Local Child Care Planning Council
Local Child Care Planning Councils (LPCs) play a crucial role in assessing, planning, and coordinating child care and early education services at the county level in California. Here's an overview of their key functions and responsibilities:
Primary Mission
The primary mission of LPCs is to plan for child care and development services based on the needs of families in the local community. They serve as a forum to address child care needs for all families, covering both subsidized and non-subsidized care.
Key Responsibilities
- Needs Assessment: LPCs conduct assessments of child care needs in their county at least once every five years. This helps identify gaps and priorities in local child care services.
- Priority Setting: By May 30th each year, LPCs submit local priorities that reflect all child care needs in the county to state agencies.
- Collaboration: LPCs collaborate with community organizations, government agencies, and other stakeholders to provide families with the best possible child care options.
- Resource Mobilization: They prepare countywide child care plans to mobilize public and private resources.
- Information Dissemination: LPCs promote services by providing information to families on accessing quality child care and development services.
Composition and Structure
LPCs are composed of diverse stakeholders, including:
- Parents
- Child care professionals (home-based, center-based, private, state-funded, and non-profit)
- Public agency representatives
- Community agencies
- Other community experts representing special populations
Most LPCs are housed in county offices of education, though some are within county government or administered by non-profit agencies.
Policy and Planning Role
LPCs play a significant role in local policy development and planning:
- They develop local priorities for allocation of state and federal child care funds.
- LPCs can influence zoning and land use decisions to support child care provision.
- They may work on policy proposals and recommend priorities for child care and child development services.
By fulfilling these responsibilities, Local Child Care Planning Councils help ensure that child care and early education services are tailored to meet the specific needs of families in their communities.
