News Releases
Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - August 8, 2000
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Alt Contact:  Kathy Davis, WorkFirst Performance Team, 360-586-4066

Locke targets welfare savings to help families' child care needs

OLYMPIA - Gov. Gary Locke today awarded $9 million in project contracts to expand access to quality childcare for working families throughout Washington. The funds will be used specifically to create more childcare before and after school, during non-standard work hours, for children with special needs and for infants.

These funds come from savings due to lower welfare caseloads. Washington's WorkFirst program has helped so many welfare recipients enter the workforce that the cost of welfare grants has been cut in half, saving the state $250 million each year.

"We're investing the welfare savings into the things working families need most to stay employed and get ahead in the job market," Locke said. "These additional funds will be used to increase the types of childcare that are in shortest supply."

Childcare centers, school districts, community organizations, local governments and tribes from across the state submitted proposals to the Department of Social and Health Services. Through a competitive process, 38 proposals were selected to receive funds to expand childcare access (complete list attached - in word format).

An example of a successful project proposal came from Child Care Resources of King County. This private, non-profit resource and referral agency proposes to create an additional 350 childcare slots for infants in under-served areas of the county. They plan to recruit, train and provide ongoing support to new family home providers and award expansion grants to existing centers and home providers.

The Boys and Girls Club of Columbia Basin proposed creating after-school club houses in middle and junior high schools, offering activities for pre-teens in the communities of Moses Lake, Othello, Mattawa and Quincy. The clubs will provide homework tutoring, physical recreation and life skills for the prevention of substance abuse, pregnancy and violence.

State investments in childcare for working families have nearly tripled since welfare reform efforts began in 1997, now totaling $304 million annually. The number of children receiving state-subsidized childcare has jumped from 39,700 in 1997 to 84,600 children per month currently.

"The childcare needs of parents who are working or in job training are as varied as are families themselves," Locke said. "These awards represent another step toward creating a range of choices that will allow parents to work and support their families."

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