NEW! Statewide Online Referrals
Online Child Care Referrals Now Available to All Washington State Families
The Washington State Child Care Resource & Referral Network (CCR&R Network) is excited to announce the official launch of online child care referral services for all 39 counties in Washington State.
For years Child Care Resource and Referral programs in WA have been providing telephone referrals to families seeking child care, and matching them with local licensed child care providers. On September 1, these services are expanding to include online referrals for families seeking child care who may prefer the convenience of using the internet rather than telephone when searching for child care. To access online or telephone child care referrals or to find the child care resource and referral program in your community, click here for online referrals or call (800) 446-1114.
“We are really taking our services to the next level. With so many people now using the internet to find resources, it was a natural step for us to better serve the communities in our state. Washington families will have the option to start their child care search from the convenience of their computer, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Online referrals will give them the freedom and flexibility that so many people need during what has proven to be a huge challenge for many families – finding child care that fits their specific needs.” - Elizabeth M. Bonbright, Executive Director, CCR&R Network.
Child Care Resources in King County (CCR), one of the 11 member programs in the CCR&R Network, was the first CCR&R in the nation to offer online referrals using this platform almost ten years ago. CCR’s visionary leadership and experience has guided the way forward for the rest of Washington State’s CCR&R system to move ahead and launch online child care referrals statewide.
Although families may come across other websites with posted child care information such as Craigslist, AngiesList or online phonebooks, by using the online child care referral system through the CCR&R Network, parents will be matched by their specific needs with licensed child care providers through a community-based agency, who works directly with parents, child care providers and licensors.
In addition to personalized child care referrals, trained CCR&R counselors provide information to families to help them identify quality child care. Across the state, CCR&Rs share educational materials on many aspects of parenting and child development, as well as numerous child and family related resources.
The CCR&R Network works closely with the Washington State Department of Early Learning, the state agency responsible for child care licensing and policy. "We know the importance of helping families find the right child care arrangement--accessible, affordable care where parents can feel comfortable their children are safe, healthy and having fun," said Bette Hyde, director of the Washington State Department of Early Learning, which oversees child care licensing in the state and provides funding to the CCR&R Network to support resource and referral activities. "The addition of online referral services reflects the needs and realities of Washington families, and it's a step forward for our state."
The Washington State Child Care Resource & Referral Network is a statewide 501(c)(3) organization created in 1989 that supports families and caregivers, shapes policy and builds communities that promote the learning and development of children and youth throughout Washington State through a strong statewide network of 11 local child care resource and referral member programs.
The online referral system was created from a child care referral platform through the National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (NACCRRA).
**Child care providers have the option of not being included on the referral list.
