Child Care Assistance Program - Provider Support
The Child Care Assistance Program helps Seattle parents who work or attend a qualified education or job training program to cover the cost of child care for children ages 1 month to 12 years.
CCAP providers are an integral part of our City effort to assist income-eligible families with the cost of child care.
Please check out the sections below to:
- Learn more about the CCAP program
- Find out how to become a CCAP provider
- Get answers to frequently asked questions
- Access resources for your business
- Get the latest child care news and updates on CCAP
For additional help, you can also contact us at ccap-provider-help@seattle.gov or (206) 386-1050. Language interpretation services available.
What is CCAP?
The Child Care Assistance Program helps Seattle parents who work or attend a qualified education or job training program to cover the cost of child care for children ages 1 month to 12 years.
The CCAP Program pays participating providers a set market rate per CCAP-enrolled child, with families paying the difference in cost of care directly to your child care program. We do not set copay amounts. This can make program participation more affordable for both families and providers.
More information on family participation and eligibility as well as other program details can be found on our main CCAP page.
What are the benefits of becoming a CCAP provider?
CCAP Providers are an integral part of our City effort to assist income-eligible families with the cost of child care, which is often overwhelming for working families in many Seattle communities.
Child care providers who participate in the City of Seattle's Child Care Assistance Program have access to:
- A dedicated Education Specialist who will work in partnership with your program to help you offer high-quality, culturally relevant childcare and answer any questions you have related to your participation in CCAP.
- Birth-to-Three Coaching services provided by DEEL's Quality Practice and Professional Development team and King County's Public Health Child Care team, if you are caring for infants and toddlers in your program.
- Greater enrollment visibility by having your organization name listed on our City website as a child care facility available to serve CCAP families.
How do I become a CCAP provider?
Participation in CCAP is available to child care providers who:
- are located in Seattle or areas bordering Seattle (White Center, Boulevard Park, Skyway, and Shoreline),
- maintain business liability insurance with specific coverage amounts,
- are participating in Early Achievers, AND
- have a DCYF non-expiring license in good standing.
Interested in becoming a CCAP Provider?
Click here for our CCAP interest form and submit to ccap-provider-help@seattle.gov. An Education Specialist will respond to your interest form within 48 business hours.
Unsure if you qualify?
We are here to help! Please reach out to ccap-provider-help@seattle.gov or call (206) 386-1050. Language interpretation services available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Download a CCAP Interest Form and submit to ccap-provider-help@seattle.gov. An Education Specialist will reach out to you by email or phone within 48 business hours of receiving your form. Education Specialists are available for any questions and will walk you through the next steps and timeline, including specific program requirements.
Next, we'll schedule a site visit (conducted virtually during COVID-19) and process your paperwork, after which your vendor services agreement (VSA) will begin. This can take anywhere from 30-90 days, depending on how long it takes you to complete and submit the required forms to us. As soon as your VSA is executed, you can begin serving CCAP families.
No. Providers are paid at a set rate per child (determined annually) depending on age group. Families will pay you directly for the difference between our set CCAP rate and the tuition rate set by your program.
DEEL does not match families to providers; however, participating CCAP Providers are included on our list of providers online that many families use in choosing their child care program.
CCAP Providers must complete and submit a monthly attendance log, due by the 15th of each month. Attendance logs can now be submitted through DEEL’s Child Information Provider System (CHIPS) Portal. DEEL will review your submission and send payment using the method of your choice (electronic payment or mailed check).
Guidance on how to submit attendance through the CHIPS Portal is provided here:
Once you have a vendor services agreement, you will be responsible for updating documents with us annually, such as your City of Seattle business license and your annual insurance renewal. If you remain compliant with state licensing regulations and quality programming, your agreement will remain active for providing services for families.
We are happy to accept interest forms from those still on their initial license; however, we will not be able to complete the process to establish you as a CCAP Provider until you are on a non-expiring license (typically 6-12 months after initial license processing). If you submit your interest form early, be sure to check back in with us when your non-expiring license has been issued.
We require that participating CCAP Providers be part of Early Achievers. If you are working towards a rating, you can submit your interest form early and then follow up with us once your rating is received.
To participate in CCAP, your program will need to have Commercial General Liability Insurance with an ACORD Certificate of Insurance Liability that includes:
- Minimum coverage for Commercial General Liability $1,000,000 (per occurrence)
- Workers Compensation Insurance for WA State as required by Title 51
- Abuse and Molestation coverage $1,000,000
- Additional Insured Endorsement Page (need second endorsement page with City of Seattle added as an additional insured)
Please reach out to us at ccap-provider-help@seattle.gov. For language interpreter services, please call (206) 386-1050. We can help you determine any next steps.
Please reach out to your DCYF licensor and your DEEL Education Specialist with any change to your program, especially during COVID-19. It is very important to do this if you have CCAP families currently enrolled in your program.
Email ccap-provider-help@seattle.gov or call (206) 386-1050 to speak with a CCAP Education Specialist.
Resources for Child Care Providers
Visit the following external web pages for resources to assist child care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
City of Seattle COVID-19 Community Resources Page
Public Health - Seattle & King County COVID-19 Resources for Schools and Child Care
Public Health - Seattle & King County Child Care Health page
Department of Children Youth and Families (DCYF) COVID-19 Resources
Child Care Resources COVID-19 Provider Updates
City of Seattle Child Care Nutrition Program
The City of Seattle’s Child Care Nutrition Program (CCNP) is a sponsor of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), a federally funded program of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The program helps ensure home-based early childhood education providers and Friends Family & Neighbors care providers provide healthy meals to children 12 and under. In 2021, CCNP paid participating providers for more than 474,000 meals and snacks that were served to children who attended their childcare program.
The child programs sponsored under CCNP operate during the entire year. Children can receive breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack—to be eaten onsite. Participating providers can be reimbursed for up to two meals and one snack per child per day.
Family home childcare providers that have a current childcare license from the Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) and Friends Family & Neighbors care providers approved by DCYF located within King County are eligible to participate.
For more information on eligibility and applications, visit the Seattle Human Services Department's CCNP web page, call (206) 386-1016, or email childcarenutrition@seattle.gov.
City of Seattle Child Care Facilities Financing
The City of Seattle's Human Services Department provides financing for the development or expansion of child care facilities. Funding is available to child care providers, building owners, and building developers. For more information, email childcarefacilities@seattle.gov or call (206) 684-0377.