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NCACDSS Day Care Committee Meeting 2003-2004
Date 01/07/04
Members, staff and guest in attendance:
Name County Name County
Nicki Griffin Franklin Co DSS Liz White Forsyth Co DSS
Bobby Cagle Graham Co DSS Sandra Tillman Moore Co DSS
Gloria Cook Wake Co DSS Vickie Jackson Wayne Co DSS
TerryKeene Johnston Co DSS Cindy Sharrington Franklin Co DSS
Susan Parrish Catawaba Co DSS Fay Lewis DCD
Mary Kidder Caldwell Co DSS Karenne Berry Durham Co DSS
Jay Burrus Dare Co DSS Kay Galloway Mecklenburg Co (CCRI)
Lois Slade NCPC Ken Adams Mecklenburg Co DSS
Jani Kozlowski NCPC Linda Leggett Robeson Co DSS
Sheila Hoyle Southwestern Child Dev Sonja Hester Robeson Co DSS
Amy Pike Buncombe Co DSS Carla Bass Robeson Co DSS
Heather Pike Randolph Co DSS Gilletta Morgan Wilson Co DSS
Ann Barkley New Hanover Co DSS Tracey Mooring Wilson Co DSS
Cathy Dillard Vance Co DSS Ron Byrd Harnett Co DSS
Kathy Snethern Orange Co DSS Mary Smith Guilford Co DSS
Nancy Wilson DCD Patti Stone Mecklenburg Co (CCRI)
Lisa Worley Pender Co DSS Della Sweat Cumberland Co DSS
Angela Keith Pender Co DSS Denise Hill Guilford Co DSS
Annette Johnson Onslow Co DSS
The meeting was called to order by Bobby Cagle, Co Chair. The minutes of the December 10, 2003 meeting were approved with the following correction to page two second paragraph: “The amount available in the subsidy estimates is less than the funds allocated for the current year because we do not know if there will be federal carry forward funds.”
Expenditure Reports:
Rob Kindsvatter, reported overall spending for December expenditures/ November Service were less than the previous month. Statewide payments are slowly declining, with a Statewide spending coefficient of 105%. Both Non Smart Start and Smart Start expenditures dropped to a statewide spending coefficient of 105% each. He noted that although this is a decline in overall spending, the statewide coefficient is higher than what has been typical for this time of year.
He also reported the number of children receiving services were reduced by 339 children. Waiting List numbers increased by nearly 1,000 children. Nancy Guy noted that the number of children added to the waiting list were 3,796; however, 2,165 were removed without being served. This was a result of the counties reviewing their waiting lists per state policy.
Other Discussion about Funding
Nancy Guy reported that DCD had been notified of about 10 counties that were contemplating terminating services for children. DCD has requested those counties wait until mid January because DCD is searching for other funds. Many counties expressed they were also considering but were waiting for reallocation process. She stated DCD asked the Subsidy Services Consultants for the information; however, if counties are considering termination to contact their consultant and to wait until they hear from the Division before making a final decision about terminations. She also indicated that the funding that is being sought is funding from other sources and would only be used to “plug funding holes”.
She also advised counties to stay in close contact with their local partnerships and to determine how much Smart Start money is in contract. Many counties are showing high Smart Start spending coefficients and maybe expecting more funding from Smart Start. She also indicated that based upon a November report, some partnerships are not showing the required 30% in subsidy. She stated DCD is communicating with NCPC about this.
Some counties shared that their local partnerships are waiting to see how much funding DCD will reallocate before they give any further allocations to the LPA's.
Bobby Cagle asked if other counties were finding funding from other resources. Some shared that their counties had received funding from Medicaid saving that were being underspent, while others had utilized local TANF funds. He encouraged county staff to talk to their directors about possible funding sources.
Gloria Cook from Wake County shared the Wake County Partnership for children decided to discontinue some bonuses specifically to 3 star licensed providers. She also spoke of a massive fund raiser sponsored by the Wake County Partnership for the “Kids First Fund”. As a result, private contributions will go directly to the Subsidized Child Care program.
Ms. Guy explained that the reversion/ reallocation process would take place with February payments for January service month. DCD would not be completing the process until early March since they must wait until February payments close out. She indicated it takes about a week after the close out for the figures to be available for the analysis to begin. Based on the guidelines issued in July 2003, the first group to be considered for a reallocation will be counties between 94% and 100% spending levels. The remaining funds will be distributed to counties spending over 100%.
She was asked if the Division would be waiting for Smart Start funds to be allocated as they did before. She indicated that local partnerships should have funds allocated by then.
Division Report
Waiting List Survey:
Nancy Guy talked about the preliminary results of the waiting list survey and reported that as noted in past surveys, the majority of the children who are in care while on the waiting list are in unlicensed care. Nancy will provide a report of the final results to all counties soon. She also reminded that the results of the survey are used by DCD for legislative inquiries and for child advocacy.
There was discussion about the fact that counties need to spend at a level that supports their communities. To do this the Subsidized Child Care Program needs to have more money, which are recurring funds rather than one time funding. Even though the waiting is growing, it is not a true indicator of need. The group also discussed the impact the lack of subsidy funding as on families as they wait for services and that community leaders may respond to this issue when presented in terms of economic impact.
Nancy talked about a recent brochure created by Onslow County DSS in collaboration with Onslow County Partnership for Children that informs parents about subsidy services and the benefits of children being enrolled in early childhood education programs. The county used the information from the Fact Sheet provided by DCD about the benefits of child care for the child and the community. The brochure may be found at:
www.co.onslow.nc.us/social_services
Other Information
Nancy Guy also shared there are a few vacancies in the Subsidy Services Section in the Raleigh Office. She encouraged counties to contact always contact their Subsidy Services consultant first with policy questions, information, and comments.
Nancy Guy informed counties that DCD has completed the budget estimates for next fiscal year and that the Division of Social Services plans to send the Budget Package to counties in January. She also reminded them that July 2003 allocations included carry forward funding that is not anticipated for this 2004-2005 State Fiscal Year. Many counties will recognize that their budget estimates for the 04-05 year is less than their current allocation.
Proposed Policy Changes
Out of County Transfers:
Ron Byrd from Harnett County drafted a proposal to change a subsidy policy. The change would allow families receiving Subsidized Child Care in one county, to move to another county without being placed on the county's waiting list. Currently, LPAs have the option to continue the service in the other county. As he explained, there does not seem to be a standard practice, and many counties terminate services within 10 days if a family moves out of county. There was lengthy discussion concerning the policy, both for changing the policy and others for leaving the policy the way it is because the shortage of funding. There was not a consensus for changing the policy.
Both co chairs encouraged counties to bring to the committee proposed changes because the discussion is always good. Information shared helps the committee understand better what goes on across the state and assists in making informed recommendations. They asked that counties email them ahead of time with the proposed changes so it may be placed on the agenda.
Criminal Background Checks:
Bobby Cagle informed the committee that he had written a letter to the House sub committee Child Abuse Task Force. In the letter he requested the House committee to consider changes in current legislation that would impact criminal record background checks for child care providers, to help ensure the safety of children. This would include out of state records checks, broadening the convictions that would disqualify a child care provider, and access to the central registry. He indicated he would email NCADSS Child Care committee members a copy of the letter.
He encouraged counties to attend the child abuse task force meetings held in the Legislative Building. “We need to know who is keeping our children.”
Payment Rate Proposal:
Nancy Guy shared that she is part of a Smart Start Core Services Task Force implemented by NCPC. They are working on developing a plan to help Smart Start come up with guidelines for funding quality.
One of the proposals discussed by the Task Force was to create one subsidy bonus plan to support higher quality care that would be used consistently across the state. The proposal would allow a provider to receive a Smart Start bonus payment if the program earned 4 points in program standards or 4 points in education. The idea was that the bonus plan would be used instead of having market rates for each level of star rated license. If such a plan were approved, changes would need to be made to determine what the base payment would be. One idea that was discussed was the establishment of a single market rate per age group, instead of having 5 different market rates for each age group. Then bonuses would be paid on private rate or the market rate; whichever was less. All of the proposals would require legislative changes and are still in the discussion stages at this time. There was some discussion by the group and most agreed that change was needed to the current market rate system.
Agenda for February:
Counting Contributions (pros and cons) - Della Sweat, Cumberland Co. DSS
Funding
Other agenda items may be sent to co chairs Nicki Griffin or Bobby Cagle.
Respectfully Submitted:
Denise Hill
