The Initiative intending to repeal the Healthy Children's Fund has been put to rest. On Sept. 3, 2024, Whatcom County Superior Court Judge Lee Grochmal blocked it from being on the Nov. ballot. As reported in the Cascadia Daily by Julia Tellman, Judge Grochmal said that the repeal initiative, if enacted, would hinder plans adopted by the county and could interfere with contracts already in place. She also stated that implementation of the Healthy Children‘s Fund is administrative, not legislative, so a citizen’s initiative is not the proper way to stop the program.
The League salutes this decision. When the League became aware of Initiative I-2021-01 to Repeal the HCF, Ordinance 2022-045, the League decided by Board vote to oppose repealing the Ordinance. The League had supported the HCF when it was first proposed in 2021 and passed in 2022 based at least partly on our position on Women’s Economic Security in Whatcom County. Based on the continued needs of our community for childcare and family support services the current board decided that our support must continue.
We are excited to know the Healthy Children’s Fund will be maintained. The current focus of these funds is on childcare and family support and stabilization. We will see parent support groups and a doula program. (Doulas offer emotional and physical support to new and expectant parents before, during and after birth.) We will see more resources for at-risk families and also more funding for basic needs such as access to diapers, formula, transportation and childproofing living spaces. The HCF will provide funding for programs to include drop-in childcare, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, and behavioral health. The fund will be available to support our most vulnerable children.
We know that 90% of human development happens before the age of 5. The continuance of the Healthy Children’s Fund is a gift not only to the children of Whatcom County, but to all of us.
Stronger families make stronger communities.