To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Office of Education, Human Services
Staff Name and Phone Number: Elizabeth DePrimo 707-524-2792-, Angela Struckmann 707-565-5800
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Recommended Action:
Title
A) Approve membership category changes for:
i. Stephen Zollman from a public agency seat to a community representative seat; and
ii. Lisa Bell from a child care provider seat to a discretionary seat.
B) Approve seven reappointments and two new appointments to the Child Care Planning Council of Sonoma County for two-year terms beginning January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2025 for the following members:
i. Reappointment of Lisa Bell, Lara Magnusdottir, Renee Whitlock-Hemsouvanh, Cathay Vaughn, Sonya Valiente, Susan Langer and Megan Hede.
ii. Appointments of Kimberly Barbosa Olmos and Ursula Richardson.
C) Authorize the Director of the Human Services Department to sign the required Certification Statement Regarding Composition of Local Planning Council Membership.
(Countywide)
End
Executive Summary:
The mission of the Child Care Planning Council of Sonoma County is to convene and inspire the community through collaboration, leadership, and advocacy to promote and plan for quality child care and development services for the benefit of all children (primarily birth to 12), their families, and Sonoma County.
The Child Care Planning Council was originally established in 1992 to meet the requirements mandated by the passage of Assembly Bill 2141, which created local child care and development planning councils to identify local priorities for child care and state preschool expansion funds. The passage of Assembly Bill 1542, which established the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids program, also required the County Superintendent of Schools and the Board of Supervisors to designate a local child care planning council to establish priorities for state-funded child care and development services and to develop a comprehensive countywide plan for child care. It is this bill that connects California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids program, and the Sonoma County Human Services Department, to the Child Care Planning Council. On September 29, 1998, the County Superintendent of Schools and the Board of Supervisors designated the Child Care Planning Council of Sonoma County, to be staffed by the Sonoma County Office of Education.
Discussion:
The Child Care Planning Council (CCPC) requests board approval to change the membership category for current member Stephen Zollman, from a public agency seat to a community representative seat. The CCPC community representative is defined as a person who represents an agency or business that provides private funding for child care services, or who advocates for child care services through participation in civic or community-based organizations but is not a child care provider or California Department of Education funded agency representative. This change accurately reflects Mr. Zollman’s role, because he serves in an elected position as a Council Member in Sebastopol and advocates for services to meet the needs of children and families in the county. The CCPC’s bylaws state that the composition of voting membership should be distributed evenly between the five categories and this change more evenly distributes membership across the five categories.
CCPC also requests board approval to change the membership category for current member Lisa Bell, from a child care provider seat to a discretionary seat. Discretionary members are appointed from any of the other four categories or outside of these categories at the discretion of the County Board of Supervisors and County Superintendent of Schools. This change more accurately reflects Ms. Bell’s role and more evenly distributes membership across the five categories.
The CCPC recommends the appointment and reappointment of members that meet the legislated membership requirements in 5 categories of membership: 1) Consumers, 2) Child Care Providers, 3) Public Agency, 4) Community, and 5) Discretionary Appointees of the Board and the Superintendent.
The CCPC bylaws allow up to 35 members and the current membership is at 18. There are usually between 20-25 active members of the CCPC. As required, the CCPC makes every effort to ensure that the ethnic, racial, and geographic composition reflects the makeup of the county. The CCPC Membership Chair and Committee have worked hard over the last year to increase membership. Openings are posted on the CCPC website and the County Boards and Commissions website. Additionally, community recruitment efforts are made on an ongoing basis via press releases, flyers, and individual outreach. Members are appointed for two-year terms, with half of the members’ terms expiring each year.
The Board is requested to appoint Kimberly Barbosa Olmos, a parent occupying a consumer seat and Ursula Richardson, a child care provider occupying a provider seat. This appointment recommendation has been made to and approved by the County Superintendent of Schools.
The Board is requested to reappoint seven members. These reappointment recommendations have been made to and approved by the County Superintendent of Schools for the following members:
Lisa Bell, Sonoma Valley Unified School District, discretionary seat
Lara Magnusdottir, Community Child Care Council, discretionary seat
Renee Whitlock-Hemsouvanh, Child Family Community, Inc., child care provider seat
Cathy Vaughn, Montessori School of Sonoma, child care provider seat
Sonya Valiente, El Verano Preschool, discretionary seat
Susan Langer, Special Education Local Plan Area, public agency representative seat
Megan Hede, Peek-A-Boo Playhouse, child care provider seat
The CCPC will have 17 openings for additional members after these appointments/
reappointments are approved.
The Board is also requested to authorize the Director of the Human Services Department (HSD) to sign the required Certification Statement Regarding Composition of Local Planning Council Membership. This is an annual report that is completed by the CCPC and submitted to the California Department of Social Services.
Prior Board Actions:
07-11-2023: Approved appointment of Stephen Zollman to the CCPC, authorized the Director
of HSD to sign the required certification and accepted the 2023 Zip Code Priorities Report.
12-13-2022: Approved appointment and reappointment of members of the CCPC,
authorized the Director of HSD to sign the required certification, and accepted the 2022-2027
Countywide Child Care Plan.
09-27-2022: Approved appointment of John Valdovinos to the CCPC.
01-04-2022: Approved appointment and reappointment of members of the CCPC, and
authorized the Director of HSD to sign the required certification.
10-26-2021: Approved appointment of members of the CCPC.
04-20-2021: Approved appointment of members to the CCPC.
Fiscal Summary
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
N/A
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
1. Child Care Planning Council of Sonoma County Membership List
2. Local Planning Council Membership Certification Form
3. Child Care Planning Council of Sonoma County By-Laws
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None