SR-100-002 (13)
F:\HSD\SHARE\CD PROGRAM\Children, Teens and Family\Staff Reports\LNCBehind.doc
Meeting Date: September 10, 2002 Santa Monica, California
TO
: Mayor and City Council
FROM
: City Staff
SUBJECT
: Resolution Supporting the Act to Leave No Child Behind (S. 940/H.R.
1990) to Ensure Children a Head Start by Providing Access to Adequate
Child Care, Health Care, and Education.
INTRODUCTION
This report recommends the City of Santa Monica be recognized as a “Leave No Child
Behind” city through City Council’s adoption of a resolution supporting the Act to Leave
No Child Behind (S. 940/ H.R. 1990) to ensure children a head start by providing access
to adequate childcare, health care, and education.
BACKGROUND
In May 2001, the Act to Leave No Child Behind was introduced by Senator Christopher
Dodd and Representative George Miller as a comprehensive package incorporating
policies and programs proven to improve children’s lives. As of Spring 2002, the Act
had twelve co-sponsors in the U.S. Senate, and eighty-three co-sponsors in the House.
There are currently 307 state legislators, and seventy-nine U.S. mayors endorsing the
bill. In Los Angeles County, nine cities have supported it and are recognized as “Leave
No Child Behind” cities. The Act acknowledges that children live in families and
communities who need the capacity to support them. Among the provisions are those
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that address health care, childcare, poverty, gun safety, child abuse and neglect,
housing, nutrition, and school readiness.
DISCUSSION
Due to its comprehensive nature, the Act to Leave No Child Behind will serve as an
umbrella encompassing several smaller initiatives. Some of the smaller initiatives that
are currently being discussed are:
?
The TANF Reauthorization Act (H.R. 3113) amends and reauthorizes the
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program to improve TANF
and end child and family poverty by directing work efforts to permanent, sus-
tainable, high wage employment opportunities through education, training and
targeting high wage jobs.
?
The Child Development and Family Employment Act of 2002 (H.R. 3524) re-
forms the 10-year-old federal Child Care and Development Block Grant
(CCDBG) by authorizing an $18.5 billion expansion in mandatory funding for
CCDBG over five years as well as a $20 billion increase in discretionary
funds. The bill will assist low-income families to access safe, quality childcare,
expand access to after-school care and enrichment programs for school-age
children.
?
The Next Step in Reforming Welfare Act (H.R. 3625) reauthorizes and im-
proves the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program by
making poverty reduction the primary goal of TANF, by providing an inflation-
ary increase in the amount of the annual state block grant, and by making im-
provements to TANF-related programs.
?
The Family Opportunity Act of 2001 (S. 321) allows State Medicaid coverage
for children with severe disabilities, including mental illness, who do not qual-
ify for SSI benefits due to high family income.
?
State Farm Bill (S. 1731) includes $6.2 billion in additional funding for Food
Stamps over a 10 year period, enabling more low-income families with chil-
dren to receive benefits as well as restoring eligibility to legal immigrant chil-
dren and to immigrants who have worked at least 4 years in the US.
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FISCAL/BUDGETARY IMPACT
Staff recommendations in this report have no budgetary impact on the City of Santa
Monica. While it is not possible to quantify the impact of additional dollars directed to
family assistance, childcare, and related programs, any increase will benefit local
service agencies and low income families in Santa Monica.
RECOMMENDATION
This report recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution supporting the Act to
Leave No Child Behind (S. 940/ H.R. 1990) to ensure children a head start by providing
access to adequate childcare, health care, and education.
PREPARED BY: Barbara Stinchfield, Director, CCS
Julie Rusk, Human Services Manager
Tracy Scruggs, Human Services Supervisor
Julie Taren, Senior Administrative Analyst
Setareh Yavari, Administrative Analyst, Human Services
Community and Cultural Services Department
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RESOLUTION NUMBER __________________ (CCS)
(City Council Series)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA
SUPPORTING: 1) THE ACT TO LEAVE NO CHILD BEHIND (H.R. 1990) TO ENSURE CHIL-
DREN A HEAD START BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO ADEQUATE CHILD CARE, HEALTH
CARE, AND EDUCATION.
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Monica by supporting the Act will become an offi-
cial “Leave No Child Behind” city, and
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Monica is a Life Long Learning Community, and
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Monica supports a comprehensive range of human
services through various activities, policies and programs including the Community De-
velopment Grants Program, and
WHEREAS, the City alone cannot fund every needed program or services to
meet the community’s needs, and
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Monica has assessed community service needs
and priorities through the Community Voices: A Community Profile and Planning Project
(Community Voices) and
WHEREAS, one of the key goals established through Community Voices was to
establish and expand early childhood and family support programs that focus on the
healthy development of children from prenatal to five years of age, and on their par-
ents/caregivers, and
WHEREAS, priority needs and issues identified through Community Voices in-
cluded health care, mental health care, and child care services, and
WHEREAS, supporting measures to increase non-City funding of human service
programs including health care, mental health care, and child care services is an effec-
tive way to further support the goals set forth through Community Voices and the Com-
munity Development Grant Program.
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NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA
HEREBY RESOLVES THAT:
Section 1. The Santa Monica City Council supports 1) SENATE BILL
940/HOUSE RESOLUTION BILL 1990 to ensure children a head start by providing
access to adequate childcare, health care, and education.
Section 2. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution; and
thenceforth and thereafter the same shall be in full force and effect.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
______________________________
Marsha Jones Moutrie, City Attorney
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