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The mission of the Child Care Planning Council (CCPC) is to advocate, advise and plan for quality, accessible and affordable child care services in Sonoma County.
Upcoming Event
On April 30, the Child Care Planning Council of Sonoma County will host Building for the Future: Our Children, Our Community, a community-wide discussion and collaboration regarding the child care and development needs of Sonoma County children, families, and businesses. Your participation in this event will contribute to the development of the 2010-15 comprehensive plan for Sonoma County child care and development. Register now!
CCPC Purpose
The Council was established in 1991 in accordance with state law Assembly Bill 2141 to provide a forum for the identification of local priorities for child care and to develop policies to meet the needs identified within these priorities. Increased funding and expanded mandates were awarded in 1998 during the implementation of CalWORKS and Assembly Bill 1542. These mandates include:
- Conducting a local child care needs assessment
- Submitting a countywide comprehensive child care plan to the County Superintendent of Schools, County Board of Supervisors, and State Department of Education
- Establishing local priorities for child care funding, according to State policy and guidance
- Enhancing collaboration and partnerships in the child care community to meet local needs
- Linking part-day programs to provide full-day care
The Child Care Planning Council is sanctioned by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors and Sonoma County Superintendent of Schools, and is governed by State mandates, Council by-laws (pdf), and the Brown Act. CCPC endeavors to convene all those concerned with child care issues in community forums and meetings in order to improve and sustain valuable, quality child care programs and opportunities for families.
2009-2012 Strategic Plan
In September 2009, the Child Care Planning Council developed a three-year Strategic Plan, 2009-2012 (pdf) that identifies three priority areas for Council focus: leadership, advocacy, and diversity.
Child Care Needs Assessment
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. Learn more …
Child Care Plan
The Comprehensive Countywide Child Care Plan outlines existing conditions in Sonoma County, identifies five goals, notes desired outcomes, recommends strategies, and identifies potential partners. Learn more …
Quality Child Care
As a community, we care that when our children are away from their families, they are cared for in environments and programs that meet a high level of quality. The goal of this document is to provide guidance about what constitutes quality child care and to further our ongoing community effort ensuring that all children in Sonoma County are cared for in high-quality settings. Learn more …
Culturally Responsive Early Care and Education
The CCPC has engaged in focused efforts to support diverse local engagement, dialogue, and leadership. The CCPC also recognizes that teachers and providers need resources to support and encourage diversity in their program curricula. It is our hope that Sonoma County early care and education teachers and providers will find these documents helpful in their work. Learn more …
Sonoma CARES Program
Administered by the Child Care Planning Council of Sonoma County, the Sonoma CARES program rewards and encourages continued professional development by providing $50 to $2,500 stipends to qualified individuals working in early care and education programs. Learn more …