CHILD AND ADOLESCENT WELFARE Adopted 1989

Support for the provision and improvement of accessible and preventive health and welfare services for all children and adolescents and their families in the Claremont Area. Included should be medical and mental health and services for pregnant and parenting teens. Education of the community in the needs of children and youth is an essential part of this position.

CHILD CARE Adopted 2001

Support policies and programs that ensure all children needing child care will receive quality care in a safe, healthy environment provided by well educated, qualified staff using developmentally appropriate practices. Support class sizes and adult/child ratios based on ages and needs of children. Support a living wage and financial support for professional education for all staff. Support program planning during the regular paid work schedule as a basic part of program quality. Support policies and programs that ensure all parents needing child care will have affordable, accessible care in the area where they live or work as well as flexible hours to meet parents’ work schedules. Support a seamless, well-publicized, regional referral system to provide parents with information in locating child care in a timely manner. Support long-term, consistent funding, including federal and state subsidies, for public child care programs and incentives for development and continuation of child care businesses. Support cooperation and coordination between public and private programs and effective administration at the state, county, local and school district levels.

EDUCATION Revised 1979

Support of sound fiscal and administrative policies which provide sufficient funds for operation expense and capital improvement, long range planning, increased communication between administrations, school boards, and school district residents. Support of an integration policy which encourages desegregation of the public schools, an integrated education experience, and multicultural educational programs.

Added 1983: Support for an educational program which imparts intellectual knowledge and skills, fosters personal growth and creativity, equips students for productive work, and prepares them for responsible citizenship. The schools should actively foster high expectations for all students at all levels; provide effective incentives for improved achievement for educators and students; cultivate the higher order thinking processes; provide a broad, balanced educational program for all students; and increase time and opportunities for learning while decreasing class size. Support for community and family involvement in providing effective and adequately financed education.

HOUSING Adopted 1993, updated 2003 with approval of the Executive Board

Support a proactive position, leading to affordable housing for a wider range of economic levels and family compositions because affordable housing is necessary to a true sense of community. Support the development or enhancement of creative efforts among the city, other public sectors, and the private sector. These efforts should remedy existing problems as well as anticipate population trends in our region. Support the adoption of an inclusionary Housing Ordinance to compel developers to include affordable units in housing projects.

HUMAN NEEDS Adopted 1993

Support adequate programs which meet human needs including those for seniors, youth, disabled, and individuals of all ages, and the reflection of this commitment in appropriate governmental budgets.

LIBRARY Adopted 1995, reviewed 1996

Support of reliable sources of long term funding for full service public libraries and the strengthening of school library facilities and services.

MENTAL HEALTH Adopted 1984, revised 1995

Support for mental health services, available to all, emphasizing the importance of integrated client services (counseling, schooling, job placement, housing, medical treatment and hospitalization, if necessary) and the use of local, county and client committees for evaluation. We believe in a wide range of services, including in-patient and out-patient for acute and chronic cases. These services must be adequately financed from public and/or private funds to service a growing population with increasingly unmet needs.

WELFARE Adopted 1984

Support for continued and improved supportive services for welfare recipients; dissemination of information, continuation of emergency assistance and General Relief; and in-service training for eligibility and social workers increased.