Becoming a New Provider in Kitsap County – Child Care Action Council

Becoming a licensed child care provider is an in-depth, often lengthy process to ensure that children entrusted to the care of licensed providers are safe, healthy and afforded developmentally appropriate early learning environments and opportunities. This toolkit offers a step-by-step guide to establish and sustain your child care business. This toolkit will have information, tools, and resources you will need to navigate the journey toward becoming a licensed child care provider. Optional support is also available to you as you engage in the process of starting a business and preparing to serve young children.
To receive coaching support, contact Emily Long, Early Achievers Access Specialist at Child Care Action Council: emily.long@ccacwa.org or (360)689-3611.

This toolkit is a Kitsap Economic Development Alliance initiative, developed in partnership with Child Care Action Council and made possible with funding from the Washington State Department of Commerce’s Child Care Partnership Grant.

Things to Consider Before Starting Your Child Care Business

In this chapter, you will read about the initial costs and requirements to consider as you determine your readiness to start your business and set goals to reach licensure. You will see some items apply broadly to licensed care, whereas others will have distinctions between Family Child Care (FCC) and Child Care Centers (Center).

As a child care provider, ongoing support is available to you by joining Early Achievers (EA). EA is Washington’s quality recognition and improvement system (QRIS). As an EA participant, you have access to coaching services designed to promote continuous quality improvement in your FCC or center. Coaching is provided through in-person and/or virtual visits, resource sharing, peer learning communities, and technical assistance navigating the QRIS system. All providers who accept the Working Connections Child Care Subsidy (WCCC) are required to participate in Early Achievers. For more information, see Chapter 7 of this Toolkit.

Child care licensing in Washington State follows state law, the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) and administrative procedures known as the Washington Administrative Code (WAC).

Child Care Center Owner Self-Assessment

Family Child Care Provider Self-Assessment