Committee on Family, Health and Human Services Minutes
April 10, 2007
Committee Members In Attendance: Judy Myers, Chair, William Burton, Kenneth Jenkins, Ursula LaMotte and Marty Rogowsky.
In Attendance: CEO: Bill Randolph. DSS: John Befus, Katherine Waluschka. BOL: Neal Rentz and Chris Crane. Guests: Matt Shelley, Greyston Foundation, Mary Lou Sgro, WCC, Louise Stoney, Alliance for EC Finance, Greg Chartier, Business Council of Westchester, Kathy Halas and Libbie Poppick, Child Care Council, Polly Pearce, The Country children’s Center, Catherine Marsh, Westchester Community FDU, Barbara Strauss, CBAC, David Raynor, Leviticus Fund, Anne Janiack, WEDC, Janet Benton, Frog Rock Foundation, Jason Chapin, Small Business Development Center, Gretchen Reison, Frog Rock Foundation, Russell Ross, United Way Westchester Putnam.
Items Discussed: The Westchester County 2006 Child Care Utilization Study
Minutes
Chairwoman Myers called the meeting to order at 10:42 a.m.
Elaine Tathum and Carol Scott from the ETC Institute and LC Associates gave a presentation on the Westchester County 2006 Child Care Utilization Study which was conducted by both firms, to the Committee and Members of the Child Care Council of Westchester.
Kathy Halas, Executive Director of the Child Care Council, participated in the discussion with the Committee and the presenters.
The presentation and the study outlined the existing problem of empty child care slots, the reasons for these vacancies as determined by the study, and the recommendations the Institute makes to rectify the situation.
The study consists of three categories of recommendations: paradigm shifts, long-term solutions, and short-term programmatic changes. The paradigm shifts will have to consist of a reevaluation of the role of the Child Care Council, Social Services being more creative, and changes by the child care business owners and the child care industry as a whole. The long-term solutions recommendations are to create a public and private provider partnership. The short-term programmatic change suggestions are to have DSS set their subsidy reimbursement rates to be consistent with the county patterns, for DSS to improve their customer service, for DSS to streamline their application process, and for child care programs to respond more effectively to the current market.
A copy of all distributed materials is on file and available for review.
Moved by Legislator Rogowsky and seconded by Legislator Jenkins the Committee on Families, Health and Human Services adjourned at 11:50 a.m.
A complete audio recording of the meeting is available for review upon request.
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