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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZTA201300004 Legacy Document 2013-06-24 (3)Listening to the need. So-dss Working together for solutions. Albemarle County Department of Social Services 1600 511 Street, Suite A ! P.O. Box 297, Charlottesville, VA 22902 Phone:434- 972 -4010 I Fax: 434-972-4080 mmalbemarle.orgltlss Fivi-I r--ij, j`jJ J 1' r\ 11 T ) ' !J I`jJ To: Rebecca Ragsdale, Senior Planner Albemarle County Department of Community Development- Zoning Services From: Kathy Ralston, Director Albemarle County Department of Social Services Date: March 11, 2013 RE: Allowance for Family Day Home Use By -Right (no special permits) Ordinance Change My department is concerned about the ordinance change regarding Family Day Homes. We appreciate your willingness to meet with us to hear our concerns. This memorandum provides a summary of those concerns for your consideration. The Virginia Department of Social Services defines Family Day Homes as a child day program offered in the residence of the vendor or the home of any of the children in care for one through twelve children under the age of thirteen exclusive of the vendor's own children and any children who reside in the home, when at least one child receives care for compensation. Family day homes serving six through twelve children, exclusive of the vendor's own children and any children who reside in the home, shall be licensed. Licensing requirements include being in compliance with local zoning regulations and policy. Currently there are ten licensed family day home providers in Albemarle County serving six through twelve children. One of these providers currently receives public assistance in the form of the Supplemental Nutritional Assistant Program (SNAP) and one of these providers receives public assistance in the form of SNAP and Medicaid. By definition, eligibility for the SNAP program requires that an individual or family be at or below 130 % of federal poverty guidelines and eligibility for Medicaid requires an individual or family to be at or below 100 % of federal poverty guidelines. Four of the ten licensed providers are currently receiving Child Care Subsidy payments that allow for sixteen children to be served. For a child to be served through child care subsidy payments, the child's parent is either currently receiving TANF (Temporary Aid to Needy Families) or the parent is found to be income eligible, meaning the household income is at or below 160% of federal poverty guidelines. In the latter category one may be eligible for the subsidy and not receive it as the state only allots a certain amount each year for subsidy payment. p4 A, Fi L�RCiI�1P Hope, Respect, Opportunity, Self Determination The Albemarle County's application fee for a special use permit (required for more than six children), is $1,000 plus the cost of advertising. This represents a significant hardship \ potential financial barrier for citizens who want to provide this much needed service. Family day home operators provide the Albemarle Community with affordable, high quality, and flexible daycare. Licensed providers are required to complete at least twelve hours' of continuing education each year. Social Services believes this is an important measure in ensuring a high quality day care experience for each child. With the current zoning fee structure, family day home providers might find it more cost effective to reduce the number of children to five and become a voluntarily registered (VR) provider. While free training is offered to VR providers, our experience is most VR providers only complete the minimal required amount which is four hours a year. ACDSS wants to encourage policies that promote high quality day care in order to support the development of young children. Family Day Home providers have greater flexibility as to the hours they are available to provide care. Larger day care centers (those serving more than twelve children) primarily offer services for parents who work traditional hours of eight -five. Family day homes flexibility allows them to serve parents who work evening shifts \ four - midnight and overnight shifts \ midnight to eight a.m. If these providers cannot find the resources to pay the $1000 plus advertising fee they will either need to find another profession or reduce the number of slots for child care to less than six. Both of these outcomes make it more difficult for hardworking parents to find needed day care. If parents who must work in order to pay shelter, clothing and food expenses do not have high quality day care choices available to them, they will out of necessity make low quality choices. For fiscal year 2012 ACDSS responded to 399 reports of valid Child Protective Service referrals for physical neglect which includes inadequate supervision .2 This number reflects a steadily rising trend over the past three years as the FY2011 total was 341 and the FY2010 total was 315. The trend in FY 2013 is again towards a rise in the overall number of referrals over last year. The department is concerned that if the pool of quality day home providers is reduced, one unintended outcome will be a further rise in CPS referrals for physical neglect \inadequate supervision. It is essential that the impact of our public policy serves to promote the welfare and safety our children. ACDSS is grateful for the opportunity to join with our colleagues in Community Development to address this important concern. We view this collaborative effort as consistent with the guidance and direction provided by FY13 -17 Albemarle County Strategic Plan in Goal 5 where we are directed to ensure the health and safety of the community by working in conjunction with key community partners, and to establish multidisciplinary teams to address specific public health and /or safety issues, emerging trends and or vulnerable groups. Should you have any further questions please do not hesitate to call me. Thanks again for your consideration of how we believe this ordinance will negatively impact not just Family Day Home providers but the families they serve. 1 Currently the state is considering an increase in the continuing education requirements for licensed providers. 2 The data provided by the state through OASIS which tracks referrals does not currently allow for tracking just the number of complaints involving inadequate supervision.