Child Care Aware of Washington

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Tacoma, WA
Child Care Aware of Washington

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We connect families to high quality child care and early learning programs, and we support providers Because Quality Matters.

We connect families to high quality child care and early learning programs, and we support providers who deliver it.

10/28/2026

Washington families! Finding child care can be overwhelming… Child Care Finder helps you search for programs, learn more about what they offer, and see more current opening information as providers update their availability. ✨

Looking for care in Washington? Save this for later and share it with another family.

09/18/2026

As the promise of universal child care gains wider recognition, it’s crucial to recognize the important role Family Friends and Neighbors (FFN) care has played and will continue to play in providing loving, supportive and essential support for children and families. Many child care providers don’t earn enough to make ends meet. FFN caregivers, when paid, have an average annual earning of $7,420. This needs to change. Share to raise awareness and support for better wages for FFN caregivers.

09/17/2026

Food provides children with nutrition, connects them to cultural traditions, and is a wonderful way to learn and play. Family Friends and Neighbors (FFN) caring for our children need access to healthy food for themselves and the children they care for. But many FFN caregivers are navigating the financial challenges that come with the rising cost of food. According to a 2021 survey, 34% of FFN caregivers experience food insecurity themselves. This FFN Appreciation Week, we're calling for the support they deserve.

09/16/2026

Another bonus of choosing Family, Friends and Neighbors (FFN) for child care, is they can give working families support during nontraditional hours – when they need it most. Not everyone has a job from 9 to 5; many families need quality child care in the evenings, overnight, weekends or on holidays. 82% of unpaid FFN providers and 63% of paid FFN providers who care for children under age 6 offer some care during nontraditional hours.

09/15/2026

Families often choose child care with Family, Friends and Neighbors (FFN) because they want caregivers who share their language, culture, values, and traditions. During FFN Appreciation Week, we’re proud to celebrate the ways FFN caregivers foster trust and safety while helping children build a sense of belonging, identity, and connection to culture and community.

09/14/2026

Family, friends and neighbors give children more than care. They can provide trusted relationships, connection, stability and a sense of belonging — foundations that help children grow up to be teachers, doctors, lawyers, artists, executives, and whatever else they put their minds to!

Adults who received care from family, friends or neighbors during their formative years are all around us, and they were shaped by the caregivers who helped raise them.

Child Care Aware of Washington is a proud sponsor of Family Friends and Neighbors (FFN) Appreciation Week, and we are excited to celebrate the FFN caregivers who made a difference in a child’s life and helped them grow into amazing adults.

09/13/2026

Happy Grandparents Day! Across the country, grandparents play a major role in supporting child care, particularly for young children. A 2023 Harris poll found that 42% of working parents rely on grandmothers for child care, and according to the 2011 US Census, nearly one in four children under age five receive regular care from a grandparent.

As part of Family, Friends and Neighbors (FFN) Appreciation Week, we honor the grandparents that help children grow and learn. Grandparent care can reduce or eliminate childcare expenses and fill gaps when formal childcare isn't available. AARP specifically notes that this care helps parents remain in the workforce, manage household costs and maintain financial stability.

That's particularly important given that childcare availability doesn't necessarily line up neatly with parents' work schedules. Grandparents can provide care before or after school, during school closures, when a child is sick, or during nontraditional work hours.

It can also strengthen family relationships. Regular caregiving creates opportunities for grandchildren and grandparents to build strong intergenerational bonds. And grandparents themselves report considerable benefits: 79% say caring for their grandchildren is extremely or very fulfilling,

09/12/2026

Tomorrow launches Family, Friends and Neighbor (FFN) Appreciation week to honor the caregivers who play a significant role in the child care ecosystem in Washington State. Nearly 75% of Washington’s children under age five are in the care of parents and other FFN caregivers.

Because of FFN caregivers’ contributions to child care and early learning, more parents can stay in the workforce and more families can find care that aligns with their unique needs.

Through Child Care Aware of Washington, FFN caregivers in our state have access to a range of services, including connection with other FFN caregivers, and opportunities to participate in local Play & Learn groups. Play and Learn programs in Washington state are free, drop-in community groups where children from birth to age five and their caregivers gather to play, read, and learn together.

“Before coming to playgroup, my son had very little interaction with other children. Since attending, I have seen so much growth in him socially and in many other ways,” said one parent. ”He’s better at communicating, interacting and being around other children and people in general. The playgroup has helped my son more than I could ever have imagined.”

To learn more go to https://childcareawarewa.org/family-services/family-friend-neighbor-child-care/

09/10/2026

Lots of parents rely on people they know and trust to provide safe, stable care for their children. This type of care is known as Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) child care. FFN is the most common form of child care, providing families with culturally-aligned, flexible, and cost-effective support.

Child Care Aware of Washington is a proud sponsor of Family Friend and Neighbor Appreciation Week Sept. 13-18 which honors the more than 5 million family, friend and neighbor caregivers nationwide who look after 11.5 million children nationwide each year.

Learn more at https://homegrownchildcare.org/ffnappreciationweek/

08/26/2026

Congratulations to the first graduates of a full-Spanish-immersion bachelor's degree cohort in Early Childhood Education at North Seattle College funded by scholarships from Child Care Aware of Washington!

This is the first program of its kind in Washington State, serving mostly monolingual students that face challenges within the broader educational system. This program was designed entirely in Spanish and offered remotely, eliminating barriers to higher education and preparing professionals in the child care industry who reflect the cultural and linguistic diversity of Hispanic Communities. These scholars excelled in this environment, and will now be able to use their knowledge to help children in their care thrive.

Address

1001 Pacific Avenue , Suite 400
Tacoma, WA
98402

Telephone

+12533831735

Website

https://childcareawarewa.org/

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