Child-Care Monitor Likely to Be Laid Off

Despite protests from child protection groups, the county’s only state-funded ombudsman for child care is expected to lose her job Jan. 1 because of deep budget cuts in the California Department of Social Services.

Ombudsman Ann Tanouye, 47, for the last five years has worked with police, licensing officials and day-care homes to mediate disputes and improve reporting of child abuse. She is the only one of 35 workers in the county’s day-care licensing unit whose job is targeted for elimination.

As part of $15 million in budget cuts this year, her department is trimming 500 jobs statewide, including seven of 11 positions in its nationally recognized ombudsman program.

In Tanouye’s absence, other staff members will be expected to mediate day-care disputes for a territory that includes not only 2,700 licensed homes in Orange County but also day-care homes in San Diego, Riverside, Inyo, San Bernardino, Imperial and Mono counties.

“How are they going to be able to do this--spend eight hours (a week) in each county?” asked a skeptical Tina Pelzer of the Orange County Child Care Assn.

After such cuts, Pelzer said, there will be “more regulations for restaurants--and dog kennels--than there are for licensing (day-care homes) for children. And that’s sad.”

Tanouye also is unhappy. “I created this job,” she said, “If it were a useless position, I would say, ‘Good. Why waste the position?’ . . . I think my job is vital in prevention (of child-care problems, including abuse). But prevention is something that doesn’t get a whole lot of priority.”

Social Services Department spokeswoman Kathleen Norris noted that the cuts are not yet final, with many positions being lost through attrition. Many workers statewide have found jobs elsewhere, so only about 150 workers are expected to be laid off, she added.

Tanouye, for instance, is considering other Social Service jobs, state officials said.

The program was first targeted for cuts because it is not mandated by statute, Norris said.

Still “we’re saddened” by the loss because “it’s been a very effective program in terms of public relations, explaining state day-care regulations to the public and to day-care homes.”

Margie Davis, southern regional manager for Social Services’ community care licensing division, agreed, but added: “It’s gotten lots of national awards, but we had to look at what was statutory mandated,” and the department did not want to cut licensing visits to day-care homes.

A bill on Gov. Pete Wilson’s desk could restore $7.5 million to Social Services--and might save the 11 ombudsman positions. Wilson has not indicated whether he intends to sign it.

Even if he does sign the legislation, the bill by Assemblyman John Vasconcellos (D-Santa Clara) does not specifically reserve money for the ombudsman program.