\f
2013 MAAC Head Start &
Early Head Start
Community Needs Assessment
MAAC
Northern San Diego County, California
September 2013
table of contents
Executive Summary
i
Introduction
1
Needs Assessment Overview
1
Children and Families in North County, San Diego
3
Community Needs and Priorities
9
Considerations for the Future
28
Appendix I: Special Report- Satisfaction with MAAC’s Head Start/Early
Head Start Programs
A1
Appendix II: Community Assessment Parent Survey Questionnaire
A4
Appendix III: First 5 San Diego QPI Satisfaction Survey Questionnaire
A9
Executive Summary
he MAAC Head Start and Early Head Start
programs serve over 2,000 economically
disadvantaged children ages birth to 5 years
and their families throughout North San
Diego County. MAAC’s highly individualized
programs integrate a developmentally-appropriate
curriculum reflecting the diverse ethnic, cultural,
and linguistic backgrounds of participating
families.
Head Start/Early Head Start readies children for
success in school while helping their families meet
their early childhood education, health and
well-being, nutrition and social services needs.
The purpose of this needs assessment was to gather
information about the target population to inform
core services and system efforts of the project.
Methods used to gather information for the needs
assessment included:
Two outreach surveys completed by parents;
Focus groups with parents currently enrolled
in MACC’s Head Start and Early Head Start
services;
Interviews with key stakeholders in the
community that work in the field of child
development; and
A community assessment questionnaire.
The following themes emerged from the 2013
survey responses, as well as the feedback provided
by interviews and focus groups.
Community Profile
In San Diego County, nearly 35.0% of all children
currently fall below the age of 5 and 19.0% of these
children reside within MAAC’s service area.
Community Needs and Priorities
Child Care
There is a continued need for affordable, quality
child care in North San Diego County. Children
who experience high quality, early childhood
education show improved academic readiness,
resulting in improved academic outcomes,
increased lifelong earning potential as well as
numerous increased emotional and social benefits.
Currently, the large proportion of children in the
county, the high costs of living, and the proportion
of children where both parents work all impact and
may be barriers to meeting a family’s child care
needs. Consider the following facts:
The average child care costs for a family with
an infant at a Family Child Care Home
(FCCH) and a preschooler at a child care
center can range from 28% to 49% of the
median household income depending on the
location in the county.
Two-thirds (62%) of all county children that
need child care are potentially eligible for
some type of assistance.
About 35% of the children eligible for
subsidized care receive some sort of support,
while 65% do not receive the needed subsidy
Parent focus group participants and survey
responses also supported the finding of an acute
need for childcare services accompanied by
extending the income requirements to qualify for
subsidies.
Family Income, Employment and Labor Force
In 2011,
Nearly 31% of all children in San Diego had
neither parent in full time employment
22% had at least one working parent and a
family income less than twice the federal
poverty level.
The cost of living for San Diego County is
31.8% above the national average, and the cost
of housing more than twice the national
average.
Both focus group and interview participants
requested the need for continued programs that
assist families in finding employment and career
pathways.
Poverty
In both 2010 and 2011:
19.0% of children in San Diego County were
living below the federal poverty level. A large
proportion of these children live in MAAC’s
North County region, and families continue to
struggle to obtain employment that can meet
the high cost of living in these areas.
Rent in 2012 was among the highest in the
county in MAAC’s North County service area.
Transportation
In 2011, in San Diego County:
18,000 children under the age of 18 were living
in households with no vehicle. Focus group
participants identified transportation issues as
a main barrier to accessing child care services.
Particularly within the rural areas, there is
either a lack of public transportation available
or the travel time becomes a major barrier.
Gangs
Data shows a strong link between the level of
connectedness to school and involvement or
membership in gangs—programs like MAAC’s
Head Start continue to foster connectedness from
an early age in some of the more vulnerable
populations in the county-thereby helping to curb
gang membership and building potentially more
safe and productive communities for children.
Considerations for the Future
Opportunities for Action
+
North San Diego County is in critical need
of more infant care.
+
North San Diego County needs more full
time subsidized center based and
alternative payment slots.
+
North San Diego County needs to
continue to identify the special needs of
young children and tailor child care
services for specific populations.
Introduction
Understanding, documenting, and responding to the educational/child care needs in North County is a
primary aim of the MAAC Head Start / Early Head Start program. MAAC is a comprehensive community
action partnership (CAP) agency, with a 45-year history of service to empower people in need in San Diego
County. Through a Federal Head Start and Early Head Start Grant and State Preschool Grant, MAAC offers
Head Start, Early Head Start and State Preschool programs that deliver the national and state school readiness
program to economically disadvantaged children and their families. Currently, MAAC serves over 2,000
economically disadvantaged children and their families throughout North San Diego County in the
communities of Fallbrook, Pauma, Valley Center, Rincon,
San Marcos, Escondido, Vista, Oceanside, and Carlsbad.
As part of this process, the MAAC Head Start / Early Head
Start engage in a comprehensive needs assessment every
three years. This year, MAAC selected Harder+Company
Community Research to assist with the Community Needs
Assessment process. As part of the 2013 grant application,
this needs assessment will help MAAC Head Start / Early
Head Start identify new or underserved populations in the
service area, assess and understand their needs, and identify available resources.
Organization of the Needs Assessment
This needs assessment is organized into three sections:
Children and families in North County:
What are the demographic characteristics of North San Diego
County as they relate to children and families?
Community needs and priorities:
What are the issues of concern to children and families in the
community? What is the current supply and demand for child care in San Diego County? What are
the child care needs for children with special needs and children in specific populations?
Considerations for the future:
How can MAAC ensure that the community needs are met to the
greatest extent possible? What resources are available to address the gaps in available services?
Needs Assessment Overview
Methods
The needs assessment utilized a mixed-methods approach, collecting both primary and secondary data.
Primary Data.
There are four main primary data collection activities to highlight:
(1)
Parent Surveys
: MAAC staff surveyed 2,381 of their Head Start parents. Two unique surveys were
administered. These included a Parent Questionnaire previously developed by MAAC for their
Annual Self-Assessment and a Quality Preschool Initiative Questionnaire (QPI). The QPI survey was
Mission Statement
MAAC's mission is maximizing
self-sufficiency with families and individuals
through high-quality programs and
advocacy in our communities.
only administered to parents whose children were served through the First 5 Commission of San
Diego County (a county entity that supports programs and services for children ages 0-5 through San
Diego County’s portion of the State’s Proposition 10 tax revenues). MAAC’s program parents were
administered one survey or the other. Survey questions related to current child care needs, strengths
and needs of community services, barriers to obtaining child care, satisfaction with MAAC’s program,
and availability and accessibility of community services. The questionnaires were available in English
and Spanish. A total of 660 parents completed surveys. The survey questionnaires are provided in
Appendix II and III.
(2)
Focus groups
:
Harder+Company worked with MAAC staff to develop a data collection protocol for
three focus groups with parents currently utilizing MAAC’s program services. These focus groups
were conducted at the MAAC Laurel Tree Apartments Community Center in Carlsbad, the Pauma
Elementary School-Multipurpose Room in Pauma, and the Child Development Administration Office
in San Marcos. One group was conducted in Spanish and the other two groups were conducted in a
combination of Spanish and English. Focus group questions were designed to understand parents’
child care needs and what parents want to see in a Head Start/Early Head Start program. MAAC staff
conducted the focus groups with 10-12 parents per group.
(3)
Key stakeholder interviews
: Harder+Company worked with MAAC staff to develop the interview
protocol. MAAC CDP staff conducted 10 interviews with key stakeholders including community
advocates, child development faculty members at local universities and community colleges, public
entities (such as San Diego County Office of Education and Child Welfare Services), and Executive
Directors of Community Child Development Centers. These key stakeholders were able to look at the
MAAC from a broader, community perspective and comment on the needs of the community and
MAAC’s role.
(4)
Community Assessment:
MAAC staff administered a Head Start and Early Head Start Community
Assessment questionnaire to local agencies to identify any major concerns in the community, to assess
childcare needs, to assess needs for children with disabilities, and to understand satisfaction with their
Head Start/Early Head Start services. The questionnaire was distributed to 25 community agencies
ranging from community clinics, to local non-profits, to colleges/universities and even to the Salvation
Army.
Secondary Data.
Harder+Company reviewed the MAAC Head Start & Early Head Start 2011-13 Community
Assessment Update and worked with MAAC to identify the most relevant data points to update for the 2013
Community Needs Assessment.
Analysis
Similar to the 2011-13 Needs Assessment Report, secondary data was analyzed (when available) by geography
and child age. The geographical areas of focus for this report include the North Coastal area of San Diego
(Carlsbad and Oceanside), North Inland areas (Escondido, San Marcos and Vista) and the more rural areas of
Fallbrook, Valley Center, Pauma and Rincon.
Preliminary data from the 2013 Needs Assessment was presented to the Governing Board as part of the total FY
2014 Grant Application for approval. Members of the Policy Council were involved through the Program and
Executive Committees prior to presentation to the full Policy Council. Participants discussed the data and
responded to questions related to the existing disparities, how the information can be used to inform
decision-making, and missing data that would be helpful to tell the full story of child care needs in North, San Diego
County.
Children and Families in North County, San
Diego
Service Area
In 1975, MAAC Head Start/ Early Head Start began providing opportunities for children and their families to
thrive in North, San Diego County. Currently, there are 15 Head Start, 2 Early Head Start, 5 HS/EHS centers
and 27 FCC homes. Along with their partnerships, MAAC’s CDP bilingual, bicultural services are provided to
2,261 children (286 0-3 year olds; 1,975 3-5 year olds). Locations range from the coastal communities of
Carlsbad and Oceanside, with one center located on the Camp Pendleton military base, to inland areas of
Escondido, San Marcos and Vista, to the more rural areas of Fallbrook with two centers, Rincon and Pauma
each with one center.
Several of their sites are located in the heart of the neighborhoods with the highest needs. Examples of these
sites include:
The City of Vista, where the city subsidized the cost for a MAAC center in one of the poorest income
neighborhoods. The Sheriff substation is around the corner and the presence of Head Start and the
Substation helps provide a better sense of community and security to the families living in the area.
This partnership ensures that the children with the highest need don’t need to travel too far for Head
Start services.
Three additional MAAC centers are located in affordable housing
sites. MAAC has partnered with local groups in Fallbrook, Oceanside,
and San Marcos to secure these preschool centers which are available
in the Affordable housing Units. Children are attending preschool
right in the community where they live.
Children are served through MAAC’s Part Day center base, Full Day center
base, Family Child Care, Home Base, Services to Pregnant Woman, and the
Combination Option. Overall, MAAC serves hundreds of families to enhance
the educational future of their children and promote increased participation in
their role as the first teacher. MAAC works in collaboration with several other
Demographics
This section of the report provides an overview of the demographic characteristics of San Diego County as they
relate to children and families, honing in on North County as applicable.
Benchmark data is included in most
of the tables below to provide a comparison across years.
Understanding trends in the population is
important in order to provide proper context to the supply and demand of child care presented later in this
report.
Exhibit 1 compares the population in San Diego County to the specific service areas of the MAAC program.
More people reside in Oceanside (169,319), Escondido (146,057), and Carlsbad (105,185) than any other
service area.
Exhibit 1. Population by City and County, 2010
1According to the 2010 SANDAG Census Estimates, there are approximately 234,809 children age 0-5 in San
Diego County with 45,301 (19.3%) of these children residing in MAAC’s service area (Table 1). One-third
(34.6%) of all children in San Diego County currently fall below the age of 5 (Table 2).
1SANDAG, Current Estimates 2010 www.sandag.org
85,560
95,034
105,185
146,057
169,319
3,095,313
San Marcos
Vista
Carlsbad
Escondido
Oceanside
San Diego
Table 1. Population by City, County and Age, 2010
2Locale
Population #
Under 5
5 - 19
19 - 64
Over 65
Camp Pendleton
34,031
3,429
7,634
22,900
68
Carlsbad
105,185
6,389
21,065
60,297
13,912
Escondido
146,057
11,300
33,435
85,195
16,127
Fallbrook
43,338
2,740
8,844
24,846
6,908
Oceanside
169,319
6,377
17,754
35,788
3,131
Pauma/Pala
6,135
539
1,501
3,560
535
San Marcos
85,560
6,117
19,919
49,048
10,476
Valley Center
19,057
1,105
3,730
11,268
2,954
Vista
95,034
7,305
20,591
57,376
9,762
MAAC Service Area
703,716
45,301
134,472
350,278
63,873
San Diego County
3,095,313
234,809
651,578
1,904,274
355,613
Table 2. Child Population in San Diego County, 2013
3Age
Total
Percent of total child
population
0-2 Years
129,479
17.9%
3-5 Years
120,712
16.7%
Total 0-17
723,080
n/a
The data also show that within San Diego County, Escondido has the greatest number of children age 0-5
(11,300), followed by Vista (7,305), and Carlsbad (6,389) (Exhibit 2).
2Ibid
3California Dept. of Finance, Race/Ethnic Population with Age and Sex Detail, 1990-1999, 2000-2010, 2010-2060 (May 2013); U.S. Census
Exhibit 2. Population of Children Age 0-5, by City, 2010
4Race/ethnicity
As displayed in Table 3, the greatest percentage of San Diego County residents are White (48.5), followed by
Hispanic/Latino (32.0%).
Table 3. Race/Ethnicity by City, 2010
5Locale
Hispanic
Black
White
American
Indian
Pacific Isl.
Asian &
Other
San Diego County
32.0%
4.7%
48.5%
0.5%
11.0%
3.3%
Camp Pendleton
21.4%
7.6%
61.1%
1.4%
4.3%
4.2%
Carlsbad
13.3%
1.2%
74.9%
0.3%
7.1%
3.3%
Escondido
49.8%
1.9%
39.7%
0.4%
6.0%
2.2%
Fallbrook
37.2%
1.2%
56.8%
0.4%
2.4%
2.0%
Oceanside
37.2%
3.9%
47.2%
0.4%
7.6%
3.7%
Pauma/Pala
35.8%
1.3%
38.2%
18.8%
2.5%
3.4%
San Marcos
37.2%
2.0%
48.8%
0.3%
8.7%
3.0%
Valley Center
26.8%
0.5%
62.5%
4.3%
3.4%
2.5%
Vista
48.0%
2.6%
41.5%
0.3%
4.8%
2.8%
Table 4 shows the race/ethnicity of children age 0-5 in San Diego County. The greatest percentage of San
Diego County children (age 0-5) were Hispanic/Latino (45.8%) in 2012, followed by White (33.2%).
4 SANDAG, Current Estimates 2010 www.sandag.org 5Ibid
11,300
7,305
6,389
6,377
6,117
Table 4. Population of Children Age 0-5, by Race/Ethnicity, 2012
6Locale
Hispanic
Black
White
American
Indian
Pacific Isl.
Asian &
Other
San Diego County
45.8%
4.3%
33.2%
0.4%
9.3%
7.0%
More specifically, almost all (72.9%) of those enrolled in Head Start/Early Head Start in California are Hispanic
or Latino, as are 78.0% of those enrolled in MAAC’s Head Start/Early Head Start program (Table 5 and 6).
Table 5. Ethnic Composition of those Enrolled in Head Start/Early Head Start in California, (FY
10-11)
7Ethnic Composition
Percent
Hispanic or Latino
72.9%
Non-Hispanic/Non-Latino
27.1%
Table 6. Racial Composition of those Enrolled in MAAC Head Start/Early Head Start, 2010-2011
8Language
Based on data from the 2000 Census, around 63.0% of children in San Diego County speak English and
29.0% speak Spanish. The number of children speaking
Spanish varies significantly across different regions with the
highest concentration of Spanish speaking children in South
and Central. About three- quarters of children in the North
Coastal, North Inland, and North Central speak English. In
the South and Central areas, only 41% spoke English in 2000.
96SANDAG, Current Estimates 2012. http://profilewarehouse.sandag.org/profiles/est/reg999est.pdf 7California Head Start Association. http://caheadstart.org/10.11CAHeadStartDataReport.pdf 8MAAC Head Start Family Profile 2010-2011
9US Census Bureau, 2000
Racial Composition
Percent
2010
2011
Hispanic/Other
90.0%
78.0%
White
2.7%
17.0%
Black
2.6%
1.0%
Unspecified Race
0.7%
4.0%
Indian
0.6%
0.0%
Asian
0.5%
0.0%
Additionally, in 2008, about 50 percent of students in the San Diego Unified School District spoke a
language other than English at home, with nearly 80 percent speaking Spanish
10When looking at home language spoken by those enrolled in Head Start/Early Head Start in California, 51.7%
spoke Spanish with 66.0% of Spanish speakers enrolled in MAAC’s Head Start/Early Head Start program
(Table 7).
Table 7. Home Language of those Enrolled in Head Start/Early Head Start in the MAAC Project
(2010, 2011), and in California, (FY 10-11)
11,12Home Language:
MAAC Project
California
2010
2011
Spanish
75.3%
66.0%
51.7%
English
24.7%
34.0%
42.6%
Other
0.0%
0.0%
36.0%
10Union Tribune. http://www.utsandiego.com/uniontrib/20080924/news_1m24spanish.html 11California Head Start Association. http://caheadstart.org/
12MAAC Head Start Family Profile 2010-2011
Children and Families in North San Diego County
SUMMARY FINDINGS
34.6% of all children in San Diego County currently fall below the age of 5.
Approximately 234,809 children age 0-5 live in San Diego County with 45,301
(19.3%) of these children residing in MAAC’s service area.
Within MAAC’s service area, the greatest percentage of children ages 0-5 live
in Escondido, followed by Vista, and Carlsbad.
Community Needs and Priorities
Results from the parent surveys, focus groups and stakeholder interviews are presented in the following
section. Through these primary data collection activities, MAAC staff identified child care (both licensed and
subsidized) including child care for children with special needs, family income and employment, poverty,
transportation, and gang involvement as primary
community issues and needs for families.
Licensed Child Care
This section of the report provides information on
licensed child care in San Diego County –
including the availability of care (supply and
demand) and the cost of care.
Facilities
As of December 2010, the County had about 5,400
child care providers/facilities that provided about
149,500 child care spaces in total. That includes 12,700 infant spaces, 70,500 preschool spaces, and 66,300
school age spaces. Infant care makes up the smallest percentage of child care spaces with only 9% of the
total. Preschool spaces make up 47% of the total supply and school age care makes up 44% of the supply.
The distribution of spaces by region is generally the same throughout the County, with the North Central
area having slightly more, or 19% of the total. The East and North Coastal areas each have about 15% of
the total. The overall vacancy rate was only 2.9% (Table 8 and 9).
13Table 8. Child Care Providers by Type of Child Care Facility, 2010
1413San Diego Child Care Needs Assessment, 2010
14Health and Human Services Agency - San Diego County; YMCA Childcare Resource Service; Brion & Associates.
http://www.brionassociates.com/
HHSA Region
Small Family Child
Care Home
Large Family Child
Care Home
Child Care
Centers
Providers
Total
North Coastal
274
126
242
642
North Inland
317
153
279
749
North Central
427
150
304
881
Central
490
208
270
968
East
459
131
248
838
South
836
226
219
1,281
Total
2,803
994
1,562
5,359
Percent Distribution
52%
19%
29%
100%
Table 9. Supply for Child Care by HHSA Region, 2010
15Supply and Demand
Table 10 shows that in 2010, there was an overall demand for about 167,000 child care spaces: 27,500 infant
spaces, 63,000 preschool spaces, and 76,300 school age spaces. This demand falls fairly evenly throughout the
HHSA regions.
Table 10. Demand for Licensed Child Care by HHSA Region and Age, 2010
1615Ibid
16Brion & Associates. http://www.brionassociates.com/
HHSA Region
Birth to 36
months or
Infant
3 to 5 or
Preschool
School Age
6 to 12 or
Total, 0 to
12 Years
Distribution
Percent
North Coastal
1,973
11,931
8,147 22,051 15.0%
North Inland
1,765
12,167 11,545 25,478 17.0%
North Central
2,635
14,168 12,307 29,110 19.0%
Central
2,024
11,647 10,288 23,958 16.0%
East
1,879
9,559 11,271 22,709 15.0%
South
2,465
11,041 12,772 26,278 18.0%
Total County
12,741
70,513
66,330
149,584
100%
Percent of Total
9.0%
47.0%
44.0%
100%
n/a
Vacant Spaces
554
2,844
927
4,325
n/a
Percent Vacant
4.3%
4.0%
1.4%
2.9%
n/a
HHSA Region
Birth to 36
months or
Infant
3 to 5 or
Preschool
Subtotal, 0
to 5 Years
6 to 12 or
School Age
Total, 0 to
12 Years
Percent
Distribution
North Coastal
5,071
11,329
16,400
12,970
29,370
18.0%
North Inland
4,535
10,852
15,388
15,136
30,524
18.0%
North Central
4,707
10,592
15,299
12,122
27,420
16.0%
Central
4,280
9,806
14,086
11,510
25,596
15.0%
East
4,427
10,437
14,864
12,934
27,799
17.0%
South
4,509
10,082
14,591
11,684
26,275
16.0%
Total County
27,529
63,098
90,628
76,356
166,984
100%
In 2010, there was an overall shortage of about 17,400 child care spaces, 12,365 in North Coastal and North
Inland alone. There was a shortage of
almost 15,000 infant care spaces and
10,000 spaces available for school age
children (Table 11).
Table 11. Supply (Surplus or
Shortfall) of Child Care by HHSA Region and Age, 2010
17Countywide, only 46% of infant age children needing licensed care have a space available. For
school age children, availability is about 13% less than demand. Preschool has about a 12% surplus
overall (Table 12).
Table 12. Percent of Demand Met by HHSA Region and Age, 2010
1817Ibid 18Ibid
HHSA Region
Birth to 36
months or
Infant
3 to 5 or
Preschool
6 to 12 or
School Age
Total, 0 to
12 Years
Surplus or
(Shortage) as
% of Demand
North Coastal
(3,098)
602
(4,823)
(7,319)
-25.0%
North Inland
(2,770)
1,315
(3,591)
(5,046)
-17.0%
North Central
(2,072)
3,576
185
1,690
6.0%
Central
(2,256)
1,840
(1,222)
(1,638)
-6.0%
East
(2,548)
(878)
(1,663)
(5,090)
-18.0%
South
(2,044)
959
1,087
3
0.0%
Total County
(14,788)
7,414
(10,026)
(17,400)
-10.0%
Percent of
Demand Met
46%
112%
87%
90%
n/a
HHSA Region
Infants
Preschool
School Age
North Coastal
39.0%
105.0%
75.0%
North Inland
39.0%
112.0%
83.0%
North Central
56.0%
134.0%
106.0%
Central
47.0%
119.0%
94.0%
East
42.0%
92.0%
82.0%
South
55.0%
110.0%
109.0%
Total
46%
112%
87%
“There is a fine balance between creating more licensed
slots and ensuring that parents can pay for those slots. It
is not necessarily that we need more programs just to
create slots; we need affordable care for families.”
-Key Stakeholder
Overall, there is a shortage of about 25,000 spaces for infant and school age care in the County. It is clear
across the County that demand for child care is not sufficiently met. Focus group participants acknowledged
both the need for more infant care as well as after-school care for kindergarten children.
Affordability
Child care is a significant cost for families. As
shown in Exhibit 3, family child care homes in
San Diego County are more affordable than child
care centers for both infants and preschoolers.
The annual cost for
one
infant in a child care center is $11,631, compared to $7,632 in a family child care
home (a difference of $3,999). The annual cost for
one
preschooler in a child care center is $8,194, compared
to $7,146 in a family child care home (a difference of $1,048). On average, child care costs about $9,000 per
year for infants at Family Child Care Homes (FCCH), and about $12,700 at child care centers. Preschool
averages $9,700 per year at centers and $8,000 at FCCHS. The average child care costs for a family with an
infant at an FCCH and a preschooler at a child care center can range from 28% to 49% of the median
household income, depending on the location in the county. For families with lower incomes, formal child
care is not always an option unless child care subsidies are available.
19Exhibit 3. Regional Market Rate, by type of Child Care, San Diego County, 2009
20Subsidized Child Care
Subsidized child care is a critical component of the overall child care market in San Diego County. This type of
care assists low-income families in paying for child care. To receive subsidized care, parents must be
employed, seeking employment, in school, homeless, or referred by a health professional. Children with an
open child welfare case, or those that are at risk of abuse or neglect, are given priority for subsidized care.
Additional criteria for enrollment in care includes family income and family size.
21In 2010, there were a total of 36,500 children, ages 0 to 12, receiving some form of publicly subsidized child
care, compared to a total need of about 103,200 children. About 6,650 of these subsidized spaces are in State
19Brion & Associates. http://www.brionassociates.com/
20“Annual Cost of Child Care, by Age Group and Type of Facility in 2009’ from
http://www.rrnetwork.org/rr-research-in-action/child-care-data/annual-cost-of-child-care-by.html
21City of Davis: Community Services – Child Care Subsidy.
http://community-services.cityofdavis.org/child-care-services/subsidy-programs/child-care-subsidy
$11,631
$8,194
$7,632
$7,146
Infant
Preschool
Child care center
Family child care home
“Income guidelines and requirements are barriers
to affordable, quality childcare.”
Preschool (which is part-day only). To be eligible for a subsidized program, a child must be living in a family
that earns less than 75% of the State Median Income (SMI) for the family size. To be eligible for California
center-based care subsidies, all adults in the family must also be working. Overall, about 35% of the children
eligible for subsidized care receive some sort of support, while 65% do not receive the needed subsidy.
22By region, there are some differences that should be noted. In the South area, 51% of eligible children are
receiving some type of subsidy, the highest ratio of all six HHSA regions. In the North Coastal region, only
20% of children are being served with subsidized care. Table 13 shows this breakdown for each HHSA
region.
Table 13. Comparison of Supply of Subsidized Child Care Spaces to Total Eligible Children or
Demand for Subsidized Care, 2010
23As shown in Table 14, approximately 57,200 children, ages 0 to 12, are neither served by nor waiting for
subsidized care. As pointed out in the stakeholder interviews, many families do not know how to get onto
the list. There are about 103,000 children ages 0 to 12 that are potentially eligible for some type of subsidized
care.
22Brion & Associates. http://www.brionassociates.com/
23California Department of Education, Child Development Department; SANDAG, YMCA Childcare Resource Service; San Diego County Child
Care and Development Planning Council; Brion & Associates. http://www.brionassociates.com/
HHSA Region
Supply of
Subsidized
Spaces 0-12
(1)
Percent
Distribution
Demand for
Subsidized
Child Care
Surplus
(Shortfall)
Percent of
Shortfall
Percent
of
Demand
Served
North Coastal
3,558
10.0%
17,809
(14,251)
21.0%
20.0%
North Inland
4,412
12.0%
15,603
(11,191)
17.0%
28.0%
North Central
3,204
9.0%
10,676
(7,472)
11.0%
30.0%
Central
11,356
31.0%
24,677
(13,321)
20.0%
46.0%
East
5,202
14.0%
17,441
(12,239)
18.0%
30.0%
South
8,722
24.0%
16,968
(8,246)
12.0%
51.0%
Total Supply
and Need for
Table 14. Comparison of Subsidized Child Care Spaces and CEL Data to Total Eligible Children or
Demand for Subsidized Care, 2010
24Head Start
Many children ages 0 to 5 years are assisted through Head Start
.
MAAC currently operates 15 Head Start, 2
Early Head Start, 5 HS/EHS centers and 27 FCC homes in North, San Diego County. Along with their
partnerships, MAAC’s bilingual, bicultural services are provided to 2,261 children (286 0-3 year olds; 1,975
3-5 year olds). However, MAAC Head Start only serves 7% of eligible children within the service area, and
Early Head Start serves only 2% of eligible children within the service area. Exhibit 4 compares the number
of children 0-5 eligible for Head Start and number of children 0-5 actually served through MAAC’s Head
Start programs within the specified service areas.
Exhibit 4. Number of Children both Eligible for and Served by MAAC Head Start
There will continue to be a need for subsidized child care, especially Early Head Start. Early childhood
educators are worried about California losing more than 5,600 Head Start slots. During the recession,
24Ibid
478
1,736
1,248 1,132
930
780
694
182
205
720
603
406
302
145
40
60
Number of children 0-5 eligible
Number of children 0-5 served
HHSA Region
Supply of
Subsidized
Spaces 0-12
(1)
Children
0 to 12
on CEL
Total Served
& Waiting
Percent of
Eligible
Children
Unserved &
Unregistere
d Children
North Coastal
3,558
945
4,503
25%
13,306
North Inland
4,412
1,215
5,627
36%
9,976
North Central
3,204
582
3,786
35%
6,890
Central
11,356
1,813
13,169
53%
11,508
East
5,202
2,124
7,326
42%
10,115
South
8,722
2,881
11,603
68%
5,365
Total
36,454
9,560
46,014
45%
57,160
California eliminated 100,000 slots. “With an improving economy, people are starting to find jobs again, which
means more families are needing Head Start. People are returning back to low-income jobs, and so they're less
able to afford childcare and pre-school on their own.”
25As noted on the parent survey, affordable, quality preschool is one of the most valuable existing programs or
services, as well as one of their community’s greatest needs. According to this survey data, within MAAC’s
service areas, almost 60.0% (57.9%) of parents live with at least one child under the age of five. Another 35.0%
of parents live with two children under the age of five (not shown). A high percentage (83.5%) of these parents
have at least one child in MAAC’s Head Start program (see Exhibit 5).
Exhibit 5. Percent of Children in MAAC’s Head Start Program, 2013
The majority of parents (67.5%) indicated the need for full day care, five days a week (not shown). Over
two-thirds (69.0%) requested child care for over 20 hours per week (Exhibit 6).
Exhibit 6. Hours Per Week Childcare is Needed, 2013
Parents identified low cost housing (63.1%) and food stamps (18.2%) as services needed, but that were not
received (Exhibit 7). The main barrier reported to receiving services was work (48.4%) followed by scheduling
25ABC News. 2013 KFSN-TV/DT. http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/education&id=9213614
83.5%
15.5%
0.6%
0.0%
0.6%
1
2
3
4
Other (please
specify)
# of children in Head Start
20.2%
9.3%
17.4%
38.1%
13.5%
3.7%
Less than 10
10-20
20-30
30-40
more than
40
(please
Other
specify)
# of hours of childcare
(25.8%) (Exhibit 8). In accordance, focus group participants noted the need for expanded child care. More
specifically, participants advocated for extended hours, even suggesting a “twilight program” with evening
hours.
Exhibit 7. Services Needed and Not Received, 2013
Exhibit 8. Barriers to Receiving Services, 2013
9.1%
63.1%
18.2%
4.0%
7.1%
9.1%
7.1%
12.1%
1.0%
2.5%
19.8%
25.8%
24.0%
48.4%
21.7%
Transportation
Scheduling
Languages
Work
Family
It is a very rewarding experience to watch young children grow and develop, gain self-confidence, and make
successful transitions to the regular educational system. The Local Education Agencies receiving MAAC’s Head
Start children acknowledge the progress the children exhibit coming into their kindergarten classrooms.
Educators in the seven school districts, in which MAAC serves, collaborate with the Head Start/ Early Head Start
program for transition services and continually express their respect and appreciation for how the program
positively impacts children’s school readiness.
Child Care for Children with Special Needs and Specific Populations
Children with Developmental Disabilities
As of school year 2008-2009, there were about
34,700 children, ages 0 to 12, with disabilities in
San Diego County as a whole. These children
have a variety of disabilities and special needs
and represent about 6% of the overall population
of children ages 0 to 12 in the County. As would be expected, most of the children are of school age because
the formal school setting is where most diagnosis takes place. About 14,600 (42%) children K to 12th grades
have some type of specific language or language impairment; another 27% have a learning disability; and 10%
having some other form of health impairment. About 9% of children with special needs have autism and 4%
have some form of mental retardation.
26Currently, within MAAC’s service area, 885 children 0-3 and 946 children 3-5 with disabilities are eligible for
Head Start services. Of those eligible, 29 children 0-3 and 220 children 3-5 are being served by MAAC.
According to MAAC’s Community Assessment Parent Survey, around 8% of MAAC’s parents have a child
with a diagnosed disability. In addition, according to the Community Assessment Questionnaire, over half of
respondents identified the need for full day childcare for infant and toddlers under the age of 3 that have been
diagnosed with a disability. MAAC’s special education services support children with learning disabilities,
speech/language impairments, other health impairments, and autism.
Children At-Risk
At-risk children are given first priority for enrollment through state-funded and federally-funded child care
programs. In North San Diego County, 200 children ages 0-3 and 400 children ages 3-5 in foster care were
eligible for Head Start services. Of these, 59 children 0-5 were served through MAAC’s Head Start/Early Head
Start program.
Children of Military Families
San Diego County has the highest concentration of military personnel and military base operations of any
county in the nation, with the Naval Base for the Pacific Fleet, Camp Pendleton Marine Base, the Marine
Training Depot and Miramar Marine Air Station among the major installations. One of MAAC’s centers is
located on the Camp Pendleton Military base, where young military families are provided with all of the
services Head Start has to offer. Other military families living off base are served at their Oceanside, Fallbrook
and Vista sites. Currently, there are 91 military families served by MAAC Head Start and 19 served in Early
Head Start.
26Brion & Associates. http://www.brionassociates.com/
“There is a continued need for more training in
inclusive classroom practices and strategies
supporting both at-risk children as well as those
with identified special needs in our community
early care and education programs.”
Children of Immigrant Families
The percent of children in immigrant families for San Diego itself exceeds that of the state- making up over
half of the population and steadily growing over time, while the percent within the state as a whole remains
more constant (Table 15).
Table 15. Children in Immigrant Families by Region/ Year
27Location
Data Type
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
California
Number
4,552,000
4,464,000
4,555,000
4,497,000
4,440,000
Percent
49%
48%
48%
48%
48%
San Diego
Number
139,000
138,000
140,000
144,000
150,000
Percent
48%
49%
48%
50%
52%
27Population Reference Bureau, analysis of data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000 Supplementary Survey, 2001 Supplementary
Survey, 2002 through 2011 American Community Survey. http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/115-children-in-immigrant-families?loc=1&loct=1#detailed/3/90/false/867,133,38,35,18/any/445,446
Parent Focus Group Responses: Parents Express a Continued Need for MAAC
Services
Quality childcare enhances learning environments to support the healthy development of young
children. MAAC Head Start readies children for success in school while also helping their families
meet their early childhood education, health and well-being, nutrition and social services needs.
MAAC provides a spectrum of unique programs designed to assist parents by engaging them in the
enhancement of their own lives through lifestyle changes. The programs strive to improve parents’
economic standing as well as their ability to access resources available to them. Using the forum of
focus groups, parents in the community identified both the importance and need to expand MAAC’s
existing childcare and parenting services.
Parents feel MAAC Head Start/Early Head Start helps prepare their children to succeed in
kindergarten and learn much faster once they are there. As one parent commented, “MAAC
helps foster the development of gifted and talented children.” Parents’ noted the advantage of
MAAC’s partnership with local school districts to help with the transition to kindergarten.
Parents feel they are better able to advocate for their children and their needs after
participating in MAAC program. They expressed feeling empowered and gaining confidence
through participation in the programs and interaction with MAAC staff.
Parents identified information and community resources obtained through the program as
being valuable, as is the availability of childcare and food during meetings to further
accommodate their ability to attend and increase participation.
Parents continued to express interest in being involved in their child’s education.
In addition, parents expressed a strong need for:
Continued programs that assist families in finding employment and career pathways.
A change or expansion of income requirements to allow families in need to access services
(such as use of a sliding scale).
A clear and understandable application process that spells out eligibility requirements.
Continued awareness of resources available in the community, as well as connecting parents to
each other in a social environment and encouraging sharing of resources and knowledge.
The importance of offering both culturally and linguistically appropriate services. Language
barriers were identified through both the focus group and stakeholder interviews.
The ability to offer additional childcare services and expanded hours when organizing parent
classes and workshops. As one parent stated: “Offer different hours to increase parent
participation. For example offer a morning meeting for parents that work second or night shift
and afternoon/evening meetings for parents that work in the morning.”
Continued ability to engage parents, whether through parent education classes or workshops,
to further support parents in becoming the best advocate for their child’s needs, and their
child’s first teacher.
Continue to train staff to increase their capacity to not only serve children and families but
know how to identify and connect families to needed resources/support services.
Family Income, Employment, and Labor Force
Income for households or families with children is an important indicator of whether families can afford child
care. Overall, family income across California continues to increase. Vista had the highest increase in median
family income across years (39.5%) followed by Oceanside (36.4%)(Table 16). However, Oceanside has the
highest number of households making less than $23,550 per year (Table 17).
San Diego County’s jobless rate jumped to 9.8 percent in 2012, as the region lost a net 10,900 nonfarm payroll
jobs. Due to various factors, many of MAAC’s families are more adversely affected by the current employment
downturn and this has increased the stress among families in their service area.
Table 16. Median Household Income for Families with Children 18 and Under, by City/State,
2000, 2009
282000
2009
% Change
Carlsbad
$65,854
$79,303
+20.4%
Escondido
$43,208
$56,259
+30.2%
Oceanside
$46,145
$62,958
+36.4%
San Marcos
$45,854
$60, 903
+32.8%
Vista
$43,161
$60,223
+39.5%
California
$53,025
$58,931
+11.1%
Table 17. Household Income, 2011 Poverty Guidelines [Family of 3= $19,530, 4 = $23,550]
29Locale
Less than $23,550 $23,550-29,999
Over $30,000
Total households
Camp Pendleton
321
2,062
3,432
5,815
Carlsbad
4,552
2,175
33,362
40,089
Escondido
8,211
5,623
32,495
46,329
Fallbrook/Bonsall
3,567
1,790
15,423
20,780
Oceanside
9,913
4,713
31,857
46,483
Pauma/ Valley Center
974
455
6,187
7,616
San Marcos
5,909
2,950
29,607
38,466
Vista
7,618
3,691
36,311
47,960
Although Table 16 shows a positive trend in family income over the past few years, there has been an
increase in unemployment. In 2007, the unemployment rate was approximately five percent in California.
28US census bureau, 2009 American Community Survey 29SANDAG, Current Estimates 2010 www.sandag.org
In 2012, the annual average unemployment was 10.5 percent in California, and 9.8% in San Diego County
(Table 18).
Table 18. Unemployment Rate, by County/State, 2007-2012
302007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
San Diego
County
4.5%
6.0%
9.6%
10.5% 10.0%
9.8%
California
5.4%
7.2%
11.3% 12.4% 11.8% 10.5%
Employment status also impacts families in more ways than one, affecting ability to provide childcare and
sufficient resources for children. In 2011, nearly one third of all children in San Diego had neither parent in
full time employment (Table 19). Conversely, in 2011, 31.0% of all children in San Diego were a part of
low-income families in which parents were employed (Table 20). In those families, childcare becomes an issue, as is
the lack of income to fund it. On both sides, there is a real need for support for a large percentage of San Diego
children whose families struggle with issues such as these.
Table 19. Children Living In Families Where No Parent Has Full-Time, Year-Round Employment
31Table 20. Low-Income Working Families With Children*
32*The share of families that met three criteria: (1) the family income was less than twice the federal poverty level; (2) at least one parent worked 50 or more weeks during the previous year; (3) there was at least one "own child" under age 18 in the family.
The cost of living for San Diego County is 31.8% above the national average, according to the Council for
Community and Economic Research, with housing more than twice the national average.
33The median home
price in San Diego County is $342,000 (Table 21). The average rent for apartments in San Diego County is
expected to rise 5.2% in 2013, while it is projected to rise only 4% nationally according to The National
30The National University System Institute for Policy Research.www.nusinstitute.org
31Population Reference Bureau, analysis of data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 2008 - 2011 American Community Survey.
http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/5043-children-living-in-families-where-no-parent-has-full-time-year-round-employment?loc=1&loct=3#detailed/2/6/false/867,133,38,35/any/11452,11453
32Ibid
33ACCRA Cost of Living Index, Council for Community and Economic Research, 2012 Average Annual Data
Location
Data Type
2008
2009
2010
2011
San Diego
Number
28,000
27,000
32,000
33,000
Percent
19%
19%
21%
22%
Location
Data Type
2008
2009
2010
2011
San Diego
Number
72,000
84,000
100,000
90,000
Association of Realtors.
34Additionally, in MAAC’s North County service area, rent in 2012 was among the
highest in the County, as seen in the Table 22.
Over 21% of MAAC’s families are in very low income status (below $15,000) and more than 70% have incomes
of less than $20,000. The possibility of home ownership is no longer part of the American dream for the bulk
of program participants and the rental costs are driving many families to share housing locations. According to
MAAC’s Community Assessment Parent Survey, 71.1% of MAAC parents currently rent with another 23.8%
sharing housing with relatives or other adults. Affordability and accessibility continue to be problematic for
these families as they seek to meet their childcare needs.
Table 21. Average Home Prices by City, 2012-2013
35Locale
Jul 2013
Jul 2012
% Change
Carlsbad
$650,000
$557,000
16.7%
Escondido
$387,500
$305,000
27.1%
Fallbrook
$417,000
$330,000
26.4%
Oceanside
$373,000
$312,500
19.4%
Valley Center
$450,000
$361,000
24.7%
San Marcos
$428,000
$372,000
15.1%
Vista
$360,000
$310,000
16.1%
San Diego County
$420,000
$342,000
22.8%
Table 22. Average Rent Prices by Locale, 2012
36Locale
Average Rent
Central SD
$1460
North County Coastal:
$1698
South County
$1205
Hwy 78 Corridor
$1214
East County
$1149
I-15 Corridor
$1451
Poverty
Children and their families which participate in MAAC’s program live primarily in poverty conditions. The
poverty rate reached 14.3% nationally in 2009 with over 20.7% of children under the age of 6 (5,983,000) in
poverty as defined by the federal poverty level guidelines ($22,350 for a family of four). More than 28% of
34Casden Multifamily Report. http://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2012/05/09/2012-rental-update-increases-are-a-mixed-bag/ 35Data Quick, 2013
children under the age of 6 live in families with incomes that are below 130% of the federal poverty level
($29,055 for a family of four). Female headed households have a poverty rate of 54%.
37In San Diego, the median family income for 2008 was estimated to be $75,000. About 90% of female
families with children live below this level, and 63% of them are below 200% of the federal poverty level.
Among male families with children, 75% are below the median family income. For married couples with
children, only 41% are below the $75,000 median and only 16% live under the 200% of federal poverty
level. Thus, for children in families with two parents, income pressures are not as extreme, but often
depend on the number of children present and whether both parents are working. For all working parents,
child care costs are a significant portion of a family’s income
38.
The 2009 California Kids Count Data Book indicates San Diego County has a 19.2% rate of children in
low-income households (Table 23).
Table 23. Poverty and Economic Hardship in San Diego County, 2010-2011
39Key Indicators
2010
2011
Number
% of total
Number
% of total
County residents living below the federal
poverty level
446,060
14.8%
462,269
15.1%
Children living below the federal poverty level
137,287
19.2%
137,084
19.1%
County residents in economic
hardship (200%FPL)
1,006,047
34.0%
1,039,957
34.0%
As can be seen in Table 24 and 25, a large proportion of children living in poverty and economic hardship
reside within North County and the areas serviced by MAAC.
Table 24. Poverty and Economic Hardship in San Diego County, by Region, 2011
40Locale
All Residents
Children
Carlsbad
12.4%
13.0%
Oceanside
13.6%
12.9%
San Marcos
19.0%
16.4%
Vista
20.3%
21.5%
El Cajon
23.5%
34.8%
Chula Vista
11.6%
15.8%
San Diego County
16.0%
22.1%
37US Census Bureau, 2008
38Brion & Associates. http://www.brionassociates.com/ 39The Annie E. Casey Foundation.kidscount.org
Table 25. Poverty Estimates (in Percentages) by City
41Locale
<50%
50-74%
75-99%
100-124% 125-149% 150-199%
Families
with
children
Camp Pendleton
2.4%
1.7%
4.1%
8.8%
10.1%
21.0%
9.0%
Carlsbad
2.3%
2.7%
3.5%
4.5%
6.2%
8.8%
7.4%
Escondido
5.4%
9.6%
10.7%
12.3%
11.7%
9.3%
25.6%
Fallbrook
4.9%
3.5%
4.7%
6.0%
4.2%
8.5%
14.7%
Oceanside
5.3%
3.4%
3.7%
4.5%
4.9%
10.7%
12.3%
Pauma
8.8%
4.9%
4.1%
5.2%
10.1%
8.9%
17.4%
San Marcos
4.3%
3.1%
3.9%
4.2%
5.6%
9.5%
10.2%
Valley Center
3.1%
2.5%
2.5%
1.5%
4.1%
5.3%
9.5%
Vista
5.6%
3.6%
4.4%
4.8%
6.0%
10.6%
13.3%
Poverty estimates, however, do not capture the pockets of poverty that exist within MAAC’s region. High
poverty zones for each community are listed below:
Oceanside
: the Crown Heights neighborhood, San Diego Street, Balderama Park area, and in the San
Luis Rey Valley area of Oceanside. The four centers in Oceanside all provide services for Head Start
and/ or Early Head Start children in their respective neighborhoods.
Vista
: The Raintree Park, South Santa Fe, Townsite, and Escondido Ave. neighborhoods continue to
have the highest needs. In Vista, MAAC provides services to Head Start and/ or Early Head Start
eligible children at three centers.
San Marcos
: the Autumn, Mulberry, and San Marcos elementary school areas, and one other
neighborhood which falls between the border of Vista and San Marcos (near Poinsettia and Palmyra
neighborhoods). Many families in this area live in apartments or houses were they share the rent with
other family members in order to make ends meet. MAAC provides services to eligible children in
San Marcos at four Head Start and/ or Early Head Start centers.
Escondido
: the Hickory, Rose, Mission, Escondido Boulevard, Seventh Avenue and Felecita
neighborhoods. These are all new service areas for MAAC Head Start; the program is providing
services in the neediest neighborhoods of Escondido.
Rural communities (Fallbrook, Pauma and Valley Center):
many families live in shared housing
with other family members. In addition, many live on farm owners’ land in sub-standard housing or
Native American reservations, which have limited facilities. MAAC’s Valley Center Rincon site is
located on Rincon Reservation land and the Pauma Valley Center is located near the Pauma Valley
School District. The Pauma Valley School District is also on Indian/Native American land. One of the
Fallbrook Centers is located along side of the Fallbrook School District at Fallbrook Elementary
School. MAAC’s second Fallbrook center is located at the Fallbrook View Affordable housing
apartments. The local health providers and the WIC program have worked with the Head Start
program using the Community Center at Fallbrook View to introduce Head Start families to the
resources available to them. The partnerships with the elementary school have also been well received
by the community in Fallbrook. Many events have been held together with Head Start and Fallbrook
Elementary school, with MAAC partnering with and inviting the school district to participate, and
local community families coming together to support Head Start. As a result, both Math and Literacy
events have been very successful.
Transportation
As seen in Table 26, in 2011, 452,000 children under the age of 18 were living in households with no vehicle. In
San Diego County, there were 18,000 of these children.
Table 26. Children Under 18 Living in Households Without A Vehicle At Home
42Location
Data Type
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
California
Number
455,000
430,000
450,000
446,000
452,000
Percent
5%
5%
5%
5%
5%
San Diego
Number
16,000
12,000
11,000
17,000
18,000
Percent
5%
4%
4%
6%
6%
Focus group participants identified transportation issues as a main barrier to accessing child care. Particularly
within the rural areas, there is either a lack of public transportation available or the travel time becomes an
issue. For example, one parent in Pauma noted, it could take up to 25 minutes to walk to a bus stop. In
42Population Reference Bureau, analysis of data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000 Supplementary Survey, 2001 Supplementary
Survey, 2002 through 2011 American Community Survey. http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/68-children-without-a-vehicle-at-home?loc=1&loct=3#detailed/2/6/false/867,133,38,35,18/any/370,371
In Head Start and Early Head Start, parents learn how to help their children, learn to set goals for themselves
and develop plans to become more self-sufficient. Parents become more confident about themselves, their
future and their children’s future. Children living in poverty enter school more confident and ready to learn
because of their participation in programs like Head Start and Early Head Start. Because children living in
poverty do not have the same opportunities that their more affluent classmates have, they face many
challenges, such as crowded housing, lack of housing or inadequate nutrition. They do not have access to
services like comprehensive health and dental care, literacy services and experiences from which their
families gain sound parenting skills. With the current economy, families are finding it more difficult to make
ends meet.
addition, parents pointed out that due to funding cuts, transportation to many schools has been eliminated.
Parents are concerned about their child’s safety as they are having to walk to and from school alone.
Gangs
Data shows a strong link between the level of connectedness to school and involvement or membership in
gangs—programs like MAAC’s Head Start foster this connectedness from an early age in some of the more
vulnerable populations in the county-thereby helping to curb gang membership and building potentially more
safe and productive communities for children (Table 27).
Table 27. Reports of Gang Membership, by Level of Connectedness to School: 2008-2010
43San Diego County is home to more than 90 different gangs of various ethnic groups and subgroups. Gang
awareness has been one of the issues adopted for special attention by MAAC and various activities have been
undertaken by the program to address the problem. According to the North County Regional Gang Task
Force, Oceanside has 12 gangs with about 1,150 members; San Marco has 2 gangs with 176 members, Vista has
2 gangs with 359 members, Fallbrook has one gang with 83 members and Valley Center has one gang with two
members.
44MAAC Head Start/ Early Head Start utilize the Second Step-Violence Prevention Curriculum in their
classrooms. In addition, every center has had either the Sherriff Office or a member of the Police Department
give presentations on gang awareness and prevention as well we other crime and safety issues, such as gun
safety and neighborhood watch programs.
43San Diego County Child Youth Safety.http://www.kidsdata.org/data/region/dashboard.aspx?loc=368&cat=1 44North County Regional Gang Task Force. http://www.sdsheriff.net/lesb_sid.html
California
Percent
Level of Connectedness to School
Yes
No
High
5.9%
94.1%
Medium
9.1%
90.9%
Low
17.6%
82.4%
San Diego County
Percent
Level of Connectedness to School
Yes
No
High
6.8%
93.2%
Medium
9.4%
90.6%
Community Needs and Priorities in North San Diego County
SUMMARY FINDINGS
In 2011, nearly one third (31%) of all children in San Diego had neither parent in full time
employment, and 22% of San Diego families had at least one working parent and a family
income less than twice the federal poverty level.
The Cost of Living for San Diego County is 31.8% above the national average, with a median
home price of $342,000.
The average rent for apartments in San Diego County is expected to rise 5.2% in 2013, 1.2%
higher than nationally.
Rent in 2012 was among the highest in the county in MAAC’s North County service area.
The average child care costs for a family with an infant at an FCCH and a preschooler at a
child care center can range from 28% to 49% of the median household income depending
on the location in the county.
Overall, there is a shortage of about 25,000 spaces for infant and school age care in the
County.
Overall, about 35% of the children eligible for subsidized care receive some sort of support,
while 65% do not receive the needed subsidy.
MAAC Head Start only serves 7% of eligible children and Early Head Start serves only 2% of
eligible children within the service area.
Considerations for the Future
The table below highlights the opportunities for action that are identified in this 2013Needs Assessment. These
opportunities were reviewed and discussed at the Policy Council Board Meeting in September 2013.
Opportunity for Action
There is a need in North San
Diego County
North San Diego County is in critical need of more
infant and toddler care, especially center based care.
North San Diego County needs more full time
subsidized center based and alternative payment slots.
San Diego needs more subsidized care in all areas of the
County.
North San Diego County needs to continue to identify
the special needs of young children and tailor child care
services for specific populations.
In addition to the needs described above, the policy council discussed several additional opportunities to
ensure that child care needs are met to the greatest extent possible in North San Diego County.
Develop a plan to disseminate report findings.
Information from the 2013 assessment can be used to
educate and inform policy leaders and the community about the need for affordable, quality child care.
The Policy Council can create a report dissemination plan that describes who should receive the
information, the format of the information to be shared (e.g., full report, key highlights), and where the
information should be presented (e.g., Board of Supervisors meetings, City Council meetings, Rotary
Clubs, newspapers, local community/neighborhood meetings). Sharing this information may increase
buy-in among parents and key leaders in the community.
Create an action plan for increasing the quality of child care in San Diego County.
The need for
quality child care is an issue. Therefore, the Policy Council may want to consi
