Available Child Care Grant Opportunities

Several grant opportunities are currently available through DCYF to support child care providers and the child care workforce:

• The Child Care Stabilization Grant, intended to help providers remain open and able to care for children, is accepting applications through September 30. This is a one-time, non-competitive opportunity available to all licensed and certified providers with an open license, and also license-exempt Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) providers who serve children accessing state subsidies.
• The Child Care Workforce Retention Grant is available through October 20. This grant is intended to support workforce retention. Licensed and certified providers can access these funds to provide direct payments to workers in eligible roles. Funding will be divided equally among eligible workers, and this opportunity is not competitive.
• The Child Care Complex Needs Fund is now open for a second round through November 10. All licensed and certified child care providers are eligible to apply, and license-exempt Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) providers who serve children accessing state subsidies are also eligible to apply. This grant opportunity further supports care for children with developmental delays, disabilities, behavioral needs, or other unique needs. This is a competitive grant process that requires providers to share their plan for using the funds.
• The Early Achievers Needs-Based Grant is currently available for eligible providers participating in Early Achievers. This funding assists with purchasing curriculum and instructional materials, supplies, equipment, focused infant-toddler improvements, environmental improvements, minor renovations to the child care facility, supports and materials or services for the care of children with special needs, or other items as identified by the coach. This grant is first come, first served, and available each year until funding runs out.

Technical and language assistance is available to providers who need assistance filling out grant applications.

For the most up-to-date information on current and future grant opportunities, please see the DCYF Child Care Grant Opportunities webpage.

For questions about a grant opportunity, the timeline of a grant, or other questions specific to these grants, please email dcyf.childcaregrants@dcyf.wa.gov.