Child Care Aware previews Childcare Finder tool to centralize mixed‑delivery searches

Child Care Aware Washington demonstrated Childcare Finder, a new family-facing web tool designed to consolidate mixed-delivery options — Head Start, ECAP, licensed centers, family homes and subsidy programs — into one searchable map and profile view. Joanna Cobb, the organization's data and evaluation manager, said the platform lets families filter by subsidy type (including Working Connections), special-needs accommodation, languages spoken, and view providers' current openings and enrollment steps.

"It's all here," Joanna said in the live demo, noting providers can post photos, rates by age group, and step-by-step enrollment instructions so families do not repeatedly call full programs. Genevieve Stokes said the new portal will launch this month and that DCYF and regional partners built features to show travel time estimates and public-transportation links to help families choose feasible options.

Why it matters: A single, family-friendly search replacing fragmented lists and disparate program sites could reduce search time, match families to suitable programs faster, and improve enrollment coordination across the mixed-delivery early learning system.