What does it take to educate, entertain and nurture Whatcom County’s young?
In a business that struggles to operate, child care tuition prices are high, child care slots are in short supply, and care centers pay their caregivers just enough to keep them working.
Child care tuition in Whatcom County can exceed $13,000 a year per child and, because of a shortage of about 5,000 child care slots, waiting lists are filled months in advance.
Meet Julie Flores, lead teacher at James Street Child Development Center in Bellingham. On the business side, meet Kathy Westover, its owner and director; and Jonathan Hanson, owner, and Kendra Lee, director, of Bellingham’s A Child’s Life Learning Center.
Whatcom County’s Healthy Child Fund will begin funneling millions into child care resources to fill the gap of staff, money and children’s needs. Will that make the difference?
— Reported by Kai Uyehara