Providers

Early Achievers is Washington’s quality recognition and improvement system for child care programs. It helps providers help children reach their full potential, and it provides families with a child care recognition system to help them understand program quality.

Not enrolled yet?

Sign up for free and get access to:

• Free training
• Customized technical assistance and coaching
• Scholarships for certificates or degrees
• Business tools for your child care small business
• Needs-Based Grants
• State child care subsidy reimbursement
• Quality Improvement Awards of $2,000 to $9,000
• Infant-Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation for providers and families

Enroll Now Contact

Already participating?

Thank you for making a difference for children and families! Connect to these resources for Early Achievers!

New! Holding Hope, Infant-Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation for providers and families

Continuing Education

Child Care Aware of Washington connects providers to professional development through our regional partners. Across the state, we offer:

• High-quality, cost-effective trainings
• State-approved instructors with years of child care and early learning experience
• Education for all experience levels and all types of child care providers

Find continuing education in your community and online.

1. For personal guidance and opportunities in your region, contact the Child Care Aware regional partner in your community by clicking on the map below.
2. You can search for specific classes statewide through the state’s MERIT search tool. MERIT

Provider Tools

Caring for children and running a business takes a lot of different skills. The following resources can help. For more information, tools and resources, visit our pages for professional development and Early Achievers.

Child Care Business Edge

Fair Start for Kids Act

Washington state’s new Fair Start for Kids Act, signed into law in May 2021, provides many benefits to licensed child care providers. To learn more about the Fair Start for Kids Act, click here.

Infant-Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation

Health and Safety

• Washington state child safety information
• Seattle Children’s Hospital

Health Videos

Handwashing

Diapering

Resources for Providing School-Age Child Care

Resources to help you provide child care for school-age children

Business tools

• Opening a child care business
• Child care licensing policies and procedures
• Business financing and administration
• Sample contracts and forms
• IRS tax forms and schedules

Quality programs and tools

• Early Achievers
• University of Washington, College of Education, Cultivate Learning
• McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership
• Free Classroom Visuals and Supports from the Head Start Center for Inclusion

Child Development Information

• Zero to Three
• Seattle Children’s Hospital

Other state and national child care organizations

• Washington Childcare Centers Association
• Washington State Department of Health – Nourished and Active in Early Learning
• Children’s Alliance
• School’s Out Washington
• Washington Association for the Education of Young Children (WAEYC)
• Washington State Family Child Care Association
• Child Care Aware of America
• Office of Child Care/Administration for Children & Families – U.S. Department of Health and Human Services