REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
February 24, 2026
FROM
ARLENE MOLINA, Director, Preschool Services Department
SUBJECT
Title
Travel by Policy Council Members to Attend the 2026 Head Start to the Capitol Advocacy Day in Sacramento
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve travel and related expenses for two Preschool Services Department Policy Council members to attend the 2026 Head Start to the Capitol Advocacy Day in Sacramento, at a cost not to exceed $3,267, from March 16, 2026, through March 18, 2026.
(Presenter: Arlene Molina, Director, 383-2078)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The cost for two Preschool Services Department (PSD) Policy Council (PC) members to attend the one-day 2026 Head Start to the Capitol Advocacy Day will not exceed $3,267, which includes two additional days for travel, one day prior to and one after the event. These travel costs will be funded by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the PSD 2025-26 budget.
|
Expense |
Total |
|
Registration ($149 x two members) |
$298 |
|
Child Care: Daytime ($40 x two days x two members) Nighttime ($20 x two nights x two members) |
$240 |
|
Air Travel ($261 x two members) |
$522 |
|
Airline luggage fees ($70 Roundtrip x two members) |
$140 |
|
Meals: Breakfast ($22 x two days x two members) Dinner ($36 x two days x two members) |
$232 |
|
Lodging ($220 x two nights plus $74 taxes/fees x two members) |
$1,028 |
|
Airport Parking ($20 x three days x two members) |
$120 |
|
Mileage: Traveler 1 (Roundtrip to/from airport 89 miles x 72.5 cents) Traveler 2 (Roundtrip to/from airport 15 miles x 72.5 cents) |
$76 |
|
Taxi (Roundtrip to/from airport and hotel $93 x two members) |
$186 |
|
Contingencies (for increases in airfare, hotel costs, etc.) 15% |
$425 |
|
Total |
$3,267 |
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
PSD operates the federally and state funded Head Start Preschool (HS), Early Head Start, and Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership programs serving 2,039 children in locations throughout the county. HS and State Preschool programs have been operating in the county since 1965. Since 1999, PSD has provided these programs through a combination of direct and contracted services.
The Federal HS Program Regulations mandate the Board of Supervisors (Board), as a grant recipient, to establish two governing bodies that will share responsibility with the grant recipient for overseeing the delivery of high-quality services to enrolled children and their families. The governing bodies are composed of parents of enrolled children and community members known as the PC; and the PSD Shared Governance Board, which is composed of a member from the Board and members from other County departments with expertise in Early Childhood Education and Development, health, and mental health.
Two PSD PC members were selected at the December 15, 2025, PSD PC meeting to attend the 2026 Head Start to the Capitol Advocacy Day in Sacramento. The PSD PC members are parents with children enrolled in HS Programs selected to attend HS conferences as required by PSD PC Bylaws. Under the PSD PC Bylaws, Article VIII - Meetings, reimbursement of childcare costs is allowed when a PSD PC member participates in a PSD PC related activity, such as conferences and meetings.
The PC members will participate in a training sponsored by HS California that brings the HS community together to meet with legislators, discuss critical policy and advocacy issues, and rally at the Capitol. This training will provide a unique opportunity to advocate for children ages zero to five years and their families by bringing critical issues directly to the attention of policymakers. Attendees will learn effective advocacy strategies, engage in discussions on key HS policy issues, and build connections by networking with other HS parents from across the state. PC members will report back to the PSD PC to share insights with parents at their school sites. Travel is scheduled for Monday, March 16, 2026, as the event begins early Tuesday morning, March 17. The training is a one-day event, and attendees will return on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Adam Ebright, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on January 21, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Allegra Pajot, Administrative Analyst, 388-0218) on February 5, 2026.