We understand there are concerns surrounding child care subsidy payments following news reports of a federal funding freeze.
We appreciate our licensed child care providers and the important work they do to care for and educate our youngest learners.
Dear Child Care Providers,
We are aware of reports that members of the public and media are visiting child care locations run by Somali business owners in response to the media coverage about suspected fraud in Minnesota.
As we near the end of the year, I wanted to take a moment to celebrate some exciting accomplishments across DCYF that are positively impacting the children, youth, and families we serve.
In 2025, the Department of Children, Youth, and Families:
The Ballmer Group Philanthropy announced a new grant Tuesday that would fund up to 10,000 additional seats for Washington’s Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) for the next 10 years.
ECEAP allows low-income families to access high-quality preschool.
Washington children and families are accessing child care more than ever before.
In June 2025, the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) reported that more than 63,500 children received child care through the state’s Working Connections Child Care subsidy program, marking the first time the program has served that amount of children since 2010.
As part of statewide efforts to make it easier for licensed child care providers to open their doors, the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is now offering technical assistance services to help individuals during the application process.
Great news! Recent legislation reduces barriers to early education and child care providers.
Individuals wanting to become licensed child care providers, and community organizations, such as churches, seeking to use existing facilities for child care programs, can benefit from local siting and zoning changes aimed to expand places where child care can be made available.
On May 20, 2025, Gov. Bob Ferguson signed into law the 2025–27 state operating budget that included challenging, responsive choices addressing the $16 billion deficit.
