OCDC and KCC partner to address Klamath County's childcare crisis with new learning center

The Joint Committee on Ways and Means convened on April 25, 2025, to address pressing issues affecting Klamath County, with a focus on early childhood education, sanitation infrastructure, and hospice care.

The meeting began with Daneltha Dodson, CEO of the Oregon Child Development Coalition (OCDC), presenting the agency's efforts to combat the childcare crisis in Klamath County. OCDC, which has provided early care and education services for over 50 years, highlighted the severe shortage of childcare slots in the region—one for every six infants and one for every three preschoolers. Dodson emphasized the collaboration between OCDC and Klamath Community College (KCC) to establish a new early learning center that would serve both children and KCC's early childhood education students. The proposed facility aims to include 14 classrooms and is seen as a vital step in addressing the childcare desert in the area.

Following Dodson, Jim Simmons, president of the Crescent Sanitary District, outlined the urgent need for funding to address significant issues with the district's sewer system. Despite being relatively new, the system lacks modern features and safety equipment. Simmons reported that the district is also responsible for repairing outdated sewer lines in the neighboring community of Gilchrist, which are in poor condition. He requested $4 million in funding to evaluate and address these critical infrastructure needs, noting that the district is currently over $6 million in debt and has defaulted on loans.

Rachel Throne, executive director of Klamath Hospice and Palliative Care, concluded the presentations by addressing a growing crisis in the community regarding end-of-life care. She shared poignant stories of hospice patients who lack safe places to receive care, including a homeless veteran and an elderly woman unable to care for her terminally ill spouse. Throne requested $3 million in state funding to build a 16-bed residential hospice facility to ensure that no one dies alone or in fear, emphasizing the need for compassionate care in the community.

The meeting underscored the critical challenges facing Klamath County, with each speaker highlighting the importance of state support to address these urgent needs. The committee's discussions will likely inform future funding decisions and initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life for residents in the region.