Family, friend and neighbor (FFN) providers include grandparents, aunts and uncles, elders, older siblings, friends, neighbors, and others who help families by providing child care. Both in Washington and around the nation, FFN care is the most common type of child care for infants and toddlers and for school-age children before and after school.
FFN providers are unlicensed and not regulated by the state, although some FFN providers can receive child care subsidies for the care they provide.
To be considered an FFN provider you must meet Washington Administrative Code requirements WAC 110-16.

Why Choose FFN CareFamilies choose FFN care for a number of reasons, including:

• Existing bonds of love and trust with a family member, friend or neighbor
• Shared language, culture, and values
• Families raising a child with special health or behavioral needs choose FFN care as the best match for their child 
• Some families need the greater flexibility of FFN care in order to meet non-traditional work hours

Most FFN providers view themselves as extended family or surrogate parents, rather than professional child care providers. One of the predominant reasons FFN providers say they do this work is that they enjoy being with the children they care for, and they enjoy helping parents. In many cultures, FFN care is not seen as a child care arrangement but as a way the family and community work together to raise children.

Can I Get Help to Pay My FFN Provider?
​Some families qualify for help to pay their family, friend or neighbor (FFN) child care. This is called a subsidy. Caregivers can be paid by the state for caring for children of eligible families. Caregivers paid by the state are called "in-home/relative providers."

• Read more about subsidy information for providers

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) determines a family's eligibility for a child care subsidy, and approves the requested provider.  

There are 3 ways to apply:

• Contact DCYF Customer Service Call Center at 1-844-626-8687.
• Apply online through Washington Connection.
• In person at your local Community Services Office.

​
View the instructions on how to create an online account with Washington Connection. 

Head Start is funded by the federal government for children ages 3 and 4 and, in some locations, pregnant women and children birth to age 3.
Head Start includes:

• Free early learning child care or preschool to support child's development and learning. In some locations, Head Start may also offer home-based services.
• Family support and parent involvement.
• Child health coordination and nutrition.
• Services responsive and appropriate to each child's and family's heritage and experience.

Children who attend Head Start learn to manage their feelings, get along with others and follow classroom procedures. They build the beginning skills for reading, math and science. The program work closely with parents to support their children’s health and education and to meet family goals. They help families access medical and dental care and social services.
Children in this type of high-quality program nationwide are:

• Healthier when they start kindergarten.
• Less likely to be in special education or repeat a grade in school.
• More likely to graduate from high school and go on to college.
• Less likely to become pregnant as a teen or become involved in a crime.
• More likely to be employed and to earn more as an adult.

More About the Head Start

• Head Start is for 3- to 5-year-olds.
• Early Head Start is for pregnant women and children birth to age three. It promotes healthy prenatal outcomes, enhances the development of infants and toddlers, and promotes healthy family functioning. Children are served in their homes or in centers.
• Migrant and Seasonal Head Start is for pregnant women and children birth to age five give in communities with migrant and seasonal workers.
• Tribal Head Start serves American Indian and Alaska Native children birth to age five and their families. Services are located on or near reservations.
• Head Start children must be 3 to 5 years old for preschool Head Start; pregnant or 0 to 3 years old for Early Head Start, and:
  
• From families at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty level, with priority to those at or below 100 percent or
• Homeless, in foster care, or from families with Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) cash grant.
• Some children may be accepted who are over the income limit if they have developmental or environmental factors.

EnrollmentMost children are eligible for Head Start based on their age and family income. Up to 10% of Head Start slots can be filled by children above the income requirement who have multiple support needs, including:

• Environmental factors such as homelessness, family violence, chemical dependency, foster care, or incarcerated parents.
• Developmental factors such as developmental delay or other special needs.

After eligibility is determined, children are prioritized for enrollment as space is available in their communities.
To enroll a child, contact the Head Start Location near you.
Questions? Contact [email protected] for Head Start

ECEAP (pronounced "E-Cap") is the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program funded by Washington State for children 3 and 4.

ECEAP includes

• Free early learning child care or preschool to support child's development and learning. In some locations, Head Start may also offer home-based services.
• Family support and parent involvement.
• Child health coordination and nutrition.
• Services responsive and appropriate to each child's and family's heritage and experience.

Children who attend ECEAP learn to manage their feelings, get along with others and follow classroom procedures. They build the beginning skills for reading, math and science. The program work closely with parents to support their children’s health and education and to meet family goals. They help families access medical and dental care and social services.

Children in this type of high-quality program nationwide are:

• Healthier when they start kindergarten.
• Less likely to be in special education or repeat a grade in school.
• More likely to graduate from high school and go on to college.
• Less likely to become pregnant as a teen or become involved in a crime.
• More likely to be employed and to earn more as an adult.

More About ECEAP

• Part Day classes are 2 ½ or more hours, several days a week, during the school year.
• Full School Day classes are 5.5-6.5 hours per day, 4 or 5 days a week, during the school year.
• Extended Day is available at least 10 hours a day, year round, combining child care and ECEAP. Parents must meet work or training requirements
• ECEAP children must be 3 years old but not yet 5 years old on August 31st of the school year, and:
• On Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for special education or
• From families at or below 110 percent of the federal poverty level, which includes all children in foster care and all families with Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) cash grants. Some children may be accepted who are over the income limit, if they have developmental or environmental factors.

Enrollment: Most children are eligible for ECEAP based on their age and family income. Up to 10% of ECEAP slots can be filled by children above the income requirement who have multiple support needs, including:

• Environmental factors such as homelessness, family violence, chemical dependency, foster care, or incarcerated parents.
• Developmental factors such as developmental delay or other special needs.

In addition, children with disabilities who qualify for special education services are also eligible for ECEAP. After eligibility is determined, children are prioritized for enrollment as space is available in their communities. 
An ECEAP Family’s Story
To enroll a child, contact the ECEAP agency near you.
Questions? Contact [email protected] for ECEAP.

Working Connections Child Care (WCCC) helps eligible families pay for child care. When a family qualifies for child care subsidy benefits and chooses an eligible provider, the state pays a portion of the cost of child care. Parents may be responsible for a copayment to their provider each month.

• Copay Calculation Table - Effective October 1, 2021
• Child Care Subsidy Regional Map for Licensed Family Homes and Centers

Families experiencing homelessness may be approved for up to 12 months to help resolve issues surrounding homelessness.

Click here for more information about qualifications.

The Child Care Subsidy Programs (CCSP) help families to pay for quality child care through either:

1. Working Connections Child Care (WCCC), or
2. Seasonal Child Care (SCC)

 1-844-626-8687 - CCSP contact line for families
Child Care Subsidy Program - You May Qualify READ THE PRINTABLE FLYER (AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH, SPANISH, AND SOMALI)
ECEAP and Head Start Preschool ProgramsChildren in low-income households may qualify for Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) or Head Start preschools.

Resources for parents:

• Search online for child care near you
• Contact the Child Care Aware Family Center for free help finding child care and financial assistance programs
• Learn what to look for when selecting a child care program – English, Spanish Somali
• Use this checklist when considering a child care program – English, Spanish
• Spanish how-to video on Google Classroom and other K-12 apps
• Link to local school district websites
• Learn more about how Child Care Aware of Washington supports child care – English, Spanish, Somali
• Special services for finding free child care for families with young children who are experiencing homelessness
• Subscribe to their blog.