Page 2 - Perspectives 2017 | 1st Quarter HQ

Inside this Edition
• Message from the CEO
• Governor’s Relation
• AGPD
• Policy Forum
• Earned Income Tax Credit
• Kaleidoscope
• Dr. Seuss
• VROOM
• CPR Certification
• Institute in Palmdale
• Provider Portal
• Safe Sleep Recommendations
• SmileStarter
Message from the President & CEO
Dear Early Care Educators,
We hope 2017 is off to a good start for you, your business and your family! We are only a few short months away from then end of our 2016/2017 fiscal year and have begun to focus on the proposed state budget for 2017/2018 released by Governor Jerry Brown on January 10th.
The Governor’s predicting that California’s economic growth will slow and proposed $1.3 billion in budget reductions. Last year, the Legislature and the Governor agreed to a multi-year deal to return funding to early childhood education (ECE) but the Governor is advocating a “pause” including an 11% reduction in ECE support – this is significant because the entire budget for ECE is only 1.7% of the total budget. CCRC’s Director of Government Relations, members of the Board of Directors and leadership team are working hard locally as well as in Sacramento to advocate for equity and fairness to young children and their caregivers. Continue reading on the next page for a more in-depth explanation of the proposed budget and next steps.
We have received a number of calls from parents and child care providers concerned about President Trump’s comments about withholding Federal funds from California. George Skelton had a very interesting article in the Los Angeles Times on Monday, February 6, 2017. Mr. Skelton is a longtime political writer, he explains that President Trump cannot withhold funds without authority from Congress. He writes, “Court decisions have restricted a president’s ability to hold back federal money from state and local governments. There has to be a connection — a nexus — between the federal funds and the local program that’s being stiffed.” “Trump couldn’t cut the funds alone. If a federal law mandated them, Congress presumably would need to change that law.” Welfare Reform (CalWorks in California) was created by Bill Clinton and a Republican Congress. The Child Care Development Block Grant was reauthorized with a 96-2 vote in the Senate. The Affordable Care Act may be at risk but it does not appear that our child care legislation will be affected.
At CCRC, we know that access to child care can be a major obstacle for all types of families. And, I’m pleased to announce that we have recently received a two-year grant from the W.M. Keck Foundation for an Emergency Child Care Pilot Program. This project begins to address the lack of accessible child care for abused children, which is a major barrier to securing foster home placements. In partnership with the Los Angeles County Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS), CCRC will recruit and train family child care providers to provide emergency child care for children under age five entering the foster care system. The project will start with five providers located in three communities in the San Fernando Valley where nearly 70% of the children who are removed from their homes live. More information will be provided in the near future.
I am also honored to announce that I have been appointed to the Speaker’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Early Childhood Education. The commission’s goal is to develop solutions to improve results for California’s youngest learners and their families. I will be one of nine community members, in addition to six members of the California’s State Assembly, tasked with identifying ways to create a more sustainable early learning system. Upon the conclusion of a series of hearings throughout the state, the commission will issue a report with policy recommendations for the legislature to consider.
As always, we want to hear from you. If you have any questions or comments, email us at [email protected]. Dr. Michael Olenick,
President & CEO
San Fernando Valley Office 20001 Prairie Street Chatsworth, CA 91311
t: 818.717.1000
San Bernardino Office 1111 East Mill Street, Suite 100 San Bernardino, CA 92408
t: 909.384.8000
Antelope Valley Office 250 Grand Cypress Avenue Palmdale, CA 93551
t: 661.789.1200
Victorville Office 15456 West Sage Street Victorville, CA 92392 t: 760.245.0770
Executive Team: Michael Olenick Ellen Cervantes
President & Chief Executive Off icer Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
Shirley Cameron
Vice President of Human Resources Rita García
Alex Guerrero Dilmit Singh
Denise Trinh
Chief Financial Officer
Jason Irwin John Bwarie Romalis Taylor
Board Members: Michelle Torres - Chair Adrian Stern - Vice Chair
Shelia Jones - Treasurer
Jeriel Smith - Secretary
Aaron Rafelle - Member-at-Large Edward Hill - Chair Emeritus
Alyce Akers
Joannie Busillo-Aguayo C.J. Allen
Production Team:
Writing & Editing: Cristen Sayegh, Susan Montalvo, Lucy Capurro, Josué Guaján Orellana and Evelyn Juarez Design: Felix Bada
Monday 8:00 am – 7:00 pm / Tuesday through Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
www.ccrcca.org
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