Childcare Grant Opportunity Through Care Constellation Open CallCity of Dubuque
City Council Meeting
Consent Items # 7.
Copyrighted
July 6, 2021
ITEM TITLE: Childcare Grant Opportunity Through Care Constellation Open Call
SUMMARY: City Manager recommending support of a grant application to the Care
Constellation on the issue of childcare submitted on behalf of a local
childcare coalition.
SUGGESTED Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Approve
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
Childcare Grant Opportunity-MVM Memo
Staff Memo
Online Submission
Grant Narrative
Type
City Manager Memo
Staff Memo
Supporting Documentation
Supporting Documentation
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TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Childcare Grant Opportunity Through Care Constellation Open Call
DATE: June 23, 2021
Economic Development Director Jill Connors is transmitting information on an open call
for grant applications by the Care Constellation on the issue of childcare and a
Vision/Idea submitted on behalf of a local childcare coalition.
For several years, a local coalition of stakeholders has been meeting and strategizing
on how to provide access to more quality, affordable childcare in Dubuque. This
coalition includes City staff, Childcare Resource & Referral, Community Foundation of
Greater Dubuque, Dubuque County Early Childhood, Greater Dubuque Development
Corp., and Northeast Iowa Community College. The Iowa Women's Foundation has
also served in a convening and legislative advocacy capacity.
The coalition was recently made aware of a grant opportunity provided by Care
Constellation. This grant would provide $50,000 - $100,000 in grant funding and access
to thought partnership and support from other Care Constellation grantees, advisors we
select, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Program Officers, and designers at IDEO.org.
The basic tenet of the grant is to reimagine the childcare system from the ground up.
The local coalition is responding to the open call with a proposal to study and develop a
solution to the transportation barrier as it relates to quality childcare/early education for
children and as a barrier to quality employment for parents.\\
As a member of the coalition Economic Development Director Jill Connors is
recommending City support of the grant application.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval."
v
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Jill M. Connors, Economic Development Director
THE CITY OF
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TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Jill M. Connors, Economic Development Director
Economic Development
Department
1300 Main Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-4763
Office (563) 589-4393
TTY (563) 690-6678
http://www.cityofdubuque.org
SUBJECT: Childcare Grant Opportunity through Care Constellation Open Call
DATE: June 21, 2021
INTRODUCTION
This memorandum provides information on an open call for grant applications by the Care
Constellation on the issue of childcare and a Vision/Idea submitted on behalf of a local
childcare coalition and requests City support of the grant application.
BACKGROUND
For several years, a local coalition of stakeholders has been meeting and strategizing on
how to provide access to more quality, affordable childcare in Dubuque. This coalition
includes City Economic Development staff, Childcare Resource & Referral, Community
Foundation of Greater Dubuque, Dubuque County Early Childhood, Greater Dubuque
Development Corp., and Northeast Iowa Community College. The Iowa Women's
Foundation has also served in a convening and legislative advocacy capacity.
DISCUSSION
Our coalition was recently made aware of a grant opportunity provided by Care
Constellation. This grant would provide $50,000 - $100,000 in grant funding and access
to thought partnership and support from other Care Constellation grantees, advisors we
select, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Program Officers, and designers at IDEO.org.
The basic tenet of the grant is to reimagine the childcare system from the ground up.
IDEO.org and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation have joined together to form the
Care Constellation. Over the next year they will support a small -but -mighty set of
collaborators to develop, advance, and amplify alternative visions for our childcare
system. This Open Call is an invitation — to individuals, teams, organizations, companies,
cooperatives, communities, governments and more across the United States —to develop
visions of a childcare system in the United States that are anchored in amplifying what is
working for families, childcare providers, and children.
They encourage applicants to look beyond the challenges and constraints of today's
childcare system and dream up what should be. To come up with a picture of what
universal childcare in the United States would look like if we cared for every child, family,
and childcare provider in the way they deserve —and then to share how a one-time grant
will help play a role in developing, advancing, and amplifying our vision.
Our local coalition is responding to the open call with a proposal to study and develop a
solution to the transportation barrier as it relates to quality childcare/early education for
children and as a barrier to quality employment for parents.
A copy of our online submission and the grant narrative are attached.
Expected timeline in the process is submission of Vision/Idea by June 21, 2021;
evaluation of ideas by the Care Constellation team beginning June 23rd, Invitational
begins July 121" (preliminary conversations between Care Constellation team and
interesting proposals); Final Evaluation by August 7t', and winning Visions/Ideas to be
announced August 28t"
RECOMMENDATION/ ACTION STEP
I respectfully request Mayor and City Council support of this grant application. We look
forward to reporting back in the near future on the results of this application.
CC: Abigail Degenhardt — Executive Director, Dubuque County Early Childhood
Paul Duster — Director of Community Initiatives, Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque
David Lyons — Director of Sustainable Innovation, Greater Dubuque Development Corp.
Tara Roddick — Childcare Consultant Supervisor, Child Care Resource & Referral Northeast Iowa
Erin Powers -Daley — Director of Recruitment, Northeast Iowa Community College
2
THE CARE CONSTELLATION OPEN CALL
Let's re -imagine a childcare system that sustains and provides for all and
offer up visions and ideas to make that reality come true.
Poverty Reduction
and Better
Childcare/Education
through Flexible,
Equitable
Transportation
FOLLOW IDEA
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
CITY OF DUBUQUE
SUBMISSION DATE
June 18, 2021
OVERVIEW
QUESTIONS
Hello! Welcome to the Open Call. Who are you? And if you have a team, who's on it?
Hi! Jill Connors here. I'm the Economic Development Director for the City of Dubuque,
IOWA. Our coalition of partners includes:
• Jill Connors - Economic Development Director, City of Dubuque
• Abigail Degenhardt - Executive Director, Dubuque County Early Childhood
• Paul Duster - Director of Community Initiatives, Community Foundation of
Greater Dubuque
• David Lyons - Director of Sustainable Innovation, Greater Dubuque
Development Corp.
• Tara Roddick - Child Care Consultant Supervisor, Child Care Resource &
Referral of Northeast Iowa
• Erin Powers -Daley - Director of Recruitment, Northeast Iowa Community
College
What role(s) do you (as an individual or team) play in the childcare system?
• advocate
• organizer
• service provider
• policymaker
• other
If you selected 'Other', can you tell us more about how you see your role?
We also represent the community college which has begun to address the barrier of
childcare for their students, allowing parents an equal opportunity to upskill.
It's 2030—and every child, family, and care provider has something that works for
them. What is your Vision of this future?
Every parent is able to get their child(ren) to quality childcare, regardless of their income,
residential location, work location, or childcare center location. Providers are able to serve
children with their own resources, and when ready, the children can be transported to
other educational opportunities (preschool, activities).
Whose experiences inspire your Vision?
Our partners at Childcare Resource & Referral work every day with parents who cannot
find childcare to fit their families' needs. Much of it stems from a lack of transportation
options. These parents will be better able to provide for their families if they can hold
down good -paying job, which can only happen if their child is in quality care.
How does your Vision center children and families experiencing structural
discrimination?
The transportation issue particularly discriminates against our low-income and racial
minority residents (who live in a much higher rate of poverty in Dubuque). It is these very
families who need the networks and support of the community in order to help their
children succeed at the same level as our wealthier, more socially -networked residents.
Which of these common childcare system goals and/or pain points does your Vision
address forever for everyone?
• Care availability at days, times, and locations that work for families and
care providers
• Other (we'll ask you to tell us more elsewhere!)
If you selected 'Other', can you tell us more about which other pain points your
Vision addresses?
We will address access to care through a flexible transportation model.
What is your Idea? In other words, if you are selected as a winner, what do you want
to do over the next year with up to $100k in funding to bring your Vision for
universal childcare closer to being real in the United States?
Activities will include (1) a comprehensive feasibility study on the impact of
transit/transportation on childcare availability in the Dubuque region; (2) a community -
wide industry forum on public/private collaboration opportunities on childcare
transportation; and (3) a public/private demonstration project on innovative
transit/transportation capacity for children at risk of not receiving quality childcare (low-
income families, single -parent families, new -to -workforce families and children from
families with no active/authorized drivers.) Phases (1) and (2) will be completed within
the year and phase (3) will be in implementation stage by year end. The demonstration
project will test financial, human and physical infrastructure needs for a "best -interests -of -
the -child" centered transportation/transit system.
What mode are you (or you and your team) in with this Idea?
I'm (or we are) researching and developing
Where is your idea on a continuum of dreaming, researching, building,
strengthening, amplifying?
We've begun developing a list of other potential partners - some that are already in the
transportation space. Some that are providers/schools. Some that are employers looking
for a reliable workforce. We plan to start convening these stakeholders to flesh out what's
possible.
How will you center children and families moving forward?
The leading question in all of this is "what's best for the child". We know that whatever
solution is developed has to work for the children and families - not JUST providers and
employers. We have to "start at the beginning" - which is the child.
What are some of the strengths, assets, and conditions you're counting on to be
successful with this idea? What barriers have you encountered or do you anticipate?
How have you or will you overcome them?
On the plus side, we've been working as a coalition on the general issue of childcare for
several years already - so we know how to work together. We have already had success at
the state and local levels of government where childcare has now been prioritized and
policies have been put in place to address the cost of childcare. We represent a wide
spectrum of stakeholders, and our community has a great track record when it comes to
public/private partnerships and resident engagement. We have also been successful at
developing a pilot program that provides free childcare to parents who attend the
community college, incentivizing them to upskill for higher -wage jobs.
We have already begun to discuss the barrier of a sustainable business model for our vision
of flexible transportation. We believe that if this were easy, someone would have already
implemented a working model that equitably serves everyone in their community - not just
those who can afford multiple transportation options through their financial and
social capital. We're hoping to lead the way on tackling this issue!
Anything else to share? Screenshots, videos, audio - upload away!
Name
Creation
Time
E, Grant narrative - Dubuque IOWA.docx Jun 18
-2 JUNE 18, 2021
O S VIEWS � 0 LIKES O 0 FOLLOWERS
< THE CARE CONSTELLATION OPEN CALL
The Care Constellation Open Call — Grant Narrative — Dubuque, IOWA
Hello, and thank you for the opportunity to apply for the Care Constellation grant to find
innovative ways to rethink our childcare system. We are a coalition of public, private, and
non-profit organizations that has been coordinating for several years to find new
approaches to supporting families, childcare providers, and employers in our community
through pilot programs that address childcare issues. We are now looking to find a more
sustainable solution. Our focus will be transportation.
Recognizing that transportation can be a barrier to parents being fully employed and to
children getting high -quality childcare, our coalition of partners is proposing to solve for
the issue of transportation to and from home/childcare centers/early education facilities.
Dubuque, Iowa, is a community of about 60,000 residents. We are located along the
Mississippi River at the intersection of Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois. Like many river
towns, we have a large manufacturing base. Our economy has diversified over the
decades, but many of the higher -wage jobs that are available to residents of a variety of
educational levels remain in the industrial sector.
In the 1980s, Dubuque began to develop an industrial park on the west end of town and
technology park on the south end. These areas now boast over 55 employers and over
6,000 jobs, providing livable wages for two working adults with children.
The challenge for our residents is that many of our low-income residents live on the far
east end of town. This area includes a greater number of households per capita without
a personal vehicle. We have a public transit system, but the routes do not extend to the
west end in a timely fashion. Nor does public transit provide parents the flexibility to
transport their children to childcare or early education centers and then immediately
proceed to their work locations. This keeps our low-income residents from moving up the
economic ladder.
Regardless of income level or residential location in town, we hear from all stakeholders
that transportation is a universal issue: we hear this from schools, parents, employers,
providers, early childhood educators, preschools, etc. A lack of flexible transportation
options can keep parents from accepting desirable jobs and prevents children from
accessing a variety of educational offerings.
One illustration of how transportation is negatively affecting parents and children is that
despite currently having 400 openings across our childcare system, parents call our
Childcare Resource & Referral office saying they cannot find quality childcare. The
reason for this is that the available openings are not in a location (in relation to their
residence) where the parent can drop off/pick up their child(ren) in a way that would allow
them to get to work on time and stay their entire shift.
In addition to the issue of transportation getting in the way of parents holding a steady,
good -paying job, it also prevents children from accessing a quality early childhood
experience. If parents need to choose childcare solely based on proximity to their
residence, they may not have the luxury of placing their child in a registered/certified home
or center that has openings and is across town.
Once the child is in a childcare facility, transportation can impede the child's ability to
attend preschool. (Our local public schools do not provide wrap around care, so children
must be transported between school programming and childcare.) This is a barrier to a
quality education for the children, creating a situation where the children may not be fully
prepared to be successful in kindergarten - which, as we know, is a predictor for future
academic success.
Dubuque is committed to being an equitable community of choice. To achieve our equity
goal, we need to ensure all our children have access to quality, affordable childcare and
other learning opportunities. We know that the first 2,000 days of life are critical for setting
up our children to succeed in the future.
We have more questions than answers at this point in our discussion on how to solve this
issue in our community: Is there a way for our public transit system to be part of the
answer for this issue? Could a for -profit entity afford to take this on? Would a non-profit
organization be needed? Would parents entrust their children to other adults to drive
them to childcare/early childhood centers? How would the eventual solution be affordable
to parents?
As a coalition of partners that has already spent several years working with the National
League of Cities and other consultants to create a community -wide approach to solving
for quality, affordable childcare for all, we look forward to extending our work to solving
this transportation piece of the puzzle.
We look forward to moving this work forward with the assistance of the Care Constellation
grant.
Sincerely,
_4&C0TW1&rS-- Economic Development Director, City of Dubuque
Alr%c�De ,e�dt— Executive Director, Dubuque County Early Childhood
PauilDwote l - Director of Community Initiatives, Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque
Davt i LyOilLk- Director of Sustainable Innovation, Greater Dubuque Development Corp.
Ta -a/ Z0dd Ck Child Care Consultant Supervisor, Child Care Resource & Referral of Northeast Iowa
ErbrilPowe4,k-DGaey- Director of Recruitment, Northeast Iowa Community College