Childcare Workshop Series

We are starting a quarterly workshop series at the Business Development Center in Cle Elum with an array of topics, our first one being childcare. Starting in April, every Wednesday from 12-1 p.m we will be diving into this topic presented by Kittitas County Health Network and Washington State Department of Commerce.

Kittitas County is considered a child care desert, illustrating that the demand for child care far exceeds its supply. The Kittitas County Health Network (KCHN) acknowledges the impacts this poses on the community and has devoted time and energy to addressing the issue. In 2021, The Kittitas County Health Network worked with consultants to produce a Child Care Needs Assessment, with funding supports from the Washington State Department of commerce. The Assessment highlighted key findings and presented recommendations to address the unmet need. From there, a strategic plan was created by the Child Care work group and continues to evolve to this day as challenges continue to arise and the community continues to expand.  Join Nicole Matthews, KCHN Community Projects Director us to learn more about the Child Care Needs of Kittitas Count, reviewing the most recent assessment and any updated data. This will be the first of 4 in the Child Care series.