Child Care

Child Care Assistance Program

The City of Seattle helps low- and moderate-income working families pay for child care for children ages one month to 13 years. Families can choose from more than 100 licensed family child care homes and centers in Seattle, which contract with the City to provide high-quality and affordable child care.

At the time of enrollment, the family will be given a voucher, which authorizes monthly child care payments to the child care home or center that they choose from the City of Seattle's provider list. The amount of the payment from the City varies according to the income of the family, age of the child, and hours of care needed. The City typically pays between 25% to 70% of a standardized rate, and the family is responsible for paying the difference between the voucher amount and the Provider’s regular monthly rate.

To qualify, you must:

• Live within the Seattle city limits
• Be employed and/or enrolled in educational/job training
• Have child/children under 13 years of age
• Currently use a provider contracted with the City of Seattle
• Not eligible for any other child care subsidy program
• Meet the income guidelines below based on family size
• Meet the child support requirements

Please call the Seattle Human Services Department’s Child Care Assistance Program at 206-386-1050 to be screened.

For services in other languages, call:

Lao and Mienh — 206-684-0605
Cantonese and Mandarin — 206-386-1012
Tagalog — 206-386-1011
Bahasa Malaysia ( Cantonese) — 206-386-1515
TDD — 206-233-2778

Interpretive services can be arranged for other languages.

Seattle Human Services Department
Street address: 700 5th Avenue, Suite 5800, Seattle, WA 98104
Mailing address: PO Box 34215, Seattle, WA 98124-4215

Phone: 206-386-1001
Fax: 206-233-5119
TTY/TTD: 206-233-2778

Accommodations for people with disabilities provided upon request.