Every Whatcom County child deserves to be safe and healthy, with the opportunity to thrive. But this year, an initiative is trying to take away much-needed support for vulnerable and at-risk kids and families.
The Healthy Children’s Fund
We need 5,000 more childcare slots in Whatcom County in order for every kid to have a healthy start.
That’s why Whatcom County voters stepped forward in 2022 to approve the Healthy Children’s Fund, to make sure every child has the opportunity for a healthy life.
We don’t believe a one-size-fits-all solution would work in Whatcom. Children and families have diverse needs and our child care and early learning options need to reflect that. From large child care centers to small licensed family homes and faith-based preschool programs, the Healthy Children’s Fund is designed to support as many providers as possible in expanding.
Vote NO on Whatcom County I-2024-01 so that we don’t lose vital programs for Whatcom kids and families.
Details about The Fund
A healthy start for every child and new family in Whatcom County means high-quality, affordable early education and childcare, regardless of where we live or our family background.
Because Whatcom voters said YES to Kids in 2022, funds are being raised through a property tax increase of about 2% to 3%.
1) Early Learning and Care Opportunities
Lower costs for high-quality and professional early learning and childcare
Smart investments can lower the cost of childcare on both ends of the equation: both for parents and for childcare providers. This Fund is chipping in directly to help low and middle-income working families afford high-quality care. It also is improving the efficiency of how childcare providers coordinate the services they provide.
Create better jobs and help kids at the same time
Today most early education and childcare workers make minimum wage; less than $30,000 a year on average. This Fund will increase wages and allow Whatcom County to attract and retain high quality providers for our children.
Services as unique and diverse as Whatcom County
Whatcom County is a big place with families of all stripes. This Fund is working to expand child care services that meet the needs of families. This includes affordable childcare in every corner of Whatcom, for a broad range of schedules, including in emergencies.
2) Strong Support for Families
Sometimes, pregnant and new families need a hand
We all know services aren’t keeping up with demand in Whatcom. This Fund is focused on training opportunities and support for new families, expanding mental health services for pregnant parents and families with young kids, and providing interim housing services to get families back on their feet.
3) Transparent and Accountable
The Healthy Children’s Fund includes strict accountability rules and can only be used for early childhood education, childcare services, and support for new parents in Whatcom County.
This fund is managed and tracked by Whatcom County, with budget oversight by the Whatcom County Council, strategic direction by voters via this ballot measure, and program oversight, recommendations, and evaluation by citizen-appointed taskforce.
There are independent audits built into the program to collect, review, and share progress towards goals.
Kristina Michele Martens
Leslie Farris
Erin Lynch
Ken Gass, MD
Jovan Hall
Dan Hammill, Councilmember
Meredith Hayes
Patti Imhof
Barb Lupo
Dave Lynch, MD
Emily O'Connor
Alex Ramel, State Representative
Sharon Shewmake, State Senator
Lisa Kaepernick, MD
Who we are:
The community, business, and non-profit leaders kickstarting our campaign!
Peter Frazier
Chao-ying Wu, MD
Kirsten Barron
Steve Bennett
Michael Berres, PhD
Jace Cotton, Councilmember
Ray Deck III
Brian Estes
Anne-Marie Faiola
Leslie Farris
Jessie Tanksley
Vesla Tonnesen
Marilyn Chu, PhD
Milestones
Jan 2020 The County Council adopted the Child & Family Action Plan. Developed through a years-long effort to forge a vision for a ‘beloved community’, the action plan included the best thinking of hundreds of community leaders, health care professionals, and parents. One of its seven recommendations was to, “Pursue new funding mechanisms to significantly increase local resources for well-being promotion and crisis prevention.”
Dec 2020 To aid guide the implementation of the action plan, the County Council formed the Child/Family Well-Being Task Force, and directed it to, “develop and establish methods to increase and stabilize funding streams for child and family programs, services, and infrastructure.”
May 2022 Via bipartisan super-majority, the County Council gave Whatcom County voters the chance to make a significant investment in the health and well-being of children in our community.
Nov 2022 Voters approve Prop. 5 to establish the Healthy Children’s Fund! The County begins to set up the structure to administer the program.
Today, we are asking a judge to determine the validity of the initiative filed to dismantle the Healthy Children’s Fund. Read about the serious legal issues here.
We are also gearing up to win once more for vulnerable and at-risk kids and their families. Whatcom County’s future depends on having healthy kids.
Spring 2024 Funds are going out the door to help pregnant mothers in need deliver healthy babies and learn the basics of caring for their new baby, add to scarce childcare capacity, meet basic needs for kids depending on our food banks, and to provide housing for young families at risk of homelessness.
Meanwhile, a small group of wealthy donors spent nearly $60,000 on paid signature gatherers to repeal the Healthy Children’s Fund. This will strip at-risk mothers and children of help and end childcare expansion countywide. Those who signed were misled about the property tax increase. The Healthy Children’s Fund increased property taxes by about 2% or 3%, not 25% as the campaign to repeal the Healthy Children’s Fund claim.
