To: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
From: Social Services
Meeting Date: November 3, 2026
Department Contact: DeNeese Parker Phone: 707-463-7761 Department Contact: Renee Alger Phone: 707-463-7985
Item Type: Consent Agenda Time Allocated for Item: N/A
Agenda Title:
title
Approval of the 2026 Local Child Care and Developing Planning Council (LPC) Needs Assessment; and Authorization for the Department Head to Transmit the Assessment to the California Department of Social Services (CDSS)
Vote Requirement: Majority
End
Recommended Action/Motion:
recommendation
Approve the 2026 Local Child Care and Developing Planning Council (LPC) Needs Assessment; and authorize the Department Head to transmit the assessment to the California Department of Social Services (CDSS).
End
Previous Board/Board Committee Actions:
None.
Summary of Request:
The 2026 Mendocino County’s Local Child Care & Development Planning Council (LPC) Needs Assessment was completed in May 2026 using the template provided by CDSS; however, because statewide data systems previously used by LPCs (CELNAR, ELNAT) are no longer available and CDSS has not yet released an updated template, some questions have been struck out or remain unanswered. Despite these limitations, the Assessment identifies several significant trends, including changes in reported average family income, a decline in enrollment for local programs - particularly among Transitional Kindergarteneligible fouryearolds - and ongoing or increasing needs in areas such as infant/toddler care capacity, public assistance involvement, special education services for children ages 0–5, and the rise in children under age three involved in child protective services.
The LPC will use the findings from this Needs Assessment to develop strategic priorities and action steps over the coming year. Staff welcomes input from the Board and the public as this planning work moves forward.
Alternative Action/Motion:
Return to staff for...
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