BACKGROUND:
The Board approved receipt of funding from the California Department of Education for the 2014-15 funding allocation for alternative payment / CalWORKS Stage 2 childcare services on July 8, 2014 (C.65). This State program provides funding to reimburse a portion of the childcare costs incurred by CalWORKS Stage 2 participants through their participation in the CalWORKS program. The State routinely adds funds to the contract as more funding becomes available throughout the program year. On June 9, 2015 the Board approved receipt of additional funding in amendment #1 (C.67). The additional funding was due to the over earning of the 2014-15 Alternative Payment/CalWORKs Stage 2 contract.
The board approved a second amendment to this agreement on September 15, 2015 (C.47). The amendment was generated from the California Department of Education Attendance and Fiscal Reporting and Reimbursement Procedures for Child Development which states: “Contractors will be required to submit supporting documentation with their request. State will determine the Contractor’s appropriate need and will augment the maximum reimbursable amount (MRA) provided there is available funding. Contractors will receive notification from State of the augmentation amount, followed by a contract amendment to increase the MRA.” The department submitted the supporting documentation for funding augmentation to the State in July 2015. On August 24, 2015, the Department received contract amendment #2 from California Department of Education increasing the 2014-15 Alternative Payment/CalWORKs Stage 2 funding allocation by $182,388 which represented the full amount requested.
This amendment is for the additional funding due to the over earning of the 2014-15 Alternative Payment/CalWORKs Stage 2 contract. The State’s Attendance and Fiscal Reporting and Reimbursement Procedures for Child Development Contracts state that “Contractors will be required to submit supporting documentation with their request. Child Development Fiscal Services (CDFS) will determine the contractor’s appropriate need and will augment the Maximum reimbursable Amount (MRA) provided there is available funding. Contractors will receive notification from CDFS of the augmentation amount, followed by a contract amendment from the Contracts Office increasing the MRA. Contractors receiving an MRA augmentation should sign and return the amendment immediately so that it can be executed while the funds are available. Until the amendment is fully executed, the current MRA remains in effect.”
Community Services Bureau submitted the supporting documentation for funding augmentation to the State on July 2015. On July 22, 2016, the Department received contract amendment #3 from California Department of Education, increasing the 2014-15 Alternative Payment/CalWORKs Stage 2 funding allocation by $269,145 representing the full amount requested by the CSB. Without an approved board order, the Department will not receive the additional funds.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If not approved, County will not have funds to operate CalWORKS Stage 2 childcare program.
CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:
The Employment & Human Services Department Community Services Bureau supports three of Contra Costa County’s community outcomes - Outcome 1: “Children Ready for and Succeeding in School,” Outcome 3: “Families that are Economically Self-sufficient,” and, Outcome 4: “Families that are Safe, Stable, and Nurturing.” These outcomes are achieved by offering comprehensive services, including high quality early childhood education, nutrition, and health services to low-income children throughout Contra Costa County.