History of the Santa Barbara County
Child Care Planning Council

The Council
Council Organization
Current Membership
Membership Information

Establishment of the Council

AB1542, Chapter 2-3 8499.3 and 8499.5 (Statutes of 1997) required the establishment of a Local Child Care Planning Council in every California county. Fortunately for children and families in Santa Barbara County, a similar body was already in place.

In 1991, the Council was convened to develop a local plan and priorities for distribution of the new Federal Child Care Block Grant Funds resulting from passage of the Federal Omnibus Budget Act in 1990. County Superintendent of Schools, William J. Cirone and the County Board of Supervisors, represented by Supervisor Diane Owens, supported the formation of the Council.

The Council was formally re-designated as the Local Child Care Planning Council by the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors and the Santa Barbara Superintendent of Schools on April 28, 1998.

Initially, financial support for Council activities was provided entirely by in-kind services by Council members. Although financial support from the California Department of Education/Child Development Division has increased substantially in recent years, Council activities are still strongly supported by in-kind services.

Council Activities

From the beginning, Council members have worked to coordinate and plan the delivery of early care and education services in Santa Barbara County. The Council serves as liaison between the State Department of Education, Child Development Division and the local community.

Child Care Planning Council members are advocates for accessible, and affordable, high quality early care and education throughout Santa Barbara County. In 1996 the Council prepared the Status Report—Child Care in Santa Barbara County with staff support and funding from the County Human Services Division. The report was designed to present the facts with regard to the current status of child care in the county and to encourage local action in support of quality child care.

In 1999, the Council completed a Needs Assessment of early care and education in Santa Barbara County and subsequently developed a 5-year strategic plan for early care and education for the entire county. Council members participate on Action Teams to support implementation of the Strategic Plan.

A $1.9 million, 3-year grant was received by the Council from the Santa Barbara County Children & Families Commission in July 2000, to initiate the Santa Barbara County Office of Early Care & Education. The Office furthers the goals of the Strategic Plan by focusing on increasing early care and education capacity, eliciting government and business support for early care and education and family-friendly policies, serving as a clearinghouse for early care and education information, and supporting program quality improvement for centers and family child care homes. In July 2004 the Office of Early Care & Education became a program of First 5, Santa Barbara but continues to work closely with the Council on the accomplishment of the goals of the Strategic Plan.

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