Fiscal Year 2025
Our Impact
Program Highlights
Imagine U
Provider Spotlight
Training Department
Provider Pathways
Shared Services
Substitute Pool
Technical Assistance & Outreach
Best Starts for Kids Wage Boost Pilot
Community Partnerships
Shelly and Jeff, a young family in King County, have spent nearly a year searching for safe, affordable, and dependable care for their toddler. In the meantime, they’ve relied on relatives to fill the gap, only to find themselves on multiple waitlists with no clear answers. When a new child care center finally opened nearby, the parents quickly secured a spot, only to discover that the cost was nearly equivalent to an entire paycheck. Now, with another baby on the way, their relief has turned to worry. As they prepare for parental leave, they’re left wondering, “Will they find safe newborn care, and will they be able to afford it?” –Shelly and Jeff Lashe, Seattle, WA
This scenario plays out daily across Washington State, where families face crushing challenges in the search for child care:
According to the DCYF Need and Supply Dashboard, less than 14% of Washington State infants are served in licensed child care facilities1
The average cost of center-based infant care exceeds $21,000 annually—more than in-state college tuition—consuming over 50% of median household income for a single parent2
Healthcare workers, hospitality employees, first responders, and many essential workers face a critical shortage of care options during evenings, overnight shifts, and weekends3
1 Washington STEM. (2023). State of the Children: Early Care and Education in Washington State [PDF]. Retrieved from: https:// washingtonstem.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/SoTC-Statewide-FINAL.pdf?utm
2 Child Care Aware® of America. (2024). Child Care in America: 2024 Price of Care – Child Care Affordability Analysis [PDF]. Retrieved from https://info.childcareaware.org/hubfs/Affordability_Analysis_2024.pdf
3 Child Care Aware® of America. (2019). 2019 Data Report: Trends, Child Care Supply, Cost [PDF]. Retrieved from: https:// childcareawarewa.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/2019-Data-Report.pdf?utm
Families of children with disabilities or special needs often search for months or years to find providers prepared to support their children’s unique requirements4
Rural communities and urban neighborhoods alike face severe child care deserts where demand overwhelmingly exceeds supply5
For every statistic, there are hundreds of real families making painful sacrifices, career compromises, and financial trade-offs because quality, affordable child care remains out of reach.
4 Demkovich, Lauren. (2024). Parents caring for disabled children left waiting for pay, as bill fails in WA Legislature. Washington State Standard. Retrieved from: https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2024/03/04/intellectual-and-developmentaldisabilities-parental-pay/?utm_
5 Center for American Progress. (2017) Mapping America’s Child Care Deserts. Retrieved from: https://www.americanprogress. org/article/mapping-americas-child-care-deserts/?utm
Our data shows that the Imagine Institute’s programs are creating life-changing impact for families throughout Washington:
Opening New Child Care Businesses:
Each new family home child care business we help open creates ripple effects of opportunity for multiple families who can now pursue work, education, and financial stability
Critical Care Types:
Our providers are more likely to offer the hardest-to-find care such as infant spots, evening and weekend hours, and inclusive environments for children with special needs
Stable, Consistent Care:
By supporting provider sustainability and retention, we help prevent devastating closures that leave families scrambling and children experiencing harmful transitions
Culturally Responsive Options:
Our multilingual approach ensures families can find providers who speak their language and honor their cultural practices, creating continuity between home and care environments
Economic Opportunity:
When parents can access reliable child care, they can accept promotions, pursue education, start businesses, and fully participate in our economy
Behind each data point are families whose futures have been transformed by gaining access to the care they urgently need.
Imagine U opens new licensed child care businesses by pairing aspiring child care providers with experienced peer mentors who guide them through the process of opening their own licensed family child care business. Each aspiring child care provider receives paid on-the-job training, structured mentorship, synchronous training, and grant funding, and completes a comprehensive business plan and policy book. Since its inception, Imagine U has opened 855 family home child care businesses representing the capacity to serve up to 10,260 children across Washington State.
Imagine opened 198 new licensed family child care businesses
Approximately 50% of Washington State providers that opened from August 2024 to August 2025 were opened through Imagine U
Imagine U graduates now constitute 18% of all family homes in Washington
290 people participated across seven cohorts
Imagine delivered nearly 1,000 hours of training and technical assistance to new child care entrepreneurs
Aspiring child care providers completed 100% of their program assignments
Aspiring child care providers received nearly 27,000 hours of hands-on learning in mentors’ child care programs
Imagine distributed $3,274,158 in stipends to interns, mentors, and lead/ associate lead mentors
Imagine U created approximately 1,980 new child care slots for Washington families
80% of interns felt very confident in their ability to operate their business following completion of the program
Imagine U launched Policy Wizard 2.0, improving usability and aligning policies with Early Achievers, resulting in 81% of graduating interns very/somewhat comfortable building their own WAC compliant policies, a 15% increase from last year
93% of interns developed a new child care relationship by participating in Imagine U
40% of participants had previously tried to open a licensed family home before enrolling in Imagine U but were unsuccessful without the program’s support
80% of graduates report their business is either thriving or profitable
70% offer care during non-standard hours
70% serve infants
42% serve children with special needs 11% serve children in the foster system
“I saw that many families needed accessible, reliable care where children could feel safe and continue learning. Starting a business was difficult because of all the requirements, state regulations, and paperwork, especially with the language barrier. It also took a lot of time and resources. Imagine U helped me overcome these challenges with the support of my mentor. She guided me step by step, made the information easier to understand, and helped me meet every requirement while building my skills. Today, I am a licensed provider caring for five children, offering flexible hours and full-time care.”
– Imagine U Graduate
When Esmeralda Barboza imagined Gifted Minds Child Care LLC, she pictured more than a business. She envisioned a warm, bilingual space where children would feel safe, loved, and nurtured, and where parents could go to work confidently knowing their little ones were in trusted hands. After years of helping her sister run a family home child care in Burien, she saw how essential licensed care is for children and families. “Parents should be able to go to work knowing their child is in a place where they are loved, safe, happy, and always learning in a way they enjoy,” she says.
Esmeralda also recognized serious gaps in child care access. “There is help for some low-income families,” she explains, “but what about the families who don’t qualify for assistance yet still can’t afford child care? Who is their Plan B?” Determined to help fill that need, she enrolled in the Imagine U mentorship program. Completing the program and earning her license demanded extraordinary effort.
While participating in Imagine U, Esmeralda worked full-time in child care, attended college classes, and was in the process of purchasing a home that needed a lot of work to meet state licensing requirements and deadline. “We had only two months,” she recalls. “The house needed remodeling, and we didn’t have the money.” She and her husband took on the renovations themselves, investing every spare hour and dollar. Even with the constant exhaustion and worry, she kept going. “It was silent frustration and stress,” she admits. “But I didn’t want to show my family my weakness, I wanted to show my passion.”
Limited English and discomfort with technology made licensing paperwork even more difficult. Esmeralda credits the Imagine Institute’s bilingual mentors, clear guidance, and assistance for helping her through the process. “Imagine U didn’t just give me training, it surrounded me with the best mentors, monthly stipends that helped my family survive, and step-by-step support so I would never give up,” she says.
Today, Gifted Minds Child Care operates in Burien from 6 AM to 6 PM, offering bilingual care for children from birth to age 13. Two preschoolers will start in September, and more families continue to tour and enroll. Esmeralda already sees the impact of her work. “One mother was scared to return to work, but after watching how happy her daughter was here, she finally felt confident,” Esmeralda shares. “That motivates me, knowing my program truly impacts families.”
Looking ahead, Esmeralda plans to grow thoughtfully, build a trusted team, and one day mentor new Imagine U participants. She continues to participate in the Imagine Institute training offerings and encourages others to join the field.
“Imagine didn’t just help me earn my license,” she reflects. “They helped me build something meaningful for my community. Now I want to help others do the same.”
Our Training Department provides essential professional development for early childhood educators through culturally responsive, accessible learning opportunities in multiple languages in classes taught by peers.
Imagine delivered high quality training to 1,092 Licensed Family Child Care Providers (LFCCPs) and Family, Friend, and Neighbors (FFNs) throughout the state
Imagine created new asynchronous or self-paced learning opportunities through our learning management system
The Training Department distributed $342,129 in training incentives to participants
Imagine offered 11 classes in English, Spanish, and Somali to meet diverse provider needs
Imagine developed new curricula to address emerging needs in the field including topics like nature-based play and supporting children with special needs
80% of participants reported training content was relevant and useful to their work
88% indicated improved confidence in implementing quality practices
90% of participants reported that the quality of training and professionalism of trainers is very good or excellent
155 participants continued taking training after reaching their incentive cap
“Access to training has not only advanced my career but also allowed me to better support children, families, and new providers in my community. The trainings gave me the tools to grow as an educator, a mentor, and a business owner.”
– Training Participant
The Imagine Institute’s program Provider Pathways helps child care providers become state-approved trainers and mentors and supports them with assessment, skill development, observation, and coaching aimed at deepening practices with adult instruction. All Imagine trainers receive an annual observation with feedback provided on facilitation of curriculum.
The Imagine Institute provided 62 hours of individual coaching sessions to 27 trainers and mentors in English, Spanish, and Somali languages.
76% of trainers indicated that trainers’ observations were useful
Imagine piloted a new accelerated pathway for child care providers to become state-approved
100% of trainers indicated they received the support they need through coaching conversations.
100% of trainers indicated that Provider Pathways helped them gain a better understanding of how curriculum is developed for an ECE audience
67% of Imagine trainers showed observable improvement in their training skills
82% of trainers implemented new practices because of the Provider Pathways program
69% of trainers indicated they feel more comfortable developing curricula because of Pathways
Imagine served 16 lead and associate lead mentors across three language cohorts and 110 peer mentors across eight cohorts
53% of Imagine U mentors have helped open more than 5 businesses, with 19% opening more than 10
85% of mentors indicate they have learned new skills because of Provider Pathways
85% of mentors indicate they implemented new practices because of Provider Pathways
75% of peer mentors indicated interest in becoming an associate-lead mentor, lead mentor or State-Approved Trainer
“I appreciate the resources and beneficial information provided in the mentoring group. I feel my input and assistance to my intern was of assistance to them. Thank you for offering this resource, I wish this program was available when I was beginning my program.”
– Imagine U Mentor
The Imagine Institute’s Shared Services Hub provides 2,122 licensed child care businesses with business tools, expert advice, resources, and peer support to strengthen their operations and increase sustainability.
566 new child care businesses joined the Shared Services Hub in fiscal year 2025, a 33% membership increase since FY24
Hub members took 18,550 hours of business-focused training on topics including human resources, anti-racist practices, and tax preparation
330 Hub members received Brightwheel subscriptions to support digital management of their programs
Hub members represent 155 cities across Washington State
81% of Hub members are licensed family child care providers
19% of Hub members are child care centers
80% of members reported that the Shared Services Hub provided resources that positively impacted their business through new business practices and skills
70% of surveyed participants indicated that their new practices had a positive impact on their child care business
76% of members report that the Shared Services Hub provides them with opportunity to seek and receive professional support and advice
“Being part of the Shared Services Hub has given me access to training, business support, tools and resources that have helped me grow as a provider and mentor. With Imagine’s support, I’ve been able to strengthen my own program while helping others succeed in early learning.” – Shared Services Member
Our Substitute Pool provides qualified, trained substitutes to support child care providers when they need time away from their programs.
The Substitute Pool served 1,079 providers across Washington State
813 substitutes worked at least one shift
48 substitutes covered shifts at four or more facilities
Imagine distributed $1,107,510 in substitute wages
85% of subsidized shift requests were filled (16% higher than the national average)
Substitutes received 8,815 hours of training
30.5% of eligible CBA providers utilized the Substitute Pool
46% of providers used the Substitute Pool to cover staff leave of providers used the sub pool to take personal leave or vacation
20.5%
77% of providers indicated that the Substitute Pool was a valuable resource
83% of providers surveyed were satisfied with their substitute
“The Substitute Pool is so valuable to my program and has helped me keep doors open or not having to worry about staff coverage. I can take the time off to tend to personal needs like appointments or attend classes and know that the children are in good care.”
– Child Care Provider
Our Technical Assistance & Outreach (TAO) team provides 1:1 support to help providers navigate the complexities of operating a child care business and accessing grant funding.
Technical assistants took 13,625 incoming calls across 32 topics in 14 languages
Technical assistants made 8,399 outreach calls to connect providers with available resources
Technical assistants ensured that all 304 Complex Needs Grant awardees completed the mandatory “check for understanding” assessment in under two weeks, enabling DCYF to distribute $9.9 million in grant funding by fiscal year-end
“I used the technical assistance a couple of times, once when my computer was glitching and another time when I needed help with a tax form. Both times I got a call back the same day, and the staff walked me through everything quickly and kindly. Even when I thought I had missed an email or form, they followed up right away. The quick responses and kindness made the process much easier and left me really impressed.” – Child Care Provider
The Imagine Institute’s Technical Assistance and Outreach Department administers technical assistance for King County’s Best Starts for Kids Wage Boost Pilot. The Pilot supports King County early learning professionals through a supplemental stipend paid quarterly with the goal of increasing stability in the ECE field. The Imagine Institute supported the design of this Pilot and continues to support the Pilot through ongoing technical assistance.
Imagine led the Pilot’s design using liberatory design methodology by engaging child care workers, sector leaders, and other child care related organizations to ensure the program aligned with the needs and priorities of the child care workforce.
Imagine technical assistants validated 945 individual workers’ qualifications after being accepted into the BSK Wage Boost Pilot, resulting in $2,961,920 distributed to workers in King County.
1,112 licensed child care businesses applied to participate in the lottery
835 child care workers enrolled in the Wage Boost Pilot program
Imagine collaborated with 15 ECE professionals to design the Wage Boost Pilot
Technical assistants fielded 2,219 outreach and incoming calls to all Wage Boost eligible facilities leading to 1,112 applications
100% of the 133 facilities provided the required information on their workers by the deadline with technical assistants providing 1:1 outreach to 26 of the 133 facilities
“Wage Boost Pilot made me feel more valued. It made me feel like somebody was out there realizing that, gosh, I really worked hard getting through my educational degrees, and that was really helpful for me, because I did it all by myself. So for me to have that kind of recognition was wonderful.” – Wage Boost Pilot Participant
The Imagine Institute’s impact is amplified through strategic partnerships with communities and organizations across Washington State:
Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families: DCYF is our longest standing partner and continues to support Imagine’s Training, Shared Services, Technical Assistance and Outreach, Imagine U, and Substitute Pool departments
Ballmer Group: The Ballmer Group is supporting the opening of 148 new family home child care businesses by 2027
City of Burien: Burien has invested in opening nine new family home child care programs by December of 2026, partnering on events and other recruitment efforts
City of Federal Way: Federal Way collaborated with Imagine in FY26 to open three family child care businesses
City of SeaTac: SeaTac and Imagine collaborated to recruit SeaTac residents as Imagine U interns through their Community Resource Fair and local farmers markets, hoping to open dozens of new child care businesses in the city
Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County: Imagine collaborated with Sea-King to enhance workforce stability by providing 100 hours of free, higher-paying substitute care to up to 51 child care programs in underserved areas of King County
Ready To Work: Imagine partnered with Ready to Work to recruit and train three multilingual (8 total languages) substitute cohorts in King County to facilitate access to employment opportunities in ECE
Best Starts for Kids: Imagine collaborated with King County to launch the BSK Wage Boost Pilot
Whatcom County: Whatcom invested in opening 17 new family home child care programs by December of 2026
Cultivate Learning: Imagine and Cultivate partnered to help 50 child care businesses increase their Early Achievers Ratings by providing learning environment self-assessments and over $117,000 in classroom materials
Uncommon Bridges: Imagine and Uncommon Bridges partnered on recruiting to and facilitating a workgroup to help guide the implementation of Wage Boost Pilot
Machinists Institute: The Imagine Institute supported the Machinists Institute with research, financial analysis, site development, business operations, branding, staffing, and learning space design to help open a large child care center with flexible child care offerings for nonstandard hour workers. The resulting center, Little Wings Early Learning Academy (LWELA), is preparing to open in 2026.
These partnerships demonstrate our commitment to addressing the child care crisis through local and community-based approaches that recognize the unique child care needs across Washington State. When local governments and organizations work handin-hand with child care providers, we can create tailored solutions that truly serve families where they live and work.
State Contracts
Local Government Partnerships: 15% Foundations: 4%
Training Incentives: $342,129
Fees: 2% Other: 1% Imagine U Stipends: $3,274,158
Substitute Pool Wages: $1,107,510
Total Direct Provider Support: $4,723,797
The Imagine Institute is committed to responsible stewardship of funds, ensuring the maximum impact for Washington’s child care providers and the families they serve.
As we look to the future, we remain focused on the urgent needs of Washington’s families who continue to face impossible choices due to the child care crisis. Our priorities reflect both the immediate need to increase access and the long-term vision of a child care system that truly works for everyone.
Expanding Child Care Capacity: We will focus on supporting community members to open child care businesses across the state, particularly in child care deserts. 1
2
Increasing Nonstandard Hour and Infant Care: We will continue to target opening and supporting child care businesses who provide the critical care families need: infant and nonstandard hour care. Essential workers, including our healthcare professionals, emergency responders, and service industry employees, need care during evenings, overnight shifts, and weekends.
3
Building Rural Access: Too many rural communities have become child care deserts where families drive hours for care or leave the workforce entirely. We’ll partner with rural communities to develop local solutions for their unique challenges.
4
Multilingual Expansion: By increasing our capacity in Somali, Spanish, and other languages, we’ll ensure our services reach immigrant and refugee communities where both the need for care and the entrepreneurial potential are high.
5
Provider Financial Sustainability: When providers can’t make ends meet, they close their programs and families suffer. We’ll enhance our business support services to help providers build sustainable models that allow them to earn living wages while keeping care as affordable as possible for families.
6
Family-Provider Partnerships: We’ll create new resources to strengthen the vital relationship between families and providers, recognizing that when they work in partnership, children experience the highest quality care.
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Employer Partnerships: Imagine is building a suite of tools and support for employers looking for ways to support their employees’ child care needs.
Join our Shared Services Hub to access business tools and resources that can strengthen your program
Participate in our Training programs to enhance your skills and earn required continuing education
Explore becoming a licensed provider through Imagine U if you’re interested in opening a child care business
Contact our Technical Assistance team when you need support with regulations, subsidy billing, or business questions
Access the Substitute Pool to ensure you can take time for health, education, and self-care
Explore partnership opportunities to address the desperate need for child care in your community
Help spread the word about Imagine Institute’s resources to providers and families in your networks
Advocate for policies that support child care providers and increase access to quality, affordable care
Share the Imagine Institute information with your child care provider; our resources may help them better serve your family
Advocate for increased investments in child care infrastructure; your voice and story matter
Consider funding initiatives that directly address the child care crisis in your area
Help other families understand the value of quality child care and the importance of paying providers a living wage
Thank your provider for the essential service they provide to your family and community
Website: imaginewa.org
Email: info@imaginewa.org
Phone: 206-492-5249
The Imagine Institute is committed to creating a future where no Washington family has to choose between their child’s wellbeing and their economic security, and where every child care provider receives the support, resources, and recognition they deserve for their essential work.