Parent and Caregiver Services/Looking for Child Care
Finding the right care for your child(ren)
Child Care Resource & Referral of Skagit and Snohomish County knows how important quality child care is to parents’ peace of mind as they work and go to school to better provide for their family. Knowing this, we offer parenting support and free child care referral services to help families locate and choose the right care for their children.
Read about our individualized services below for offerings that could help you, or contact us by email or phone at 800.633.3183.
- Assistance locating licensed child care
- Choosing Child Care Checklists to take on visits to childcare programs
- Information about finding quality school-age programs
- Help determining if families are eligible for subsidized care
- Information about children’s development and the importance of early learning
- Information on free of low cost classes including child development, blended families, communication, and curriculum
Child Care Referrals
Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) takes the guesswork out of finding quality child care. We offer access to a professional Parent Information and Referral Specialist to discuss your child’s needs, as well as access to the free On-line Child Care Resource & Referral Database.
We partner with the Washington State Department of Early Learning’s Licensing Division, local Licensed child care programs, the Washington State Child Care Resource & Referral Network and the National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (NACCRRA) to maintain the CCR&R child care referral database - a specialized on-line Child Care Resource & Referral Database of nearly 1,000 Licensed child care programs.
Whether you're just beginning your search for child care, as a new parent, or you're attempting to locate a new provider, locating quality child care can be tricky. In this section, you will find information related to locating quality child care; the types of child care available to you; and how to evaluate child care providers you visit.
5 Steps To Choosing Care
Types of Care
Choosing Child Care
If You Can't Find Care
Evaluating A Provider
For more information please check out our Parent Guide
Receive a customized list of child care referrals and learn more about how to select high quality child care by calling your Parent Information & Referral Specialist at 800.633.3183 or by email at ccrr@voaww.org.
To request child care referrals via email please included the following information:
-The number of children you need care for and their ages
-Current mailing address and location you would like to search around
-Elementary School for School-aged children
-Hours and days of the week you need child care
-Type of care you are interested in- Center, Family Child Care Home or both
• OR
Search for child care anytime through the On-line Child Care Resource & Referral Database - free of charge for 6 months. Search by:
• type of child care program
• zip code
• elementary school
• accreditation
• city
• age of the child
• subsidized care
• hours/days of care
Login here for Online Child Care Referrals
Child Care Subsidies & Funding Assistance
Working Connections Child Care Assistance
The Working Connections Child Care Assistance Program helps families pay for child care while parents are working or are in a DSHS approved work activity and whose children meet citizenship requirements. Your household income and the number of people in your family determine your eligibility. Your child care costs (or co-payment) are determined on a sliding scale. For more information, see the Working Connections Child Care Assistance Program website.
Child Care Funding through NACCRRA and the United States Military Services
Supporting Our Nation's Military Families and Strengthening Child Care
NACCRRA is working with the U.S. Military Services to help those who serve in the military find and afford child care that suits their unique needs. Through several innovative civilian/military efforts between the Services, NACCRRA and Child Care Resource and Referral agencies (CCR&Rs) are building the quality and capacity of child care throughout the country. http://www.naccrra.org/military-families
Sliding Scale Fees & Multi-Child Discounts
Child Care Resource & Referral can assist you in locating child care programs that offer sliding scale fees and multi-child discounts. Contact a referral specialist at 800.633.3183 or by email at ccrr@voaww.org for further assistance.
Average Child Care Rates
Click here to find the Average Child Care Rates for your area!
Volunteers of America Child Care Funding Assistance
Funded by United Way of Snohomish County, Volunteers of America’s Child Care Funding Assistance Program helps income qualified families who are going to school or are participating in an education based program pay for child care. Financial assistance is limited and amount awarded is based on a sliding fee scale, covering a portion of child care costs.
Minimum Licensing Requirements
If you want to know what Washington State requires for child care providers when caring for others children, see the Department of Early Learning website.
Classes for Parents
Childcare Resource and Referral offers monthly workshops that are open to parents and child care providers that offer tips and tools to enrich and develop the minds and lives of children. Our trainers are industry professionals with many years of experience, bringing both technical skills and practical insight into our classrooms.
Family Friend and Neighbor Caregivers
What we have called Family, Friend and Neighbor (FFN) care is just the oldest form of childcare there is. It is the most widely used around the world. It is your grandparents, your aunts & uncles, your big brothers & sisters, your next door neighbor, your close friends who are taking care of your children, in a very holistic and natural way. Many people choose FFN care over licensed care due to the advantages of having a close friend or relative care for their children, being able to retain cultural values and so on. Another advantage can be the flexible and non-traditional hours that one can find with family and friends.
There are requirements for licensing due to number of children or families a caregiver provides for, but most FFN Caregivers are exempt from licensing requirements. Please see our brochure on FFN Caregivers if you are interested in learning more.
Play & Learn Groups
Play & Learn groups can be a great way to connect with other parents and caregivers during the week and to give your child a chance to connect with other children. Typically available for children ages 0-5, there are numerous opportunities to get involved.
Play & Learn Groups in Snohomish County- Check soon for new updates.
Play & Learn Groups in Skagit County- Check soon for new updates.
Check out our Play With Me Brochure or Juega Conmigo! which offers information on the importance of play in the lives of your children.
Additional Resources for Parents & Caregivers
Report Abuse or Neglect 1-866-END HARM Call this toll-free number if you suspect that a child or vulnerable adult is being abused or neglected. The operator will connect you with the right DSHS office to make your report. Washington State Department of Social & Health Services / DSHS If you are calling about an immediate life-threatening emergency, call 911. http://www.dshs.wa.gov/endharm.shtml
Washington State Department of Early Learning is a cabinet-level agency dedicated to children’s earliest years of life. The Department of Early Learning (DEL) works every day to help Washington's children get ready for school and life. Their work focuses on children's earliest years of life. They offer information and resources for children's first and most important teachers—parents—as well as others who care for and teach young children. http://www.del.wa.gov/
Washington State Child Care Resource & Referral Network was created to support families and caregivers, shape policy, and build communities that promote the learning and development of children and youth throughout Washington State through a strong statewide network of local child care resource and referral programs. http://www.childcarenet.org/
NACCRRA's Vision is to promote national policies and partnerships to advance the development and learning of all children and to provide vision, leadership, and support to community Child Care Resource & Referral. http://www.naccrra.org/
Child Care Aware is America’s most trusted Child Care Resource. Child Care Aware, a program of the National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (NACCRRA), is partly funded by the Office of Child Care (OCC), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.childcareaware.org/
Thrive by Five Washington's Vision is that all children in Washington state are prepared to succeed in school and thrive in life. http://www.thrivebyfivewa.org/
Place of Our Own (and Los Niños en Su Casa in Spanish) is a daily television series, a website, and an extensive outreach program devoted to the unique needs of people who care for children. http://www.aplaceofourown.org/
Talaris Institute their mission is to support parents and caregivers in raising socially and emotionally healthy children. http://www.talaris.org/
Parent Map Parenting resource for family events and activities, parenting advice, and directory of services around the Puget Sound. (Seattle, Tacoma, Bellevue, Snohomish, Olympia, Washington) http://parentmap.com/