Call To Order
Roll Call
Committee Chair Elizabeth Boyle called the meeting to order at 1:30 a.m.
in a hybrid meeting.
7 -
Present:
Elizabeth Boyle, Barry Buchanan, Ben Elenbaas, Kaylee Galloway, Jessica
Rienstra, Jon Scanlon, and Mark Stremler
Announcements
Special Presentation
1.
Presentation from the Health and Community Services Department on the Whatcom
Kids First Subsidy Program budget
Sarah Simpson, Health and Community Services Department, read from a
presentation (on file) updating councilmembers on the Whatcom Kids First
Subsidy Program, that a contract has been awarded to Aidkit Inc. to develop
and implement a localized child care provider rate augmentation and family
subsidy program, what we are providing to the community through the
program, and that Health and Community Services’ original
recommendation to move their subsidy eligibility threshold from 75 to 85
percent of the state median income (SMI) and to provide a rate
augmentation for children 0-3 had to be adjusted because the State did not
move their subsidy threshold up to 75 percent as was planned.
She answered if they have calculated how much it would cost if they were to
cover up to the 85 percent and how many kids that would serve, and stated it
was a significant amount (around $1 million or more) and would serve
fewer kids than expected (150-200). She discussed with councilmembers
how much families might get in the state program depending on their
income, caution in using some of the Healthy Children’s Fund balance for
the purpose of raising the threshold and that it may be better used for capital
expenses or other things down the road, that the next capital request for
proposal is not planned yet but will hopefully be in the next six months, that
they are talking about narrowing the implementation plan strategies as they
align the new plan with the budget cycle, that this program falls under the
strategy of making child care more accessible, that Aidkit will hold the
work of promoting the State’s Working Connections Child Care program,
and that Council is inviting Simpson to come back in July to have a more
thorough conversation about the status of the Health Children's Fund.
Kayla Schott-Bresler, Executive's Office, and Simpson answered if they
need a motion from the Council and stated this is an update to the Council
letting them know that this is how they Plan to administer the program, and
they will bring the contract forward when it is ready, hopefully within the
next two months.
