Childcare questions linger after failed ballot measure

The members of the Custer County Kids Council (CCKC) held a meeting on November 13. “Whither childcare?” in Custer County was a major topic under discussion in the wake of the failure of Ballot Question 1A to pass in the November 4 election. (1A, if passed, would have raised the county lodging tax from 2% to 6%, with funds raised being equally allocated between tourism, childcare, and affordable workforce housing projects). Also under discussion was the childcare needs assessment that CCKC is planning to undertake, with the help of consultants, to help determine how to address present and future childcare needs.

CCKC Director Stacy Terrill noted that there would be a church community meeting to address childcare and other early childhood issues, as churches have been suggested as an avenue for more childcare centers in the county. Terrill said that four of the local churches might be able to have the space, but noted that some of the biggest barriers would be insurance and facilities needs, such as proper ADA-qualified bathrooms.

“Do people want this [childcare in the churches]?” asked Public Health Director Sara Bertelsen. “Would the consulting firm be able to help with [determining] that?” Terrill said “Yes,” and went on to describe past challenges in trying to engage the community, specifically families with preschool-age children: “but a new lot of people have moved in, so we could try this [information campaign] again.” Terrill went on to note that there would likely be no new childcare center besides the one at Custer County School, as center-based care was not economically viable: “In this community, homecare is the way to go.” Terrill also shared information about a state program that is trying to provide funds for training for FFN (Family, Friends and Neighbors) homecare.

Expanding on the theme of the difficulties that a local childcare information campaign faced, Vicki White, Director of the Custer County Department of Human Services (DHS), said that she was noticing that county residents who qualified for the Colorado Childcare Assistance Program (CCAP) were not applying for it: “Do they not know about it? Think they are not eligible?”

During partner share-out, Bertelsen said that Public Health had conducted 98 sports physicals for Custer County student athletes, that she had hired a new nurse, and was also working with Altitude Community Fitness to see about getting an indoor playground space for kids. She also noted that she would be working with the county’s new ag market to see if they can get qualified to accept EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfers), which would enable them to serve SNAP customers. Birthing classes are scheduled for November 22 and 23.

“With the shutdown, SNAP benefits didn’t go out,” White reported: “We have almost 500 families/individuals on SNAP.” She went on to say that benefits had gone out when the shutdown ended. “A lot of people don’t know what services DHS provides,” White said, “DHS does a monthly food drive, every second Wednesday of the month. We went from distributing 15 boxes to 25, so word is getting out, but we still have some boxes left.” She urged CCKC members to send families her way to receive them.

The next CCKC meeting is scheduled for February 12, 2026.

– Elliot Jackson