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Have you or someone you know received services supported by the Healthy Children’s Fund?
Your feedback is valued. Whether things were challenging or went smoothly, your story can help highlight the real impact of this voter-approved fund.
We’re gathering stories from individuals and organizations that have been helped by HCF, especially in difficult situations where the fund made a difference. Some stories may be featured in short videos that celebrate what’s working in Whatcom County.
If you have a story to share, please let us know by clicking the button below. Thank you!
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May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and Whatcom County’s Healthy Children’s Fund is proud to support a growing number of community organizations working to strengthen the mental and behavioral health of children ages birth to five and their families.
The Whatcom County Perinatal Task Force reports that an average of 2,000 babies are born in the county each year. Based on national estimates, 15 to 20 percent of new parents will experience a mood or anxiety disorder—that’s roughly 400 local parents annually. Yet only about 15 percent of those affected are likely to seek help, meaning around 340 parents in Whatcom County may not receive the care they need.
When left untreated, perinatal mental health conditions can lead to birth complications, strained family support systems and long-term impacts on both parents’ and children’s well-being, including developmental delays, increased health care costs and risk of child abuse or neglect.
There is some good news to report, though. Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders are treatable, and addressing these concerns early supports secure attachment and builds a foundation for lifelong mental health.
Mobile Mama leads with upstream support
One Whatcom County organization that is leading this work is Mobile Mama, founded by Michelle Anderson, MA, LMHC, PMH-C. Since 2014, Mobile Mama has helped hundreds of women in Whatcom County through perinatal mental health counseling and provider training. Today, the team includes 12 clinicians and interns.
In 2022, Mobile Mama launched a clinical counseling internship program to build a local workforce trained to support parents during pregnancy and postpartum. The 600-hour program is designed for graduate students in counseling, psychology or social work. Interns receive training, supervision and direct experience working with 10 to 12 clients per week. Topics include postpartum depression, anxiety, pregnancy loss, traumatic birth, and more.
In July 2024, the Healthy Children’s Fund awarded $164,235 to Mobile Mama to support and expand its internship program. On May 13, 2025, the Whatcom County Council approved a contract to increase the budget, allowing the program to grow from three to five interns. This investment increases access to care and trains more counselors to help Medicaid-eligible moms and other low-income clients.
 Expanding child care access with drop-in care
A job interview, dentist appointment, or last-minute meeting are just a few reasons parents need the flexibility of drop-in child care. The Healthy Children’s Fund is working to make that a reality, especially for low-income families and guardians of foster children.
The fund has partnered with Peace Centers, a Bellingham nonprofit, to create childcarespaces.com, a searchable website connecting parents with Whatcom County licensed childcare providers offering short-term care. This platform aims to increase childcare access, particularly in underserved and rural areas.
How the new drop-in childcare site works
The drop-in child care portal, childcarespaces.com, is still under development, but parents and providers are encouraged to sign up now and help shape its features. The program is actively seeking participation from all licensed childcare providers in Whatcom County, especially those in underserved communities.
Incentives for childcare providers
Licensed childcare providers who join the program will receive financial incentives, and additional benefits, to reserve drop-in slots including:
- 10% additional payments for each space filled
- STARS training and parent education classes
- Business consulting to support growth and sustainability
- Financial subsidies for serving low-income families, including those who do not qualify for the state’s Working Connections childcare program
Flexibility and financial support for parents
Childcare will be paid for, if guardians qualify, even without Working Connections subsidies.
Parents will be able to see real-time availability at participating licensed childcare programs and book open spots online. The program will prioritize low-income and foster families, giving them early access before slots open to private-pay families within 24 hours of a given date.
Once fully launched, the website will allow families to search by location or specific childcare providers, making it easier to find care in Everson, Deming, Bellingham, Ferndale, Lynden, Deming and other Whatcom County communities.
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