About Us
About Yolo County Child Care Planning Council
Since 1998, the Yolo County Local Child Care Planning Council has provided critical support for both planning and implementation efforts to expand the availability of high quality child care for families in Yolo County. The Council prioritizes the following activities in alignment with state guidance:
- ADVISE the Yolo County Department of Social Services, the Yolo County Office of Education, the Yolo County Board of Supervisors, and the California Department of Education/Child Development Division on issues related to the planning and development of child care in Yolo County;
- FACILITATE community dialogue between public and private agencies to further collaborative efforts that expand availability of child care in the county;
- PROMOTE professional development, education and training of the Early Childhood Education workforce;
- ENGAGE community stakeholders in the development of a county-wide child care and development plan;
- CONDUCT a needs assessment at least once every five years to better understand the current child care needs in Yolo County and identify strategies to respond to these needs; and
- ENSURE the availability of high quality child care for participants of the CalWorks program.
Planning Council History
In 1991, a Federal Child Care and Development Block Grant funded the creation of county-level Child Care and Development Planning Councils across the State of California. Overseen by the California Department of Education/Child Development Division, these Councils provide a forum for counties to report to the state on each county’s individual needs while assisting families with childcare and development services. All 58 counties in the state have an active Council, with Councils overseen by the California Department of Education, Child Development Division. Planning Councils are constantly evolving to effectively serve the best interests of children and families to provide a unified integrated system of service for children and families (Education Code, Section 54744).
Investments in quality early childhood care and education have a significant impact on children along with economic and social benefits for communities, taxpayers, and businesses. A wide body of research has found that children enrolled in high quality early childhood education programs:
- Arrive at school ready to learn and with better developed social skills;
- Need fewer costly special education classes;
- Are more likely to graduate from high school and hold jobs; and
- Are at reduced risk for involvement in the juvenile justice system.
Source: Foundation for Child Development, “PK-3: What Is It and How Do We Know It Works?”, FCD Policy Brief No. Four, May 2006
MEMBERSHIP
The Council identifies local child care and development priorities, develops policies to meet identified needs. Learn more about our membership, and recommends local priorities
OUR MISSION
The mission of the Yolo County Child Care Planning Council is to promote the professional growth of the child care workforce and to support the development of quality child care programs.
OUR GOALS
The Yolo County Child Care Planning Council, in partnership with public and private entities, works to improve child care and early education opportunities in pursuit of the following goals:
- ASSESS the County’s overall child care needs once every five years.
- PREPARE countywide child care plan to mobilize public & private resources.
- PROMOTE access to quality child care and development services.
- COLLABORATE with community organizations & government agencies to provide families the best possible child care options.
- DEVELOP priorities for allocation of federal child care grant funds.
- SUPPORT training and professional development of child care providers.
Covid-19 Information
During the COVID-19 pandemic the Yolo County Local Childcare Planning Council (LPC) joined forces with the Yolo County Office of Education, First 5 Yolo and the Children’s Home Society. Through this collaboration they were able to contact and deliver masks, hand sanitizer, hand soap, gloves, diapers, cleaning supplies and educational materials to over 150 childcare providers in Yolo County. Ongoing contact with these providers through weekly calls and health and safety information offered much needed support during the COVID-19 pandemic. The LPC acknowledges the continued hard work, dedication, and commitment of these providers to the children and families of Yolo County.