Fiscal Note
FISCAL NOTE PENDING
Title
Authorizing the Community Development Division (CDD) to conduct a Request for Proposals process, and formulate funding allocation recommendations to the Mayor and Common Council, around early childhood services for use of funds beginning on January 1, 2020.
Body
WHEREAS, the Community Development Division, in consultation with the Early Childhood Care and Education Committee, is responsible for formulating recommendations to the Mayor and Common Council regarding the use of City administered resources budgeted for ensuring the quality and availability of child care; and
WHEREAS, MGO 3.12(10)(a) states that the Child Care Unit was established “to protect the growth, development, happiness and health of young children; to provide referral and supportive services to child care consumers and providers; and to provide assistance to those families with the greatest human and economic need”; and
WHEREAS, MGO 3.12(10)(a)1.b. states that the Child Care Unit objectives include providing “a variety of support services to assist parents and child care providers who request such services in order to improve the quality and availability of child care services” and providing “financial assistance to those families, children, and child care providers with the greatest human and economic need”; and
WHEREAS, direct provision of child care, training and consultation services are essential to maintaining a system of high quality early care and education for the citizens of Madison; and
WHEREAS, the City of Madison has current contracts for similar early childhood programs and services which will expire December 31, 2019 with the following agencies: Animal Crackers, Bridge Lake Point Waunona Neighborhood Center, Community Coordinated Child Care, Dane County Parent Council (dba REACH Dane), Goodman Community Center, Kennedy Heights Neighborhood Center, The Rainbow Project and The Respite Center; and
WHEREAS, a concept paper outlining the basis for this RFP was circulated widely in October, November and December of 2018; and
WHEREAS, feedback from email, phone calls and a public meeting on the concept paper was incorporated into the draft RFP; and
WHEREAS, the Early Childhood Care and Education Committee has identified priorities to support serving families with high barriers to accessing quality child care; and
WHEREAS, priorities identified by the Early Childhood Care and Education, including increased access to high quality care for children who face multiple barriers to success; creation of more opportunities for and access to infant and toddler care, especially in geographically underserved areas of Madison; a reduction in expulsion and suspension of children in care; and increased skills and capacity for individuals working in child care programs to serve children with multiple barriers to success, are included in the proposed RFP.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Common Council authorizes the CDD staff to conduct the Early Childhood Funding Request for Proposals, and authorizes the CDD to accept proposals from service organizations in response to that RFP, and formulate funding allocation recommendations to be presented to the Mayor and Common Council for use beginning in 2020.