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Seattle City Wire

Friday, November 8, 2024

Executive Constantine announces launch of new Best Starts Child Care Subsidy – applications open now

King County Executive Dow Constantine announced the launch of a $160 million investment to expand equitable access to child care for families in King County. The program is

designed to support people  who don’t qualify for other child care subsidies and is anticipated to  reach 2,000 children in the region annually over the next six years.

Families may be eligible for the subsidy if they live in King County  and fall below the income cap, about $91,000 for a family of four. The application is now open, with financial support

beginning in November.

"Our core commitment - our True North - is to make King County a  welcoming community where every person can thrive, and that includes our  youngest residents. We must invest

in positive outcomes for our  children now, and into the future,” said Executive Constantine. “The  child care sector has long been under-resourced, with low wages for  workers and

increasingly unaffordable care for families with low or  moderate incomes. This new child care subsidy helps ensure equitable  access to high-quality child care for all, and is part of

the County’s  commitment to treat child care as an essential service.”

The Best Starts for Kids Child Care Subsidy program represents a  historic investment over the next six years – and is unique in that it  expands family eligibility beyond that of

existing subsidies. Many  families who have not previously had access to child care subsidies  because of their income or their immigration status, could be eligible  and are

encouraged to apply.

The cost of child care, like many other basic costs of living in the  region, has sky-rocketed in recent years while incomes remain low or  stagnant for many families. Child 

remains one of the largest  expenses for families, with average costs exceeding $10,000 per year. Washington state ranks ninth among the most expensive states to raise a 

Expanding child care subsidies is one way that King County can ensure  equitable access to high-quality child care, which is not only  essential to the well-being of families with

young children but is a  critical contributor to the continued recovery of the local economy.

“For too long, King County families have struggled to afford child  care when they earn just a little too much to qualify for a subsidy or  are ineligible for other reasons,” said Jessica

Tollenaar Cafferty,  Child Care Policy Lead with King County Department of Community and  Human Services. “No family should have to make the choice between  economic stability

and access to child care. It's exciting to partner  with families and providers to grow equitable access to child care and  support the incredible outcomes high-quality early care

provides.”

Full eligibility requirements are available at bskchildcare.org.  The application is accessible in nine languages and families can  receive live interpretation support in completing it by

calling  206-208-6568.

Original source can be found here.

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