Child Care Resources

Find child care, preschool, and early learning resources for your family.

Fill out our Interest Form to get started.

Find child care, help with tuition, and support for your family

Finding child care can feel overwhelming—especially when you’re juggling work, family needs, and deadlines. This page is here to help you understand your options with Opportunity Council, connect with trusted local resources, and take the next steps with confidence.

Start here: Need help finding child care?

If you’re not sure where to begin, you’re not alone. We recommend starting with personalized help: Complete the Early Learning and Care Interest Form, and a member of our team will reach out to help you explore options that fit your family.

If you need care for a child between 18 months and 5 years old, Opportunity Council offers full-day, year-round child care at our Laurel Forest and Cedar Commons early learning centers in Bellingham.

Experienced early childhood educators lead our classrooms, which are designed to give children opportunities to play, learn, explore, and grow every day. Children enjoy scratch-made meals, fun and engaging learning experiences, outdoor play, and nurturing relationships that support their development and prepare them for success in school and life. Families can access care for up to 10 hours per day.

Complete the Early Learning & Care Interest Form, and we’ll help you learn more about our programs, availability, and enrollment options.

Paying for child care

Visit the Child Care Aware Family Center – Paying for Child Care webpage or call 1‑800‑446‑1114 to speak with a Referral Specialist. Emergency vouchers may also be available through Child Care Aware NW.

The Working Connections Child Care Subsidy is available through Washington state at select child care programs. Visit the Working Connections Child Care Subsidy webpage through DCYF to learn more and apply.

The Working Connections Child Care Subsidy is accepted at Opportunity Council’s full day, year‑round programs and may be required for some Early Head Start, Head Start, and ECEAP openings.

Apply for Working Connections Child Care Subsidy through DCYF →
(Applications are available online or by phone in multiple languages.)

Other childcare resources

If you’re not finding the right fit at Opportunity Council, these organizations can help you explore other options.

Help finding child care in Island, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish and Whatcom Counties

Child Care Aware NW helps families navigate child care options across Northwest Washington in Island, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish and Whatcom Counties. Offering child care finder and referral specialists, they can help match families with the care that is right for them and may be able to help with emergency payment vouchers.

Call: 1‑800‑446‑1114

Who is Child Care Aware?
Child Care Aware of Northwest Washington (CCANW) is part of a statewide non-profit network dedicated to helping families find, afford, and navigate high-quality early care for children from birth to 12 years old.

Part of Opportunity Council’s Early Learning & Care team, CCANW works with families, providers, and community partners across Island, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, and Whatcom counties.

Drop-in, overnight, emergency, or after-school care

For Whatcom County families, Childcare Spaces offers a searchable database of local providers and may offer emergency subsidies for qualifying families with a child age 5 or younger.

Call: 360‑595‑3391

Find emergency and other child care options at Childcare Spaces →