The Houston Parks and Recreation Department (HPARD) requests City Council approval of an ordinance authorizing an agreement between the City of Houston and the Gulf Coast Workforce Board to certify $1,000,000 in after-school program expenditures for use to match draw down federal child care funds.
The purpose of this agreement is to leverage funds used to operate the Houston Parks and Recreation Department After- School Enrichment, Summer Enrichment, and After-School Achievement Programs to obtain additional federal funding under Title VI of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. The Texas Workforce Commission Gulf Coast Workforce Board (GCWB) can draw federal funds for appropriate distribution for each dollar of the qualified match. GCWB will use the City's certified expenditures totaling $1,000,000 to draw down from an estimated $2,992,910 in federal funding available for this program in Houston. The agreement pledges that by September 30, 2022, the City of Houston will provide statements to the Gulf Coast Workforce Board certifying expenditures made between October 1, 2021, and August 30, 2022. The performance period in this agreement is October 1, 2021 – August 30, 2022 and includes a provision for a renewal of up to three (3) consecutive one-year terms.
Under this agreement, the Gulf Coast Workforce Board will use the City's certified expenditure to draw down federal funds for after-school programs and summer day camps for Houston youth. The agreement directs the Gulf Coast Workforce Board (GCWB) to utilize the federal funding to subsidize the cost of childcare programs for low-income families and provide Child Care Quality Improvement funds for allowable quality improvement activities. Approximately 1,000 children will benefit from reduced or no-cost summer day camp, and 2,000 children will benefit from reduced or no-cost after-school programs. In addition, local area childcare practitioners will receive professional development opportunities, resources, and materials to enhance the deliverables of quality improvement programs.
Director's Signature:
______________________________
Kenneth Allen, Director
Houston Parks and Recreation Department