THE RESOURCE CONNECTION OF AMADOR AND CALAVERAS COUNTIES INC

THE RESOURCE CONNECTION CHILD CARE RESOURCE AND REFERRAL (CCR&R) PROGRAM ASSISTS PARENTS IN MAKING CHILDCARE DECISIONS THAT BEST MEET THEIR FAMILY AND CHILDREN'S INDIVIDUAL NEEDS. PARENTS RECEIVE FREE REFERRALS TO LICENSED CHILDCARE HOMES AND CENTERS IN AMADOR AND CALAVERAS COUNTIES. THE CCR&R WORKS TO BUILD AND SUPPORT THE DELIVERY OF HIGH-QUALITY CHILD-CARE SERVICES IN DIVERSE SETTINGS THROUGHOUT THE SERVICE AREA BY PROVIDING COMMUNITY EDUCATION, CHILDCARE PROVIDER RECRUITMENT, TRAINING, AND SUPPORT FOR NEW AND EXISTING CHILDCARE PROGRAMS. TO HELP PARENTS AFFORD THE HIGH COST OF CHILDCARE THE ALTERNATIVE PAYMENT PROGRAM PROVIDES VOUCHERS TO INCOME-ELIGIBLE PARENTS WITH A QUALIFYING NEED AT THE TYPE OF CHILDCARE ARRANGEMENT THAT BEST SUITS THEIR NEEDS. WE ADMINISTER THE CALIFORNIA ALTERNATIVE PAYMENT PROGRAM, EMERGENCY BRIDGE, AND CALWORKS CHILD CARE PROGRAMS, WHICH ARE FUNDED BY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES. THIS PAST YEAR, THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CHANGE WAS THE ADDITION OF A NEW SUBSIDY PROGRAM, EMERGENCY BRIDGE, WHICH HELPS SUPPORT RESOURCE FAMILIES CARING FOR FOSTER CHILDREN IN AMADOR AND CALAVERAS COUNTIES. THE CCR&R HAS PROVIDED ADVOCACY AND INFORMATION ON ISSUES AFFECTING FAMILIES, CHILD DEVELOPMENT, AND CHILD CARE FOR OVER 45 YEARS. THE PROGRAM PROMOTES COMMUNITY AWARENESS, SUPPORTS POLICY AND PLANNING, AND PARTICIPATES IN COLLABORATIONS AND COMMUNITY EVENTS RELATED TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. ADDITIONALLY, THE PROGRAM PROVIDES INFORMATION AND REFERRALS TO SUPPORT FAMILY STRENGTHENING AND ENGAGEMENT, SUCH AS PARENT EDUCATION, CHILD DEVELOPMENT, HEALTH AND NUTRITION, HOUSING, LEGAL ASSISTANCE, AND CHILD-PARENT ACTIVITIES. THROUGH THE SUBSIDY PROGRAMS, THE AGENCY SERVED 1,112 CHILDREN AND 576 FAMILIES IN THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2025. FURTHERMORE, MORE THAN 460 HOURS OF GRANDPARENT RESPITE CARE WAS PAID FOR THROUGH A GRANT IN AMADOR COUNTY. STAFF CALCULATED 8,611 PROVIDER PAYMENTS, AND TRC PAID OVER $5.8 MILLION IN CHILDCARE SUBSIDIES. IN THE RESOURCE AND REFERRAL PROGRAM LAST FISCAL YEAR, WE ASSISTED FAMILIES WITH 1,368 CHILDCARE REFERRALS FOR 1,954 CHILDREN. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, TRAINING, AND REFERRALS WERE AVAILABLE TO 33 CHILDCARE CENTERS, 49 FAMILY CHILDCARE HOMES, 12 LICENSE-EXEMPT CENTERS, AND 172 FAMILY, FRIEND, AND NEIGHBOR LICENSE-EXEMPT PROVIDERS. OUR PROGRAM OFFERED 70 HOURS OF PROFESSIONAL GROWTH TRAINING TO CHILDCARE BUSINESS OWNERS AND STAFF, INCLUDING HOME STUDIES. STAFF ASSISTED SEVEN NEW FAMILY CHILDCARE PROVIDERS IN GETTING THEIR LICENSE AND BUSINESS OPERATING AND TWO FAMILY CHILDCARE PROVIDERS TRANSITIONING FROM SMALL TO LARGE CAPACITY. THE PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDED INFORMATION, COMMUNITY RESOURCES, AND REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS, FAMILIES, PARTNER AGENCIES, AND EARLY LEARNING PROVIDERS.

EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS -THE RESOURCE CONNECTION EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS OFFERS A VARIETY OF COMPREHENSIVE EARLY EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN BIRTH TO AGE 5. THESE PROGRAMS PRIMARILY SERVE FAMILIES LIVING AT OR BELOW THE FEDERAL POVERTY LINE AND/OR HAVE A QUALIFYING NEED. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE EARLY HEAD START CENTER-BASED PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN 3 MONTHS TO 3 YEARS OF AGE, AND HEAD START CENTER-BASED PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN AGE 3 TO 5 YEARS OLD, AND A LOCALLY DESIGNED HOME-VISITING PROGRAM SERVING PRENATAL MOMS TO CHILDREN 3 YEARS OF AGE. THE FOCUS IN ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS IS ON THE ""WHOLE CHILD"" WHILE ENGAGING THEIR FAMILIES AS WELL. THE RESOURCE CONNECTION OFFERS PART YEAR AND FULL YEAR OPTIONS. HEAD START PROVIDES CENTER-BASED SERVICES TO 115 PRESCHOOL AGED CHILDREN (3-5 YEARS OLD) THAT WERE ENROLLED, DROPPED OR COMPLETED THE PROGRAM FROM JULY 1 2024 THROUGH JUNE 30 2025. EARLY HEAD START PROVIDES INFANT/TODDLER SERVICES THROUGH CENTER-BASED, AND HOME VISITING. EARLY HEAD START CENTER-BASED SERVED 52 CHILDREN AND EARLY HEAD START HOME BASE SERVED 46 CHILDREN THAT WERE ENROLLED, DROPPED OR COMPLETED FROM JULY 1 2024 THROUGH JUNE 30 2025.