Child Care Licensing

Do I need a license to provide child care?

You need a license to provide care if:

• You are caring for children who are not closely related to you;
• The care is on an ongoing, regularly scheduled basis for the purpose of engaging in business; and
• The care is for children from more than one family or of you earn more than #1,000/year from child care.

You can also read the Washington Administrative Codes (WACs) which contain the Minimum Licensing Requirements for licensed child care centers, family homes, or licensed school-age centers available at the Department of Early Learning’s (DEL’s) website.

The Revised Code of Washington (RWW) that created the Department of Early Learning is posted on the DEL website. All of the child care WACs have been renumbered, but no content was changed. See them online at http://www.del.wa.gov/

How do I get licensed?

The licensing process begins with orientation, which can be a group meeting or an individual meeting with a DEL licensor, depending on where you live. At orientation you will receive information about:

At the orientation you will be encouraged to think about why you want to provide child care. You’ll want to assess your:

• Business skills;
• Abilities to work with children;
• Determination, personality, experience, finances; and
• Particular child care space.

You will receive a license application, instructions about how to fill out the application and other related information. The licensors conducting the orientation will explain how to complete the application form and what information and fee you must submit with the application.

Once you send in your application, DEL has 90 days to act on your application. If you are applying for a home license, a DEL licensor will contact you to schedule an inspection. The DEL licensor will come to your home or center to inspect it. They will also talk with you about how you plan to offer child care. DEL staff will work closely with you throughout the licensing process.

How do I attend an orientation?

Contact your local DEL office for the schedule. Look in the yellow pages for your local Department of Early Learning office or visit the resources section on the web site at: http://www.del.wa.gov/ccel/providers.shtml. You may also contact your local child care resource & referral (R&R) program. 

What kind of monitoring is a provider subject to?

• A licensed provider is subject to:
• A scheduled inspection by a DEL licensor every three years;

Providers may be subject to additional monitoring if complaints are received.

What kind of training does a provider need?

A provider needs current CPR, First Aid, and HIV/AIDS training. A provider also is required to complete 20 hours of “basic training” under the State Training and Registry System (STARS) during the first year of being licensed and 10 hours of STARS training for each of the following years. Get more details by calling your local child care resource & referral agency.

Child Care Subsidies

How do parents get help paying for child care?

Working Connections Child Care (WCCC) is by far the largest program in Washington to help families with children to pay for child care. Parents wishing to apply for the program should call toll-free 1-877-980-9131.

Who can get Working Connections Child Care?

Two main types of families with children under 13 years old are eligible for WCCC:

• Working families whose countable income is at or under 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. For example, a family of three can make up to $2684/month. A family of four can make up to $3226/month.

How does a provider get paid under WCCC?

The WCCC application must be completed by the parent. Once a family is approved for WCCC, a social service notice is sent which identifies the dates of authorized service; the names of eligible children; the rate of compensation; and the amount the family must pay as their co-payment. Providers collect co-payments directly from the parents. DSHS will send providers an invoice which lists the individual services for each child. Using attendance records, providers complete the invoice and submit it to DSHS for payment. Providers may opt for direct deposit of DSHS payments into their account, which results in faster payments.

How are rates determined for WCCC?

Rates are determined every two years, based on a survey of child care providers. Rates are based on geographical location, type of child care program, amount of care, and age of child. Providers receive their normal rate or the approved DSHS rate, whichever is lower.

Where do providers call with questions?

WCCC maintains a 24 hours a day, seven day a week phone line. Providers call 1-866-218-3244. Parents already on the program call 1-877-980-9220.

Resources for Providers

What is the State Training and Registry System (STARS)?

STARS is a career development system designed to improve the availability of child care through basic and ongoing training for child care providers. DEL is the regulatory authority for licensing requirements and administers the STARS Registry, a web-based database that tracks provider records.

The Washington Association for the Education of Young Children (WAEYC) is contracted to administer other components of the program: Information and Publicity, Training and Trainer Approval, the Scholarship Program, and also supports the work of the STARS Stakeholders, an advisory group.

What help is available if I want to take college courses?

The Washington Scholarships for Child Care Professionals Program provides scholarships to child care center providers and family child care providers who want to study early childhood education at a community college. Expenses for tuition, books, travel, and release time are shared by the recipient, the sponsoring child care center or family child care provider, and the Scholarship program.

For information call toll-free 1-866-308-3224 or visit our Scholarship page.

Visit the DEL Licensed Child Care Information website at http://www.del.wa.gov/

How do I find children to care for in my program?

Resource and referral agencies maintain a current list of licensed child care centers and homes so they can make child care referrals for parents and guardians needing child care. Agencies also offer a variety of services for potential and currently-licensed child care providers. Contact your local child care resource & referral agency to be connected with your local R&R office.

Are there teaching materials available for use in my child care program?

Many local child care resource & referral offices maintain toy and resource lending libraries for use by child care providers. Contact your community agency from the list below. In addition, some websites listed on the following page include lesson plans, teaching materials, and valuable information on child development which could be useful in creating curriculum?

How do I access on-line licensing information?

Visit the DEL Licensed Child Care Information website at  http://www.del.wa.gov/requirements/info/

How do I report suspected child abuse or neglect?

Contact the DSHS’s Children’s Administration Intake Line at 1-800-562-5624.

Internet Resources for Providers

BrainNet - working to improve the lives of all children in Washington State by promoting healthy, optimal brain development. http://www.del.wa.gov/

Child Profile - Washington State ’s health promotion and immunization registry system. http://www.childprofile.org

Children’s Alliance - advocacy organization dedicated to Washington ’s children. http://www.childrensalliance.org

Children’s Defense Fund - National organization with the mission of Leave No Child Behind^®. www.childrensdefense.org

Connect for Kids - encyclopedia of information for adults who want to make their communities better places for kids.http://www.connectforkids.org

Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) - a family-focused preschool program in Washington State. http://www.del.wa.gov/care/find%2Dhs%2Deceap/

Early Connections Technology in Early Childhood Education - connecting technology with the way young children learn. http://www.netc.org/earlyconnections

Family Communications - Family Communications produced Mister Roger’s Neighborhood and other materials for young children and those who support them. http://www.fci.org/

Infant Toddler Early Intervention Program (ITEIP) - early intervention services for families with children age birth to three that have developmental delays. http://www1.dshs.wa.gov/iteip/

Kids Net - a search engine for children that contains over 20,000 child safe sites, and over 4000 categories. http://www.kids.net.au

National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (NACCRRA) - the national network of community-based child care resource and referral agencies.http://www.naccrra.net

National Network for Child Care (NNCC) - strengthening the quality of nonparental care environments. http://www.nncc.org

Parent Power  - includes eligibility calculator for families seeking assistance. http://www.washingtonparentpower.org

School’s Out Washington  - developing a high-quality system of out-of-school time activities for children and youth, ages 5 to 14. http://www.schoolsoutwashington.org

Washington Association for the Education of Young Children (WAEYC) - professional organization for child care providers. http://www.waeyc.org

Washington Kids Count - data on the well-being of children. http://www.hspc.org/topics/wa_kids_count.aspx

Within Reach (formerly Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies) -  helps families in Washington with information from pre-pregnancy planning through childhood. http://www.withinreachwa.org/