Press Release
Cascade Health Alliance (CHA) has awarded Klamath Community College (KCC) more than $363,000 to create a collaborative center that will support low-income families in achieving economic stability, educational advancement, and self-sufficiency.
The funding comes from CHA, which was an awardee of the Oregon Health Authority’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Pilot Program. Lack of affordable childcare is one of the most significant hurdles for TANF recipients pursuing employment, education, stable housing, mental health treatment, or substance use disorder recovery. By reducing childcare instability, the program directly supports TANF participants in providing quality and affordable childcare and a well-educated workforce to serve rural Oregon.
“Supporting KCC’s Childcare Learning Center is a natural and powerful extension of CHA’s mission to build a healthy community by investing in strong, stable families right here at home,” Said Grant Kennon, CEO of Cascade Health Alliance. “By removing the barrier of affordable childcare, we empower low-income families to pursue higher learning and self-sufficiency while simultaneously training the next generation of early childhood educators, creating a cycle that strengthens families, grows our local workforce, and advances healthier, more resilient communities for all.”
The KCC Childcare Learning Center is being developed in partnership with the Oregon Childhood Development Coalition and Klamath County. The center will provide childcare services for up to 144 infants and toddlers while also serving as an educational and workforce-training site for students enrolled in Early Childhood Education and Paraeducator programs.
About Cascade Comprehensive Care (CCC): Founded in 1992, CCC has owned and operated Cascade Health Alliance (CHA), a coordinated care organization (CCO) serving Klamath County since 2012. CHA serves over 27,000 Medicaid members. CCC brings community partners together to deliver quality services efficiently and effectively. Our Vision: To build a healthy community for the population we serve.