Child Care Needs Assessment
2011 Update, Sonoma County Child Care Demand and Supply (pdf)
2011 Update, Santa Rosa Child Care Demand and Supply (pdf)
2009 Needs Assessment (pdf)
—Executive Summary (pdf)
—Summary Profiles by Community Area (pdf)
—Technical Appendices (pdf)
—Access Specific Sections of the 2009 Needs Assessment
2008 Needs Assessment Update (pdf)
2004 Needs Assessment (pdf)
The California Department of Education, Child Development Division, requires every county to develop a child care needs assessment for their jurisdictions. The Child Care Planning Council of Sonoma County has prepared this report not only to satisfy this requirement, but also to help inform child care policies and priorities based on the current status of child care in the County. Issues discussed in this report include:
- Current supply of licensed child care within Sonoma County
- Demand for child care by age for County residents
- Magnitude and location of gaps in child care supply
- Cost of child care for families
- Sources of child care subsidy assistance
- Estimates of the level of need for child care among special populations, such as children at risk of abuse or neglect, children with disabilities, and non-English speakers
- Availability of specific provider schedules and services
Child Care Plan
A Countywide Plan for Child Care and Development Services,
Sonoma County 2010-2015 (pdf)
—Executive Summary (pdf)
The countywide plan for child care and development services in Sonoma County for 2010-2015 outlines existing conditions in Sonoma County, identifies five goals and indicators of success, and recommends strategies. Below is a summary of the goals and indicators of success outlined in the Plan.
Goal 1: Child care and learning programs and the children and families they serve are valued by the community at large as vital to the overall quality of life of Sonoma County residents. Indicators of success: The community at large shows an increased interest and commitment to children, families and child care and development programs; Social and public policy in Sonoma County reflect the value of children as the future of Sonoma County; High quality child care and development programs are supported through increased funding and advocacy to meet the needs of families.
Goal 2: All families have access to high quality learning experiences and child care programs that address the cognitive, physical, emotional, and social development of each child. Indicators of success: All child care and development programs meet standards of high quality; There is an increase in capacity of high quality child care and development programs that include infant, on-site after-school, full-day preschool and subsidized child care; Families can access programs that meet their unique cultural, geographic, economic and special needs.
Goal 3: All child care and learning programs include integrated, comprehensive and coordinated services for children and families. These programs focus on the strengths of each individual family, and incorporate principles that respect and value culture and diversity. Indicators of success: Child care and development programs provide opportunities for family involvement on a consistent basis; Child care and development programs and family child care homes provide on-site access and referrals to health and mental health services to improve family access to services; School districts, child care and development programs, and other agencies collaborate to provide comprehensive services to children and their families.
Goal 4: The child care learning workforce are highly trained, valued as professionals, and fairly compensated for their work, including benefits commensurate with professionals in comparable fields. Indicators of success: There are increased teacher and provider training opportunities and participation; Wages and benefits are commensurate with similar professions, and are reflective of the regional economy.
Goal 5: Quality, affordable and accessible early care and education programs are considered a critical part of the infrastructure that sustains the economic growth and community development of Sonoma County. Indicators of success: Business leaders understand the relationship of child care and development to employment and economic sustainability as demonstrated by their advocacy, investments and support of work/family policies and benefits; Government and community planners understand the relationship of child care and education to housing, land use, transportation, and economic development, and include child care in all development and redevelopment plans.
Archive | 2005-2010 Child Care Plan
For the Children: A Comprehensive Plan for Child Care and
Learning Programs, Sonoma County 2005-2010 (pdf)
—Executive Summary, English (pdf)
—Executive Summary, Spanish (pdf)