Starting February 10, child care facilities in King County can apply to be a part of the Best Starts for Kids Child Care Wage Boost Pilot. Applications will close March 7.
Eligible workers at selected facilities will be issued quarterly payments to increase their income through 2027.
Applications will go live on the Best Starts Wage Boost Pilot Website here!
Full-time workers who receive the wage boost can receive up to $2,080 quarterly. Part-time workers who receive the wage boost can receive up to $1,040 quarterly.
The Pilot is providing immediate investment to select workers to recognize their vital role in our community while gathering evidence to inform how on-going government investments benefit the child care sector, workers, families, and the community.
Through the Wage Boost Pilot, $24 million will be distributed to about 1,400 workers. And over the course of the Pilot, evaluators will study the impact of the wage boost on worker well-being, employee retention, and quality of care.
Child care is a foundational part of our society and contributes to the health, social and economic well-being of our entire community. But child care isn’t funded like other vital infrastructure, such as K-12 education, health care, and transportation. Child care workers provide essential care and early education with deep skill and expertise and remain some of the lowest paid workers. These low wages contribute to high turnover, lack of economic support and stability for workers and their families, as well as limited and unstable options in our community.
The Best Starts Wage Boost Pilot will study how government investments in workers can address some of these issues and support the well-being of our community overall.
If you have questions about the application process, eligibility, or what you need to do to get ready for application launch, visit the Pilot website.
Another opportunity for Child Care Workers employed in Seattle!
This spring, the City of Seattle will be issuing up to $2.8 million in one-time payments to child care workers. Applications will be open February 3 – 28 and must be submitted by their employer. Learn more here!
