• Every county in California has a state mandated a Local Planning Council funded by the California Department of Education. The Santa Barbara County Child Care Planning Council operates under the authority of the County Board of Supervisors and the County Superintendent of Schools. The overarching responsibility of the Council is for planning and coordinating early care and education* services in Santa Barbara County. Specific responsibilities include establishing local priorities for state funded early care and education expansion, completing a needs assessment of early care and education every 5 years and developing a countywide strategic plan for early care and education.

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    • Is a 21 member organization representing diverse fields and backgrounds concerned with child care
    • Is state mandated and funded by the California Department of Education
    • Operates under the authority of the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors and the Santa Barbara County Education Office
    • Is responsible for planning and coordinating quality early care and education services in Santa Barbara County
    • Establishes local priorities for state funded early care and education expansion
    • Completed a countywide Needs Assessment of child care in 2015 and currently working on 2020
    • Developed the Santa Barbara County Strategic Plan for Early Care and Education 2010-2015
    • Founded the Santa Barbara County Office of Early Care and Education