Mission of organization: ACAP Promotes stable environments for children by offering quality child care, parenting education, and resources for families in South King County.
Our goals are to provide nurturing environments, positive high-impact early educational experiences for children 4 weeks to 7 years, support for strong, healthy family relationships, and services for children and parents that reduce the risk of repeating child abuse and neglect, including support for children and parents in foster care families because of abuse.

Description:
Key Project Components -- ACAP’s programs include: Center based subsidized childcare for children of low-income parents - infants to 7 years, A Head Start Program, School-based childcare for teen parents, APPLE Parenting Programs to assist parents to develop effective child management skills including classes in the Spanish language for immigrant families, and family outreach and advocacy, and a Special Needs childcare program. We utilize federal subsidy funds for our breakfast, lunch, and snack program and contract for Public Health Nurse monthly consultations. Head start provides mental health, nutritional, and early learning support. Our Head Start Advocate is a social worker and our Special Needs Coordinator is a MSW.

Client Demographics: ACAP provides childcare space for 87 children ages 4 weeks through 7 years, In 2004-5 ACAP served 171 unduplicated children. The programs are designed to support each child’s age and developmental level. Of all the childcare families served at ACAP in 2004-5: 75 % were low or very low-income, 71% had single heads of household, and 53% were minority. We served 571 parents in APPLE parenting classes in 2005 – up from 475 in 2004.

History:
ACAP Child and Family Services , a 501(c) 3 organization, was founded in 1969 by church leaders in Auburn who believed that providing good childcare would help families become or stay employed. As the Auburn Christian Action Program Daycare Association expanded, the name was changed to ACAP Child and Family Services.
Geographic area served with this project: Located in Auburn, we serve South King County -- Algona, Auburn, Covington, Enumclaw, Federal Way, Kent, and Pacific, and into North Pierce County. Families come to us because of our reputation for providing quality educational programs and nurturing care. Referrals come to us from DSHS CPS, Foster Care, Public Health, and other agencies dealing with families at risk of abuse and neglect, with histories of abuse and neglect, developmental delays, and family drug abuse or mental health problems, as children with behavior problems, and children with developmental disabilities needing special educational and emotional support.

Contact people:

Meg Van Horn, Volunteer Coordinator, (phone), (email) Kandiss Torza, Executive Assistant, (phone), (email)

Address:

1102 "J" Street SE Auburn, WA 98002 (See a map)

Directions:

(Alternative #1)Take I-5 to Highway 18. Take Highway 18 East to Auburn. (Alternative #2) Take Highway 167 to the Highway 18 Exit to Auburn/North Bend going East) On Highway 18: Exit at the Auburn / Enumclaw exit, taking a left. . . (more)   Nearest Bus Stop: In front of the Auburn Library, 3-4 minutes minute walk