Press Release

On Dec. 6th, Spokane County Commissioners allocated $316,500 in a pilot program at three childcare centers to embed mental health professionals within each center.   They will provide wrap around support for children, their families,  and childcare providers most impacted by the pandemic.

Press Release

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 22nd, 2022

 

Contact: Kerra Bower, Little Scholars, 509-294-9494, [email protected]

Jim Dawson, Spokane Alliance, 360-292-8540, [email protected] 

 

Spokane County Invests In Groundbreaking Pilot Program 

For Children’s Mental Health 

On Dec. 6th, Spokane County Commissioners allocated $316,500 in a pilot program at three childcare centers to embed mental health professionals within each center.   They will provide wrap around support for children, their families,  and childcare providers most impacted by the pandemic.  

 

The childcare centers funded for the pilot program are Little Scholars Development Center, Parkview Early Learning, and A Bright Beginning. These centers specialize in serving families who have been most impacted by the pandemic . 

 

“The thing that makes this program different is that we are not just focusing on the student. We are recognizing that it takes a village to support the child. This program will help the kids who are struggling the most get the support they need to be ready to thrive when they enter into kindergarten,” said Kerra Bower, Owner of Little Scholars Development Center, and creator of the pilot program.  Bower is also co-chair of the Childcare Team at the Spokane Alliance that lobbied for these funds.  

 

This investment by the county caps off a year of victories for the  Spokane Alliance’s campaign to lobby local governments to invest in childcare and help our community recover from the pandemic. The campaign has secured over $6.5 million to support families and  stabilize the childcare industry. The victories include: 

 

• The City of Spokane allocated $3.5 million for Childcare Stabilization.  The City was the first to provide funds for families and centers. On November 21, Community Minded Enterprises received the contract to distribute the funds which are “are intended to assist childcare providers with staffing and assist users of the service in offsetting costs as they return to work.” 

 

• The City of Spokane Valley allocated $500,000 towards Mental Health Learning Assistance. These funds are intended to support the mental and behavioral health needs of the childcare industry, including the workforce and students. 

 

• The Spokane County Commission previously allocated $2.2 million dollars for childcare. The Spokane Workforce Council (SWC) was the recipient of the “Economic Impact Assistance” funds that are intended to be invested in childcare. On October 26, 2022, the SWC said the funds will be used “to support middle-income families struggling with childcare costs and the childcare industry experiencing challenges hiring and retaining workers….”

About The Spokane Alliance 

The Spokane Alliance is a non-partisan and non-profit alliance of 37 congregations, unions, student and community groups in Spokane County representing over 20,000 adults. We are everyday people taking powerful action together for the common good.

 

We develop the diverse voices of our community, building relationships across religious, racial, class, and neighborhood lines. Together we build the power to make positive changes in our community, making our shared home a better place to live and thrive.

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