DCYF Receives $ 4 Million Grant to Support Early Learning Efforts

Olympia, WA – The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) will boost its efforts to meet critical needs for children in Washington State thanks to a $ 4 million grant.

The federal Administration of Children and Families (ACF) provided the funding through its Preschool Development Birth through Five grant.

The grant supports early childhood needs assessments, strategic planning, family engagement, quality improvement, workforce compensation, and direct services to young children across the country.

DCYF will use the funding to support children, families, and workforce by:

Increasing family engagement through the expansion of the Help Me Growcol-laboration.

Expanding the scope and role of Play & Learn models, including developing new content for tribal and migrant families who participate in these groups. Play & Learn groups provide young children with early learning activities while parents learn about child development and local resources.

Building ongoing needs assessments, including analyzing the impact of COVID- 19 on early learning providers who serve children from birth to five.

Providing support for the workforce that serves children from birth through five.

Integrating data systems and a multi- level system of support to promote young children's healthy social and emotional development, known as the Pyramid Model.

“In recent years we have steadily built our efforts to support children, families, and the early learning workforce ,” said Nicole Rose, Assistant Secretary for Early Learning. “The Preschool Development Birth through Five grant will mean further improvement, better quality, and more opportunities for young children to learn and thrive in our state.”