Seasonal Child Care reopening with revised rules

The Department of Early Learning (DEL) is re-opening applications for the Seasonal Child Care (SCC) subsidy program in July 2011 under revised rules. SCC helps pay for safe, licensed child care for eligible parents who work in seasonal agriculture.

On May 31, 2011, DEL adopted changes to SCC rules in Washington Administrative Code (WAC) chapter 170-290.

What is changing in SCC?

Limiting entry. SCC ran out of funds half way through the 2010-2011 fiscal year, and the program was suspended. To help conserve limited funding in the future, DEL may cap how many families enroll in SCC, create priority lists or set up a waiting list as needed.

Where families apply and how they qualify. Under the revised rules, families seeking SCC subsidies:

  • Apply at the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). DSHS will not be accepting applications before July 1. Under the old rules, families applied at local community agencies contracted by DEL.
  • May apply in person at local DSHS offices, by calling the DSHS Call Center at 1.877.501.2233, or online
  • Must have income at or below 175 percent of the federal poverty guidelines (FPG) to qualify for SCC. In 2010 the income limit was 200 percent of the FPG.
  • May have a higher monthly copayment than before if their income is above 82 percent of the FPG.

SCC eligibility and application requirements have also been changed to make SCC work more like the Working Connections Child Care (WCCC) subsidy program. DSHS already administers WCCC for DEL, and pays providers who care for children under SCC and WCCC.

Why is this change happening?

The changes are expected to help DEL save about $1 million each year in SCC administrative costs. The Governor's
Executive Order 10-04 in September 2010 directed DEL and other state agencies to make across-the-board spending cuts. The SCC changes are one of several changes proposed by DEL to comply with the executive order.

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Interested in learning more about DEL rules? Receive information about current rules, draft rules and notices of rule changes:

By email: Contact the DEL Rules Coordinator

Or by hard copy, write to:

Rules Coordinator
Washington State Department of Early Learning
P.O. Box 40970
Olympia, WA 98504-0970