CHILD CARE RESOURCES
Child Care Aware of NW Washington
Provides families in Island, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, and Whatcom Counties with information and referrals to licensed child care facilities and supports child care providers through coaching, technical assistance, behavioral consultation, and professional development opportunities.
Call 1-800-446-1114 to talk with a Child Care Referral Specialist to learn more about child care options, how to locate licensed care, and how to apply for child care subsidy programs. M-F, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Center for Retention & Expansion of Child Care Northwest (C-RECC)
Opportunity Council and the Bellingham Regional Chamber of Commerce joined forces to open the new Center for Retention & Expansion of Child Care Northwest in 2020. The Center provides business technical assistance, coaching, feasibility studies and planning to existing and would-be providers of child care, local businesses and policy-makers to assure the local child care market does not contract further and, as soon as possible, expands.
The five areas of focus for the Center are:
- Stabilizing the child care market after the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic
- Retaining child care businesses and non-profit operations
- Starting up new child care enterprises
- Expanding existing child care businesses and non-profit operations
- Routinely incorporating licensable child care spaces into new housing and commercial developments
Emergency Child Care Voucher
Provides short-term emergency assistance to help families pay for high-quality child care in a licensed child care center or licensed family home. For more information click here
Kinship Care
Offers support services for grandparents or other non-parental caregivers of children in their custody in Whatcom, Island and San Juan County.
Kaleidoscope Play and Learn Groups
Kaleidoscope Play and Learn groups help families prepare their children ages birth to five for success in school and life. Caregivers and family members are encouraged to attend free weekly, facilitated play groups to learn about activities they can do at home to support children’s learning.
Single Entry Access to Services (SEAS)
Housed at the Opportunity Council, this program of Whatcom Taking Action provides a centralized intake system for families and medical professionals looking for services for children Birth to 21 in Whatcom County with known or suspected special needs.
Early Support for Infants and Toddlers
Serves families with children from birth to three years old who have developmental delays or disabilities in order to maximize each child’s development.
ASL Services
A current list of Opportunity Council programs and services is available in American Sign Language
