Explanation
This ordinance authorizes the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with the YWCA Columbus, a registered trade name of The Young Women's Christian Association, a non-profit corporation, as operational funding in support of the Safe & Sound childcare program.
The Safe & Sound childcare program at the YWCA Family Center has provided safe, high-quality childcare to some of the community’s most vulnerable children for nearly twenty years. The programming operates at the highest Step-Up-to-Quality star rating, which is the result of small classroom ratios, numerous teacher certifications, and thorough performance measurements. Staff are specially trained with trauma-informed, social-emotional based practices so they can better serve children who may come with a wide range of negative social determinants.
Like so many other childcare providers across the country, the YWCA has had to adjust to highly competitive wages to recruit and retain high caliber staff members - especially those with training in trauma-informed care. Because of specific classroom ratio requirements, staffing shortages lead to difficult decisions, such as turning away children and shrinking classroom sizes at a time that need has intensified. To avoid those situations, the YWCA Columbus is focused on the kind of staff supports that can decrease turnover, such as good healthcare benefits, childcare benefits, and a minimum $20-per-hour wage. This grant funding will allow the YWCA Columbus to offer workers at the childcare program a competitive wage and provide for a more sustainable program.
Fiscal Impact: Funding is available within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund.
Title
To authorize the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with the YWCA Columbus in support of the Safe & Sound childcare program; and to authorize an appropriation and expenditure within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund. ($250,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Safe & Sound childcare program at the YWCA F...
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