The 2025-26 Child Care Complex Needs Fund is Now Closed

Child Care Complex Needs Fund

The Fair Start for Kids Act, passed by the Washington State Legislature in 2021, directs DCYF to create a Child Care Complex Needs Fund for child care. 

The fund is intended to promote inclusive, least-restrictive environments, and support providers serving children with developmental delays, disabilities, behavioral needs, and/or other unique needs.

Who is eligible to apply?

The Child Care Complex Needs Fund is awarded through a competitive grant process. Applying does not mean that you will receive an award. You can only receive Complex Needs Funds once each state fiscal year.

During the application period, eligibility is open to:

  • Licensed, certified, or certified for payment only child care providers with an open license in good standing
  • License-exempt Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) providers serving children receiving state subsidies

To be eligible, you must have children currently enrolled in your care who have behavioral needs, developmental delays, disabilities, or other unique needs.

When Can I Apply?

The 2025-26 Child Care Complex Needs Fund is now closed. Check back in late 2026 for information on the 2026-27 Child Care Complex Needs Fund.

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Technical and Language Assistance

The Imagine Institute is available to help you through the process. Technical assistance is provided in your language and can help with:

  • Preparing for and accessing the application
  • Understanding the grant requirements
  • Understanding spending and saving receipts

For technical assistance, please contact the Imagine Institute.

Imagine Institute
Phone: 206-492-5249
Email: TA@imaginewa.org

How much can a provider apply for?

Provider TypeMinimum AmountMaximum Amount
Open licensed, certified, or certified-for-payment-only child care providers$5,000$50,000
Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) providers$100$2,000

DCYF will prioritize and/or score all applications using the 2025-26 Child Care Complex Needs Fund scoring guide. DCYF may adjust award levels and prioritization for future application periods.

Funds may be used forMaximum RequestFunds may NOT be used for
  • Adding new staff to support children with complex needs
  • Increasing current staff hours to support children with complex needs
  • Up to a $5,000 hiring bonus for new staff members that support children with complex needs
  • $30,000

Funds may NOT be used for:

  • Salary for current staff
  • Owner's salary
  • Accounting/payroll costs
  • Travel costs
  • Training costs
  • Facility improvements to comply with ADA accessibility requirements
  • $50,000

Funds may NOT be used for:

  • Capital expenses such as major construction or renovation projects
  • Support to sites other than the licensed or certified site to which the funds were granted
  • Building a new fence
  • Therapeutic Services
  • $25,000

Funds may NOT be used for:

  • Services that are not offered by skilled professionals that are focused on curative, rehabilitative, preventative, or healing practices.
  • Supportive and adaptive materials and equipment
  • $25,000

Funds may NOT be used for:

  • Curriculum for teacher training or professional development
  • Vehicles
  • General supplies such as copy paper, toner, etc.

How does a provider apply?

You need a WA Compass Provider Portal account before you can complete the Child Care Complex Needs Fund application.

You will log into the WA Compass Provider Portal, navigate to the Grant Information tab, select Current Grants, and select the DCYF Complex Needs Fund application. You will answer a series of questions and then submit the application.

Resources on this page

Resources are available on this page, including an application preview guide. You can find this Resources box on the right or scroll to the bottom if you’re on a mobile device.

Please note: There are resources on this page that are for previous rounds of the grant. Guidelines and information change between rounds. Please make sure you access the 2025-2026 version of any documents, if you are looking for information about the most recent round of the grant.

Other Questions

If you have questions about this grant, email: dcyf.childcaregrants@dcyf.wa.gov.

ECEAP Complex Needs Fund

Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) contractors may apply for additional funds to support children with complex needs. The ECEAP Complex Needs Fund (ECEAP CNF) is intended to promote inclusive, least restrictive environments, and support contractors serving children with developmental delays, disabilities, behavioral needs, or other unique needs.

ECEAP CNF funds may be used to help pay for adding classroom staff to provide targeted supports for children with complex needs, increasing mental health/behavioral consultation, purchasing supportive and adaptive materials and equipment, adapting curricula, providing teacher coaching, training and professional development, and offering unique transportation services that directly support children with complex needs.

Questions?

For more information about the ECEAP Complex Needs Fund, view the ECEAP Complex Needs Fund webpage.