COUNCIL COMMUNICATION
TO: Honorable Mayor and Council
FROM: Vijette Saari, Grants Coordinator
SUBJECT:Title
Adopt Resolution No. 24-3764 for Submission of a Grant Application to the Department of Health and Human Services for Access to Infant and Toddler Care and Education: Research and Evaluation to Address Key Research and Evaluation Questions Related to the Care and Education of Infants and Toddlers at the National, State and Local Level (Vijette Saari)
Body
FUNDING SOURCE:
The proposed research project will cost $300,000 per contract term (18-month each) for a total award of $600,000 over 36 months.
PURPOSE:
The grants provide funding to address research and evaluation as to the feasibility of providing the community with the framework for pursuing child-care opportunities through public private partnerships. This framework will provide a model system intended to improve quality of life for our citizens as well as to achieve workforce stability for community employers.
BACKGROUND:
In January 2024, the Supervisor Excellence Academy conducted a strategic analysis intended to identify opportunities and threats facing the City. Workforce recruitment and retention were both identified as issues facing not only Lake Havasu City, but other employers in the community as well. The lack of childcare options was highlighted as a threat to attracting employees to the city and retaining them once they are hired.
In May 2024, First Things First conducted several town hall sessions to discuss the childcare crisis that exists in Mohave County. Most recent census data shows that Lake Havasu City has approximately 2,168 children from newborn to four years old. A search of licensed childcare centers found that there are only seven licensed childcare centers and one homebased provider to service Lake Havasu City residents. Of those, only one center will accept infants starting at three months old, five centers and one home will accept infants at one year old, one center will accept toddlers who are two years old and walking and one center will accept children over the age of 2.5 years old. This equates to 403 childcare openings of which only five are dedicated to infants from three to 12 months.
This lack of access to childcare impacts Lake Havasu City families and their employers. In October 2022, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 104,000 Americans missed work because of problems finding childcare. A U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Survey reports that absences and employee turnover cost Arizona employers an estimated $1.42 billion per year.
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
The Access to Infant and Toddler Care and Education: Research and Evaluation grant will provide Lake Havasu City a framework to pursue child-care opportunities through public-private partnerships to achieve workforce stability. The Infant and Toddler Care and Education: Research and Evaluation research project will determine the Lake Havasu City childcare needs, feasibility study, identifying policy and potential funding opportunities including those pertaining to employee benefits, as well as a business plan for outlining the opportunities to expand childcare within Lake Havasu City.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No match is required.
ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution No. 24-3764
Letter of Intent to Apply for Grant
SUGGESTED MOTION:Recommended Action
I move to adopt Resolution No. 24-3764 approving the submittal of an Access to Infant and Toddler Care and Education: Research and Evaluation Grant Application to the Department of Health and Human Services; and authorize the City Manager to execute the grant agreement, deliver all documents necessary to carry out the terms and intent of the grant, and take all steps necessary to implement and complete the activities funded and required by the grant, subject to the necessary review and approval by the City Attorney.