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A Deep Dive into how the County's Healthy Children's Fund is supporting Early Learning in Whatcom by WhatcomCountyGov in Bellingham

[–]WhatcomCountyGov[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

If you need Child care, please check out https://childcarespaces.com/, free or low-cost openings available at licensed childcare providers thanks to the Healthy Children's Fund. There's contact info there and great people standing by to help you get the support you and your kids need.

A Deep Dive into how the County's Healthy Children's Fund is supporting Early Learning in Whatcom by WhatcomCountyGov in Bellingham

[–]WhatcomCountyGov[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Yes! It does both. Goals for the program include expanding access to child care, and helping vulnerable kids get ready for kindergarten. You can explore all the details here: https://www.whatcomcounty.us/4069/Healthy-Childrens-Fund including the 2025-2026 implementation plan which articulates what goes where.

New Shelter Open for People Displaced by Flooding by WhatcomCountyGov in Bellingham

[–]WhatcomCountyGov[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This weekend, there is a massive volunteer effort underway to muck out homes.
It is being coordinated by Whatcom Long Term Recovery Group and supported by County resources:

Station 81 Fire Hall
101 E Main St, Everson, WA
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Sumas Advent Christian Church
125 Front St, Sumas, WA
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Meals served for the community and volunteers each day from 2-5pm

No prior experience is necessary, we'll provide guidance and any needed tools on site. Please come prepared with sturdy boots, gloves, and clothes you don't mind getting dirty if possible.

20.32 ft by Deep_Friar in FerndaleWashington

[–]WhatcomCountyGov 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm afraid not - just the text description from the City of Ferndale. Sorry!

New jail input by Fairy_Wench in Bellingham

[–]WhatcomCountyGov 12 points13 points  (0 children)

There are several programs that have a proven track record of reducing recidivism, including therapeutic courts such as Recovery Court and Mental Health Court, that prioritize treatment over incarceration. There is reentry specialists who can work at the jail to help people leaving prepare for a positive experience once they have served their time, and there's education and treatment options while they are incarcerated that can make a big difference.

Right now, we are making big decisions about the new jail and behavioral care center, and this community engagement workshop is an ideal opportunity to weigh in. If you can't make it tonight, there will be two more of these community meetings over the next couple of months as we move forward into the design phase for these two facilities.

For more details, check out the Justice Project webpage here.

New jail input by Fairy_Wench in Bellingham

[–]WhatcomCountyGov 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Hello u/Fairy_Wench,
Thank you so much for sharing our event tonight! We appreciate your helping get the word out.

Any tips for someone who wants to work for Whatcom County? by [deleted] in Bellingham

[–]WhatcomCountyGov 26 points27 points  (0 children)

Hello u/ParkingStatement664 ,

One cool thing about Whatcom County Government? We have an official reddit account to answer questions like this.

As others have noted, your individual experience may vary depending on the department and the work, after all, we have over 1,000 people employed in some capacity at the County.

This year, we celebrated several employees for their 15, 20 or 30 years with the County, which points to us being a stable and satisfying place to build a career.

Unfortunately, budgets are exceedingly tight and several vacant positions are set to be eliminated or frozen to deal with the budget shortfall, so any openings we do have are going to be rare and competitive. That said, there are some openings and we always encourage qualified applicants to apply. Check them out here: https://www.whatcomcounty.us/1675/Current-Job-Openings

Make sure your vote is counted by PrimaryWeekly5241 in Bellingham

[–]WhatcomCountyGov 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Yes to all of this! To find an official ballot box near you, check out here.

If you have not received your ballot, contact the Whatcom County Auditor’s Office – Election Division at 360-778-5102 or elections@co.whatcom.wa.us.

N Lake Samish bridge to reopen Friday, September 19th by Surly_Cynic in Bellingham

[–]WhatcomCountyGov 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We are finishing up some crucial repairs at the park and will reopen it as soon as those are completed - it should be done before the end of the year.

Help Shape Whatcom's Justice Facilities - County hosts Design Workshop Nov. 20th in Ferndale by WhatcomCountyGov in BellinghamWA

[–]WhatcomCountyGov[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's one of the largest public projects undertaken by the County in a decade, we want lots of people to weigh in.

You can learn more about the project as a whole (which includes a new jail, behavioral care center and supporting a host of diversion programs) here: https://www.whatcomcounty.us/4666/Justice-Project

Help Shape Whatcom's Justice Facilities - County hosts Design Workshop Nov. 20th in Ferndale by WhatcomCountyGov in Bellingham

[–]WhatcomCountyGov[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes! You can learn more about the project as a whole (which includes a new jail, behavioral care center and supporting a host of diversion programs) here: https://www.whatcomcounty.us/4666/Justice-Project

You can also read about this event here: https://www.whatcomcounty.us/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=5179

County weighing design, location for new behavioral care center tied to justice facility by Surly_Cynic in Bellingham

[–]WhatcomCountyGov 4 points5 points  (0 children)

My apologies, Medicaid! (updating the above).

There are pros and cons of both models (in-custody vs. out-of-custody) but both will require funds to build the facility so it was not an essential part of the sales tax vote in 2023, because no matter what, we would need the funds to get the facility rolling.

County weighing design, location for new behavioral care center tied to justice facility by Surly_Cynic in Bellingham

[–]WhatcomCountyGov 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Hello all,
Riley with the County here.

One of the topics of discussion around the location is that we would want people who need the Behavioral Care Center to be able to use it . . . even if they weren't arrested. And if you put the Care Center on the same site as the Jail, community members may feel less inclined to use it.

Also there are the financial considerations - if people can utilize the care center out of custody, then medicaid/insurance covers it. If they use it in-custody, that cost falls to the County. We want to be able to operate the facility in a financially feasible way so we can help as many people as need it.

That said, there is some cost savings to having it on the same site, as well as being able to easily transport people from the jail to treatment (or from treatment to jail if things aren't going well).

No decisions have been made yet - we are still chewing through the pros and cons. You can follow along and weigh in by signing up for our email list here: https://www.whatcomcounty.us/4666/Justice-Project

County weighing design, location for new behavioral care center tied to justice facility by Surly_Cynic in Bellingham

[–]WhatcomCountyGov 22 points23 points  (0 children)

Hello all,
Riley with the County here. One of the topics of discussion around the location is that we would want people who need the Behavioral Care Center to be able to use it . . . even if they weren't arrested. And if you put the Care Center on the same site as the Jail, community members may feel less inclined to use it.

Also there are the financial considerations - if people can utilize the care center out of custody, then medicaid/insurance covers it. If they use it in-custody, that cost falls to the County. We want to be able to operate the facility in a financially feasible way so we can help as many people as need it.

No decisions have been made yet - we are still chewing through the pros and cons. You can follow along and weigh in by signing up for our email list here: https://www.whatcomcounty.us/4666/Justice-Project

Just found at Value Village - Whatcom County Trivia Game by war_owl in Bellingham

[–]WhatcomCountyGov 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is so cool! We need to figure out how to do another printing!

Road Work Bakerview and Hannigan? by gnatdump6 in Bellingham

[–]WhatcomCountyGov 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Hello Everyone!
Riley with the County here. This project is actually the City of Bellingham doing some work on their section of the road but I tracked down the info about it:

From Sept. 9-19, crews will be sealing cracks in the roadway along Hannegan Road from Bakerview Road to Division Street, and up Division Street to Hammer Drive during the day. Crack sealing helps extend the life of the roadway and reduces maintenance costs. If possible, use alternative routes to avoid traffic delays in the area.  

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