First 5 CommissionMeeting Materials September 18, 2024
FIRST 5 ALAMEDA COUNTY COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA
Wednesday, September 18, 2024 First 5 Alameda County 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM 1115 Atlantic Avenue Alameda, CA 94501
Members of the public may access the meeting Conference Rooms via Zoom Meeting ID: 864 8555 2522 Passcode: 116700
Commissioners:
Chair: Renee Herzfeld, Vice Chair: Cecilia Oregón, Clarissa Doutherd, Andrea Ford, Tomás A. Magaña M.D., Karina Moreno, Lena Tam, Josh Thurman, Kimi Watkins-Tartt
Alternates: George Ayala, Anissa Basoco-Villarreal, Serena Chen
1. Call to Order Commission Chairperson Renee Herzfeld will call this meeting to order at 3:30 PM.
2. Public Comment
This portion of the meeting is reserved for persons desiring to address the Commission on any matter not on the agenda. Speakers are limited to three minutes except as otherwise ordered by the Chairperson.
3. Receive Early Care and Education Landscape in Alameda County Presentation
4. Adjournment
Commission Special Meeting Agenda September 18, 2024
Information about access:
Please contact Julia Otani at julia.otani@first5alameda.org or (510) 227- 6987
Special Commission Meeting September 18, 2024
PURPOSE & INTENT OF FIRST 5
As outlined in section 130100 of the Proposition 10 statute:
(a) It is the intent of this act to facilitate the creation and implementation of an integrated, comprehensive, and collaborative system of information and services to enhance optimal early childhood development and to ensure that children are ready to enter school. This system should function as a network that promotes accessibility to all information and services from any entry point into the system.
It is further the intent of this act to emphasize local decision making, to provide for greater local flexibility in designing delivery systems, and to eliminate duplicate administrative systems.
NORTH STAR & ROLE IN SYSTEMS CHANGE
Our “North Star,” the population result that guides our work, is that all Children Are Ready for Kindergarten; our work is to ensure that policies, systems, communities, and schools support families and children by creating the conditions that position all for success.
THE IMPORTANCE OF ECE DATA
First 5 uses data to understand the needs and conditions around ECE in Alameda County…
…to build effective, high-quality programming based off findings
…to share with partners, parents, and policy makers to inform policy change
…and to shape, administer, and measure investments that improve the early childhood system.
MEASURE C MANDATES
Provide additional support for, and to expand access to, high quality child care, preschool, and early education services for low- and middle-income children and families in Alameda County;
Improve wages and compensation for participating child care providers and early educators who provide services under this Ordinance so that they can earn at least $15 per hour; and
Promote wellness, kindergarten readiness, and school success.
MEASURE C MANDATES: CCPEE MEASURE C REVENUE COLLECTION
● As of June 30, 2024, total Measure C revenue was $560.8M
○ 80% to the Child Care, Preschool, and Early Education Account ($448.7M)
○ 20% to the Pediatric Health Care Account ($112.1M)
● Annual revenue for the Child Care, Preschool, and Early Education Account is projected to be ~$154M
● According to the UC Berkeley Labor Center (2019), each dollar invested in ECE generates as much as $1.88 in increased economic activity.
UC Berkeley Labor Center (2019)
OUR LANDSCAPE: WHAT WE ARE LEARNING
DATA FRAGMENTATION: A CHALLENGE & OPPORTUNITY
• The complex fragmentation of Alameda County’s ECE system creates barriers to high quality, cohesive data collection.
• Measure C presents an opportunity to address some of these challenges.
“Factors predicting readiness are closely associated with socioeconomic conditions rooted in structural racism and classism and public disinvestment in neighborhoods”
COMMUNITY DATA & PRIORITIES
South Hayward Promise Neighborhood (2021)
• 625 residents replied to a survey about the impact of COVID.
• 32% of families reported child care needs prevented a member of the household from working or re-entering the workforce
• 61% reported that securing enough food was a need for their family
Parent Engagement Study: Informal Care in East Oakland (2017)
● 572 parents responded to a survey conducted by Parent Voices Oakland (PVO)
● The study found that families with the least stability are the most likely to have problems accessing child care.
● Most families used Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) care, especially Latino parents, parents who are students, and parents with nontraditional or unpredictable work hours.
● The top three concerns about child care highlighted the intersectionality of housing, enrollment challenges, transportation, and employment, with care
COMMUNITY DATA & PRIORITIES
City of Oakland Early Childhood Ecosystem Opportunities (2023)
Oakland Starting Smart and Strong (OSSS) identified priority areas to increase access and opportunities for all young children and families in Oakland.
• Supporting families with young children with housing resources
• Protecting and investing in family friendly community infrastructure
• Cultivating early childhood champions
• Strengthening early childhood funding streams, leveraging public/private partnership, and centering equity
Black Californians United for ECE Policy Plan (2024)
• Racial Wage Justice: Remove compensation gap + expand workforce development
• Whole Child Whole Family Whole Community Approach: Mixed delivery system with culturally affirming care, expanding access, language justice
• Strengthening Data Systems for Black Californians: inform policy, timely data reporting, dismantle the use of anti-Black language
• Reparations: support CA Task Force recommendations, advocate to prioritize ECE with the CA Legislative Black Caucus
LOCAL ECE STUDY FINDINGS
Examples of local data sources that inform our planning
Alameda County SEQUAL Report
Unmet Need for Child Care in Alameda County Report
Alameda County Early Care and Education Needs
STUDIES SPONSORED BY FIRST 5
To prepare for the administration of local ECE ballot funding
Alameda County Child Care Data Report (2021)
Alameda County Early Care and Education CalWORKs Apprenticeship Brief (2022)
Alameda County Early Care and Education Licensed Facilities Assessment (2022)
Alameda County Urban Unincorporated Areas Early Care and Education Needs Assessment (2024)
Measure C
Family + Provider Surveys (in process)
MEASURING KINDERGARTEN READINESS:
CONVERGING ON A COMMON TOOL
• Common countywide policy tool that measures how well systems support children
• Validated tool conducted in over 90 communities
• Implementation in School Year 2025-26 for every kindergarten student in Alameda County
• Supported by UCLA Center for Healthier Children and Communities, the national licensee of the tool
ALAMEDA COUNTY
Early Care and Education CONDITIONS
ACCESS
Expanding access to high quality child care and education is a major goal of Measure C.
ACCESS
Source: Alameda County Early Care and Education Planning Council (2021) Alameda County Early Care and Education Needs Assessment.
ACCESS
Children under 6 (2022)
According to 2022 American Community Survey, there are an estimated 110,000 children under the age of 6 who live in Alameda County
ACCESS
LICENSED CHILD CARE SITES (2021)
According to 2022 American Community Survey, an estimated 42,000 children under the age of 6 (~ 40%) live in families earning less than 85% of the state median income (approx. $95,000 for a family of four)
Compensation and workforce WORKFORCE & COMPENSATION
A stable workforce and competitive wages are crucial for ensuring access to high quality care and education.
75%
Alameda County
COMPENSATION IMPACT OF STRUCTURAL INEQUITIES
Sources:
childhood educators worry about paying monthly bills 1 54% Worry about food security 1
ECE educators in Alameda County identify as women 3 79% Of ECE educators in Alameda County identify as women of color 3
Earnings of Black women early childhood educators when compared to White early childhood educators nationally. 2
Earnings of Hispanic women early childhood educators when compared to White early childhood educators nationally. 2 76% 85%
1. Center for the Study of Child Care Employment. Alameda County SEQUAL Report. University of California, Berkeley, 2016.
$47,630
Mean Annual Wage for Childcare Worker in the Oakland-Hayward– Berkeley Metro Division4
$55,081
Mean Annual Wage for Preschool Teacher in the Oakland-Hayward– Berkeley Metro Division4
$111,799
Mean Annual Wage for Kindergarten Teacher in the Oakland-Hayward –Berkeley Metro Division4
2. Center for American Progress analysis of workforce survey data from NORC, National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE), [United States], 2019
3. California Early Care and Education (ECE) Workforce Registry. (October 2020). Note: Self-reported data for 2,348 people registered in the Alameda County Workforce Registry as of October 2020. The Workforce Registry only represents a subset of the ECE workforce as it is a voluntary database. The registry includes an overrepresentation of those working at child care centers and Title 5 programs compared to other child care program types.
4. Employment Development Department. “OES Employment and Wages: Quarter 1, 2024.” State of California, https://labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov/data/oesemployment-and-wages.html#DashB. Accessed 13 Sept. 2024.
ALAMEDA COUNTY ECE WORKFORCE
• Estimated 7,000 ECE educators at licensed sites and approximately 1,600 Family, Friend and Neighbor providers receiving a subsidy in Alameda County.
• Average of 2,000 early educator vacancies annually
• 40% of the workforce is over 50 years old
• In the Oakland Children's Initiative, we see a gap between enrollment and slots with OUSD and City of Oakland Head
Start operating at 73% capacity in part due to the lack of qualified teachers.
• Apprenticeship programs offer a promising strategy to grow our early educator workforce (estimated cost of $16,000$18,800 per participant).
facilities FACILITIES
Every child deserves to learn and grow in a high quality and safe space.
FACILITIES
• There are 500+ Licensed Centers, approximately 1,000 Family Child Care, and approximately 1,600 Family, Friend and Neighbor providers receiving a subsidy in Alameda County.
• Alameda County’s ECE infrastructure is on perilous footing, many sites lack the resources needed for basic maintenance, let alone improvements and expansion.
• Typical facilities needs include:
• HVAC/ventilation improvements
• Outdoor play spaces upkeep
• Mold and lead issues
• Security systems
FACILITIES: SIGNIFICANT NEED
• First 5’s 2022 facilities needs assessment study found that the facilities cost to build enough supply to meet demand for licensed child care in Alameda County is likely in the range
• of $2 billion to $4 billion.
• 61% of ECE sites had at least one urgent or inadequate property component
• 69% identified a lack of funding as a reason for not being able to expand
• 56% expressed interest in expanding if resources were available.
The study found that sites with existing access to capital, property ownership, and financial knowledge can leverage those resources to grow, expand, weather economic shocks, and pursue continuous quality improvement.
Source: First 5 Alameda's 2022 Facilities Needs Assessment
Sampling of Other Types of Investments
• TITLE SLIDE SAMPLING OF OTHER TYPES OF INVESTMENTS
SAMPLING OF OTHER INVESTMENTS
TO SUPPORT PRIORITY POPULATIONS
EXAMPLES from 2018 Measure A Program Plan (developed with community input and adopted by the Board of Supervisors)
• Targeted resources and family navigation for high-need families, e.g. families experiencing homelessness
• Expand and maintain quality in ECE settings
• Mental health supports
• Place-based grants
• Professional development and work supports for providers
STRATEGIES to meet intentions of Measure C priority for children who are:
• Five years and under
• Unhoused
• From historically underserved communities
• Have other high priority needs as designated in the plan
ADMINISTRATION: SYSTEM BUILDING
• TITLE SLIDE ADMINISTRATION: SYSTEM
BUILDING
ADMINISTERING MEASURE C
Administering Measure C
Based on the Measure C legislative mandates, First 5 is preparing to Administer in the following areas:
Program and Administrative Design
• Develop 5-year program plan
• Implementation plans with detailed policies and procedures
• Integration across systems and programs
• Create system efficiencies and streamline administrative processes
Data & Tech Infrastructure:
• Technology to create transparency, improve access, and ease administration
• Data collection processes, analysis, and tools
• MOU agreements for data sharing and partnership
• Evaluation of investments to measure impact and inform future 5-year plans
Coordination
• Governing bodies: First 5 Alameda Commission and Alameda County Board of Supervisors
• Ensuring input from the Community Advisory Council (CAC)
Financial Infrastructure
• Procurement practices, contracts, compliance and reporting
• Audits to ensure and report on compliance
• Financial modeling of program costs and revenue performance
• Leveraging of existing resources and local programmatic assets
Partnership
• Community and provider partnership, facilitated participatory practices and project management
• Communications to support engagement, learning and storytelling
SYSTEM ACCESS: TECHNOLOGY
• The fragmentation of the ECE landscape is difficult to navigate for consumers and administrators
• There are over 35 agencies in Alameda County that support state and federal subsidies, each with separate application and enrollment processes
• Measure C legislation includes the use of technology to provide transparency for families and to ease administration
DATA & EVALUATION
Specific data and evaluation requirements in the Measure C legislation include:
Data:
First 5, with input from the CAC, shall develop data collection strategies in the Plan. These strategies shall be designed to support Plan transparency, program evaluation, design and decision-making. Measure C mandates data collection on:
• Subsidies and slots
• Wages and Compensation
• Retention of early care and education staff
• Professional development opportunities
Evaluation:
During the implementation period of each Plan, First 5 must conduct an evaluation to determine the effectiveness of investments and to inform the next Plan.
ADMINISTRATION: SYSTEM BUILDING
LOOKING AHEAD
• TITLE SLIDE
ROLE OF THE COMMISSION
• Approve plan prior to going the Board of Supervisors
• Approve operationalizing the plan, e.g.:
o Contracts
o Audits
o Program Evaluation
• Stewardship of the system building vision that is Measure C, together with the Oakland Children’s Initiative (OCI), Pediatric Care Coordination, Neighborhoods Ready for School, and Parent Partnership
