Mission Statement
To mobilize public and private
resources and encourage partnerships to meet the child care and development
needs of the children, families, and child care providers of Orange County.
Vision Statement
All children in Orange County
will have access to quality child care and development services.
History and Background
Local child care planning councils were initially funded by the federal government 30 years ago.
• The United States Congress established the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) in October 1991
• CCDBG allocated funds to each state to assist low income families to obtain child care and development services
• California developed a State Plan that specified local community input on how CCDBG
funds should be spent
• Assembly Bill (AB) 2141, authored by then California Assemblywoman Jackie Speier, established local child care and development planning councils in each county, to identify priorities for CCDBG funds based on families’ needs
• In 1997, AB 1542 established the state’s welfare reform system, CalWORKs (California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids)
• AB 1542 revised the membership and responsibility of the LPCs and established the joint authority of the County Superintendent of Schools and the County Board of Supervisors to appoint members and govern the activity of the LPCs
• Each of the 58 counties in California has a local child care and development planning council
• The majority of LPCs are housed in county offices of education, but some are with county government or non-profit agencies
• Article 2 of Chapter 2.3 of the California Education Code lays out the purpose, membership, and responsibilities of LPCs
• Section 8499.3 (a) states: “It is the intent of the Legislature that local child care and development planning councils shall provide a forum for the identification of local priorities for child care and the development of policies to meet the needs identified within those priorities”
• That responsibility alone underscores the important role that LPCs play in each community, by bringing together all stakeholders to develop a plan to meet the needs of all children in the county
Accomplishments of the OC Council:2000
AB 212 - Child Care Staff Retention Program passed; money allocated to LPC
2007
One time funding augmenting monies to AB212 (Early Education Incentive Program) funding approved in Orange County
2015
LPC's awarded the California Kindergarten Incentive Stipend (CTKS) grant to provide stipends for Transitional Kindergarten and State Preschool Teachers
2019
Received Preschool Development Grant (PDG) funds to assist the California Department of education with a Birth through Five (PDG) Strategic Plan
2020
Orange County LPC awarded Workforce Pathways Grant and established the Orange County
Emergency Child Care Task Force to support providers during COVID-19
Council Leadership 2023-2024
Council Chair:
| Fritzi Gragg
|
Council Vice-Chair:
| Valerie Padilla
|
Council Second Vice-Chair:
| Traci Stubbler
|
Superintendent of Schools Liaison:
| Dr. Elida Garcia
|
Board of Supervisors Liaison:
| Misael Hernandez
|
LPC Coordinator:
| Melissa Wheelahan
|
LPC Admin:
| Erika Llamas
|
