1 HUMAN SERVICES
STANDING COMMITTEE MEETING
Tuesday, May 14, 2024
2:00 P.M. – 3:30 P.M.
130 Cremona Drive, Suite B
Goleta, California
Councilmember Kyle Richards
Councilmember Stuart Kasdin
Robert Nisbet, City Manager
Jaime A. Valdez, Assistant City Manager
Shannon Kirn, Management Analyst
Melissa Cure, Management Assistant
Public Participation
If you wish to make a general public comment or to comment on a specific agenda item, the following methods are available:
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AGENDA
I. Public Comment
II. Childcare Initiative (continued)
Americans with Disabilities Act: In compliance with the ADA, if special assistance is needed to participate in a City Council meeting (including assisted listening devices), please contact the City Clerk's office at (805) 961-7505. Notification at least 72 hours prior to the meeting helps to ensure that reasonable arrangements can be made to provide accessibility to the meeting.
MEMORANDUM
DATE: May 14, 2024
TO: Human Services Standing Committee
FROM: Robert Nisbet, City Manager
Shannon Kirn, Management Analyst
SUBJECT: Item II. Childcare Initiative Continued
RECOMMENDATION:
Consider additional childcare initiative proposals and make a recommendation to City Council on how to use FY 2023-24 funds allocated for childcare initiatives.
BACKGROUND:
On April 19, 2022, the City Council received a report on the outcomes of the Child Care Assessment performed by United Way to better understand the needs of working parents and childcare providers. The full report can be viewed HERE. In summary, the survey results focused on three major barriers for parents and providers:
1. Cost of Childcare
2. Demand for Space
3. Staffing and Employment
On June 20, 2023, as part of the adopted 2-year Budget Plan, the City Council allocated $50,000 in FY 2023-24 and $250,000 in FY 2024-25 for childcare initiatives.
On March 26, 2024, the Human Services Committee (Committee) met to receive an update on regional and local childcare efforts and provide direction on the future work efforts of the childcare initiatives. At this meeting, the Committee requested staff to return at a later date to provide more information on potential initiatives that address the supply side of the childcare issue to increase childcare spots.
Recap on Regional Efforts
The County of Santa Barbara has taken the lead in expanding the analysis countywide and providing American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to a variety of existing and new regional initiatives, including programs contracted through the First 5 Santa Barbara Meeting Date: May 14, 2024
County Children and Families Commission (First 5 SBC) to United Way and Santa Barbara Foundation.
On March 14, 2023, the County Board of Supervisors (Board) approved a $1 million contract with United Way and on May 2, 2023, the Board approved a $1.25 million contract with Santa Barbara Foundation for childcare sector recovery and resiliency services.
Santa Barbara Foundation is focusing on:
• Increasing the number of qualified early education professionals to work in infant and toddler classroom
o Santa Barbara County Child Care Planning Council launched an ARPA Infant/Toddler United Stipend Program for students completing infant/toddler courses and can receive a stipend for up to 12 units of coursework each semester. See Attachment 1 for the past Spring 2024 flyer. There will be two FY 24-25 application periods in the fall and spring.
• Creating a master plan for childcare facility development • Providing technical assistance and business planning to new and existing early care providers wishing to serve infants and toddlers
• Increasing the number of licensed infant and toddler spaces by 250 United Way is focusing on:
• Conducting municipality-focused studies on childcare needs • Facilitating a childcare coalition in Santa Barbara County • Expanding childcare efforts within the employer sponsored/corporate space • Establishing a designated fund and work with local philanthropy and chambers of commerce as an ongoing support for the childcare sector • Working with the County Office of Emergency Management and First 5 SBC to establish a childcare plan during county declared emergencies Early Childcare Education Workforce
Childcare is a complex business with the qualifications, licensing, and teacher/adult to child ratio requirements that all contribute to the high costs of operations. According to a recent report published by the Bipartisan Policy center in February 2024, “childcare is a labor-intensive industry, and labor costs make up 70–80% of a typical program’s operating budget. Businesses operate on razor thin margins in a private market, resulting in high costs for parents, low revenue for childcare programs, and low wages for staff.”1 In the state of California, childcare centers and family day care homes are regulated by California Code of Regulations Title 22 and the Education Code requirements, commonly known as Title 5, which sets stricter adult/child ratios and staff qualifications than Title 22.
It is important to note these ratio requirements set minimums, but quality care goes above 1 Smith, L. K., & Osborn, C. (2024, March 1). Building a state child care center workforce: Bipartisan policy center. Building a State Child Care Center Workforce | Bipartisan Policy Center. https://bipartisanpolicy.org/report/building-state-child-care-center-workforce/ Meeting Date: May 14, 2024
and beyond the standards. In addition, there are other factors that influence quality childcare including the educational and experience of early childhood providers. As quoted in the Child Care Assessment, a provider “cannot make money without compromising quality”. While the challenges of childcare are multifaceted, and there is no silver bullet to address all aspects of the system of care and education, there is an immediate and apparent need for more childcare spaces and local providers are struggling to maintain qualified staff to ensure quality care to increase the number of spots.
DISCUSSION:
As stated previously, at the March 26, 2024, meeting, the Committee requested other proposals to be presented to address the provider and workforce challenges of the childcare issue. The remainder of this report will focus on strategies to support building a qualified childcare workforce and investing in providers to help bolster the workforce and increase the number of childcare spots. Below are summaries of the two proposals being presented by Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) and United Way. Also listed below is Table 1 from the previous report as a reminder of the potential options and alternatives that the Committee may want to re-consider.
WEV Business of Care Proposal
Women’s Economic Ventures “Business of Care” Program offers accessible business support for childcare providers, early childhood educators, and individuals who want to start or grow their own childcare business. The eight-week training program is suitable for both home-based and center-based businesses and is available in both English and Spanish. The program is made widely accessible through in-person or online classes in small cohort sizes of 12 to 15 students per class. Students benefit from the experience of their instructor during group training classes and have the benefit of building community with like-minded peers.
The program offers group instruction in creating a business plan, identifying avenues for growth, business finance, and infrastructure. Participants are also introduced to WEV's comprehensive range of services for both new and existing businesses, which includes access to capital, financial education, and business classes that are either free or low-cost.
Depending on the program model, participants also receive stipends to support the growth of their business.
WEV uses a business plan scoring rubric to determine eligibility for receiving a business stipend. If selected, business owners are required to submit receipts for expenses as well as complete a minimum of two hours of 1:1 business coaching with a qualified WEV business advisor.
Pilot program expected impact:
• 12 childcare business owners trained.
• Up to 96 infant / toddler childcare slots created by expanding providers capacity at small licensure (6 slots) to large (14 slots).
• $30,000 in stipends provided.
Meeting Date: May 14, 2024
Pilot program cost:
Upon completing the course, participants are eligible to apply for a stipend to pay for resources or supplies to support their business. The program cost per participant without stipend funding is $1,350 and $3,850 with stipend. To date, participant stipends have ranged from $2,500-$7,500. The City could fund one of the two pilot program options:
• Cost of pilot program without stipend funding for 12 participants= $16,200 • Cost of pilot program with stipend of $2,500 for 12 participants= $46,200 See Attachment 2 for the full “Business of Care” Proposal and presentation.
United Way Brighter Futures Childcare Fund Proposal
The City of Goleta also has the opportunity to invest in the Brighter Futures Childcare Fund (Fund), an integrated approach to support the solutions identified in the original assessment recommendations and in the initial discussions within the Coalition.
The objective of the Fund is to provide a centralized place for parents, employers, and childcare providers seeking support to access financial resources to address unmet needs.
As one of the original contracted deliverables with First 5 Santa Barbara County, United Way plans to facilitate the creation of 250 new infant/toddler childcare spaces throughout the county. The four focus areas of the Fund target identified gaps in the system that have demonstrated highest impact on the ability of providers and employers to offer additional spaces and for local families to be able to secure and afford them.
The Brighter Futures Childcare Fund will:
• Provide scholarships for parents in the “missing middle” who make too much for government subsidized programs but too little to afford the average local cost of childcare.
o Soliciting applications from eligible families and providing selected scholarship recipients with 12 months of financial support paid directly to a licensed childcare provider.
• Increase the supply of childcare spaces through the support of start-up costs for businesses launching an employer sponsored childcare program. o Working with the local business community to educate about the benefits of employer sponsored childcare and supporting motivated businesses with startup costs for new infant-toddler spots. • Provide technical assistance to employers needing support in the start-up or expansion of infant-toddler spaces.
o Partnering with relevant government, non-profit, and consulting agencies to provide curated technical assistance to businesses that are beginning the process of opening new infant-toddler spaces throughout the county. • Strengthen the childcare sector through business technical training for owners/directors of programs.
o Circulating an RFP from community organizations that can conduct business training for cohorts of childcare business owners and directors.
The Fund is a combination of public, corporate, and philanthropic support and is set to initially launch with $500,000 that has already been secured to address the stated goals. The Fund Meeting Date: May 14, 2024
will allow for public and private dollars to be invested generally in the Fund, or to specific areas of interest in line with the four focus areas listed above. Given the nature of the Fund’s structure and management, investments can also be made regionally, supporting providers, employers, and families in a specific municipality or region. As members of the Coalition and investors to the Fund with $50,000 from Goleta funding, the City of Goleta may join a countywide effort to address the availability of affordable, high-quality childcare. For the investment in the Fund, the City of Goleta has the opportunity to allocate its investment between each of the four focus areas, prioritizing its investment to align with its strategic objectives to advance household stability in the area.
See Attachment 3 for the full Brighter Futures Childcare Fund Proposal.
Summary of Childcare Strategies
Table 1 below lists potential strategies to address the capacity, quality and affordability of childcare.
Table 1. Summary of Childcare Strategies
Category Strategy Description
Childcare
Workforce
Provide childcare
worker financial
support
A stipend program for eligible early educators
depending on criteria such as experience, type of
program, educational units, considering degree, etc.
Support moral
recognition programs
Expand existing regional recognition programs that
potential includes financial incentives to recognize the importance of early child education workforce.
Fund professional
development
scholarships
Provide scholarships to childcare providers/workers to
subsidize and/or reimburse the cost of professional
development opportunities.
Support increase in
pay or benefits for
childcare workers
Encourage to have income levels raised for childcare
workers to reflect the cost of living in Goleta, including better health care or retirement benefits to childcare
workers.
Support affordable
housing for Goleta’s
childcare workforce
Explore innovative solutions, best practices, and legal pathways to reserve affordable housing for Goleta’s
childcare workforce.
Families
Provide financial
assistance for Goleta
parents in the "missing
middle"
Establish a grant agreement with community-based
organizations to provide scholarships for families who
do not qualify for government subsidized programs.
Advocate for increase
in Flexible Spending
Accounts allocations
Endorse and advocate for a regional effort to increase
Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts.
Provide childcare
support at public
meetings and/or for
City employees
Establish a city employee benefit program to assist
with childcare cost based on need; partner with
childcare providers to increase childcare program
capacities in exchange for reserved spots, provide
childcare at city council meetings for members of the
public, etc.
Meeting Date: May 14, 2024
Policy
Repurpose unused
public facilities or land
for childcare space
Review unused public locations for potential
conversion into childcare sites and partner with other
local agencies (schools, universities, faith-based
institutions, community centers, libraries, etc.).
Review zoning and
permitting restrictions
Remove barriers in current zoning and permitting
restrictions to allow for more childcare facilities.
Establish developer
fees to fund childcare
facilities
Create a development impact fee to contribute funding
towards childcare facilities, similar to the City of Santa Cruz.
Create developer
agreements to include
childcare facility
construction
Developer agreements have been negotiated by cities
to include childcare facility construction, in-lieu fees, or tuition subsidies.
Facilitate employers'
engagement around
helping with childcare
needs
Encourage collaboration between public and private
employers to be part of the solutions to the childcare
system.
Provider
Support
Establish Business
License fee waiver for
all childcare providers
Business License fee waivers are already established
for nonprofit childcare providers and family day cares
in the City, but this could be expanded to include all
Day Care facilities, private or nonprofit.
Promote teacher
licensing and
permitting support
Provide financial support for licensing and permitting
classes and other test expenses, advocate for classes
in languages other than English, subsidize classes/test expenses, promote childcare employment support to
undocumented community members, etc.
Provide startup
business support
Support startup costs for new childcare businesses
and encourage creative opportunities like
microcenters.
Recommended Next Steps
Staff recommend that the Committee make a recommendation to City Council on how to use FY 2023-24 funds allocated for childcare initiatives through one of the proposals, a combination of the proposals, or alternate strategy as identified by the Committee.
FISCAL IMPACTS
On June 20, 2023, as part of the adopted 2-year Budget Plan, the City Council allocated $50,000 in FY 2023-24 and $250,000 in FY 2024-25 for childcare programs.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. ARPA Infant/Toddler Units Stipend Program Flyer
2. WEV Business of Care Proposal
3. United Way Brighter Futures Childcare Fund Proposal
Attachment 1
ARPA Infant/Toddler Units Stipend Program Flyer
Infant/ Toddler Units Stipend Program
Thanks to the generosity of the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors, Child Care Planning Council, in partnership with Santa Barbara Foundation and Children's Resource and Referral, is offering an exciting new opportunity for students completing Infant/Toddler courses!
Who is eligible?
Individuals completing Infant/Toddler units at an accredited college are eligible to apply.
What Qualifies?
Infant/Toddler courses, including student teaching in an infant or toddler classroom, will qualify. Applicants are eligible to receive a stipend for up to 12 units of coursework and can reapply each semester until the 12 unit cap is met.
Individuals who are enrolled in Spring semester courses or have recently completed Infant/ Toddler coursework in Winter of 2023 are eligible to apply for the Spring 2024 stipend.
How much?
Applicants are eligible for a minimum of $100 per unit, plus an additional $150 to support educational and materials costs. This means for a 3 unit course, applicants would receive a minimum of $450!
When do I aJn�ly?
The ARPA stipend application for the Spring 2024 semester will be released at the beginning of the semester with applications due by March 15th.
A new application will be released each Spring and Fall semester until June of 2025.
SANTA BARBARA
FOUNDATION
For more information,-1�lease contact:
Christian Patterson,
Child Care Planning Council Coordinator
Desk: (805) 964-4710x4473 • Cell: (805)705-3756
Email: [email protected]
Attachment 2
WEV Business of Care Proposal
1 WEV’s Business of Care Program
Program Overview
Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV’s) “Business of Care” Program offers accessible business support for childcare providers, early childhood educators, and individuals who want to start or grow their own childcare business. The eight-week training program is suitable for both homebased and center-based businesses and is available in both English and Spanish. The program is made widely accessible through in-person or online classes in small cohort sizes of 12 to 15 students per class. Students benefit from the experience of their instructor during group training classes and have the benefit of building community with like-minded peers.
The program offers group instruction in creating a business plan, identifying avenues for growth, business finance, and infrastructure. Participants are also introduced to WEV's comprehensive range of services for both new and existing businesses, which includes access to capital, financial education, and business classes that are either free or low-cost. Depending on the program model, participants also receive stipends to support the growth of their business. Please see the following page for a full outline of the program.
Eligibility/Technical Assistance
WEV uses a business plan scoring rubric to determine eligibility for receiving a business stipend. If selected, business owners are required to submit receipts for expenses as well as complete a minimum of two hours of 1:1 business coaching with a qualified WEV business advisor.
WEV’s Business of Care Impact, 2022 to present
• 75 childcare businesses served
• Approximately 450 childcare slots created
• $3,274,597 gross revenue generated
• 135 jobs supported
• 44 new business starts
• $510,000 worth of stipends provided
Program Partners
To date, WEV has partnered with Children’s Resource
and Referral of Santa Barbara County, Santa Barbara
City Library and First Five on the Business of Care.
WEV is part of a network of Women’s Business
Centers (WBCs) from across California working to
create and sustain strong licensed childcare programs
in our diverse communities, enabling more children,
women, and families to thrive.
“The WBC Program has been an absolute
blessing for my business. From learning about
taxes and accounting to monitoring my
expenses more closely, every aspect of the
program has been incredibly beneficial. Thanks
to the support and guidance I received, I feel
confident in my ability to manage my business. I
wholeheartedly recommend the program to any
childcare provider looking to take their business
to the next level. It truly has been a valuable
resource for me, and I’m so grateful for the
opportunity to participate.”
– Claudia Alvarez, Childcare Provider
2 Training Outline
Week Topic
Week 1 Introductions, the Value of Business Planning and Goal Setting Week 2 Social Entrepreneurship
• Business Triple Impact: People, Profit, Planet
Week 3
Marketing Fundamentals
• Target Market
• Outreach Channels
• Website
• Social Media
Week 4
Operations
• Family Contracts
• Tech Tools to Manage your Business
• Human Resources
Week 5
Business Infrastructure
• Taxes and Insurance
• Business Entity types
Week 6
Business Finance
• Money Mindset
• Fixed vs. Variable Costs
• Subsidies/ Braided income streams
Week 7
Business Finance, part 2
• Calculating your Breakeven
• Financial Projections
Week 8 Final Presentations and Next Steps
Pilot program expected impact:
• 12 childcare business owners trained.
• Up to 96 infant / toddler childcare slots created by expanding providers capacity at small licensure (6 slots) to large (14 slots).
• $30,000 in stipends provided.
Pilot Program Cost:
Upon completing the course, participants are eligible to apply for a stipend to pay for resources or supplies to support their business.
The program cost per participant without stipend funding is $1,350 and $3,850 with stipend. To date, participant stipends have ranged from $2,500-$7,500. • Cost of pilot program without stipend funding for 12 participants= $16,200 • Cost of pilot program with stipend of $2,500 for 12 participants= $46,200 For more information, please contact WEV’s Director of Programs Ashley Goldstein at [email protected].
Learn more about the
effectiveness and success
of WEV's work supporting the care economy.
WEVonline.org | (805) 965-6073 | [email protected]
@womenseconomicventures
childcare provider
clients served
75 jobs
supported
135
gross revenue
$3,274,597
in stipends
provided
$510,000
Cultivating the power within each woman to realize her
dreams, achieve financial independence and succeed on her own terms – through entrepreneurship. Serving Ventura & Santa Barbara Counties since 1991
Childcare Program Highlights
childcare
slots created
450
Business plan training
One-on-one coaching
WEV's Business of Care Program offers:
Access to grant funding
Spanish and English support
new business
starts
44 Inspired by her family and her love for kids, Yvette Avila opened her own daycare business, Blossom Daycare. Although she initially struggled with lack of funding for furniture and supplies, her dream of starting her business came to fruition. “I am already loving making a difference in children’s lives,” she said.
In 2022, Yvette participated in WEV’s Business of Care Program in collaboration with Children's Resource and Referral (CRR) of Santa Barbara County- an eight-week business training program and she received a $7,500 grant to support her business growth. Yvette said, “I wanted to learn how to run my business better and how to market it.” She learned how to promote her daycare business and the importance of having her finances in order. She is grateful for the support she has received, “I am so happy I did this training early on in my business. WEV is a network of women who root for and encourage one another and it’s a wonderful circle to be in.” Yvette encourages others who are considering entrepreneurship, to go for it, saying “At first it’s scary, but when you take that leap it only gets better, especially when you have a great organizations like WEV and CRR helping you through every step.”
Ashley Ortega shared that "being a new business owner
has been a sometimes stressful path to navigate" but the support she received through WEV's Business of Care
program "helped in so many different aspects of learning how to run a business". Through participating in the
Business of Care program Ashley received
entrepreneurship training and a $7,500 grant to grow her business and provide care to additional children in her rural hometown.
Perhaps the most compelling part of Ashley's story is how she describes her relationship with her business coach - "You make me feel like I have a safe and reliable place for help, motivation and support". My confidence has grown
and "things have been far less stressful, I know that if I need you, you'll have the answer, and if you don't you'll find the right answers."
Yvette Avila, Blossom Day Care, Guadalupe, CA
WEV Client Success Stories
Ashley Ortega, Tiny Bear Paws Day Care, Lompoc, CA
Women’s Economic Ventures
Presentation to Goleta City Council
May 14, 2024
Women’s Economic Ventures is dedicated to
the economic empowerment of women,
cultivating the power within each woman
to realize her dreams, achieve financial
independence and succeed on her own terms.
WEV’s Key Programs & Services
Three core programs support clients in all stages of business, with support available in both English & Spanish
Business Funding
Access to capital for
entrepreneurs not yet
qualified for traditional
bank financing
Business Classes
Programs cover key
areas for success; our
Learning Management
System (LMS) facilitates
engagement in virtual,
on-demand, and inperson courses.
Business Consulting
One-on-one business
consulting to support
clients in attaining their
business goals
WEVserved over
1,000
participants
81%
of clients identify
aswomen
70%
of clients are
people of color
71%
of clients were
low income
Primary Language
47%
English
Santa Barbara
County
2023 Population Served
Where WEV Clients Live
Ventura
County
Other
46%
Spanish
7%
Other
44% 51% 5%
Top 10 Business Types Served:
17%
Retail trade
12%
Accommodation &
Food Services
11%
Arts, Entertainment
and Recreation
7%
Health Care & Social
Assistance
6%
Educational Services
5%
Professional,
Scientific &
Technical Services
4%
Construction
4%
Manufacturing
2%
Administrative
& Support
2%
Agriculture
The Childcare Crisis Localized
• 70% of parents with children under five
years old say their experience finding
care was difficult or very difficult.
• 1,000+ parents are on waitlists for
infants and toddlers.
• Two-thirds of providers say they would
increase slots if funding were provided.
Source: Childcare In Santa Barbara and Goleta Assessment and Recommendations, Maria Chesley, 2022 Annual Compensation for ECE Workers
0 10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
80,000
Average Salary for Small FCC (8 slots) Average Salary for Large FCC (14 slots) Living Wage (2 adults/2 children) both working
Average Salary Source: Project Isabella, Santa Paula, VCCF 2024 Living Wage Source: https://livingwage.mit.edu/counties WEV’s Business of Care Program Overview
A FREE 8-week accessible business skills training in both English and Spanish which covers the topics of:
– Marketing/ communications
– Financial projections
– Fixed vs. variable costs
– Money mindset
– Technology tools
– Family contract best practices
– Taxes and insurance
Target audiences:
Existing businesses to increase slots from 8 to 14.
New providers.
Business of Care
Targeted
business skills
development
Community
building
Peer support
Phase One
Business plan
writing
Financial
readiness
Phase Two
Capital access
1:1 Coaching
Phase Three
8 Programming to Date
• Partnered with SB City Library in 2022 to
train “Family, Friends, and Neighbor”
providers to determine if launching an
official center was a good fit.
• Ongoing partnership with CRR of SB
County started in 2022 to implement
two special cohorts of Emprendimiento
de Guarderia.
Impact: 2022 to Present
• 75 childcare businesses served
• 450 childcare slots created
• $3,274,597 gross revenue
• 135 jobs supported
• 44 new business starts
• $510,000 in stipends provided
10 Success Story
11 12
Attachment 3
United Way Brighter Futures Childcare Fund Proposal
United Way
of Santa Barbara County
320 East Gutierrez Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
tel 805-965-8591
fax 805-962-3461
www.unitedwaysb.org
Brighter Futures Childcare Initiative |1
City of Goleta | Brighter Futures Childcare Fund Proposal Organizational Overview & Experience in Childcare
Since its inception, United Way of Santa Barbara County has been a leader in building more resilient foundations for local individuals, students, and families. By developing and leading networks of local service agencies and community organizations, United Way builds its programming on a foundation of informed experience, targeting community needs through programming and initiatives that focus on school readiness and academic achievement, financial empowerment, and response and recovery in times of crisis.
In continuation of its work to build a more resilient community, United Way has identified a significant need in the local childcare sector. Affecting local families, employers, and childcare providers, the childcare industry has significant impacts on economic resiliency for thousands in our community. As identified in recent assessments and surveys, residents of the City of Goleta have reported a number of these challenges, with many local families struggling to maintain employment due to the lack of or the ability to afford childcare. In an effort to support these families and the community in which they live, work, and grow, we invite the City of Goleta to join as partners of United Way’s Brighter Childcare Coalition and invest in the associated fund:
supporting the implementation of data-driven solutions to support local needs.
For decades, the need for affordable, high-quality childcare for children from ages zero to five years has been a challenge for working parents and caregivers. As the economic environment worsens and costs for labor, facilities, and basic needs continue to rise, households from a variety of income levels constantly battle both the lack of available spaces and high costs for quality care for their children. For the average dual-income household with two children ages 0- 5 in a licensed childcare facility in Santa Barbara County, they can be expected to spend an average of 37% of their monthly income on childcare costs alone.
Through extensive work in developing and implementing childcare and early learning programming, including bridge programs for toddler aged children entering Kindergarten and emergency childcare initiatives, United Way has developed a unique and comprehensive understanding of the local sector and needs of caregivers, employers, and providers in the region..
In response to United Way’s development of programs and partnerships in early learning and its success in expanding infant and toddler childcare for emergency and essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization was commissioned by the cities of Goleta and Santa Barbara to facilitate a community needs assessment to better understand the specific needs of local families in these two cities in securing access to reliable, affordable care. In partnership with a local consultant, United Way worked with childcare industry specialists, local United Way
of Santa Barbara County
320 East Gutierrez Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
tel 805-965-8591
fax 805-962-3461
www.unitedwaysb.org
Brighter Futures Childcare Initiative |2
providers, employers and corporations, and school districts to conduct the assessment. The results of this study were presented to the commissioning cities, confirming what had been projected as significant need throughout the sector. Local families across income levels and providers within each municipality called for significant intervention in the sector as a key solution to long-term financial stability and resiliency. In the city of Goleta alone, it was estimated that 70% of families with children ages 0-5 were unsatisfied with their experience within the childcare sector. In addition to the reported challenges in affording quality care, countywide data indicates a need of 7,000+ additional spaces to support the number of working caregivers who need them to maintain employment and a stable financial foundation for their household.
At the close of 2022, United Way partnered with First 5 Santa Barbara County and other community organizations to aid in the recovery and rebuilding of the childcare sector. In recognition of its local survey and assessment efforts in the cities of Goleta and Santa Barbara, and of its growing network and relationships within the childcare sector through direct programs, United Way was contracted to achieve five primary outcomes. These direct United Way and its partners to:
1. Facilitate a Countywide Childcare Assessment
2. Establish a Childcare Coalition
3. Facilitate a Business Training/Technical Support Program for Childcare Providers
4. Create of a Grant Program for Employer Infant/Childcare Spaces
5. Develop an Emergency Childcare Plan for First Responders/Essential Workers Since the work began, United Way has already achieved significant progress in each of the five contracted focus areas, working with local consultants and specialists to build out its coordinated plan to support stakeholders within the sector. As one of its primary directives, United Way launched the Brighter Futures Childcare Coalition, a collaborative of over 20 elected representatives, local employers and businesses, service agencies, school district partners, and others to help direct informed and innovative solution-building in the sector. The primary directive of the Coalition is to better understand the complex and integrated childcare sector through the perspective and direction of key players who provide, subsidize, or need childcare in order to thrive.
Each member of the Coalition offers a unique opportunity to voice the concerns, hopes, and ideas of those they represent in a forum of diverse individuals and agencies. To date, the Coalition has already held innovative discussions about how to integrate the strengths of various sectors to solve the complex puzzle of a strong childcare system. As members of the Coalition, the City of Goleta would stand among those in our community who have made a United Way
of Santa Barbara County
320 East Gutierrez Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
tel 805-965-8591
fax 805-962-3461
www.unitedwaysb.org
Brighter Futures Childcare Initiative |3
commitment to a collaborative childcare solution to better serve local families with a strong and resilient system designed on their behalf.
Brighter Futures Childcare Fund
In addition to membership in the Coalition, the City of Goleta also has the opportunity to invest in the Brighter Futures Childcare Fund, an integrated approach to support the solutions identified in the original assessment recommendations and in the initial discussions within the Coalition.
The objective of the Brighter Futures Childcare Fund is to provide a centralized place for parents, employers, and childcare providers seeking support to access financial resources to address unmet needs. As one of the original contracted deliverables with First 5 Santa Barbara County, United Way plans to facilitate the creation of 250 new infant/toddler childcare spaces throughout the county. The four focus areas of the Fund target identified gaps in the system that have demonstrated highest impact on the ability of providers and employers to offer additional spaces and for local families to be able to secure and afford them.
The Brighter Futures Childcare Fund will:
• Provide scholarships for parents in the “missing middle” who make too much for government subsidized programs but too little to afford the average local cost of childcare.
o Soliciting applications from eligible families and providing selected scholarship recipients with 12-month of financial support paid directly to a licensed childcare provider.
• Increase the supply of childcare spaces through the support of start-up costs for businesses launching an employer sponsored childcare program. o Working with the local business community to educate about the benefits of employer sponsored childcare and supporting motivated businesses with startup costs for new infant-toddler spots. • Provide technical assistance to employers needing support in the start-up or expansion of infant-toddler spaces.
o Partnering with relevant government, non-profit, and consulting agencies to provide curated technical assistance to businesses that are beginning the process of opening new infant-toddler spaces throughout the county. • Strengthen the childcare sector through business technical training for owners/directors of programs.
o Circulating an RFP from community organizations that can conduct business training for cohorts of childcare business owners and directors.
United Way
of Santa Barbara County
320 East Gutierrez Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
tel 805-965-8591
fax 805-962-3461
www.unitedwaysb.org
Brighter Futures Childcare Initiative |4
The Brighter Futures Childcare Fund is built in line with United Way’s extensive experience as a grantmaking organization, both as a direct provider of scholarship and grant programming and as a fiscal agent for collaborative community and municipal funding distribution. Informed by this unique experience serving individuals and families in cities like Goleta, United Way looks forward to building a dynamic fund that will address historical and emerging needs within the childcare sector. The Fund is a combination of public, corporate, and philanthropic support and is set to initially launch with $500,000 that has already been secured to address the stated goals. The Fund will allow for public and private dollars to be invested generally to the Fund, or to specific areas of interest in line with the four focus areas listed above. Given the nature of the Fund’s structure and management, investments can also be made regionally, supporting providers, employers, and families in a specific municipality or region.
For decades, United Way has worked alongside the City of Goleta to advance its mission of building a more resilient community. The Brighter Futures Childcare Coalition and Fund are a unique opportunity to magnify our partnership to support residents of Goleta with a multifaceted solution to a challenge that thousands are currently facing. As members of the Coalition and investors to the Fund with $50,000 from Measure B tax funding, the City of Goleta will join a county-wide effort to address the availability of affordable, high-quality childcare. For the investment in the Fund, the City of Goleta has the opportunity to allocate its investment between each of the four focus areas, prioritizing its investment to align with its strategic objectives to advance household stability in the area.
United Way is committed to its ongoing efforts in meeting the needs of the families we serve.
With continued community support, we look forward to supporting businesses, providers, and parents with a more resilient childcare sector. Thank you for considering partnering with United Way, the Brighter Futures Childcare Coalition, and the County of Santa Barbara on building a brighter future for families and children.
United Way
of Santa Barbara County
320 East Gutierrez Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
tel 805-965-8591
fax 805-962-3461
www.unitedwaysb.org
Brighter Futures Childcare Initiative |5
Brighter Futures Childcare Coalition Roster
1. Allan Hancock College
2. Amazon
3. Audacious Foundation
4. Buellton Chamber of Commerce
5. Carpinteria Children Project
6. Children's Resource & Referral of SB County
7. City of Goleta
8. City of Santa Barbara
9. Cottage Health
10. County of Santa Barbara
11. CSU Channel Islands
12. Deckers Brands
13. Driscoll's
14. Eileen Monahan Consulting
15. First 5 Santa Barbara County
16. Future Leaders of America
17. Guadalupe Unified School District
18. JS Bower Foundation
19. Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce
20. MarBorg Industries
21. Maria Chesley Consulting
22. Montecito Bank & Trust
23. Office of Assemblymember Greg Hart
24. Office of State Senator Monique Limon
25. Office of Supervisor Laura Capps
26. Salvation Army
27. Santa Barbara County Education Office
28. Santa Barbara Foundation
29. Santa Barbara Human Resources Association
30. Santa Barbara Scholarship Foundation
31. Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce
32. Santa Maria Valley Chamber
33. United Way of Santa Barbara County
34. University of California, Santa Barbara