Jessica Galashaw, director of the Office of Community Care and Empowerment, presented two memos to the Workforce, Education and Equity Committee on April 14: an update on CDBG-funded childcare supports and a planned City Council item to renew WIC services at the Lake June clinic.

Galashaw said the city administers childcare subsidy programming using Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) public-service funds to subsidize licensed childcare providers for eligible families, including special allocations for children experiencing homelessness and households impacted by HIV/AIDS. Through the subsidy program the city is currently serving 64 families (83 children) via contracts with 12 licensed providers; an additional roughly 50 families were being served under the special-needs category. Subsidies cover roughly 75% of the typical provider cost and are paid directly to providers, Galashaw said.

Galashaw also summarized a new "drivers of poverty" program added to the FY25 Community Development Five-Year Plan; the program will target low- and moderate-income residents who align with identified drivers of poverty such as single-female-headed households and living in communities of concentrated poverty. Staff said enrollment for the drivers-of-poverty childcare component would begin in April 2025 and that more detailed program metrics would be available by the end of the month.

The second memo relates to a planned April 23 City Council agenda item to renew the Lake June WIC clinic for five years. Galashaw said the Lake June clinic is the city's third-largest WIC site, serving more than 9,000 clients monthly, and hosts SNAP-education programming, pop-up farmers markets and summer-meal activities. The memo requests continued city support and a five-year renewal so the clinic can maintain those services.

Committee members thanked staff and emphasized outreach so eligible residents understand available programs. Galashaw said staff will provide follow-up metrics as enrollments proceed and asked for the committee's support on the upcoming Council item to renew Lake June WIC services.

Both memos were informational; the committee did not take formal action on either memo during the meeting. The Lake June WIC renewal is scheduled for City Council consideration on April 23.