The 2025 Child Care Complex Needs Fund application is now open. Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) will accept applications until 5 p.m. on March 5, 2025.
The fund supports eligible child care providers serving children with developmental delays, behavioral needs, and other disabilities.
DCYF published and distributed the Early Care and Education Newsletter | December 2024 | January 2025 (English | Español | Soomaali) on Thursday, Dec. 5.
Those interested in child care and early learning news and information can read and learn about:
Nearly half of an $8 million Birth Through Five Preschool Development Grant (PDG B-5) awarded to DCYF will provide for an increase of 75 slots to the state’s B-3 Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) for infants and toddlers, as well as support delivery of no-cost classroom curriculum, professional development, and mental health services to providers.
Join DCYF for an online Community Child Care Forum from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. This is a great opportunity to meet DCYF leadership, connect with local licensing administrators and licensors, get the latest updates, ask questions, and share your experiences.
DCYF published and distributed the Early Care and Education Newsletter | November 2024 (English | Español | Soomaali) on Thursday, Oct. 31.
Those interested in child care and early learning news and information can read about:
Are you a child care provider caring for children with complex needs?
DCYF offers specialized training to support you. Trainings are facilitated by the University of Washington (UW) Haring Center. Trainings focus on deepening provider knowledge in several areas related to individualizing instruction and supporting social-emotional learning.
DCYF is currently accepting nominations for outstanding parents, grandparents, kinship caregivers, foster parents, and community members, providing direct care to children, as part of its annual Unsung Hero Awards.
For the past 13 years, DCYF has recognized caregivers who exemplify one or more of the five protective factors known to help reduce child abuse and neglect:
The 2024 Legislature passed House Bill (HB) 2124, expanding eligibility for Working Connections Child Care (WCCC), effective Nov. 1, 2024.
DCYF will make changes that will impact some license-exempt Family, Friend and Neighbor (FFN) providers’ tax filings.
Child care providers have asked for regular meetings with DCYF to discuss their challenges and receive timely answers to their questions concerning child care policy, rules, and other relevant topics. In response, DCYF has organized community child care forums across the state.