Family center faces county budget cut

St. James Family Center Executive Director Beth Hansen wants the community to know that while funding from Wahkiakum County has been cut, programs have not.

Funding two years ago was $35,000 and last year was cut in half to $17,500. This year, county commissioners have told Hansen the funding has been cut to nothing.

Hansen said Tuesday that the cuts hurt because the money is used for programs when other funding sources can’t be found, such as for the after-school programs, Kindercare, child care programs and the preschool programs.

Hansen said that she and the board contacted county Commissioner Tom Doumit before they learned of the funding cuts. She said he was very supportive of the center; however, when she called to propose a budget, she was informed if any extra money was found, she would be contacted.

Hansen said she sent in a proposal despite the budget cuts and asked for the $17,500 they received last year and to please provide, in writing, information about the decision so that when she spoke to other funding sources, she could provide information why. As of Tuesday afternoon, she had not yet heard anything, she said.

Hansen said that in the past, the St. James Family Center board of directors has worked with the director to prioritize programs and take a close look at the budget. What they need to do now is to find out what programs (if cut) will impact families the least.

“It’s very hard to do, with all of our programs, they are vital to the community,” she said.

The center can apply for grants, but certain grants can only be received so often. For instance, the center received a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation in 2005-06 for $20,000. The center cannot apply for another grant from that foundation until 2009

Part of the money from the county goes toward sponsorships for the families that don’t qualify for the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) but can’t quite fit in the tuition for the preschool program, Hansen said. These are families that are in the income gap between preschool and ECEAP.

The sponsorship money is provided for families so their children can attend preschool classes. Hansen said that she believes every child who desires preschool should have the opportunity.