Welcome! Klickitat County Childcare Committee is a dedicated group of individuals from area agencies and organizations working to address the serious lack of childcare in our rural communities. WAGAP serves as our fiscal sponsor.
The childcare problem is widespread, affecting families and employers all across Klickitat County. They are experiencing a 'childcare desert', in that there are too few licensed, professional providers able to provide safe care for the children of hard working families. The lack of accessible, affordable childcare is unsustainable for everyone.
But our efforts are successful! Over the past two years we have been able to help six new home-based childcare sites receive their license, with nearly 50 openings now available for children in Klickitat County.
Want to get involved?
We usually meet via Zoom on the 4th Monday of the month at 2:00 p.m. You are welcome to join us as we share information and updates on our efforts!
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83620106358?pwd=LWgWGU6zq5LNE1NOL85EENFD8GxakQ.1
Meeting ID: 836 2010 6358
Passcode: 173404
Ready to open your own childcare business?
If you are interested, please email us at kccc@wagap.org. Our childcare liaison can help you with all the details. We offer information and resources on the important licensing requirements, and have created 'starter kits' for new licensed providers that will significantly reduce your initial start-up costs. We have a small amount of funds available as well to help you with some expenses needed to launch your childcare business.
Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families has a great deal of information here:
Learn more about the work the Childcare Committee is doing.
We are extremely grateful to the Washington State Department of Commerce for the planning grants awarded to the Committee to help it determine best ways to address the situation and find sustainable solutions to the issue. Southwest Accountable Communities of Health (SWACH) is also a prime supporter of KCCC's work.
We'd also like to thank our local Representatives in Washington, DC in helping KCCC attain federal funding to help support the establishment of childcare businesses. Unfortunately those funds have been and are on hold during federal budget negotiations. We continue to work with our local legislators and grant funders to help us attain construction or major renovation funding for a potential center.