was an indication that counties are using their extra funding.
There are 18,854 children statewide on the waiting list. This was surprising news because the significant number of children waiting decreased 3,762 from the previous month. The updates from reviewing counties reviewing their waiting lists will not be reflected until May . Nancy Guy asked county staff for input regarding the reduction in waiting list numbers. Counties indicated that when parents were called in to be served, they did not respond or indicate they were no longer employed and unable to obtain new employment. Many counties indicated they have suspended their waiting lists.
• Next Year's Allocation and Analysis by DCD
Ron Penney stated that he thought he had explained why some counties gained and others lost allocation dollars thoroughly last month. He asked the committee if there were further questions. The committee had no further questions about the analysis of next year's allocation.
• Child Development Report
Recommendations of allocation work group- Nancy Guy reported that the recommendation of the allocation work group was not to change the allocation language in legislation at this time. The work group will take a look at the formula again when they meet in the fall. The work group recommendations were shared with legislators. A question was raised about the recommendation of the allocation work group concerning counties not being eligible for reallocations if 30% of the local Smart Start budget was not used for “voucher subsidy activities ”. Ms. Guy explained that since the last meeting, there had been additional communication with the work group members and that the final report did not include that particular recommendation.
• Termination of Hold Harmless Rates-
Nancy Guy reported that letters will be sent this week to certain child care providers and partner agencies (child care resource and referral agencies and local Smart Start partnerships) concerning the elimination of all Hold Harmless payment rates. The letters will contain information on current market rates and a list of resources for providers that can help to address the costs incurred as a child care provider.
A question was raised concerning implementation of regional market rates. Ms. Guy indicated that was one of the goals of the Division. Ms. Guy also questioned whether counties were still paying Smart Start bonuses. Some counties indicated bonuses were still being paid, but were uncertain of their future. Ms. Guy explained that these bonus payments will continue to be a part of the provider's total payment when the hold harmless policies terminate effective October 1, 2002 but the Smart Start bonus payments will come out of the Smart Start subsidy allocation and not the SCC allocation as it is currently being made for hold harmless payments.
• Children with Special Needs and Coding-
Nancy Guy introduced to the committee a draft of a letter concerning a change in the use of the 400 code for children with special needs. This letter is a draft and any comments or suggestions should be made by email to Betsy Bennett. ( betsy.bennett@ncmail.net ) prior to the May 8 th Day Care Committee Meeting. This letter will also be sent to Day Care Committee members who are not present today for their review. An immediate suggestion was given to change the wording in paragraph 3 from “and” to “and/or”.
• Policy Simplification
Nancy Guy introduced staff from Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC) who had been a part of the Child Care Policy Simplification Work Group. Brian Gilk, from PWC began the presentation with an overview of the NC FAST project.
He then provided a Power Point presentation about the 5 week process the work group undertook as a part of the Policy Simplification Project . The expectations of the work group were to Review, Clarify, Simplify, and Shorten the Child Care Subsidy Services Manual, and to identify Links for the online manual. He stated the work group even added a glossary of acronyms. Cookie Henry also participated in the presentation of the process. The work group members who are a part of the Child Care Committee were recognized. Present were Mary Smith, Cookie Henry, Connie McAdams, Ron Byrd, Carl Breazeale, Tracy Bryant, and Natasha Adwaters.
The proposed manual is to be reviewed by DCD for compliance with Federal and State regulations. It will be presented to the committee in May and there will be discussion about an implementation plan. Part of the plan may be posting a draft version of the manual on line for counties to review and provide feedback.
Nancy Guy indicated DCD was very pleased and excited about the simplified manual. Nicki Griffin thanked everyone for their hard work.
Agenda items for next meeting included the presentation of the simplified manual and additional discussion about the special needs letter.
With no further discussion the meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully Submitted
Denise Hill
