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Welcome to the inaugural issue of the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) Fair Start for Kids Act (FSKA) newsletter. This monthly resource contains updates and news related to the FSKA, 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.
More information and updates can also be found online at dcyf.wa.gov.
 DCYF is now accepting applications for the Organizational License Pilot. This pilot project will determine the feasibility of creating a license category for child care centers with multiple sites that operate under a single owner or entity. The pilot project is a directive from the Washington State Legislature, Senate Bill 5092 sec. 229 (19). Read More.
The FSKA directs DCYF to distribute early childhood equity grants to eligible applicants. Eligible applicants include play and learn groups, licensed or certified child care centers and family home providers, license-exempt child care programs, and early childhood education and assistance program contractors.
These grants are intended to serve as a step toward expanding access to early learning statewide and transforming Washington's early learning system to make it more inclusive and equitable. The grants will support inclusive and culturally and linguistically specific early learning and early childhood and parent support programs across the state.
DCYF sought guidance from advisory groups on creating spaces for co-creation with providers. The advisory group sessions involved are the Early Learning Advisory Council (ELAC), Provider Supports Subcommittee (PS), Tribal Policy Advisory Committee (TPAC), and The Indian Policy Early Learning (IPEL) Committee.
Based on the feedback of our stakeholders, adjustments have been made to the original timeline in order to increase emphasis and intentionality of a user-centered design model for equity grants. DCYF is leaning on Liberatory Design principles to design the grant application and necessary supports. Provider communities have been involved from inception and will be involved in each phase of the design process.
DCYF identified four community organizations to host and facilitate the co-creation of discussions on the Equity Grant application and supports. Voices of Tomorrow, The Imagine Institute, Child Care Aware of WA and One America came together for a host organization kick-off meeting.
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Child care workers in licensed child care facilities in Washington State may be eligible for health care premium assistance through 2022. This program is administered by the Washington Health Benefits Exchange (WAHBE) in partnership with DCYF and Yakima Neighborhood Health Services. Read More. |
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Through the Child Care Stabilization Grant, DCYF has distributed nearly $309 million to help providers stay open during the COVID-19 pandemic, care for children, and help ensure working families have access to high-quality child care. Read More. Read More.
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DCYF is collaborating with community organizations and seeking provider guidance to create a Dual Language Designation. The creation of a Dual Language Designation lays the foundation for DCYF to provide resources to eligible programs. These programs include licensed or certified child care providers accepting state subsidy, ECEAP contractors, or Early ECEAP contractors.
What’s Happening Now
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Dual Language Designation Advisory Committee – A dual language advisory group and the Indian Policy Early Learning Committee (IPEL) are working to define the criteria needed to have a dual language designation.
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Community Survey – DCYF and the DLL Designation Advisory Committee are seeking input from early learning professionals throughout the state to better understand how dual language efforts are happening now.
Complete the Survey
Tell us about your program and the children and families you serve.
A multilingual survey is available now. To complete the survey, follow the link below:
Want to read more?
To read more about this work, visit the Professional Development and Workforce Current Initiatives page on the DCYF website: https://www.dcyf.wa.gov/services/earlylearning-profdev/workforce-development/initiatives
DCYF will provide resource opportunities for eligible providers to offer trauma-informed care. DCYF is preparing to kick off design sessions following Liberatory Design principles to inform the approach and process. The FSKA indicates supports will include:
- Additional compensation for individual staff who have an infant and early childhood mental health or other child development specialty credential.
- Trauma-informed professional development and training.
- The purchase of screening tools and assessment materials.
- Supportive services for children with complex needs that are offered as fee-for-service within local communities.
- Other related expenses.
Stay tuned for more information in upcoming newsletters.
If you have questions about this newsletter or DCYF’s efforts to implement the FSKA, please email dcyf.fairstart@dcyf.wa.gov.
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