County Connections

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Improving Access to Affordable Child Care

Our kids are the future, and we are dedicated to supporting quality & affordable early education and child care in Santa Barbara County. While its back to school for grade-school children, many families with toddlers and infants are still in need of child care support services. Research shows that providing high-quality educational experiences for children before they turn five yields significant long-term benefits – they are better prepared for kindergarten, are more likely to graduate from high school, and often become higher earners in the workforce. Unfortunately, many families in Santa Barbara County struggle to afford the cost of these early childhood education programs.

Through our Child Care grant program and William and Lottie Daniel Fund Child Care Scholarships, we provide vital resources to local nonprofits, like Storyteller Children’s Center and Hope 4 Kids Early Learning Center, who have worked tirelessly to provide families with affordable and accessible child care services. This work would not be possible without the generosity of community members like you, who care about our working families and children!

We hope you enjoy learning about how you have made an impact for families across Santa Barbara County.

Shaping Our Children’s Future

By Jordan Killebrew

Quality early childhood education can make an immense impact on a child’s life. But for families struggling to make ends meet or who are experiencing homelessness, accessing these often expensive services can be challenging. Fortunately, for the last 33 years Storyteller Children’s Center has been working to ensure all families, no matter their economic status or life circumstances, have access to the resources they need to build a healthy and happy future for their children. Learn more.

 

 

Hope 4 Kids, Care Must Go On

By Jordan Killebrew

Providing child care services during a pandemic is no easy feat, but despite the challenges Hope 4 Kids Early Learning Centers remained open. Learn how they partnered with other nonprofits to expand their services during these difficult times.

 

New Grant Program Awards $221,980

We are excited to share that we recently awarded awarded $221,980 to ten organizations through our newly launched Conservation, Environment, and Public Trails Grant Program! This grant program supports Santa Barbara Country organizations that are working to improve trails and nature access, and the preservation and conservation of wild spaces. This grant program is made possible by the Hollis Norris Fund for Conservation, Environment, and Public Trails.

Conservation, Environment, and Public Trails Grant Recipients

  • California Association of Resource Conservation Districts
  • Community Environmental Council, Inc.
  • Los Padres Forest Association
  • Montecito Trails Foundation, Inc.
  • People for Leisure and Youth, Inc.
  • Santa Barbara Mountain Bike Trail Volunteers Inc. / Sage Trail Alliance
  • Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade
  • Santa Barbara County Trails Council
  • Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden Foundation
  • Your Children’s Trees