About Us
Our Mission
The mission of the Contra Costa County Local Planning Council for Childcare and Development is to promote quality childcare through community assessment, advocacy, resource development, and collaboration with other organizations.
History of LPC
In October 1991, the United States Congress established a federal Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) through which each state was allocated funds to assist low-income families in obtaining child care and development services.
Subsequently, California developed a State Plan which specified that local communities should have a voice in the appropriation and allocation of CCDBG funds. In the same year, AB 2141 authored by Assemblywoman Jackie Speier was passed which requested each county to establish a Local Child Care and Development Planning Council (LPC) to identify priorities for CCDBG funds based on the needs of families. In 1997, AB 1542 was passed establishing welfare reform legislation (CalWORKS) revising the membership and responsibilities of local planning councils and establishing the County Board of Education and the County Board of Supervisors as the governing and appointing bodies of the Council. There are currently 58 individual planning councils representing each county in California. As council members are appointed by public agencies, the councils are required to conduct business in accordance with The Brown Act.
The primary mission of the LPCs is to plan for child care and development services based on the needs of families in the local community. Through collaborative efforts with other individuals and organizations interested in the welfare of families, LPCs should also support the existing child care infrastructure by coordinating services that are locally available. As a result of planning, collaboration, and support for the child care systems that currently exist, the LPCs plan and determine local priorities for new state and federal funds. In order to be fully effective, councils are highly encouraged to strengthen the partnerships with both public and private organizations in each county. By forming strong community partnerships, each group involved becomes empowered to share their ideas and concerns during the local planning process.
Although the new language on governing local child care planning councils is found in the welfare reform legislation, the purpose and scope of the LPC goes beyond child care programs funded by the federal block grant. LPCs are intended to serve as a forum to address the child care needs of all families in the community and all child care programs - including both subsidized and non-subsidized child care.
Legislative History
1990 - Child Care and Development Block Grant established LPCs to set priorities for subsidized child care and develop funds.
1991 - State match legislation established LPCs (AB 2141).
1997 - Provided funding for LPCs (AB 1542).
1998 – Established policy and procedural changes to assure new funds are targeted to un-served and underserved regions in the state (AB 1857).
1999 – Child care staff retention initiative (AB 212) was established to reduce turnover rates of state subsidized, center-based programs employees.
2000 - LPC’s included in Federal Quality Improvement Funds allowing for full time staff in each county.
2000 - $12.6 million allocated to LPCs or Resource and Referral Agencies on a one-time basis for child care and development services provided to children with disabilities in private settings (SB 1703).
2002 - Strengthened LPC Mandates regarding data collection and council membership (AB 2311).
LPC Board Members
The council consists of twenty-five volunteers appointed jointly by the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors and the Superintendent of Schools. Council members equally represent the following categories:
- Child Care Providers
- Child Care Consumers
- Public Agency Representatives
- Community Representatives
- Discretionary appointments
For more information, contact the Local Planning Council Coordinator at 925-942-3413.
Guiding Documents
- Guiding Principles for Universal Preschool in
Contra Costa County (PDF) - Profile
of Child Care Needs in
Contra Costa County 2006-2015 (opens new page) - LPC Bylaws (PDF)
- LPC Early Education Plan (PDF)
- LPC Strategic Plan (PDF)
LPC Goals
The Local Child Care Planning Council (LPC), in partnership with public and private entities, works to improve child care and early education opportunities in Contra Costa County.
Our goals are to:
- ASSESS the County’s overall child care needs once every five years
- SUPPORT training and professional development of child care educators
- DEVELOP priorities for allocation of federal Child Care Grant funds
- COLLABORATE with community organizations & government agencies to provide families the best possible child care
- PREPARE countywide child care plan to mobilize public & private resources
- PROMOTE access to quality child care and development services
