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The Child Care Action Council (CCAC) may not sound familiar to you, but you have probably heard about several of its many activities. CCAC is the agency that manages Block Fest, ECEAP (Early Childhood Education & Assistance Program) Preschool, Kaleidoscope Play and Learn groups, and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, to name a few. Its services focus on accessible child care, professional development for child care providers, and supporting parents and communities engaging with early learning.

a man holds a little girl and a box at a mail box
Sign up to receive free, age-appropriate books in the mail with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library through the Child Care Action Council. Photo courtesy: Child Care Action Council

Community Driven Services for Lasting Family Successes

Child Care Action Council strives to nurture early learning communities where children and families thrive. It was first opened in 1987 by parents, professionals, school and government representatives and various community members who were concerned about the inadequacies in our child care system. “Early childhood education really makes a difference,” explains Danielle King, who is the grants manager and the coordinator for Safe Kids Thurston County. It’s not just the academic components, but their social and emotional development and greater ability to succeed through the rest of their lives. CCAC offers opportunities for families who may have limited income and educational opportunities.

“We are a wonderful organization,” she adds. “I work with the most caring people I have ever met.”

Child Care Action Council Maintains Three Overarching Points of Focus

#1 – Family Services Efforts

“Everybody wants the best for their children and parents are the best teachers,” affirms Danielle. This involves acquiring skills for communicating, safety on bikes and in cars and the understanding the value of reading with your child. Here’s a run-down on services:

Safe Kids Thurston County. “I personally love the safe kids work,” says Danielle. “It’s hands on with the kids. We are making a difference.” Youth learn water safety, bike skills child passenger safety, and other important safety skills. The mobile traffic garden and Great Olympia Bike Rodeo are fun events for important learning experiences. It’s all about preventing unintentional injuries in youth.

BLOCK Fest early STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) program. CCAC hosts this hugely popular exhibit. It gives hands-on activities for learning for both children and parents together. It engages participants in colors, numbers, literacy and numeracy along with simply having fun. Schools and organizations can inquire about having all or a portion of BLOCK Fest at their event.

Kaleidoscope Play and Learn Groups. These free play groups meet in person for children from birth to five years along with their parents/caregivers. Trained playgroup facilitators engage in circle-time songs, interactive games and art. It’s fun for the kids and an opportunity for the adults to make connections with each other.

four kids sit on a couch, another one is sitting on the floor in front
Free playgroups and preschool are two of the many programs run by the Child Care Action Council that supports families and their children from the youngest of ages. Photo courtesy: Child Care Action Council

Raising A Reader: Early Literacy Program. The most significant factor impacting a child’s academic success, according to research, is being read to by a parent or primary caregiver on a regular basis before the youth starts kindergarten. Our Raising a Reader program in Grays Harbor County helps to develop, practice and maintain the habits of reading together at home. It’s about developing a life-long love of reading, beginning with reading aloud.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Families can receive free, high quality, age-appropriate books through the mail for their children from birth to five years of age. This program is not income dependent. It’s an easy way for children and their parents to spend meaningful time together. Part of this program is paid for by OSPI (Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction), with CCAC providing the balance for books mailed to children in Mason and Thurston Counties. Nearly 6,000 students are signed up locally with 65,000 across the state.

Margie’s Crisis Nursery. When an emergency arises and there is no safe place for your child, Margie’s Crisis Nursery can help.

Parents as Teachers of Mason County. This free home visitation program is designed to engage parents building the intellectual, language, social and physical abilities of their own children at home. Parents are the first and optimally the best teachers for their children. Getting developmental support and other info can be stress reducing and helpful for everyone.

#2 – Free Quality ECEAP (Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program) Preschool

Early learning supports children to be prepared for kindergarten and beyond. The focus is on the well-being of each child as well as tending to the basic needs of the family like housing, food and healthcare. The program lines up with nationally researched programs that have shown exceptional returns of investing in children at the earliest ages.

The ECEAP centers are located at Pleasant Glade Elementary school, Lacey, and at the Shelton Early Learning Center. You can begin the enrollment process on-line.

#3 – Support for Child Care Providers

Early Achievers is for licensed childcare providers to provide consultation, coaching and resources in support of each child’s development. It helps early learning programs to offer high-quality care. It also helps to connect families to care and programs. “Being a childcare provider can be both stressful and rewarding. There are longs days and challenging behaviors,” says Danille. “Coaches are truly helpful.”

We also support child care providers with Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultations, and providing the professional development providers need for licensing and to stay up top of the latest in early childhood development and education.

a person in a safety vest crouches in front of a girl on a pink bike helping her with her helmet
Keeping kids safe with helmets, car seats, and skill building activities like the Bike Rodeo is one of the many activities of the Child Care Action Council. Photo courtesy: Child Care Action Council

Get Involved with Child Care Action Council

There are volunteer opportunities for events and positions on the board. Child Care Action Council would like to hear from you regarding how child care or the lack of it affected you, your family and your business. Sign up for the CCAC newsletter or make a financial donation and read more on the Child Care Action Council  website.

Give Local is Coming November 11-22, 2024

Give Local is a two-week campaign hosted by Community Foundation of South Puget Sound. Donations made through this program support over 100 nonprofits in our area and all funds go to the supporting causes. Give Local gives on top of the contributions from the public, so it is a way to have your dollar get more power. All services provided through Child Care Action Council are free to families and they will have an opportunity for the public to give to their programs during this Give Local event.

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