The Santa Cruz County Child Care Planning Council meets on the second Thursday of every month (except July) from 2:30 to 4:30 at the County Office of Education (809-H Bay Avenue in Capitola, in the Nob Hill Shopping Center).

Meetings are occasionally rescheduled or held at alternate locations. For this month's meeting date and location, click here. Monthly committee meeting dates, locations and topics can also be found here.

Directions to the County Office of Education are located here.

All meetings are open to the public and reserve space on the agenda for public comment. Please join us at our next meeting!

Current News

Current projects of the Child Care Planning Council:

View the recently developed Professional Development Planning Toolkit for Early Care and Education Advisors, Students and Professionals.

Planning for the 2008 Central Coast Early Care and Education Conference began in September, 2007. View the Agendas and Minutes page for details on meeting times and locations.

The Planning Council has drafted a new Five Year County Master Plan for Early Care and Education and School Age Extended Learning. The Master Plan Committee will soon be taking this draft out to the community for input and to seek collaboration with other agencies in achieving these goals. View the draft Master Plan Principles, Goals and Strategies. Your feedback is welcome!

Functions of the Child Care Planning Council

• Conducts a five-year Needs Assessment and from that assessment, creates a Master Plan for child care and early education in the County. See the Reports page of this site for the latest Needs Assessment and Master Plan.

• Based on annual data collection and analysis, develops a Priorities Report for child care expansion funding from the state (pertains state subsidized programs only).

• Considers request for letter of support (both grant and non-grant). Download a request form for a non-grant related letter of support. Download a request form for a grant related letter of support.

• Meets periodically with local and state elected officials to inform them of the early care needs of Santa Cruz County's children and families.

• Hosts a variety of working committees designed to address current challenges and opportunities in the field of Early Care and Education and School Age Extended Learning.

• Advocates for family and child care friendly policies locally, state wide and on the national level.

• Engages and educates the public on issues relevant to Early Care and Education and School Age Extended Learning programs.

Click here for a list of commonly used Child Care Planning Council acronyms and terms.

Current Funding Opportunties

Current CA Dept of Education Funding Opportunities:

General Child Care and Development

Child Care Facilities Revolving Fund --General Facilities Application

California After School Demonstration Program - ASES & 21st CCLC

21st CCLC - Regional After School Technical Assistance System

After School Education and Safety - Regional Lead Technical Assistance System

Facilities Renovation and Repair