Families & Caregivers
Washington Families Thrive — Child care help for Snohomish County working families
Struggling to find affordable, nearby, available childcare? You’re not alone. A recent Snohomish County study of nearly 500 parents found that only 28% use licensed child care centers. The biggest barriers were cost (78%), proximity (52%), availability (50%), and 30% non-matching hours. At the same time, over 40% of local providers reported openings, and 40% of families changed providers in the past 1–3 years.
This is a fixable mismatch. Washington Families Thrive (WFT) offers a high-end child care referral service that matches your family’s needs with vetted, licensed providers who currently have openings. WFT works primarily through employer benefits in Snohomish County—so if you’re on this page, your employer likely partners with WFT to support working families like yours.
How to get started
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Need regular care? Complete the Child Care Form and we’ll send three matched referrals with current openings within five business days. If you’re using this service independently, please contact us to begin at debbie.carlsen@wafamiliesthrive.com.
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Need backup or emergency care? Complete the Backup Care Form, and we’ll provide 2–3 available providers within 24 hours. If you’re using this service independently, please contact us to begin at debbie.carlsen@wafamiliesthrive.com.
Simple, fast, and focused on matching you to care that fits your schedule, budget, and location. Questions? Contact your HR team or email Debbie.Carlsen@WAFamiliesThrive.com.
Child Care Intake Form
If your employer offers child care benefits, please take a few minutes to tell us about your family’s needs and priorities so we can match you with high-quality, vetted, licensed care. This form is also for families using our services independently. Click here to complete the form.
Backup Care Intake Form
If your employer offers backup care, complete this quick form so we can find vetted backup options — drop‑in care, nannies, or child‑care providers. We'll confirm each referral's licensing or certification status and respond within 24 hours. This form is also for families using our services independently. Click here to fill out Backup Intake form.
Are you a family looking for high-quality child care?
Looking for child care in Snohomish County? After purchasing the service, our team will email you an intake link; once you submit it, you’ll receive three vetted child-care referrals with current openings that match your family’s needs within 5 business days. Each referral includes contact information, provider type, and any specialized services offered so you can choose with confidence. Questions? Contact us at debbie.carlsen@wafamiliesthrive.com/206-930-6668
