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131 <br /> <br /> Dr. Gleason asked Council to approve the vision of the goal to provide care for children <br />in the community, and to incorporate the recommendations in welfare reform planning. <br /> <br /> Ms. Daugherty noted that the welfare advisory committee of the Thomas Jefferson <br />Planning District Commission has asked Dr. Gleason to attend a meeting in order to <br />coordinate efforts regarding welfare reform. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Ms. Richards, Dr. Gleason said that the proposed Child <br />Care Council could bring together differem components of the community, especially the <br />business community, to develop new initiatives to pay for child care. Dr. Gleason suggested <br />that such a Council could be a subcommittee of the welfare reform committee. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox asked if human service agencies are cun-ently responding to the goals of the <br />report, and Dr. Gleason replied that Children, Youth, and Family Services does a number of <br />the things listed, but the needs are greater than what is currently funded. It was pointed out <br />that the United Way Scholarship Program also responds to the goals by providing direct <br />services for child care. <br /> <br /> Ms. Daugherty suggested that the CACY Commission could be asked to work more on <br />coordinating such efforts, as well as the CPMT which currently coordinates child-serving <br />agencies. <br /> Dr~ Gleason said the CACY Commission's primary function is to identify initiatives, and <br />he did not see CACY taking on such a permanent role. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox asked if there are compatible agencies that could be merged to be more <br />efficient, and expressed fear that another level of bureaucracy would be created if the Child <br />Care Council is established. <br /> <br /> Dr. Gleason said that whatever structure is developed for welfare reform could do the <br />necessary coordination. <br /> <br /> Ms. Cindy Stratton, a member of the CACY Commission and operator of Barrett Day <br />Care Center, said that while there are a number of initiatives active in the community, early <br />childhood initiatives are limited. Ms. Stratton said that CACY and CPMT could be brought <br />together to try to meet the needs of all children and families. <br /> <br /> Mr~ Cox said that it appears that the real problem of child care is the lack of resources <br />fbr those in needs, and recommended that efforts be focused on trying to leverage more <br />funding. <br /> <br />Mr. Coles said that coordination is also needed in addition to funding. <br /> <br /> Ms. Richards said she supports the idea of a Child Care Council, noting that she feels <br />there is a need for more than coordinating existing resources. <br /> <br /> Mr. Toscano expressed concern about establishing another bureaucracy, and suggested <br />that consideration be given to charging Children, Youth, and Family Services with doing a <br />better job of seeing that providers are good, and charging CACY with taking on the <br />initiatives. Mr. Toscano suggested that one solution would be to provide additional funding <br />for United Way Child Care Scholarships. <br /> <br />Ms. Stratton said that CACY is not able to take on the initiative due to limited staff <br /> <br />Ms. Slaughter suggested that Council discuss the issue further at its September retreat. <br /> <br />STAFF REPORT: RIDGE STREET NEIGHBORHOOD TASK FORCE CHARGE <br /> <br /> Mr. Satyendra Huja, Director of Community Development, explained that a report on <br />Ridge Street was completed in April, but the Ridge Street residents did not feel the study was <br />complete. Establishment of a Task Force is recommended to be charge with the following: <br /> <br /> <br />