Providers
We are here to support you! Connect with a local CCA of WA coach who is a resource and advocate for you and your business or learn more about Child Provider Scholarship opportunities.
Whether you’re an experienced child care provider or just starting out, Child Care Aware of Washington can connect you to resources that build your knowledge, skills and business. The Early Achievers system opens up many opportunities, from in-person coaching to online professional development to access to our free online shared business services portal Washington Child Care Business Edge. Edge can help you run your small business more efficiently. Early Achievers also gives you access to scholarships that can help support your journey to certificates and degrees in Early Childhood Education or similar, approved fields. Child Care Aware of Washington helps child care providers expand their knowledge of early childhood development and improve the quality of learning and play environments for children.
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Early Achievers quality recognition and improvement system
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
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
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Professional development
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.
- For personal guidance and opportunities in your region, contact the Child Care Aware regional partner in your community by clicking on the map below.
- You can search for specific classes statewide through the state’s MERIT search tool. MERIT
CCA of Central WA
Catholic Family & Child Service
Catholic Family & Child Service
Professional Development Coordinator:Rosa Escalera - rescalara@catholiccharitiescw.org
509-293-8356Website
Counties Served:
- Adams
- Chelan
- Douglas
- Ferry
- Okanogan
- Grant
- Kittitas
- Yakima
CCA of Eastern WA
Community-Minded Enterprises
2001 N. Division St, Ste. 130 Spokane, WA 99207
Professional Development Coordinator:Shannon Blewett - Professionaldevelopment@community-minded.org
509-435-3168 409-385-2780Website
Counties Served:
- Asotin
- Benton
- Franklin
- Columbia
- Garfield
- Lincoln
- Pend Oreille
- Spokane
- Stevens
- Walla Walla
- Whitman
CCA of King & Pierce Counties
BrightSpark - King County
555 S. Renton Village Place, Suite 280 Renton, WA 98057
Professional Development Coordinator:Nayeli Mercado - mercado@childcare.org
206-329-1011Website
Counties Served:
- King
BrightSpark - Pierce County
1501 Pacific Ave., Ste. 305 Tacoma, WA 98402
Professional Development Coordinator:Nayeli Mercado - mercado@childcare.org
253-272-8000Website
Counties Served:
- Pierce
CCA of Olympic Peninsula
Child Care Action Council
3729 Griffin Lane SE Olympia, WA 98501
Professional Development Coordinator:Connie Dougherty - Connie.dougherty@ccacwa.org
360-786-8907Website
Counties Served:
- Clallam
- Grays Harbor
- Jefferson
- Kitsap
- Mason
- Thurston
CCA of Southwest WA
Educational Service District 112
2500 NE 65th Ave. Vancouver, WA 98661
Professional Development Coordinator:Carol Benefiel - carol.benefiel@esd112.org
360-952-3361Website
Counties Served:
- Pacific
- Lewis
- Clark
- Cowlitz
- Klickitat
- Skamania
- Wahkiakum
CCA of Northwest WA
Opportunity Council
1201 Cornwall Avenue, Suite 200 Bellingham, WA 98225
Professional Development Coordinator:Julie Wasilewski - Julie_wasilewski@oppco.org
360-734-8396Website
Counties Served:
- Island
- San Juan
- Whatcom
- Skagit
- Snohomish
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Provider tools and resources
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
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
Child Development Information
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