DEL News

March 24, 2009
DEL seeks input on federal Child Care and Development Fund plan

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Early Learning is seeking public input on the state’s two-year plan for the federal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), which helps promote accessible, affordable, quality child care around the state.

Members of the public are invited to take a brief online survey to share their views on the CCDF planning.

DEL serves as the lead CCDF agency for the state, and must submit a plan every two years describing how the state will spend its federal child care dollars. CCDF funding is used to:

  • Help low-income families find and pay for child care.
  • Fund activities to improve the quality of child care.
  • Fund child care resource and referral services for parents and caregivers.
  • Provide training for child care providers.

The survey and more information about CCDF are available at www.del.wa.gov/government/CCDF/plan.aspx. The survey will be online until April 7. A draft version of the plan will be posted on DEL’s Web site in April, and DEL will hold public hearings on the draft plan in May.

Washington’s final federal allocation for CCDF in the past biennium (federal fiscal years 2008 and 2009) was about $220.5 million.

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The Washington State Department of Early Learning is a Governor’s Cabinet-level state agency created in 2006 to bring heightened visibility and focus to early learning and help all Washington children reach their full potential. DEL oversees the state-funded comprehensive preschool program, child care licensing, child care subsidy policy, and other initiatives and programs to support parents as children’s first and most important teachers. For more information, visit the DEL Web site at www.del.wa.gov.

For more information:

DEL Communications Manager Amy Blondin
360.725.4919 (office)
360.878.0628 (cell)
amy.blondin@del.wa.gov