Childcare Grant
COVID grant supports child care providers in Washington
Some wonder if it is too little too late
Goldendale, Washington (May 7, 2021) - Licensed child care providers who operate in-person services throughout Washington have an opportunity to apply for grant funding through the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) to help them stay open during continued COVID-19 conditions. The grant ranges from $6,500 to $20,000 depending on the size of the facility and applications close on May 20,2021 at 12:00 p.m. noon.
The opportunity is generally considered a positive step to support child care businesses that often struggle to make ends meet. All licensed providers in Washington are eligible to apply, but DCYF will prioritize payment processing for providers that are in counties designated “Communities of Concern” or are listed as a “Child Care Desert”. Klickitat County falls in the first category, Skamania County is not listed in either category.
Larissa Leveque of the Klickitat County Childcare Committee hopes that grants such as this will encourage more people to become licensed childcare providers, as the cost of running a business is often a huge deterrent to going through the process to receive certification. “The need in Goldendale is great, and our committee is working to bring more opportunities to the area,” Leveque said. The group is just now wrapping up a feasibility study for the county that highlights Goldendale’s situation. Only 30 percent of children under the age of six are currently being served in the community.
The funds from the grant must be used for items that support the child care business to ensure services remain available. Approved expense categories include business utilities, payroll, rent/space costs, food, PPE, cleaning supplies related to COVID-19, and technology and internet services. Building and facility repairs, or modifications, are not eligible.
There is a question if this funding is too little too late to make a difference, according to Tiffany Pearsall founder of Play Frontier, the only licensed child care center in Skamania County. She notes that childcare is so scarce in the region, she has families bring their children from as far away as North Bonneville and White Salmon to her nonprofit center in Stabler, which, for some, is a 40 minute drive.
“Child care centers are on a business model of breaking even, not making a profit. You want to make it affordable for families, but also pay living wages,” Pearsall said. She went on to explain that even before COVID, centers had a difficult time making ends meet, and now with added regulations it is even more challenging.
To cover Play Frontier’s staff of seven teachers serving up to 30 children, ages 0-5, Pearsall is constantly applying for grants. “I’m applying for 5-10 grants at a time, all the time,” she said. “We have to be constantly raising money because this business model isn’t built for this sort of use. It is unsustainable as a business at this point. A lot of teachers and providers are reaching the end of the line after a year in this (COVID) condition.”
But Leveque and Pearsall aren’t giving up just yet, they realize that the industry is vitally important to children, families and employers. Pearsall has her application already sent in for this grant, and hopes that even though Skamania County somehow isn’t on the priority lists, she might receive funding from this source to keep her team up and running.
For anyone interested in providing licensed child care in Klickitat or Skamania Counties, both women are available to answer questions and potentially help to mentor new providers. For Leveque email rissaleveque@gmail.com and for Pearsall email tiffany@playfrontier.org.
The COVID-19 DCYF grant application process is now open online at https://www.dcyf.wa.gov/coronavirus-covid-19/early-learning/covid19-grant-spring21. A paper application will also be accepted and must be received by the deadline. Help is available through a regional Child Care Aware office.
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Klickitat County Childcare Committee operates a Childcare Partnership grant through Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP). 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.