In August of 1985, a steering committee was established to detail a plan for an Anchorage child care resource and referral agency. Committee members included Ilene Risley-Sackett (ACC Families and Work Task Force), Lare (DCRA Child Care Programs), Martha Rasmussen (MOA Child Care Program), Chris Ibanez (ARCO Dependent Care Task Force), Kerry Reardon (AAEYC), Mike Malone (Anchorage School District), and Mia Oxley (MOA DHSS). The committee met three times between August and October.
Child Care Connection (thread) was officially incorporated on October 17, 1985.
The very first Board of Directors was composed of Kathe Bourch-Roberts (Providence Child Development Center), James Crane (attorney and parent), Bernadette Huston (ARCO Alaska), Lare (Alaska Department of Community and Regional Affairs), Mia Oxley (MOA DHSS), Kerry Reardon (AAEYC), Martha Roderick (Anchorage School Board), Ilene Risely-Sackett (ACC Center for Women and Men), and Eligio White (Tanaina Child Development Center).