Who needs a license?
In Washington State, any individual who is paid to care for children on a regular basis is required to be licensed, unless the children are related to that person. Two types of child care are licensed by the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF): family child care (in an early learning professional’s home) and child care centers (traditionally in a commercial facility).
How we can help
Individualized guidance: Opening a child care business is a big step, and we’re here to help! We can walk you through everything from start-up costs to licensing to marketing your business.
Handbook templates: Having information about your child care center or family child care available, such as a parent handbook or staff policies, is a licensing requirement. BrightSpark can support you with affordable templates that you can purchase complete with the specific details of your facility.
Help with registering your business: Our trained staff can help you join Washington State’s online MERIT registry for early learning providers. We can also help you sign up for Early Achievers, Washington State’s quality rating system for early learning businesses.
Technical assistance: As a part of our MERIT support, we can help providers with password resets, portable background checks, facility tab support, health and safety, trainings, and data entries.
Provider referral service: Add your business to our statewide childcare database so parents searching for child care can find you! We have 8 Call Center Specialists available Monday – Friday by phone and a 24 hour searchable online database.
Professional development: We offer a wide range of training opportunities for all early learning providers, including STARS-approved trainings as well as customized trainings for you and your staff.
BrightSpark Resources
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Purchase a Handbook Template for Child Care Centers (Coming soon!)
Are you an early learning professional looking for job opportunities?
See postings for child care providers from King and Pierce-county based early learning businesses.