New State Laws Help Open Doors to More Child Care Access
Great news! Recent legislation reduces barriers to early education and child care providers.
Individuals wanting to become licensed child care providers, and community organizations, such as churches, seeking to use existing facilities for child care programs, can benefit from local siting and zoning changes aimed to expand places where child care can be made available.
Three new laws, that are effective July 27, 2025, were created to ease the burden to do business in Washington state for child care providers, or prospective child care providers. Further, the legislature funded DCYF to provide technical assistance to individuals and organizations that want to become a provider or expand their early learning child care facilities.
To learn more about the new law changes, read the DCYF web article.
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Spread the Word about Free/Low-Cost Child Care
Many families living in Washington state qualify for free or low-cost child care, but they may not know about it. You can help by sharing information with parents, caregivers, and your community.
The Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF) has put together a toolkit with ready-to-use materials that make spreading the word easy!
Visit www.dcyf.wa.gov/childcare/toolkit to access printable flyers, sample social media posts, and email templates.
Whether you work directly with families or want to help your community stay informed, these resources make it easy to connect families to the support they need.
Want to know more about the Working Connections Child Care Subsidy Program? Visit www.dcyf.wa.gov/childcare or call 844-626-8687. Help is available by phone in multiple languages.
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Just Ask!: Be Different, Be Brave, Be You by Sonia Sotomayor - Read Aloud
Feeling different, especially as a kid, can be tough. But in the same way that different types of plants and flowers make a garden more beautiful and enjoyable, different types of people make our world more vibrant and wonderful (watch time 7:13):
Just Ask by Sonia Sotomayor
Learn more about the book: Just Ask!: Be Different, Be Brave, Be You by Sonia Sotomayor.
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“Most of us have been brought up to believe that the United States Constitution was designed to keep church and state apart. Unfortunately, with the Johnson decision, the Christian Doctrine of Discovery was not only written into U.S. law but also became the cornerstone of U.S. Indian policy over the next century.”
-Steven Newcomb, Shawnee-Lenape scholar and author
Each week, DCYF ESIT Tribal Program Consultant, Brian Frisina, provides a key topic to help us get to know our Tribal Nation Partners better.
This week’s term is:
A Native Perspective on the Buried History of America
Vatican documents issued by various popes during the fifteenth century created global patterns of domination, leading ultimately to the current ecological crisis. The wisdom teachings of original nations and peoples provide a way forward for the well-being of the planet and our future generations. Watch the trailer (watch time 3:34) and learn more about where to view the film:
The Doctrine of Domination
The Doctrine of Discovery is rooted in papal bulls and European charters, claiming Christian nations' right to dominate and dispossess indigenous peoples (watch time 19:31):
The Doctrine of Domination by Steven Newcomb
Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery
The Doctrine of Discovery originated with the Christian church and was based on Christian scripture, including the Great Commission, the divine mandate to rule based on Romans 13, and the narrative of a covenantal people justified in taking possession of land as described in the Exodus story. Learn more:
Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery
Media Recommendations
- (Book) The Indigenous Paleolithic of the Western Hemisphere, by Paulette F.C. Steeves: The Indigenous Paleolithic of the Western Hemisphere is a reclaimed history of the deep past of Indigenous people in North and South America during the Paleolithic. Paulette F. C. Steeves mines evidence from archaeology sites and Paleolithic environments, landscapes, and mammalian and human migrations to make the case that people have been in the Western Hemisphere not only just prior to Clovis sites (10,200 years ago) but for more than 60,000 years, and likely more than 100,000 years.
- (Video) A Native Perspective on the Buried History of America (watch time 58:09): Most people are unaware that the Declaration of Independence, 30 lines below the statement "all men are created equal" refers to the Native Americans as "merciless Indian savages." Mark Charles (Navajo) [...] is currently working to bring about a national dialogue on race, specifically regarding the Doctrine of Discovery and its influence on the very foundations of our nation, including the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the United States Supreme Court.
Sources
Thanks to everyone who was able to join the July 16 SICC meeting! The July draft meeting minutes and materials have been posted on ESIT's Meetings page for public review:
Posted for Review
SICC Direct List
Sign Up for SICC DL if you would like your email added to the SICC Public direct email list to receive meeting materials in advance of upcoming SICC meetings.
Questions?
For questions regarding the upcoming SICC meeting, or edit submissions to the draft meeting minutes, please contact ESIT Community Collaboration Coordinator, E Renae` Antalan.
Upcoming SICC Meetings
2025 Dates
Accommodation Requests
ASL, live captioning, and other accommodations to fully participate in this webinar are available to you upon request. Please submit the Training and Event Access Support request form by Mon., September 29. DYCF may not be able to fulfill requests made less than two weeks in advance.
Request Access Support
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SICC Member Application
The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is recruiting members for two open positions on the State Interagency Coordinating Council:
- (1) Public or private provider of Early Intervention Services,
- (1) Member of the State Legislature.
Apply on the Governor's website, and under 'Board Information,' select Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities and Their Families, State Interagency Coordinating Council:
Apply here for SICC board
SICC Sub-Committees Application
The SICC Data, Finance, Personnel & Training, Public Policy, and Service Delivery Committees are accepting applications from qualified and interested individuals:
Complete Sub-Committee Interest form
If you have any questions, please contact DCYF ESIT Community Collaboration Coordinator, E Renae` Antalan.
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ESIT is excited to share that recruitment is officially open for PIE (Parent Institute for Engagement) Cohort 8!
PIE is a powerful opportunity for families who are passionate about advocacy, leadership, and equity in early intervention. Through this program, families connect, grow, and influence systems of support for infants and toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities across Washington State. Follow the link below to apply:
PIE Cohort 8 Application
Application Deadline: Sept. 25
Notification of Acceptance: Week of Sept. 29
Flyers are available for providers and partners to distribute to families. To request flyers, application links, or for any questions, please contact Vanessa Allen, Family Engagement Coordinator. For more information about PIE, visit the ESIT Parent Rights page.
Let’s continue building strong family leaders, one cohort at a time.
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*CLAs and ESIT Provider Agencies, please widely share with your ESIT contractors*
ESIT's Resource and Sustainability Team is hosting several Fiscal Learning Opportunities! Priority registration will be given to budget/fiscal staff.
Revenue/Expenditure Year-End Report Sessions
Year-End Revenue/Expenditure Report Sessions will include guidance on completing your organization’s FY24 ESIT Revenue & Expenditure Year-End Report using the updated instructions and template within the Fiscal Workbook.
Dates and Times
- Tuesday, Sept. 9 | 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. | Registration
- Wednesday, Sept. 10 | 9 – 10 a.m. | Registration
- Tuesday, Sept. 23 | 10 – 11 a.m. | Registration *for County Lead Agencies and their affiliated ESIT Provider Agencies.
Fiscal Workshops
Fiscal Workshops will include guidance on the following topics:
- Part C Purpose and Fiscal Requirements,
- State Lead Agency (SLA) Responsibilities, and
- ESIT Fund Sources and Contracts.
* Workshops are two hours. All workshops will cover the same material (no need to attend all four).
Dates and Times
Accommodation Requests
ASL, live captioning, and other accommodations to fully participate in this webinar are available to you upon request. Please submit the Training and Event Access Support request form at least two weeks prior to the event. DYCF may not be able to fulfill requests made less than two weeks in advance.
Questions?
Email ESIT's Resource Allocations Manager, Kali Wraspir, at kali.wraspir@dcyf.wa.gov.
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