Child Care

Xut Xoo Alice Bagoyo Manager The 477 Child Care department strives to increase the availability, affordability and quality of child care services to families who are low to moderate income and are working or in training and/or other related activities.

The department supports before-school, after-school and cultural activities in addition to offering a quality improvement program for child care providers to help with health and safety equipment, business licenses, training, and subcontracts for school (before and after) and summer cultural programs. Child Care is funded by the Administration for Children and Families, under a Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) block grant which is incorporated into the Tribe’s 102-477 Plan.

2021 Highlights

ƒ Provided services to 520 children and 368 parents under the Child Care subsidy program. This is a significant drop from prior years due to the COVID-19 pandemic shutting down child care centers and work places. ƒ Provided subcontracts to: » Hydaburg Cooperative Association’s Afterschool program that served 50 students and promoted learning, cultural activities, and subsistence skills (e.g., fishing and hunting). » Xaadas Kil Kuyaas Foundation (XKKF) Nanas’ Club that provided 50 youth with Haida language and culture revitalization materials, and addressed the role of sacred matriarchal women, our role as a nana and how to document this role in ceremony for our children. » Organized Village of Kake for safe healthy children’s activities (e.g., learning about cultural traditions and art, flora and fauna, subsistence harvesting, and kayaking). 50 youth participated. » Hoonah Public Schools • Boots and books for children ages 0-5. The program provided storytelling, beach outings and language learning to 60 children. • Youth Culture Camp that taught Tlingit language, arts, and harvesting and preparing of medicinal plants and subsistence foods (halibut, salmon and seal) to 60 students ages 6-13. • Support for students to learn techniques in behavior management and discipline, and to also learn basketball skill building and drills. » What Makes Us Resilient program (Yakutat, Alaska) that provided language learning, coping skills and cultural activities (e.g., storytelling, berry picking, fish and seal harvesting, carving, skin sewing) to 30 youth. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the program, which normally serves all

Southeast Alaska communities, was limited to Yakutat youth in 2021. » Esther Shay Virtual Cultural Enrichment - Tongass Tlingit Culture Heritage Institute (Saxman,

Alaska) that provided cultural activities (language, dance, arts and crafts) virtually to 12 children, many of which live in foster homes and are living at or below poverty. Students were provided activity kits prior to virtual meetings.

» Tlingit Culture, Language and Literacy (TCLL) program (Juneau, Alaska) that provided healthy snacks for over 60 children who often leave home without a meal. ƒ Partnered with the Vocational Training & Resource Center (VTRC), Association for the Education of Young Children (AEYC) and Southeast Regional Resource Center (SERRC) to provide an Early

Educator Academy (Juneau, Alaska) that offered 120 hours of early childhood education training to eight participants to attain their Child Development Associate (CDA) credential. ƒ Surveyed 53 parents and 68 providers to identify needs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. » Provided personal protective equipment to 102 families in 18 communities who were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. ƒ Provided a one-time $750 stipend to 102 parents, 62 providers, and 10 foster parents. A total of $287,000 was distributed. ƒ Provided support to the LEARN (Little Eagles and Ravens Nest), Little Moon, and ABC child care centers to designate priority enrollment to children who are in foster care, homeless or their family is receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) support. ƒ Secured contract with Southeast Association for the Education of Young Children to provide Infant/

Toddler Coaching and Mentoring, an Early Childhood Symposium in 2022: Roots and Wings –

Culturally Responsive Early Childhood Education, and support for ROCK Juneau program material development for anti-bias classrooms. ƒ Supported language learning through the distribution of X̱aad Kíl, Sm’algyax, and Lingít coloring books.

2022 Goals

ƒ Launch online Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) and

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) programs with overall goal to ensure providers who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic receive financial support. ƒ Provide support to Southeast Alaska communities interested in owning and operating day care centers. ƒ Identify areas for additional support to existing child care providers. ƒ Work with the VTRC to continue CDA Academy and to establish additional ongoing Early Childhood

Education training. ƒ Increase the availability of child care in child care centers by creating early educator work experience opportunities.