Clock is ticking on childcare appropriations
From Washington Gorge Action Programs:
By Tammy Kaufman
Goldendale, Wash. March 13, 2024 — The Klickitat County Childcare Committee (KCCC) is back in action after receiving grants totaling $95,000 from the Washington Department of Commerce and Southwest Accountable Community of Health (SWACH). The new funding will allow the group to expand county-wide while maintaining efforts in the Goldendale community. KCCC has also added a Spanish-speaking coordinator to assist applicants seeking to start childcare centers or home-based programs.
The committee, initially formed in 2019, focused on creating more licensed childcare options for parents. Over the past five years, it has conducted a feasibility study, supported individuals in becoming in-home licensed childcare providers, and secured a major appropriation of $583,390 in the FY 2022 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill for the renovation or construction of a new childcare center in Goldendale.
“The clock is ticking,” said Leslie Naramore, executive director of Washington Gorge Action Programs. “We must have a formal plan in place by August 31, 2025, to access the federal funding. If we can’t use it by this date, it will disappear.”
Partners agree that the significant lack of licensed childcare has a costly effect on children, families, and employers. Businesses throughout the county are struggling to recruit and retain employees. Parents often have to leave the workforce to care for children, which reduces family income.
What hasn’t yet been settled is where a new facility could be built in Goldendale. Several options have been explored, such as the old Public Works administrative building, but none have taken root. The cost of renovations and operations has been a major hurdle, as well as the lack of potential sites. KCCC has been researching various options, including bringing in a modular building designed for a childcare setting.
Naramore said a small plot of land is needed to get this off the ground. “If we could have a suitable half acre or more donated to the cause, it would help us to plan for the construction of a childcare center and meet this August 2025 deadline.” If a plan is approved in time, the group would then have until 2030 to use the funds.
While the group tackles that issue, it is also continuing to support efforts across the county. Johanna Roe, project coordinator, and grant writer for KCCC, said the newest grants have allowed the group to contract with two new liaisons to assist individuals interested in going through the licensing process to become childcare providers.
Jill McNealy
Jill McNealy will support applicants by linking them with the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) and Education Support District 112 (ESD 112) and being a local resource about qualifications and opportunities to help them with training and licensing requirements. She can be contacted by phone at 360-719-0314 or by email at klickitat4kids@gmail.com.
McNealy plans to meet monthly at the Goldendale Community Library with potential childcare providers. She will be in the Caplan Room on April 4 from 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. She is developing informational packets to hand out with helpful contacts, available resources, and links to the various agencies that oversee childcare licensing.
Claudia Guzman
Claudia Guzman will also work with DCYF and other agencies to expand these opportunities within the Latino community. Her role is to support Spanish-speaking applicants as they go through the process. She has been invited to observe the work Support for Early Learning and Families in Vancouver has done to increase support for local Hispanic childcare businesses. She can be reached by phone at 480-299-5185.
The team can also link applicants to Child Care Aware through ESD 112 and Early Achievers through DCYF. These programs are dedicated to creating a foundation of quality childcare through inclusive support and training. They focus on giving young children positive educational experiences that help them prepare for success in school.
Other communities in Klickitat County are also addressing the need for more childcare options. White Salmon Mayor Marla Keethler said, “We’re excited about the additional funding and expanded focus of the Klickitat Childcare Committee. Being able to build this partnership on the west side of the county will strengthen our city’s efforts to address the need for more local and affordable childcare, especially infant and toddler care, for our residents.”
To join KCCC or inquire about how to donate to the Goldendale facility effort, contact the group at kccc@wagap.org. Learn more about the Klickitat County Childcare Committee at http://www.gorgeearlylearning.com/kccc.html. The site includes helpful links and a quick resource guide for someone starting their journey to become a licensed childcare provider.
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Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit Community Action Agency that helps individuals, families, and communities. WAGAP addresses basic human needs, including food, shelter, energy assistance, and more, in Skamania and Klickitat Counties. For more than 50 years, WAGAP has helped people help themselves and reach self-sufficiency. Learn more at wagap.org, or contact WAGAP at (509) 493-2662 or info@wagap.org.
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