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High-quality child care helps whole communities. Children excel, families earn more and businesses retain great employees.
Take Action for Kids
90% of a child’s brain develops in the first five years and creates a million new neuronal connections each second.1 Early learning has a lasting impact.
Children who receive high-quality child care:
The Struggle for High-Quality Care
With infant care costing over $1,000 a month, child care can be a family’s biggest expense. Yet child care providers often live in poverty. Why?
Child care is very labor-intensive. Wages stay low because families can’t pay more. The gap between what it costs to provide high-quality care and what families can afford is worsened by low child care subsidies. Learn what Child Care Aware of Washington is focusing on right now to sustain and strengthen our child care system – English, Spanish.
In Washington state, subsidies cover only about a third of the cost of a high-quality program. Learn more about how low state reimbursement rates affect child care.
Learn why high-quality child care matters with this video.
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Advocacy Resources
Writing to Legislators
Step-by-Step Guide
Finding Contact Information
Writing Effective Letters
Before you read further, check out our three-step guide to communicating with lawmakers.
The Washington Legislature has a handy tool for finding the contact information of your representatives.
- Enter your address
- Look for your district number
- Click on the name of your legislators
- Their phone number, email, and mailing address should appear
Data and Information
Expanding Assistance for Working Families
Providing Financial Support to Child Care Providers
Protecting Existing Investments
The Importance of ECE Scholarships
Facts and figures about the impact that expanding assistance for working parents will have on Washington’s children and economy.
If child care is so expensive, then why do providers need financial relief? It’s a complicated topic, so learn more about why financial support for early learning is not only necessary, but also benefits all of us across the state.
One of our biggest legislative priorities is ensuring that Washington expands assistance for early learning, not reduce it. Before speaking to legislators, read more about why protecting critical investments is essential.
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State and Local Data
Child Care Aware of Washington provides thorough and independent information and support to assist:
- Families seeking quality child care
- Child care programs seeking to improve quality
- Policy makers
Click on the counties below to get county-specific child care data, including data on kindergarten readiness, child poverty and the percentage of children under age six living in homes with all adults working.
Adams County
- In Adams County, the number of child care providers has dropped from 34 with capacity for 623 children in 2017, to 26 providers with capacity for 490 children in December of 2021.
- 85% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 21 children with high-quality child care in Adams County last year.
Asotin County
- In Asotin County, the number of child care providers has stayed the same from 9 with capacity for 442 children in 2017, to 9 providers with capacity for 467 children in December of 2021.
- 75% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 8 children with high-quality child care in Asotin County last year.
Benton County
- In Benton County, the number of child care providers has dropped from 144 with capacity for 4,019 children in 2017, to 119 providers with capacity for 4,254 children in December of 2021.
- 69% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 467 children with high-quality child care in Benton County last year.
Chelan County
- In Chelan County, the number of child care providers has dropped from 111 with capacity for 1,810 children in 2017, to 101 providers with capacity for 1,980 children in December of 2021.
- 85% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 182 children with high-quality child care in Chelan County last year.
Clallam County
- In Clallam County, the number of child care providers has stayed the same from 43 with capacity for 952 children in 2017, to 43 providers with capacity for 1,134 children in December of 2021.
- 83% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 109 children with high-quality child care in Clallam County last year.
Clark County
- In Clark County, the number of child care providers has dropped from 233 with capacity for 8,575 children in 2017, to 188 providers with capacity for 8,137 children in December of 2021.
- 57% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 1,281 children with high-quality child care in Clark County last year.
Columbia County
- In Columbia County, the number of child care providers has dropped from 4 with capacity for 38 children in 2017, to 0 providers with capacity for 0 children in December of 2021.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 2 child with high-quality child care in Columbia County last year.
Cowlitz County
- In Cowlitz County, the number of child care providers has dropped from 48 with capacity for 1,966 children in 2017, to 45 providers with capacity for 2,299 children in December of 2021.
- 73% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 215 children with high-quality child care in Cowlitz County last year.
Douglas County
- In Douglas County, the number of child care providers has dropped from 68 with capacity for 1,087 children in 2017, to 62 providers with capacity for 953 children in December of 2021.
- 82% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 102 children with high-quality child care in Douglas County last year.
Ferry County
- In Ferry County, the number of child care providers has increased from 1 with capacity for 12 children in 2017, to 2 providers with capacity for 38 children in December of 2021.
- 50% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
Franklin County
- In Franklin County, the number of child care providers has dropped from 146 with capacity for 2,747 children in 2017, to 136 providers with capacity for 2,965 children in December of 2021.
- 94% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 228 children with high-quality child care in Franklin County last year.
Garfield County
- In Garfield County, the number of child care providers has dropped from 2 with capacity for 84 children in 2017, to 0 providers with capacity for 0 children in December of 2021.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 3 children with high-quality child care in Garfield County last year.
Grant County
- In Grant County, the number of child care providers has dropped from 153 with capacity for 2,716 children in 2017, to 126 providers with capacity for 2,668 children in December of 2021.
- 81% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 125 children with high-quality child care in Grant County last year.
Grays Harbor County
- In Grays Harbor County, the number of child care providers has dropped from 48 with capacity for 1,223 children in 2017, to 38 providers with capacity for 1,031 children in December of 2021.
- 83% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 89 children with high-quality child care in Grays Harbor County last year.
Island County
- In Island County, the number of child care providers has dropped from 47 with capacity for 1,310 children in 2017, to 32 providers with capacity for 800 children in December of 2021.
- 79% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 108 children with high-quality child care in Island County last year.
Jefferson County
- In Jefferson County, the number of child care providers has increased from 7 with capacity for 153 children in 2017, to 9 providers with capacity for 273 children in December of 2021.
- 57% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 19 children with high-quality child care in Jefferson County last year.
King County
- In King County, the number of child care providers has increased from 1,908 with capacity for 62,406 children in 2017, to 2,084 providers with capacity for 73,009 children in December of 2021.
- 70% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 4,793 children with high-quality child care in King County last year.
Kitsap County
- In Kitsap County, the number of child care providers has dropped from 142 with capacity for 4,518 children in 2017, to 124 providers with capacity for 5,372 children in December of 2021.
- 53% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 551 children with high-quality child care in Kitsap County last year.
Kittitas County
- In Kittitas County, the number of child care providers has dropped from 28 with capacity for 820 children in 2017, to 18 providers with capacity for 737 children in December of 2021.
- 56% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 47 children with high-quality child care in Kittitas County last year.
Klickitat County
- In Klickitat County, the number of child care providers has stayed the same from 9 with capacity for 98 children in 2017, to 9 providers with capacity for 179 children in December of 2021.
- 38% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 11 children with high-quality child care in Klickitat County last year.
Lewis County
- In Lewis County, the number of child care providers has dropped from 43 with capacity for 1,110 children in 2017, to 33 providers with capacity for 1,170 children in December of 2021.
- 69% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 163 children with high-quality child care in Lewis County last year.
Lincoln County
- In Lincoln County, the number of child care providers has dropped from 6 with capacity for 60 children in 2017, to 3 providers with capacity for 44 children in December of 2021.
- 33% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 2 children with high-quality child care in Lincoln County last year.
Mason County
- In Mason County, the number of child care providers has dropped from 32 with capacity for 893 children in 2017, to 23 providers with capacity for 878 children in December of 2021.
- 63% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 162 children with high-quality child care in Mason County last year.
Okanogan County
- In Okanogan County, the number of child care providers has increased from 34 with capacity for 587 children in 2017, to 38 providers with capacity for 686 children in December of 2021.
- 61% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 59 children with high-quality child care in Okanogan County last year.
Pacific County
- In Pacific County, the number of child care providers has dropped from 11 with capacity for 247 children in 2017, to 9 providers with capacity for 246 children in December of 2021.
- 75% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 11 children with high-quality child care in Pacific County last year.
Pend Oreille County
- In Pend Oreille County, the number of child care providers has stayed the same from 2 with capacity for 107 children in 2017, to 2 providers with capacity for 135 children in December of 2021.
- 25% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 9 children with high-quality child care in Pend Oreille County last year.
Pierce County
- In Pierce County, the number of child care providers has dropped from 512 with capacity for 17,934 children in 2017, to 472 providers with capacity for 20,290 children in December of 2021.
- 73% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 2,816 children with high-quality child care in Pierce County last year.
San Juan County
- In San Juan County, the number of child care providers has increased from 6 with capacity for 193 children in 2017, to 7 providers with capacity for 201 children in December of 2021.
- 100% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 4 children with high-quality child care in San Juan County last year.
Skagit County
- In Skagit County, the number of child care providers has dropped from 103 with capacity for 2,573 children in 2017, to 87 providers with capacity for 2,349 children in December of 2021.
- 80% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 239 children with high-quality child care in Skagit County last year.
Skamania County
- In Skamania County, the number of child care providers has increased from 5 with capacity for 93 children in 2017, to 7 providers with capacity for 144 children in December of 2021.
- 71% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 3 children with high-quality child care in Skamania County last year.
Snohomish County
- In Snohomish County, the number of child care providers has dropped from 506 with capacity for 16,434 children in 2017, to 478 providers with capacity for 18,472 children in December of 2021.
- 63% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 1,583 children with high-quality child care in Snohomish County last year.
Spokane County
- In Spokane County, the number of child care providers has dropped from 288 with capacity for 12,180 children in 2017, to 232 providers with capacity for 11,645 children in December of 2021.
- 64% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 1,149 children with high-quality child care in Spokane County last year.
Stevens County
- In Stevens County, the number of child care providers has increased from 12 with capacity for 276 children in 2017, to 17 providers with capacity for 363 children in December of 2021.
- 59% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 26 children with high-quality child care in Stevens County last year.
Thurston County
- In Thurston County, the number of child care providers has dropped from 200 with capacity for 6,933 children in 2017, to 156 providers with capacity for 6,775 children in December of 2021.
- 74% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 1,068 children with high-quality child care in Thurston County last year.
Wahkiakum County
- In Wahkiakum County, the number of child care providers has dropped from 2 with capacity for 54 children in 2017, to 1 provider with capacity for 56 children in December of 2021.
- 100% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
Walla Walla County
- In Walla Walla County, the number of child care providers has dropped from 53 with capacity for 1,269 children in 2017, to 40 providers with capacity for 1,180 children in December of 2021.
- 76% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 99 children with high-quality child care in Walla Walla County last year.
Whatcom County
- In Whatcom County, the number of child care providers has dropped from 110 with capacity for 3,277 children in 2017, to 106 providers with capacity for 3,686 children in December of 2021.
- 62% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 601 children with high-quality child care in Whatcom County last year.
Whitman County
- In Whitman County, the number of child care providers has dropped from 26 with capacity for 1,227 children in 2017, to 15 providers with capacity for 1,004 children in December of 2021.
- 69% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 48 children with high-quality child care in Whitman County last year.
Yakima County
- In Yakima County, the number of child care providers has dropped from 352 with capacity for 8,418 children in 2017, to 314 providers with capacity for 7,706 children in December of 2021.
- 88% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 472 children with high-quality child care in Yakima County last year.
Report Archives
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
To open the reports, you must have Acrobat Reader. If you do not have Acrobat Reader, please click here to download a free copy.
For information about how Child Care Aware of Washington uses child care provider data, click here.
If you have any questions about the data reports, please contact Sarah Kelley at sarah@childcareawarewa.org.
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State Legislative Session
The 2022 session of the Washington State Legislature began on Jan. 10, 2022, and you can see what we are advocating for on our 2022 legislative agenda (English / Spanish / Somali). Learn more about why investments are needed in Washington’s child care system here: (English/Español).
The 2021 legislative session was a historic session for child care, where families, providers, communities, and policymakers came together to pass the transformational Fair Start for Kids Act. However, the early child care workforce is still suffering. Nationwide, 80% of child care programs are reporting staff shortages. And here in Washington, poverty wages and high turnover rates are preventing licensed care providers from operating at capacity, forcing many families to still look for care outside of licensed opportunities.
Policy makers have the opportunity to address this looming crisis now. Together, we can provide respectful wages to Washington’s professionals and give more options to families who do not have access to licensed care.
2022 Legislative Priorities
Reduce barriers to workforce recruitment
Fund child care mental health consultation support
Expand facilitated play & learn groups for Family Friend & Neighbor caregivers
- Decrease the time it takes to complete the state child care background check process
- Fund data collection on transitional kindergarten
- Provide additional care for families traumatized by the pandemic
- Expand supports for children being unjustly held back from success due to structural racism, socio-economic barriers, or other systemic injustices in their community
- We are calling for $185,000 in ongoing investments
- Many children are cared for by family members, friends, or neighbors (FFNs). Facilitated, evidenced-based play and learn groups provide quality early learning opportunities to thousands of children in FFN care who are not enrolled in formal early learning programs either by family choice, or lack of access, or affordability barriers. Increasing access to play and learn groups can help move Washington closer to its goal to have 90% of children ready for kindergarten when they enter, and support the needs of families and caregivers.
- To learn more about our multi-year strategy to connect families with expanded Play and Learn Groups in their communities, click here.
- We care calling for $3.1 million in ongoing investments
- Take Action! Advocate for increased Family, Friend and Neighbor support on social media (English/Spanish) or by writing to your legislators (English/Spanish).
What You Can Do
It is never too early or too late to let your legislators know you support state investment in high-quality child care and Early Achievers, and in increasing the reimbursement rates paid to providers who accept children on state subsidies/Working Connections Child Care.
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Federal Legislative
In December, Congress delivered a down payment on badly needed financial support providing $10 billion for child care. In January of 2021, President Biden proposed an additional $40 billion in child care relief. But, many members of Congress are not sure if communities and families need more support. Contact your congressmen and congresswomen today to urge their support for additional relief for child care.
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Parent Ambassadors
Attention parents! Become a Parent Ambassador and make a real difference in the lives of children!
Parent Ambassadors learn advocacy, leadership, communications and engagement skills to become strong voices for young children and families in our state. They advocate and teach others about the importance of high-quality child care and early learning programs that benefit young children and help close the opportunity gap. Ambassadors receive training and support to become effective advocates and leaders. If selected, you will serve a one-year term that begins in March 2022. All travel expenses are subsidized by WSA.
Being a Parent Ambassador is an outstanding opportunity to join a community of advocates who care passionately about expanding access to high-quality child care and early learning programs so that more families can benefit.
Applications for 2022 Parent Ambassadors are now being accepted. If you are interested in this great opportunity, please submit your application by Jan. 3, 2022. Applications and full details can be found on the Washington State Association of Head Start & ECEAP website linked below.
Key Dates
Parent Ambassadors are required to commit to attending all four of these events, so check your calendars now!
- In-person Event 1 March 22-23, 2022 Federal Way
- In-person Event 2 June 27-29, 2022 10-4:30
- In-person Event 3 October 19-21, 2022 Wenatchee Red Lion
- In-person Event 4 Feb. 2023- Winter Meeting and Advocacy Day TBD
Learn More at the Washington State Association of Head Start & ECEAP
State Trends At-A-Glance
Fewer Providers
Larger Population
Rising Child Care Costs
The number of family child care providers dropped 20% in 5 years, with larger child care centers adding some capacity. While the decline in family child care providers has recently stabilized, some counties are continuing to see declines.
Washington’s population grew by more than 400,000 in 5 years, while the capacity of child care providers grew by just 3,000 children.
Washington ranks 3rd in the nation for least affordable child care for an infant in a family child care program. The average cost to have an infant in a child care center is 15.4% of median income for a married couple and a daunting 51.5% of median income for a single mother. While median household incomes have increased 5% since 2010, median child care rates have increased between 13-20% for center-based care and 11-31% for family child care.
Child Care Aware of Washington provides thorough and independent information for effective policy making.
- Five Numbers to Remember About Early Childhood Development: https://developingchild.harvard.edu/.
- National Institutes of Health “The Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development,” https://www.nichd.nih.gov/research/supported/seccyd/
- First Five Years Fund Invest in Us Report 1. National Institutes of Health “The Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development,” https://www.nichd.nih.gov/research/supported/seccyd/
- High Scope Perry Preschool Study Through Age 4: https://highscope.org/perrypreschoolstudy/