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Form* 13-52 <br /> 7/18191 <br /> DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE <br /> REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION <br /> DEPARTMENT: Research and Development DATE: January 27, 2023 <br /> STAFF CONTACT: Douglass S. Adams PHONE: 808-961-8368 <br /> A, REQUEST: <br /> A Resolution is requested authorizing the County Department of Research and Development to enter into <br /> the fallowing multi-year(3 year) contract employee agreements that will be funded by American Rescue Plan <br /> Act funds that must be encumbered by no later than December 31, 2024 and expended by no later than <br /> December 31, 2026: <br /> 1. Early Childhood Resource Coordinator <br /> 2. Early Childhood Resource Associate <br /> B. BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION (USE ADDITIONAL: SHEETS AS NEEDED): <br /> The long standing shortages in early childhood care and education for Hawaii Island are well documented. <br /> It is a complex issue that spans the critical shortage of available childcare, the shortage of teachers and <br /> other childcare staff, the struggle for families to afford quality childcare, and the struggle that providers have <br /> in finding the balance between high quality care with competitive employeee salaries and affordability. <br /> Hawaii County's Early Childhood Resource Coordinator has been laying the groundwork for implementation <br /> of a strategic and multi-faceted plan to expand access to affordable and high quality child care and education <br /> for Hawaii Island keiki by establishing,a working group to help guide and facilitate action; forging private, <br /> public, and community partnerships to advance key initiatives; nurturing statewide coalitions to support <br /> collective advocacy; exploring employer sponsored opportunities; among other efforts. <br /> Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke's January 2023 announcement and commitment to expand high-quality <br /> child care and preschool for 3-and 4-year-olds by 2032 provides additional impetus and momentum for this <br /> work. <br /> A 3-year commitment of County support and investment in an Early Childhood Resource Coordinator and an <br /> Early Childhood Resource Associate is needed to bring to fruition initiatives that will set a longer term and <br /> sustainable path to establishing a coordinated system of early childhood services in Hawaii County to <br /> improve and enhance the availability, affordability, and quality of early care and education for children, ages <br /> birth to eight years old. <br /> SIGNED: DATE: January 27, 2023 <br /> Department Head <br />