DAY-CARE TAKEOVER VALLEY'S LACA CENTERS LOSING FUNDING FROM HEAD START.

Byline: Rachel Uranga Staff Writer

Federal authorities said Thursday that they have denied a $10 million funding application for the San Fernando Valley's largest Head Start provider after it failed to show that it could provide adequate services for the 1,400 children under its care.

The 24 preschool centers now operated by the Latin American Civic Association in the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys will be turned over Nov. 1 to a federally appointed company that will run them for six months or until a new provider can be found.

Despite assurances from federal authorities that there will be no disruption in services, LACA employees and parents were uneasy as word spread through the northeast San Fernando Valley that the four-decade-old LACA could permanently close.

``We don't need another company here,'' said Maria Isabel, a 50-year-old grandmother picking up twins at one of the Pacoima centers. ``LACA communicates with us. If there is a problem, I can go to their office.''

Most LACA workers speak Spanish and understand families' needs, she said. The center, founded by local activists who drew attention to the paltry services provided for the Valley's poor, has deep ties and support in the community.

``As far as we are concerned, we are not going to say it's over,'' said Belinda Barragan, who sits on LACA's board of directors. ``We are going to fight this.''

LACA has a history of problems, including critical reviews by the Los Angeles County Office of Education, which oversaw its operations until recently, and the Administration for Children, Youth and Families, the federal agency ultimately responsible for administering Head Start programs.

The Office of Education terminated its contract with LACA earlier this year, saying LACA was poorly managed and failed to complete required health care exams. The federal agency then allowed LACA to apply for funding directly, but determined that it could not show that it had sufficient medical, social and nutritional services.

``We had questions in terms of the governance structure and LACA failed to give a detailed description of how it could administer the program on its own (without the Office of Education),'' said Joan Ohl, an Administration for Children, Youth and Families commissioner.

Over the next few weeks, Head Start officials and the Office of Education will help the federally appointed Community Development Institute of Colorado obtain needed child care licenses and workers' compensation insurance.

``One thing it's important to know is that Head Start programs will be maintained as is. There will be no lapse in service,'' Ohl said. ``I don't want people to feel all of a sudden with this change the children and family are not going to get services.''

It's unclear who will take control of the leases held by LACA, but Ohl said it's likely the institute will retain the same day-care centers and employees.

``LACA is not just any service provider, it's the original. ... I am hopeful that the things that inspired them to fight for these services to begin with will remain,'' said state Sen. Richard Alarcon, D-Van Nuys, a longtime supporter of the center.

Rachel Uranga, [phone]

rachel.uranga(at)dailynews.com

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Twins Alyssa and Marissa leave their day-care center in Pacoima with grandmother Maria Isabel on Thursday. ``We don't need another company here,'' said Isabel. ``LACA communicates with us. If there is a problem, I can go to their office.''

Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer