Whatcom County Launches $7.05 Million Child Care Subsidy Program: Healthy Children’s Fund Initiative Will Provide Financial Support for Low-Income Families, Providers
Whatcom County is taking the next step to reduce child care costs for Whatcom County families. Last night, the County Council approved a contract with AidKit to run the new Whatcom Kids First Child Care Subsidy Program, which will serve income-eligible families. The contract runs through 2028 and totals $7.05 million.
The new program is funded by the voter-approved Healthy Children’s Fund. The program is expected to help pay child care costs for at least 1,400 children in the program’s first full year. Families who make up to 75% of the State Median Income will qualify.
“This is an exciting milestone for the Healthy Children’s Fund! A central purpose for the creation of the fund was to make quality child care more affordable and more accessible, and Kids First will achieve that for more than a thousand families every year. I am very pleased to see this program move forward,” said Whatcom County Executive Satpal Sidhu.
The new Kids First Subsidy Program is the largest commitment to child care affordability in Whatcom County’s history.
“Child care is one of the largest expenses many parents face. Families will directly feel the benefits in their monthly budget," said Sarah Simpson, Child and Family Programs Supervisor with Whatcom County Health and Community Services. “This contract provides relief for local families. It took an incredible amount of effort from our entire team and local stakeholders, and I am deeply grateful for the dedication of everyone involved."
What Happens Next
With the contract in place, AidKit will start building the program immediately. The company has a strong track record and national experience providing aid infrastructure for governments and nonprofits.
- What’s Happening Now: AidKit is setting up application forms, online tools, payments, and other critical backbone systems.
- Program start date: We don’t have a specific date yet for when subsidy payments will start. We expect those to begin in February or March 2027.
- Application Information: Information on how families and child care providers can apply will be shared in late 2026.
"Our goal is to make getting financial help as simple and stress-free as possible for Whatcom County’s families and the child care providers they depend on," said Brittany Christenson, CEO at AidKit. "We’re proud to partner with the County on a system that gets funds where they’re needed most, with strong fraud controls that protect the program’s integrity and maximize its impact."
How the Subsidy Program Will Work
The Whatcom Kids First Child Care Subsidy builds on Washington State's Working Connections Child Care Subsidy Program.
- Who Qualifies: Whatcom families with kids age five or younger, earning up to 75% of the State Median Income, currently up to approximately $104,484 annually for a family of four.
- How Payments Work: Funding will go directly to the child’s licensed care provider to reduce monthly bills for families.
- Help with Paperwork and Signing Up: AidKit will also help local families sign up for existing state subsidy programs so local families don’t miss out on existing resources.
“Nearly three thousand Whatcom County kids under the age of five qualify for the state Working Connections subsidy, but their families are not enrolled with the state program,” Simpson said. “AidKit will develop a comprehensive outreach and enrollment plan with local partners to get interested and qualified families enrolled.”
Support for Child Care Providers
In addition to helping families, this program will provide extra payments to providers serving low-income families on the State’s Working Connections program. The state subsidy doesn’t cover the true cost of care, so these bridge payments will cover real operating costs, strengthen the financial sustainability of child care businesses, incentivize providers to provide care to low-income children, and keep high-quality care in our community.
Competitive Bidding and Selection Process
AidKit was selected through a competitive process based on its national experience designing and administering large-scale direct assistance programs and its proven ability to navigate complex public benefit systems. Working in partnership with Whatcom County Health and Community Services, AidKit will oversee the application process, eligibility verification, payment distribution, and ongoing program administration while coordinating with local partners to maximize participation.
About the Healthy Children’s Fund
The Healthy Children’s Fund is a voter-approved fund to support children and parents in our community. The fund is administered by the Whatcom County Health and Community Services Department.
The Whatcom Kids First Child Care Subsidy Program advances Strategy 3 of the Healthy Children's Fund Implementation Plan, which focuses on increasing access to affordable, high-quality early learning through child care subsidies that reduce the financial burden on working families.
The subsidy program reflects Whatcom County's continued commitment to ensuring every child has access to safe, nurturing, and enriching early learning opportunities regardless of family income.
Additional information about eligibility, enrollment, and program launch dates will be announced in the coming months.
