Vancouver Nonprofit Receives $25,000 Grant for Child Care Expansion

The funds from the Cowlitz Tribal Foundation will help open new licensed child care businesses in Southwest Washington.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 1:08pm

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A bold, colorful silkscreen-style illustration featuring a repeating pattern of a brightly colored child's toy, such as a wooden block or stuffed animal, conceptually representing the growth of licensed child care businesses in the region.A vibrant, playful illustration celebrating the expansion of child care services in Southwest Washington.Vancouver Today

Support For Early Learning & Families (SELF), a Vancouver-based nonprofit, has received a $25,000 grant from the Cowlitz Tribal Foundation to expand access to child care in Southwest Washington. The project aims to help new providers open licensed child care businesses and strengthen existing programs like the Southwest Washington Child Care Partnership and Alliance for Child Care Success.

Why it matters

Access to affordable and quality child care is a critical issue for many families in the region. This grant will allow SELF to support the opening of new licensed child care facilities, increasing the number of available spots and helping to address the child care shortage in Southwest Washington.

The details

The grant funds will be used to support individuals through the licensing process and help them sustain their child care businesses once they are operational. SELF works closely with Educational Service District 112's Child Care Aware of Washington program, which offers free referrals for those seeking child care. One of the providers supported by SELF, Lucero Zarate, opened Tiny Angels Daycare in east Vancouver in April 2022, adding about 100 licensed child care spots to the area.

  • SELF's child care expansion project began in 2021.
  • Lucero Zarate opened Tiny Angels Daycare in April 2022.

The players

Support For Early Learning & Families (SELF)

A Vancouver-based nonprofit that works to expand access to child care in Southwest Washington.

Cowlitz Tribal Foundation

A foundation that provided a $25,000 grant to SELF for the child care expansion project.

Lucero Zarate

The owner of Tiny Angels Daycare, a new licensed child care facility opened in east Vancouver in April 2022.

Educational Service District 112

The organization that operates the Child Care Aware of Washington program, which offers free child care referrals.

Debbie Ham

The executive director of SELF.

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What they’re saying

“Access to affordable and quality child care is a critical issue for many families in the region. This grant will allow SELF to support the opening of new licensed child care facilities, increasing the number of available spots and helping to address the child care shortage in Southwest Washington.”

— Debbie Ham, Executive Director, Support For Early Learning & Families

What’s next

SELF plans to continue growing its partnerships with individuals and organizations willing to support those seeking to start new child care businesses in the region.

The takeaway

This grant from the Cowlitz Tribal Foundation will enable SELF to make a meaningful impact on the child care crisis in Southwest Washington by helping to open new licensed facilities and increase the number of available child care spots for local families.