DEL News

May 1, 2012

Medicaid Treatment Child Care program in Yakima changes hands

Administration of a longtime Yakima-area therapeutic child care program today transfers to Catholic Family & Child Service. The Medicaid Treatment Child Care (MTCC) program, which currently serves 46 children, previously was administered under contract with Enterprise for Progress in the Community (EPIC).

The program serves children ages birth through 5 who are at risk of abuse or neglect and may also be experiencing mental health and/or behavioral issues. The Legislature transferred MTCC to the Department of Early Learning (DEL) from the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) Children’s Administration in 2011. In addition to the Yakima program, DEL contracts with Childhaven in King County, serving 228 children.

Children in the MTCC program have daily classroom activities, and may also have appropriate physical, speech, and occupational therapy; therapeutic play; and individual counseling and group therapy.

"Our goal with this transition was to make sure children and families receive seamless, uninterrupted services, and that is what we’ve been able to do in partnership with EPIC and with CFCS," said DEL Assistant Director for Partnership & Collaboration Kelli Bohanon. "We at DEL thank EPIC for overseeing this program for so many years, and we are looking forward to partnering with CFCS to help families enrolled in MTCC build loving, nurturing relationships."

CFCS offers a variety of counseling and mental health services, as well as early learning and child development services such as home visiting and the Valley Intervention Program.

"Catholic Family & Child Service has provided early learning and early intervention mental health services through the ATTACH, Valley Intervention Program, and Carroll Children's Center for more than 20 years. In the past three years, mental health child care consultants have provided assistance to licensed child care providers in working with children with challenging behaviors to make positive changes. We believe this combined experience is optimal to successfully working with parents and children in the Medicaid Treatment Child Care program. We view parents and caregivers as central to a child's health and well-being and look forward to working with each of the service providers also involved with the child's care," said CFCS Director and Vice President Darlene Darnell.

MTCC program services will continue to be based at the Heritage University Early Learning Center in Toppenish until a location in the Yakima area is determined.

“DEL thanks Heritage University for its support as a community partner for the MTCC program during this process,” said DEL’s Bohanon.

On the web:

Medicaid Treatment Child Care program: www.del.wa.gov/development/child/mtcc.aspx

Catholic Family & Child Service: www.cfcsyakima.org

Media contact:

Kara Klotz
360.725.4392 (office)
360.515.8699 (cell)
kara.klotz@del.wa.gov