Childcare Options

Finding high-quality childcare is one of the biggest decisions you may be faced to make when balancing school and family. While we are unable to offer on-campus childcare or financial assistance, we would like to equip you with the knowledge you need to navigate your many options for licensed childcare.

Child Care Centers

Child care centers are multi-classroom programs located in a non-residential facility. Children are typically grouped with same-age peers in groups or classrooms; some centers may have mixed age groups for parts of the day and because child care centers typically have a larger staff, there's less likelihood of disruption in availability. If you're interviewing care centers, be sure to ask about:

  • Non-standard hours
  • Use of subsidies to help to pay for care
  • Individual child and family needs

Family Child Care Homes

Family child care programs care for a mixed age group in a person's home. Although in a residential home, the indoor and outdoor spaces used for child care must meet the same standards as center-based programs. Family child care can offer more individualized care, can be well-connected to your community and offer a learning environment that truly reflects the families enrolled.

If you're considering a family child care program, consider:

  • Clear communication with your care provider
  • Coverage for care in the case of staff sickness, vacations and other obligations
  • Flexibility with your unique schedule

Other Resources

If you are located outside of Seattle, we recommend connecting with the following resources for childcare assistance:

Additional Options

There are many other options for child care available including babysitting services, preschools, and friends/family. This type of care can be much more flexible and financially-friendly but might not have the same oversight as licensed options. If you are considering these types of care, it is important to consider advantages and disadvantages.

Information credit: Child Care Resources, 2018. https://childcare.org

Goodwill Connections supports low income student parents by providing assistance with childcare costs to enable these parents to complete 2 and 4 year degrees.