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Licensed Family Child Care Providers Training (LFCCP)

The Imagine Institute has training offerings available in-person and virtual live online. We have restructured bonuses to make them easier than ever to access.

Classes are available in-person and online—live and instructor-led virtual trainings (not pre-recorded).

Participants must attend and complete the entire session(s) in order to receive STARS hours and cash bonuses.

Earn $30 per STARS hour with a maximum of $750 for this fiscal year (July 2024-June 2025).
You must attend and complete the entire class time in order to receive STARS hours and cash bonuses.
Cash incentives may be subject to taxes.


PLEASE NOTE: The Imagine Institute will need to collect a W-9 form from you BEFORE we can process any of your cash incentives. Payment can take up to 90 days to receive AFTER submitting your W-9.


To stay up-to-date on upcoming trainings for Licensed Family Child Care Providers, consider signing up for our monthly newsletter to receive a schedule of available trainings each month!

All our training is developed, reviewed and/or approved by child care providers on the Imagine Institute Curriculum Committee to make sure it supports our mission to be relevant, respectful, and responsive. Fellow providers teach most trainings, allowing them to uniquely relate to the material and participants.

Eligibility

Training Application & Completion Process

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Available Online Courses

Business Practices

Running an early learning program without management training can be challenging. The Department of Children, Youth, and Families and the Imagine Institute are offering you free training to help you sharpen your business skills and keep your business thriving. The purpose of this training is to strengthen child care providers’ foundational knowledge of fiscal terms, concepts, and practices. It encourages providers to realize the importance of fiscal planning to the sustainability of their business operations. It provides tips and best practices to help break down fiscal processes into manageable steps. Business Practices curriculum was created by DCYF.

Each module is 3 STARS hours + $90 cash bonus.
You may complete any or all Business Practices modules but must register for each one separately.
Module 1

Budgets, Projections, and Planning for Family Child Care

Learning goals for this session are to learn the value of developing a budget and how to use it for decision-making throughout the year and understand how to project business costs, generate additional income and plan strategically for future goals.

 

Online class. You will receive 3 STARS hours + $90 cash bonus.

Module 2

Strengthening Fiscal Management for Child Care Programs

Financial Reports and Internal Controls for Family Child Care: Learning goals for this session are to, understand financial reports and their use in fiscal management and identify internal controls and how they can strengthen the fiscal health of a family child care program.

 

Online class. You will receive 3 STARS hours + $90 cash bonus.

Module 3

Marketing Your Program for Family Child Care

Learning goals for this session is to strengthen child care providers’ understanding of marketing tools, audiences, and elements necessary to develop a marketing plan. It encourages providers to tailor marketing practices to the audience they are trying to reach and to develop effective communication strategies to promote their services.

 

Online class. You will receive 3 STARS hours + $90 cash bonus.

Planning Your Curriculum

This advanced class is designed to help early learning providers learn about how to recognize appropriate curricular components and create individualized lessons for the specific group of children they serve.

 

3 STARS hours + $90 cash bonus.

3-Hour Online Training

Planning Your Curriculum

This advanced class is designed to help early learning providers learn about how to recognize appropriate curricular components and create individualized lessons for the specific group of children they serve.

 

3-hour online class. You will receive 3 STARS hours + $90 cash bonus.

Special Needs

2-Day Training

Special Needs 1

Participants will gain an understanding of typical child development development, recognizing areas of concern and how to engage families in initial conversations of support.

 

2-day online course. You will receive 10 STARS hours + $300 cash bonus. 

4-Day Training

Special Needs 1

Participants will gain an understanding of typical child development development, recognizing areas of concern and how to engage families in initial conversations of support.

 

4-day online course. You will receive 10 STARS hours + $300 cash bonus. 

2-day Training

Special Needs 2 - Early Intervention

These courses are designed to offer early learning providers a foundational knowledge of common behaviors of children with special needs, as well as basic observational and assessment skills to plan for the individual needs of children. Through games, hands-on activities, reflection and exploring prior knowledge, this training will connect best practice and techniques to develop skills in understanding the basics of working with children with special needs.

 

Participant must complete the entire Special Needs 2 series (2 days) to receive a $300 cash bonus.

 

2-day online class. You will receive 10 STARS hours + $300 cash bonus.

4-day Training

Special Needs 2 - Early Intervention

These courses are designed to offer early learning providers a foundational knowledge of common behaviors of children with special needs, as well as basic observational and assessment skills to plan for the individual needs of children. Through games, hands-on activities, reflection and exploring prior knowledge, this training will connect best practice and techniques to develop skills in understanding the basics of working with children with special needs.

 

Participant must complete the entire Special Needs 2 series (4 days) to receive a $300 cash bonus.

 

4-day online class. You will receive 10 STARS hours + $300 cash bonus.

Contract & Policies

COMING TO TERMS: How to Effectively Use Contracts and Policies

Participants will learn how to establish effective contracts and policies and enforce their agreements with parents. Each module is 3 STARS hours + $90 cash bonus. Get more information and register below.

Online Class

Coming to Terms: How to Effectively Use Contracts and Policies

Participants will learn how to establish effective contracts and policies and enforce their agreements with parents. Other topics include:
  • How to establish a business relationship with parents
  • The four key elements of a contract
  • How contracts and policies differ
  • How to resolve conflicts and enforce agreements
  • How to write a transportation policy that protects you and the children in your care
Online class. 3 STARS hours + $90 cash bonus.

Anti-Racist Early Childhood Education

This training series is a sample of our innovative PREPARE for Care program, which provides an anti-racist and trauma-informed framework for early childhood educators aimed at mitigating the impacts of racism on children and increasing kindergarten readiness. This series is four of PREPARE’s 10 modules of anti-racist and trauma informed content designed specifically for an ECE audience.

Each module is 6 STARS hours + $180 cash bonus.

You may complete any or all Anti-Racist ECE modules but must register for each one separately.


Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) Financial Award
Certain modules of the Anti-Racist Early Childhood Education classes are eligible for the Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) Financial Award administered by DCYF. Completing these select courses will go toward earning your TIC award. There is a $1,200 lifetime cap for the TIC award through DCYF. Once you’ve met this lifetime cap, you will become eligible for the Imagine Institute incentive for taking the marked classes. The Imagine Institute incentive will not be awarded until after the full Trauma-Informed Care Financial Award has been completed and awarded to you by DCYF.

The modules covered by the TIC award are 1, 2, 6, 8, and 10. Modules that do not fall under coverage by the TIC award are eligible for the Imagine Institute incentive so long as you have not reached your annual $750 maximum payout

1-Day Training

Module 1: The Healing Relationship

Relationships are the center of all children’s early learning and development, especially for children who have experienced trauma. Supporting healthy relationships with children and their families is the child care provider’s most important role. Child care providers can develop their ability to build not only healthy relationships, but truly healing relationships. In this module, participants will explore essential foundations in relationship-building and practice three relationship-building tools that can help. Following the module, participants will be able to explain and apply these tools and discuss how they are important in their work.

 

1-day online class. Earn 6 STARS hours + $180 cash bonus*

 

*Cash bonus dependent on TIC award progress

1-Day Training

Module 2: Trauma and Vicarious Trauma

Providers will begin to understand the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) on developing children and how to recognize and identify the impacts of childhood trauma.

 

1-day online class. Earn 6 STARS hours + $180 cash bonus*

*Cash bonus dependent on TIC award progress

1-Day Training

Module 3: The Invention of Whiteness

Children begin perceiving attitudes about their racial, cultural, and ethnic identities from the world around them at a very early age. These forces can leave enduring marks on their senses of self and self-esteem, impacting their development and ability to thrive. Early childhood educators can help build safe and affirming spaces for children to grow and learn in order to counteract the toxic effects of racism. Participants will gain a better understanding of structural racism, race, and whiteness, and learn how to shift their personal perspective on race in order to support children’s healthy development.

 

1-day online class. Earn 6 STARS hours + $180 cash bonus.

2-Day Training

Module 3: The Invention of Whiteness

Children begin perceiving attitudes about their racial, cultural, and ethnic identities from the world around them at a very early age. These forces can leave enduring marks on their senses of self and self-esteem, impacting their development and ability to thrive. Early childhood educators can help build safe and affirming spaces for children to grow and learn in order to counteract the toxic effects of racism. Participants will gain a better understanding of structural racism, race, and whiteness, and learn how to shift their personal perspective on race in order to support children’s healthy development.

 

2-day online class. Earn 6 STARS hours + $180 cash bonus.

1-Day Training

Module 4: Inclusion and Decolonization

This module discusses the importance of understanding the effects of colonialism and its impacts of our work. This class also discusses decolonization as a way of building resilience, increasing self-esteem and changing the perception children have of their status in society, which is often based on the child’s racial or ethnic identity and the social status of this identity.

 

1-day online class. Earn 6 STARS hours + $180 cash bonus.

1-Day Training

Module 5: Racism and Development

Children’s awareness of racial differences and the impact of racism begins much earlier than many people realize, often in pre-school. At this age, children may begin excluding their peers of different races from play without understanding their behavior. Because of this, providers are uniquely situated to educate children about these critical and complex issues. An important first step is to work with family to understand their attitudes about race.

 

1-day online class. Earn 6 STARS hours + $180 cash bonus.

1-Day Training

Module 6: Understanding the Psychological Effects of Racism

Racial trauma has long-lasting impacts on developing children and impacts achievement gaps between children of color and their white peers. Children receive information about their value and the value of others in their community through media and social attitudes. Providers can modify practices in their care environments to increase cultural pride so that children feel that their contributions are valued.

 

1-day online class. Earn 6 STARS hours + $180 cash bonus*

*Cash bonus dependent on TIC award progress

2-Day Training

Module 6: Understanding the Psychological Effects of Racism

Racial trauma has long-lasting impacts on developing children and impacts achievement gaps between children of color and their white peers. Children receive information about their value and the value of others in their community through media and social attitudes. Providers can modify practices in their care environments to increase cultural pride so that children feel that their contributions are valued.

2-day online class. Earn 6 STARS hours + $180 cash bonus*

*Cash bonus dependent on TIC award progress

1-Day Training

Module 8: Promoting Resilience

Promoting resilience in young children begins with the childcare providers identifying and allowing their own resilience to build upon reflection. Childcare providers can then make connections and move towards goals where they can begin to nurture a positive view of themselves and both children and families.

1-day online class. Earn 6 STARS hours + $180 cash bonus*

*Cash bonus dependent on TIC award progress

1-Day Training

Module 9: Consent and Body Autonomy in Early Education

This class introduces nuanced meanings of the concepts of consent and body autonomy and encourages participants to consider how and why these concepts are important in early childhood education. It will provide opportunities for participants to formulate practical strategies to include positive consent and boundary messages in their daily interactions with children and parents.

 

1-day online class. Earn 6 STARS hours + $180 cash bonus.

2-Day Training

Module 10: Understanding and Disrupting Biases

In the Examination of Anti-Racism module, learners will explore and deepen their awareness and understanding of a variety of topics that will aid the support of anti-racist practices. This module presents the opportunity for learners to explore bias, how it works, and how to interrupt it. After gaining a deeper understanding of bias, learners will begin an examination of racism and the system of education, leading to what advocacy can look like for young people in schools; the module concludes by exploring the development of racialized identity development and how to nurture its positive growth.

2-day online class. Earn 12 STARS hours + $360 cash bonus*

*Cash bonus dependent on TIC award progress

1-Day Training

Module 11: Family Systems

In the Examination of Anti-Racism module, learners will explore and deepen their awareness and understanding of a variety of topics that will aid the support of anti-racist practices. This module presents the opportunity for learners to explore bias, how it works, and how to interrupt it. After gaining a deeper understanding of bias, learners will begin an examination of racism and the system of education, leading to what advocacy can look like for young people in schools; the module concludes by exploring the development of racialized identity development and how to nurture its positive growth.

1-day online class. Earn 6 STARS hours + $180 cash bonus.

Supporting staff through learning-focused conversations

As employers and supervisors, this training will teach you how to develop effective conversational skills so that you can support your child care staff in creating and achieving their professional development goals. Earn 6 STARS hours + $180 cash bonus. Get more information and register below.

1-Day Training

Supporting Staff Through Learning-Focused Conversations

As employers and supervisors, this training will teach you how to develop effective conversational skills so that you can support your child care staff in creating and achieving their professional development goals.

 

1-day online class. Earn 6 STARS hours + $180 cash bonus. 

2-Day Training

Supporting Staff Through Learning-Focused Conversations

As employers and supervisors, this training will teach you how to develop effective conversational skills so that you can support your child care staff in creating and achieving their professional development goals.

 

2-day online class. Earn 6 STARS hours + $180 cash bonus.

You must attend both days to receive STARS hours and cash bonus. 

The Great Outdoors

Come examine the health and learning benefits for children playing outdoors, and discover new ways to make the most of the outdoor environment. Each module is 5 STARS hours + $150 cash bonus. Get more information and register below.
5-hour Online Training

The Great Outdoors

Come examine the health and learning benefits for children playing outdoors, and discover new ways to make the most of the outdoor environment. Discuss the components of teaching outdoor learning to young children in a mixed-age environment with a focus on hands-on discovery learning. This class emphasizes the importance of safety and ways to lower risk in exploring the outdoors with children.

 

Online class. Earn 5 STARS hours + $150 cash bonus. .

Reading is Fundamental

Participants will learn ways to help children foster enthusiasm for reading. Each module is 5 STARS hours + $150 cash bonus. Get more information and register below.
5-hour Online Training

Reading is Fundamental

This curriculum is designed to offer ways to magnify children’s learning through reading. This 5-hour training is divided into three main parts that will identify reading techniques and utilize role play to explain ideas and concepts. Participants will learn ways to help children foster enthusiasm for reading.

 

Online class. Earn 5 STARS hours + $150 cash bonus.

STEM

This curriculum is designed to offer an overview of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) as it applies to teaching young children. Each module is 5 STARS hours + $150 cash bonus. Get more information and register below.

1 Day Training

We Are All Connected

This class introduces the importance and connectedness of our ecosystems. Participants will explore ways to teach concepts to young children, encourage family participation and build sustainable practices in their program.

 

1-day online class. Earn 5 STARS hours + $150 cash bonus.

1 Day Training

Locally Sourced Foods in ECE Programs

This class introduces the importance of connecting to local sources, culturally relevant practices in our early learning programs. Participants will explore ways to teach concepts around locally sourced food to young children, encourage family participation and build sustainable practices in their program.

 

1-day online class. Earn 5 STARS hours + $150 cash bonus.

1 Day Training

Less is More

This class introduces the concept of the reduce, reuse and recycle concept to children and participants new to the idea. Participants will explore the impact of waste on our environment, increase their use of recycling services offered by their municipalities and develop activities that teach sustainable practices at school and in the family home.

 

1-day online class. Earn 5 STARS hours + $150 cash bonus.

Observing Children for Development Milestone

This class will explore a child care provider’s role in monitoring children’s development while strengthening the understanding of developmental milestones Each module is 4 STARS hours + $120 cash bonus. Get more information and register below.

Online Class

Observing Children for Developmental Milestones (Doc & Observations)

Exploring a child care provider’s role in monitoring children’s development while strengthening the understanding of developmental milestones with attention to effectively engaging with parents about their child’s development.

 

Online class. Earn 4 STARS hours + $120 cash bonus.

Record Keeping and Taxes

Earn 6 STARS credit + $180 cash bonus.
Get more information and register below.
1-Day Training

Record Keeping and Taxes

This class will enable you to:
  • better identify the benefits of good record keeping,
  • learn how to properly report business income,
  • identify common business deductions,
  • claim food expenses,
  • deduct car expenses,
  • properly calculate the Time-Space Percentage,
  • claim expenses in excess of $2,500,
  • and hire employees.
Online class. Earn 6 STARS hours + $180 cash bonus. 
3-Day Training

Record Keeping and Taxes - 3 Class Series

This 3-day class series will enable you to:
  • better identify the benefits of good record keeping,
  • learn how to properly report business income,
  • identify common business deductions,
  • claim food expenses,
  • deduct car expenses,
  • properly calculate the Time-Space Percentage,
  • claim expenses in excess of $2,500,
  • and hire employees.
Online class. You must take all three classes in order to earn 6 STARS hours + $180 cash bonus.

THE GROWING BRAIN - 2-hr online training series

As employers and supervisors, participants will learn how to develop effective conversational skills to support child care staff.

Each module is 3 STARS hours + $90 cash bonus.

Get more information and register below.

The Growing Brain: Brain Basics Join this two hour session to explore how the brain grows and develops from conception through five years old.In this training, you will:

  • learn the names of different parts or regions of the brain and their functions,
  • gain an understanding of how nerve cells communicate and connect,
  • learn about neuroplasticity,
  • and examine the role of early experiences in making connections between areas of the brain.

2 hour online class. Earn 2 STARS hours + $60 cash bonus. Click here to register.

The Growing Brain: Factors Affecting Growth and Development This two hour session builds on The Growing Brain: Brain Basics module but is still useful even you were not able to attend Brain Basics.In this training, you will:

  • identify factors that affect brain growth and development,
  • discover how stress can affect brain development,
  • and learn strategies (the 5 R’s) for supporting healthy brain development overall.

2 hour online class. Earn 2 STARS hours + $60 cash bonus. Click here to register.

The Growing Brain: Understanding Behavior Children’s behavior is influenced by the brain. In this two hour training, you will quickly review basic brain anatomy and explore how connections between areas of the brain are expressed through behavior.This session will also address:

  • key factors that influence behavior,
  • the root causes of challenging behavior, and
  • effective strategies for helping children with behavior difficulties.

2 hour online class. Earn 2 STARS hours + $60 cash bonus. Click here to register.

CPR/FIRST AID/BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS

This 5-hour training covers life-saving health and safety practices for adults, children and infants.

No STARS hours and no incentives are associated with this class but does meet the requirements for your renewal or first certification.

Get more information and register below.

CPR/First Aid/Bloodborne Pathogens Training

This 5-hour training covers life-saving health and safety practices for adults, children and infants.

No STARS hours and no incentives are associated with this class but does meet the requirements for your renewal or first certification.

Online class. Click here to register.

More Online Courses Available

DCYF CURRICULUM

Imagine is offering DCYF’s Enhancing Quality Early Learning (EQEL) 10-hour live virtual training series, a requirement for all learning professionals hired or opened after August 1, 2019. As a licensed family child care provider within the SEIU 925 bargaining unit, you are eligible to take the EQEL training through the Imagine Institute at no cost to you*.
10 hours (2 Days)

YEAR 1 - Enhancing Quality Early learning (EQEL)

EQEL is for all early learning licensed professionals hired or opened after August 1, 2019. As a licensed family child care provider within the SEIU 925 bargaining unit, you are eligible to take the EQEL training through the Imagine Institute at no cost to you*. This 10-hour online training includes foundational best practices about quality environments and early learning that builds on what is introduced in Child Care Basics.

 

Earn 10 STARS + $300 cash bonus.

You must complete all four days (10 hours) of training to receive your $300 bonus. 

 

*You must have cared for a subsidized child within 90 days of the training.

10 hours (4 Days)

YEAR 1 - Enhancing Quality Early learning (EQEL)

EQEL is for all early learning licensed professionals hired or opened after August 1, 2019. As a licensed family child care provider within the SEIU 925 bargaining unit, you are eligible to take the EQEL training through the Imagine Institute at no cost to you*. This 10-hour online training includes foundational best practices about quality environments and early learning that builds on what is introduced in Child Care Basics.

 

Earn 10 STARS + $300 cash bonus.

You must complete all four days (10 hours) of training to receive your $300 bonus. 

 

*You must have cared for a subsidized child within 90 days of the training.

10 hours (2 Days)

YEAR 2 - Enhancing Quality Early learning (EQEL)

EQEL is for all early learning licensed professionals hired or opened after August 1, 2019. As a licensed family child care provider within the SEIU 925 bargaining unit, you are eligible to take the EQEL training through the Imagine Institute at no cost to you*. This 10-hour online training includes foundational best practices about quality environments and early learning that builds on what is introduced in Child Care Basics.

 

Earn 10 STARS + $300 cash bonus.

You must complete all four days (10 hours) of training to receive your $300 bonus. 

 

*You must have cared for a subsidized child within 90 days of the training.

10 hours (4 Days)

YEAR 2 - Enhancing Quality Early learning (EQEL)

EQEL is for all early learning licensed professionals hired or opened after August 1, 2019. As a licensed family child care provider within the SEIU 925 bargaining unit, you are eligible to take the EQEL training through the Imagine Institute at no cost to you*. This 10-hour online training includes foundational best practices about quality environments and early learning that builds on what is introduced in Child Care Basics.

 

Earn 10 STARS + $300 cash bonus.

You must complete all four days (10 hours) of training to receive your $300 bonus. 

 

*You must have cared for a subsidized child within 90 days of the training.

If you earn $600 or more in cash incentives through the Imagine Institute in a calendar year, it is subject to taxes. The Imagine Institute will need to collect a W-9 form from you BEFORE we can process your payment.

Shared Services Training

Those who take the course will learn about performance management, leadership style, and do’s and don’ts of disciplinary actions.
 
In this course, managers will get a fundamental knowledge of three main areas of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation law, which will assist them in recognizing and avoiding conduct prohibited by the laws and treating workers with decency and respect.
 
The session is intended for managers and other individuals who manage employees. We discuss Federal Law, WA laws, and best practices when creating policies.
 
A key part of Human Resources is the process of recruitment, selection, and onboarding of new employees. We will provide a walkthrough to reach out, interview, and hire.
 

Registration
Deadline

You must register for classes no later than 48 hours prior to any scheduled training. For weekend classes, you must register no later than Friday, 10AM.

Training

Interest Form

Are you interested in a class that’s not offered at this time?

Fill out the interest form and continue to check our website for newly added trainings.