SPOKANE, Wash. — The Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) announced on Thursday that over 30 tribal-serving organizations, including 13 tribal nations, will receive nearly $3.7 million in funds for education and child care.
DCYF says the money will be awarded to tribes, tribal providers and tribal-serving organizations that provide early education, child care, prenatal services and home visiting programs.
DCYF will be awarding $3,698,896 in funds. DCYF says this is the second round of Tribal Early Learning Funds (TELF) provided by DCYF, the first being distributed in April at a total of $2.4 million.
Tribes receiving funding include:
- Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation
- Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe
- Nisqually Indian Tribe
- Nooksack Indian Tribe
- Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe
- Puyallup Tribe
- Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe
- Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe
- Spokane Tribe of Indians
- Squaxin Island Tribe
- Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians
- Suquamish Tribe
- Tulalip Tribes
DCYF says the funds will serve an estimated 1,671 students and tribal families across Washington state.
TELF is designed to provide resources to ensure early learning programs can best serve tribal children up to age 5 in an inclusive manner.
DCYF says the priorities in TELF-funded programs are language development, elder storytelling, outdoor-based learning and incorporating traditional foods, music and art in the classroom.
“These funds are being used in so many creative ways by our tribal-serving partners,” said DCYF Director of Tribal Relations Tleena Ives. “We are incredibly excited to see the ways that these funds have helped to grow and foster ancestorial ties between tribes and their youngest learners.”
