FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 30, 2023
Media Contact:
Jenefar de León Cossey
Public Relations Specialist
971-387-0124
JdeLeonCossey@yamhillcco.org
Yamhill County Board of Commissioners Approves $2.2 Million Investment in Childcare Expansion
McMinnville, Ore. – On Thursday, May 18, the Yamhill County Board of Commissioners approved a $2.2 million American Rescue Plan Act investment to address the childcare desert crisis and lack of early care and education workforce in Yamhill County.
Yamhill Community Care (YCCO) Early Learning Hub, in partnership with the Yamhill County Board of Commissioners, convened a task force of local leaders, parents, and early educators to recommend research-based strategies to increase childcare and preschool capacity.
“While families struggle to find available childcare, programs also face multiple challenges. Running a childcare business is challenging – and many of our program directors have no education in that area. Those who want to open programs are often deterred by the challenges they face navigating a complex system that varies from one community to the next. And those who are established and want to expand often struggle to find the workforce to do so,” said Jenn Richter, Early Learning Hub Director. “We are thrilled that Yamhill County is investing in the underlying causes that contribute to Yamhill County being classified as a childcare desert.”
This investment will support a three-year program that includes opening a high-quality childcare center, which will serve as a training site to recruit paid apprentices to the profession. Simultaneously a new Build a Business program will support existing educators to expand capacity at their facilities with education, system navigation support, and financial grants. These programs will be administered by Child Care Resource & Referral, a program of Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency.
The Yamhill Early Learning Hub brings together the early childhood, K-12 education, health, human and social service, community, business, government, and philanthropic sectors to improve outcomes for young children and align services into one efficient and effective county-wide early learning system.
About Yamhill Community Care:
Yamhill Community Care (YCCO) is a Coordinated Care Organization that serves Oregon Health Plan (OHP) members in Yamhill County and parts of Washington and Polk County.
YCCO’s more than 50 employees are dedicated to improving members’ quality of life by coordinating family support services and effective, integrated, patient-centered health care. YCCO stands out as the only CCO that is also an Early Learning Hub.
Learn more at www.yamhillcco.org, and follow YCCO on Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube.