The Fair Start for Kids Act creates a rate incentive for licensed and certified child care providers and Early ECEAP (Early Childhood Education Assistance Program) contractors to help expand access to high-quality child care for parents returning to work after using paid family leave.
The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) will begin paying a $90 per month, per child rate enhancement for children 0-11 months old at the beginning of the month of service. Effective July 1, 2022, DCYF will authorize the infant rate enhancement on the child’s child care subsidy authorization for those licensed and certified child care providers and Early ECEAP contractors that:
- Accept state subsidy
- Participate and are in good standing with the Early Achievers quality rating and improvement system
- Care for children between the age of birth and 11 months
Early ECEAP contractors must work with each eligible family to ensure they are enrolled in Working Connections Child Care to be eligible for this funding increase.
If you would like to learn more about infant rate enhancements and your organization providing WCCC, please contact the Child Care Subsidy Provider Help Line at 1-800-394-4571 or by email at providerhelp@dcyf.wa.gov.
The infant rate enhancement is a result of the Fair Start for Kids Act, a $1.1 billion investment to make child care and early learning more affordable to Washington families by expanding access, capping co-pays, and providing resources to support child care and early learning providers.