2022-051 Affordable Child Care UpdateDate: August 19, 2022 Report No. 2022-051
INFORMAL STAFF REPORT
TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT:
The City of Denton’s Involvement in Affordable Child Care Activities
BACKGROUND: During the August 2 Council Meeting, Council Member Watts requested an
Informal Staff Report on any current task force that is addressing the crisis of affordable childcare
and what role the City of Denton is involved in said groups.
Denton County Child Care Data1 from Children At Risk (linked):
From March 2020 to September 2021, Texas lost 21% of childcare providers, and Denton
County lost approximately 24.5% of childcare providers.
There are 645 childcare providers in Denton county
420 Providers Serve Infants and/or Toddlers.
151 Providers Serve Infants and/or Toddlers on subsidies.
311 EC Providers received Child Care Relief Funds.
There are 48,441 childcare seats in Denton County, and 2,965 (6.1%) of those seats are
considered ‘Subsidy Seats’ (Parents working or in an educational/vocational training
program part-time for single-parent households and 50 hours for two-parent households.)
The below table highlights Denton zip codes that are considered Child Care Deserts (Zip
codes (US Census ZCTAs) with at least 30 children, ages 0-5, where the demand for
childcare is three times greater or more than the supply of childcare.)
From 2020 to 2021, the number of childcare seats per 100 children of working parents
decreased from 125.1 to 86.7. The number of subsidized childcare seats per 100 children
of working parents 200% below poverty decreased from 42.4 to 35.7.
Denton Zip Codes considered childcare deserts:
Zip
Code
# of Child Care
Seats
# of Children of
Working Parents
Childcare seats per
100 working parents
76205 201 677 30
76209 268 1374 20
76208 191 1776 11
DISCUSSION:
Included below is a summary of the ways in which the City of Denton currently contributes to or
engages in childcare-related activities and discussions.
City of Denton Human Services Funding: The City of Denton’s Community Development
Grant Program makes federal and local funding available annually for human services
programs serving moderate and low-income City of Denton residents. The City of Denton
1 Only county‐level data available.
Date: August 19, 2022 Report No. 2022-051
receives two to three applications annually from affordable childcare facilities. In FY
21/22, the City allocated $150,000 to provide childcare assistance to low-income families.
Texas Workforce Commission Local Childcare Match: Since November 2000, the City of
Denton provides matching funds annually to assist the North Central Texas Workforce
Development Board (NCTWDB) of the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) in securing
federal funds that are used to provide childcare vouchers for low-income working
households. This requires a certification of match that NCTWDB includes in its request
for these federal funds. All funds certified by the City benefit children from low to
moderate-income families who meet the NCTWDB income eligibility limits and reside
within Denton city limits. In FY 21/22, $91,300 of the City of Denton’s Human Services
grant funding was reported by NCTWDB’s toward their annual match requirements.
City of Denton Summer Programs: The City of Denton’s Parks and Recreation Department
(PARD) submits applications annually for the Community Development Grant Program to
provide full scholarships for a summer day camp program to income-eligible kids in need
of quality care, mentoring, development of life skills, leadership, respect for others and
respect for self. In FY 21/22, PARD received $45,000 to provide fifty-six (56) full-day
camp scholarships to income-eligible households.
Denton County Workforce Success Leadership Team (linked): The Denton County
Workforce Success Leadership Team (DCWSLT) is a collective impact initiative with
backbone support from the United Way of Denton County (UWDC). The vision of the
DCWSLT is that every individual in Denton County achieves financial independence, self-
sufficiency, and stability. Appointees to the DCWSLT come from local government, local
employers/businesses, higher education institutions, chambers of commerce, financial
institutions and social/transportation agencies. The Texas Workforce Commission is also
represented. Council Member Watts and Economic Development Director Wayne
Emerson are appointed to the DCWSLT as representatives of the City of Denton.
Community Services staff also attend these meetings regularly as guests.
o Family Child Care Network (linked): The Family Child Care Network (FCCN) is a
working group of the DCWSLT. The FCCN attempts to meet the growing need for
affordable childcare in Denton County by providing the tools needed for individuals
in the community to start their own in-home childcare centers. This workgroup
collaborates closely with the Texas Workforce Commission and engages in regular
conversation and analyses regarding the accessibility of affordable childcare in
Denton County. This group has identified opportunities for increased advocacy at
the state level to increase funding for and reduce barriers for childcare providers to
accept subsidy funding. For example, they are working with the Texas Workforce
Commission to identify potential recipients of start-up funding to establish new
childcare centers in the area. Additionally, the group has researched solutions in
neighboring communities, such as Tarrant County, where their Commissioners
Court allocated $45M of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding
(approximately 10% of their total ARPA funding) to support child care businesses
and expand infant and toddler child care.
Date: August 19, 2022 Report No. 2022-051
CONCLUSION:
The City of Denton is actively engaged in providing funding and seeking additional solutions for
affordable childcare. Future opportunities include continued engagement in the DCWSLT and
increased advocacy and collaboration at the county and state levels to address funding needs and
barriers to access.
STAFF CONTACT:
Courtney Douangdara, Community Services
REQUESTOR:
Council Member Watts
PARTICIPATING DEPARTMENTS:
Community Services
STAFF TIME TO COMPLETE REPORT:
3 hours