10/22/1991 - Laserfiche WebLink

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ou 2 1991 PUUK,'y E�J organization and are the largest non-profit provider of child ca.re in the United States serving 5800 children in the State of Florida alone. They have various funding sources. In Indian River County they work with migrant Headstart, the school system through their pre -kindergarten early intervention funds, and migrant education funds through the school system. In addition, they have a state-wide contract to administer Title XX services for children of migrant and low income families. Most of the Graves Bros. employees' children would qualify for Title XX funds because they are children of migrant families. Only if the proposed facility is not filled with children from qualified migrant families would it be opened.to other children. This facility would be serving children from six weeks to five years old, or about 58 children Commissioner Scurlock understood that the projected costs for subsidizing child care centers for low-income families will exceed the rates charged by private child care centers. Ms. Shannon advised that the present cost per child per day is $11.75, but the projected market rate for Indian River County is expected to increase to $14.00 a day. . Commissioner Eggert felt everyone agrees there is no question about the need for child care centers for low income families, but stressed that there is no ability for the Board to amend the LDRs today because that process is quite lengthy, requiring two public hearings, etc. Commissioner Wheeler agreed that there is no question of the need, but believed there is a question about who creates the need. He felt the citrus industry should address this and try to fill that need, but Mr. Graves maintained that it isn't just agriculture that generates the need for affordable child care centers. Basically, this county's economy revolves around agriculture and service, and citrus workers' wages are hardly less than those paid by shopkeepers in this town whose workers cannot afford private child care either. Mr. Graves emphasized that while the proposed facility would benefit Graves Brothers, it would help fill the need for affordable child care centers. If this request is denied, Graves Bros. won't be impacted very much. They probably will rent the house because he has had many, many requests from people who want to rent. Chairman Bird inquired about the proposed voucher system, and Director Keating advised that the Indian River County Child Care Association has indicated that a federal child care "voucher system" will be in effect soon. The voucher system apparently will allow low income households to seek child care in any child 42