Best Starts for Kids Child Care Wage Boost Pilot application is live!

Child care facilities can now apply to join the Best Starts Child Care Wage Boost Pilot. Applications close March 7. 

Eligible facilities will be selected by lottery, and workers at selected facilities can enroll to receive a quarterly payment to increase their income through 2027. An estimated 1,400 child care workers will receive the Best Starts Wage Boost. Full-time workers will receive $2,080 quarterly and part-time workers will receive $1,040 quarterly. For more information, check out the Best Starts Wage Boost website: bskwageboost.imaginewa.org

Best Starts is partnering with The Imagine Institute to design and lead the project and AidKit Inc, to administer the wage boost payments. Best Starts for Kids is also partnering with organizations to facilitate a workgroup and lead evaluation of the pilot. Cardea and the Urban Institiute will evaluate the impact of the pilot and report findings. Uncommon Bridges will lead the workgroup, which will provide community- and provider-led oversight of the pilot and research.