State Budget Cuts Force Healdsburg Infant Center to Close
06/01/2011 -
The 4Cs William K. Johnson Infant Development Center is Closing its Doors After 18 Years
Proposed 15% cuts to preschool funding by the State of California have forced the Community Child Care Council (4Cs) to close the only subsidized Infant Toddler preschool in Healdsburg. The William K. Johnson Infant Development Center (WKJ) has been strained financially because the Standard Reimbursement Rates that pay for low-income children to attend do not cover the cost of the program. For years 4Cs has struggled to keep the infant program afloat with increasing expenses. Now faced with additional budgetary cutbacks, the deficit for next fiscal year has become insurmountable requiring 4Cs to close the unique program, according to the nonprofit’s Executive Director, Melanie Dodson.
“Although we know it is the right financial decision under the circumstances, it nevertheless is a very difficult and emotional one. We are hopeful that enrolled families will be able to transition to alternate funding for child care and we are committed to supporting the families during this transition,” Dodson said.
The 4Cs William K. Johnson Infant Development Center was opened in 1993 and named in honor of a Healdsburg attorney who was a former county supervisor, civic leader and Rotarian. The program has been a partnership with the Healdsburg Unified School District and is located on the Healdsburg High School campus. The center was designed to support teen parents finish their High School education. While teen parents have the highest priority for enrollment, teens do not make up the majority of families enrolled. Closure of the program affects 15 enrolled families and four teen parents who were hoping to attend next school year.
“The Healdsburg Unified School District has shared a positive, long-term collaboration with 4Cs which has greatly benefited 
the Healdsburg community. Allowing teen parents to complete their studies, parents to work and children to benefit from learning and playing together in a safe, nurturing environment are huge losses. We are saddened that the harsh economic reality is directly impacting those we serve,” said Annie Millar, Director of Curriculum and Instruction.
The infant center has also been a class for high school students interested in learning more about the early care and education field.
WKJ Site Supervisor, Dana Dunne, organized the final end of year celebration held on the center’s last day of operation, May 31, 2011. Approximately, 275 children have attended the infant center throughout the years.
“WKJ has been a source of love, support, advice, education, quality care for children and a class in child development for Healdsburg High School students for almost 20 years. I am proud of the teens we have helped to continue their education and those who, with our support, were able to separate from gang life. With a sense of loss and sadness as well as knowing all that has been accomplished through the years, we had our last day of school and end of year celebration,” Dunne said.
This school year, the program operated at a $20,000 loss, with a $5,000 grant from the Community Foundation Sonoma County, Healdsburg Area Fund, the loss was reduced, but the program was still running in the red. Continued operation of the program would have resulted in an annual loss in excess of $40,000 and the unknown of an additional 10% cut to the reimbursement rates on top of the 15% cut would have made this amount significantly larger.
According to Dodson, “The 4Cs Board and staff are extremely regretful that the infant program has to end after 18 years, but without question the overall financial stability of the remaining 4Cs services provided to all of Sonoma County would be in jeopardy if WKJ remained open.”
In addition to the Healdsburg Infant Center, Community Child Care Council operates 12 other state funded preschools throughout Sonoma County that will remain open at this time. The subsidized child care, nutrition (also in Napa and Marin Counties) and resource and referral services will all continue to be provided. However, the agency continues to deal with financial stresses due to current and anticipated state budget cutbacks that threaten additional center closures or loss of programs and services.
Related Links:
4Cs WKJ Infant Development Center Assists Teens
Community Foundation Sonoma County Healdsburg Area Grant Recipients
Teen Mother Beats the Odds Healdsburg.Patch.com
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