Item 08 - Informational Report for the California Department of Social Services Child Care Grant

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Informational Report for the California Department of Social Services Child Care Grant September 16, 2025 Page 2 5 3 3 9 discovered a series of challenges associated with the program. Some of these challenges were not identified until shortly before the May 12 deadline to begin child care service. Funding Terms and Conditions The CDSS Funding Terms and Conditions (Exhibit 2, an 81-page document available on the CDSS website) require grantee compliance with the following: •Title 45 Code of Federal Regulations addressing public welfare; •Any applicable Welfare and Institutions Code statutes; •Title 5 California Code of Regulations addressing educational requirements, staff qualifications, program administration, and parent involvement; •Title 22 California Code of Regulations addressing facility licensing, health and safety standards, and staff background checks; •Specific program requirements; •The CDSS Audit Guide; •The California School Accounting Manual; •Uniform administrative requirements, cost principles, and audit requirements for federal awards, known as Uniform Guidance; and •Any other applicable regulations. During the initial stages of planning, PRCSA staff believed the program would be exempt from Title 5 and Title 22 Regulations. Shortly after receiving the award notification, CDSS clarified the City would indeed need to adhere to these regulations, as outlined in the Funding Terms and Conditions document on the CDSS website. The regulations were not addressed in the November 19, 2024 staff report to City Council. Examples include: •Site licensing with facility compliance and inspections, such as the provision of separate bathrooms for adults and children with different sized fixtures; which cannot be accommodated by the City’s current facilities without significant capital improvements. •Food distribution safety requirements, which PRCSA staff planned to satisfy by utilizing the Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) food distribution system. There was no written agreement with SAUSD to provide these services. Distributing food in-house would necessitate significant capital improvements for kitchen and food-safety compliance, such as allergy management. •Minimum staffing requirements. •Medical training for staff. •Certified teachers to develop and manage a curriculum. •Specific insurance requirements. •Development of numerous policies to address child pick-up safeguards, discipline procedures, and parent-teacher communications.