NSE AGENDA: 12/08/22
ITEM: (d) 5
TO: NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES AND FROM: Jill Bourne
EDUCATION COMMITTEE Jon Cicirelli
SUBJECT: FAMILY FRIENDLY INITIATIVE DATE: November 21, 2022 REPORT
Approved Date
11/29/22
RECOMMENDATION
Accept an annual report on the Family Friendly Initiative Work Plan, including an update on family friendly city policies, facilities, and lactation pods, and approve the integration of the Family Friendly Initiative with the Children and Youth Services Master Plan and the Education and Digital Literacy Strategy Annual Report.
OUTCOME
This report provides the Neighborhood Services and Education Committee an update on the Family Friendly Initiative and future integration with the Children and Youth Services Master Plan and the Education and Digital Literacy Strategy Annual Report.
BACKGROUND
In 2019, a Council priority referral directed staff to make improvements to facilities and assess the feasibility and costs of converting underutilized spaces to meet childcare needs.
In 2021 and 2022, two special meetings of a Joint City/County meeting on Child and Youth Wellbeing were convened in September 20211 and March 20222. Following the direction from the Council Priority and the Joint City/County meetings, direction was given to the City Manager to develop a Children and Youth Services Master Plan. Additionally, City Council allocated $10.5 million in American Rescue Plan (ARP) Funds for children and youth programs and services to address their educational, health, social-emotional, and overall wellness. 1 https://sanJosé.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=885035&GUID=A31F1080-4951-4B39-B043-EB9589A7A1B2&Search= 2 https://sanJosé.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=885035&GUID=A31F1080-4951-4B39-B043-EB9589A7A1B2&Search=
NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES AND EDUCATION COMMITTEE
November 21, 2022
Subject: Family Friendly Initiative
Reflected in the Fiscal Year 2022-23 City Initiatives Roadmap, the Child Care Siting Policy Update and the Children and Youth Services Master Plan are included as initiatives in the Enterprise Priority:
Clean, Vibrant, and Inclusive Neighborhoods and Public Life.
Additionally, the Education and Digital Literacy Strategy has established Quality Standards for cityfunded or sponsored programs in five areas, including Early Education. The Early Education Quality Standard 7: Family Engagement prioritizes the establishment and maintenance of collaborative relationships with families to foster children’s development in all settings. This Standard recognizes that these relationships are sensitive to family composition, language, and culture. To support children’s optimal learning and development, programs need to establish relationships with families based on mutual trust and respect, involve families in their children’s educational growth, and encourage families to fully participate in the program.
ANALYSIS
Facilities and Childcare Siting
As part of the $10.5 million for ARP, $1,100,000 was allocated for childcare siting improvements through two means:
• $900,000 for affordable housing sites to implement tenant improvements in partnership with a childcare operator; and,
• $200,000 for Parks, Recreation and Neighborhoods Services (PRNS) Recreation Preschool sites (preliminarily identified as Roosevelt and Mayfair).
Affordable Housing Childcare Tenant Improvement Fund
Prior to ARP funding approval, in December 2021, the Housing Department issued a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for $150 million, seeking proposals for the development of housing that meets the City’s affordability requirements. In March 2022, the NOFA responses were reviewed, and staff identified proposals that have either included a potential childcare space onsite or would be appropriate for the addition of childcare facilities within the proposed development. On June 21, 2022, City Council approved the first allocation from this fund in the amount of $247,500 to Danco Communities. The grant will be used to cover costs associated with the development of the proposed 3000 square foot childcare center to be located at 777 West San Carlos, which is intended to serve up to 50 children.
Potential sites at three additional NOFA projects have been identified. These sites range from a small commercial space with the possibility of serving 25 children, an afterschool program to include homework tutoring and mentoring, computer literacy classes, arts and crafts, a book reading program, and a parenting resource area. Discussions are being held with a fourth partner for a potential East Side development project. Staff will present the final project sites to City Council in late February 2023.
NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES AND EDUCATION COMMITTEE
November 21, 2022
Subject: Family Friendly Initiative
PRNS Facility Conversion Status for Recreational Preschool Sites In October 2021, PRNS completed a preliminary assessment of their facilities. Based on the initial assessment, two sites, Roosevelt and Mayfair Community Centers, were identified which could serve children, ages zero to three, on subsidy; $200,000 was allocated in spring 2022 from ARP funds for improvements to the facilities. PRNS and the Santa Clara County Office of Education completed a second assessment and walk-thru of the locations on September 19, 2022, which revealed the need for additional improvements. The new cost analysis estimates the cost of community center facilities improvements to be approximately $2.5 million. Since the building improvements are estimated to be $2.3 million more than the ARP allocation of $200,000, PRNS and the City Manager’s Office will provide City Council with strategy recommendations for childcare facilities improvements.
Lactation Pods and Changing Stations
In May 2019, Councilmember Arenas submitted Budget Document 94 for the installation of changing tables and lactation pods in City facilities with the intended outcome of assisting staff and visitors by providing comfortable and private areas to care for and feed young children. In the June 2019 Budget Message, Mayor Liccardo recommended “funding up to $300,000 from the Library C&C Tax Fund ($150,000) and the Parks C&C Tax Central Fund ($150,000) to pilot lactation pods at library and community center locations with the greatest need, utilizing an equity screen.” Equity data was utilized to develop a plan to install five pods at PRNS Community Centers and five pods at San José Public Library (“SJPL”, Library") branches. Criteria for location selection included equity data (census, childcare, program attendance, income, poverty) and site feasibility (interior space, visibility, clearances, access, egress, accessibility, floor weight capacity, and electrical).
In March 2020, as services were impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic, City facilities were forced to close, and departments paused services, procurements, and capital improvements. As the City began resuming services, Public Works, PRNS, and the Library re-engaged to coordinate the lactation pod project to re-assess capacity, funding, and re-prioritize locations based on physical site feasibility and improvements, Public Works capacity while prioritizing re-opening of City facilities, as well as vendor supply chain issues and a sales tax increase that raised the initial cost estimates of the pods.
In July 2022, selected lactation pod vendor, Mamava, completed site visits with staff. The site visits informed a re-evaluation of the criteria determining site feasibility (such as ceiling clearances, visibility, electrical outlets, and San José Fire Department evaluation) which resulted in re-ordering site selection.
Due to the unanticipated project cost increases in addition to ongoing capacity challenges, lactation pods will be installed in phases beginning with three locations. Phase One includes Seven Trees Community Center, Evergreen Branch Library, and City Hall (first floor lobby). After evaluating usage and maintenance data, Phase Two installation will include Roosevelt Community Center, Southside Community Center, Tully Branch Library, and Hillview Branch Library.
NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES AND EDUCATION COMMITTEE
November 21, 2022
Subject: Family Friendly Initiative
PRNS is working with City Facilities Architectural Services on a timeline for completion to reprepare drawings for Structural Engineering Code Inspections review and approval. Once drawings are reviewed and approved, lactation pods can be ordered, and the installation schedule can be provided.
Changing Tables
Prior to the issuance of the Family Friendly Initiative, changing tables were available at 21 Library branches, including the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library. To date, changing tables have been installed at the remaining Library branches.
To date, changing tables have been installed at all 12 PRNS hubs and the majority of 30 Neighborhood Community Partnership Program sites. PRNS is in the process of finalizing locations and confirming installation at the remaining Neighborhood Community Partnership Program sites by end of November 2022.
Family Friendly City: Policy and Programs
Joint City County Meeting
The Family Friendly Initiative was informed by the two Joint Special Meetings on Child Well-Being, with the City of San José Neighborhood Services and Education Committee, Committee of the Whole and the County of Santa Clara Children, Seniors, and Families Committee, on September 9, 20213, and March 25, 20224
, respectively.
The Joint Special Meetings informed the following:
• City staff were directed by City Council to develop a $10.5 million spending plan for children and youth from the remaining ARP Funds.
o Update: On April 26, 20225
, City Council approved the spending plan for ARP Funds to support several programs and services for children and youth most impacted by the pandemic. These funds have been utilized to provide fully subsidized scholarships for afterschool care, recreation preschool, recreational, academic enrichment, and socialemotional support services and activities for low-income and vulnerable children and youth through scholarships and free programming.
• City staff were directed to address and implement the recommendations of the Bill of Rights for Children and Youth for the City of San José conducted by the Auditor’s Office. o Update: City staff across departments are working on plans to address the Auditor’s recommendations to ensure the City is adhering to and implementing the Bill of Rights. • City staff were directed to explore hosting an intergenerational recreational quality standard working group that aligns with our Family Friendly Initiative to bridge child, youth, and senior well-being services.
3 https://sanJosé.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=885035&GUID=A31F1080-4951-4B39-B043-EB9589A7A1B2&Search= 4 https://sanJosé.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=951751&GUID=50DD4BE2-041B-4B6A-9706-8F53787BA467&Search= 5 https://sanJosé.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=5552978&GUID=D3375907-879F-46A3-B692- F7BA8F22D348&Options=&Search=
NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES AND EDUCATION COMMITTEE
November 21, 2022
Subject: Family Friendly Initiative
o Update: With the development of the Children and Youth Services Master Plan, staff will integrate the Family Friendly Initiative with the Education and Digital Literacy Strategy6 so that there is alignment in creating intergenerational recreational quality standards. • City staff were directed to invest in childcare services as an automated response for survivors of gender-based violence and/or their family.
o Update: City staff have met with the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, Children’s Advocacy Center of Santa Clara County, and their childcare provider partners to explore how best to support their childcare needs. Given the complexity of addressing the childcare needs of this population (e.g., staffing capacity, varying ages of children, hours of service, etc.), staff, District Attorney’s Office, and Children’s Advocacy Center will continue to explore how best to address this need and will provide an update to Neighborhood Services and Education Committee in spring 2023. • City staff were directed to address gender specific survivor-centered recreational and empowerment programming in partnership with key stakeholders, targeting young female sexual violence survivors between the ages of seven and 17 years old. o Update: With the availability of ARP Funds to support children and youth programs and services, City staff have been able to expand and increase access to recreation and enrichment programming to vulnerable children and youth, and in particular those impacted by sexual violence. In addition, PRNS is in the process of developing the BEST (Bringing Everyone’s Strength Together) grant application which will also provide additional resources for gender-specific services. Furthermore, nearly fifty percent of youth accessing PRNS’s San José Youth Empowerment Alliance and Youth Intervention services identify as females.
Family Friendly Programs Update
The following programs and practices illustrate departmental commitment to the Family Friendly Initiative and lay the pathway for inclusion of this work into the Youth Master Plan.
Library’s Early Education Community Assessment
In fall 2021, SJPL’s Early Education Services Unit (Early Education Unit) conducted an Early Education Community Assessment to help inform the Early Education Unit’s programming and work plan in order to provide more targeted, representative, and equitable services for and with the community. This environmental scan re-assessed assets and needs and sought to capture the strengths and aspirations of the communities that the Library serves. Key findings revealed common community threads and themes:
• Thriving, Not Just Surviving;
• One-on-One Support & Building Relationships; and
• Intersectionality.
As a result of the key findings and guiding principles, the Early Education Unit is establishing Caregiver Advisory Committees in Fiscal Year 2022-2023. These committees will help ensure Early 6 https://www.sjpl.org/education
NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES AND EDUCATION COMMITTEE
November 21, 2022
Subject: Family Friendly Initiative
Education programming meets the needs and interests of families in San José by hearing directly from caregivers and working with them to shape program priorities and design. Caregiver Advisory Committees build on many of the strengths identified in the community assessment: including community lived experience, expertise, culture, stories, agency, and self-determination. The Library has identified several opportunities to focus on intersectional equity work, including those centered around the following communities: the Black, Latinx, Indigenous/Native, Asian Pacific Islander (API) communities; the Disability community, Incarcerated/System-Impacted community, Foster Youth, and the Unhoused/Housing Insecure.
A complete report on the Library’s Early Education Community Assessment was presented to the Neighborhood Services and Education Committee on November 10, 20227.
Family, Friend, and Neighbor Caregiver Support Network
SJPL’s Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) Caregiver Support Network strengthens communities by improving the well-being of children and families. The innovative and responsive program connects FFN caregivers, a valued choice for many families, to learning and workforce development opportunities, a peer community, and a range of resources. The FFN Network offers this critical caregiver group free, holistic programming that removes systematic barriers, fosters a diverse and inclusive environment for all, and welcomes the voices of FFNs to co-create their experience.
To date, three FFN cohorts have been launched. The third cohort of the program, with an expanded capacity of 120 participants, launched in fall 2022 with multiple levels of support including Early Childhood Education units with wraparound supports, childcare licensing, business and technical guidance, and continued individualized mentoring for FFNs.
The need for continued FFN programming is evident. Local FFNs continue to inquire about the program, and there is a growing waitlist for a Year Four cohort. Program participants have expressed interest in an ongoing FFN community, additional professional development opportunities, and assistance with pursuing childcare licenses and careers in early care. SJPL Early Education Services Unit staff will continue to revisit program design, anticipating that there will continue to be increased needs to support caregivers in San José.
A complete report on the FFN program was presented to Neighborhood Services and Education Committee on November 10, 20228
.
Touchpoints Approach in the Library
Touchpoints is an evidence-based approach to understanding child development and using family engagement strategies to enhance customer service. In 2017, the training was adapted specifically for libraries to help support their services for children, families, and caregivers. Participants in this 7 https://sanJosé.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=5871458&GUID=64983FE1-0A52-40DC-901CC8C618FAC434 8 https://sanJosé.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=5871459&GUID=701BB696-1B0A-41A4-8071- 252929A93379
NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES AND EDUCATION COMMITTEE
November 21, 2022
Subject: Family Friendly Initiative
training learn new ways to communicate with parents, focusing on parent strengths and predictable “touchpoints” in children’s development. Educating staff through Touchpoints Approach Training has facilitated the integration of Touchpoints principles and assumptions into SJPL culture and practice.
SJPL has been at the forefront of the Touchpoints introduction into California as one of eight library systems implementing foundational Touchpoints concepts into daily service models. Through Touchpoints, staff:
• Develop strength-based strategies for providing customer service to families; • Make more intentional, effective choices when communicating with families; and • Better understand how the Library can join forces with caregivers to promote healthy child development.
This 28-hour training course supports effective family/caregiver engagement in libraries. Through implementation of the Touchpoints approach in the library, families/caregivers will:
• Feel respected, supported, and welcome in the Library; • Feel connected to the staff and the Library community; and • Benefit from more developmentally appropriate services for children.
To date, more than 120 SJPL staff members at all levels of the organization have completed the Touchpoints Approach for Libraries training. Additional staff training is scheduled to begin in mid2023.
Together We Read
Together We Read (TWR) is funded in part by the Family Literacy Services grant from the California State Library. TWR provides bi-monthly mailings to families who are receiving services from Partners in Reading and who have children in the home under the age of 14. To encourage family literacy, these mailings include books tailored to the age of the children in the household and activities that the family can do together. Individuals who join Partners in Reading and have children are automatically enrolled in the program.
Wee Grow! Developmental Screening Program
One in six children (ages three to 17) have one or more developmental disabilities, yet only 30-50% of children with disabilities are identified before starting school.9 Moreover, children who receive early treatment for developmental delays are more likely to graduate from high school, hold jobs, and live independently.
Developmental screenings can help parents and caregivers understand how their child is growing and learning. By playing games and answering questions, parents and caregivers can get a quick check on 9 https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/developmentaldisabilities/features/developmental-disabilities-among-us-children.html
NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES AND EDUCATION COMMITTEE
November 21, 2022
Subject: Family Friendly Initiative
a child’s milestones such as smiling, waving, walking, and talking. Although a developmental screening is not intended to replace a health check-up with a child’s doctor nor does it diagnose disability, Wee Grow! can help parents and caregivers know what milestones are appropriate for their child.
The Wee Grow! Developmental Screening program will launch in winter 2023 with the support of three new SJPL staff serving as bilingual Early Education Community Navigators. Wee Grow! is a free program for children two months to 5 ½ years of age and their caregivers which provides the opportunity to complete a developmental screening called the Ages & Stages Questionnaire® at the Library.
Parents and Caregivers participating in Wee Grow!:
• Receive a free book upon completion;
• Discover their child’s strengths;
• Learn about developmentally appropriate milestones;
• Identify areas of development that may need encouragement and/or support; • Be connected to appropriate resources and community supports; and, • Be able to monitor their child’s development over time.
If a parent has questions about their child’s development, or the screening identifies a child who needs a little encouragement, trained Navigators connect families to services that can help, including areas outside of education. The Navigator role is modeled after the Promotores framework, a grassroots approach to building community capacity that engages community members in strengthening their leadership skills as they connect people to needed information, services, and resources.
SJPL collaborated with Family Resource Centers (FRCs) to recruit and hire for the three Navigator positions. An essential element of the position is that Navigators are from the communities they will be serving, so that they can facilitate community empowerment and transformation from within, building on their existing knowledge and relationships with their community. SJPL's Community Navigators will play a key role in strengthening a reciprocal relationship between FRCs and the Library. The Navigators will serve as a bridge connecting traditional library patrons and families to the extensive services, programs, and resources offered by FRCs. The Navigators will increase SJPL's capacity to collaborate across systems and networks and amplify its ongoing partnerships with FRCs.
Conclusion
While significant progress has been made in implementing the Family Friendly Initiative, staff will continue executing the programs described in this memorandum, move into assessment and evaluation, and data collection and analysis with particular emphasis on integrating this work into the Children and Youth Services Master Plan and the Education and Digital Literacy Strategy Annual Report.
The Children and Youth Services Master Plan will integrate the Family Friendly Initiative by developing a continuum, a coordinated service delivery approach across City departments, and in partnership with community stakeholders (e.g., schools, Santa Clara County services, non-profit
NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES AND EDUCATION COMMITTEE
November 21, 2022
Subject: Family Friendly Initiative
organizations, and other practitioners and thought partners) to provide services that support families, and their children, from birth through age 24, particularly those most vulnerable. City staff recognize that children and youth do not grow-up in isolation but in families, schools, neighborhoods, and the extended San José community.
The Children and Youth Services Master Plan is being developed with policy and programming recommendations and will provide a vision and strategic approach which will include equitable access to pathways and appropriate supports for families to thrive.
EVALUATION AND FOLLOW-UP
Evaluation and data-driven decision making are the cornerstones of the programs and services provided by the City. Implementation of the programs and services including alignment to quality standards and regular assessments in each area will be the subject of future reports to the Neighborhood Services and Education Committee.
CLIMATE SMART SAN JOSÉ
The recommendation in this memorandum does not have any impact on Climate Smart San José energy, water, or mobility goals.
PUBLIC OUTREACH
This memorandum will be posted on the City's website for the Neighborhood Services and Education Committee December 8, 2022 meeting.
COORDINATION
This memorandum has been coordinated with the Housing Department.
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION/INPUT
No commission recommendation or input is associated with this action.
CEQA
Not a Project, File No. PP17-009, Staff Reports, Assessments, Annual Reports, and Information Memorandums that involve no approvals of any City action.
NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES AND EDUCATION COMMITTEE
November 21, 2022
Subject: Family Friendly Initiative
/s/ /s/
JILL BOURNE JON CICIRELLI
Library Director Director of Parks, Recreation
and Neighborhood Services
For questions, please contact Laura Buzo (CMO) at laura.buzo@sanJoséca.gov, Maria De Leon, Deputy Director (PRNS), at maria.deleon@sanJoséca.gov, or Michelle Ornat (Library) at [email protected].