A Place to Grow
The Children’s Center (TCC) is committed to helping children grow into enthusiastic, kind, and confident learners by providing a broad curriculum designed to enhance their social, physical, and cognitive development. With our innovative program and nurturing environment, we strive to make a positive impact on the lives of our families and those in our community.
Our Vision is that…
All toddler and pre-school-aged children, regardless of background, will have a safe, supportive, and caring place that will help them foster a love of learning and develop the skills necessary to meet the world with confidence.
Our values are central to who we are, what we believe, and how we act.
INCLUSION. We believe that our differences enrich our lives and our community by providing insight into a broad range of experiences and perspectives. We strive to include families and staff of diverse backgrounds to further our understanding and respect for one another.
SAFETY. We believe children thrive in an environment that provides both physical and emotional safety. We encourage children to explore and grow in a nurturing and secure environment staffed by skilled, loving caregivers.
RESPECT. We believe all members of our community deserve our respect. We do our best to teach and practice open communication, collaboration, and cooperation responsibly and with integrity.
QUALITY. We believe in striving for excellence. From programs designed for children, continuing education for staff, and hosting seminars for parents, we aim to learn and implement best practices in early childhood development.
Our Partners
Community Roots Housing
The mission of Community Roots Housing is to build vibrant and engaged communities throughout the Greater Seattle Area. At TCC, we are proud to partner with Community Roots Housing and the Burke Gilman Place Public Development Authority, which includes: the Ronald McDonald House, Provail housing, and the Burke-Gilman Apartments. Through our partnership, we provide affordable childcare options for families living and working in our community.
DCYF (Department of Children, Youth, and Families)
TCC is fully licensed through Washington State’s Department of Children, Youth and Families. We are also an active participant (as well as a facilitator training site) for Early Achievers. The Early Achievers program provides a framework for improving the quality of early care in Washington by ensuring that children have access to high-quality early learning experiences that help them develop the skills they need to be successful in school and beyond.
Website
FareStart
While many kid-focused meal programs offer processed food, TCC partners with FareStart to provide healthy, nutritious cuisine that kids love. Each meal is created by chefs—from scratch—with the dietary needs and “special tastes” of kids in mind, including allergen-free and vegetarian options. FareStart provides meals and snacks throughout the day in a family-style dining setting, and we are proud to support their mission of helping people transform their lives through food.
Subsidy programs
32% of our students receive tuition assistance. Our collaborators include DSHS Working Connections, City of Seattle Child Care Assistance, Muckleshoot Indian Tribe Child Care Development Fund, the UW Childcare Assistance Program, DVR, and DCYF (for foster children). TCC also provides private scholarships for families experiencing temporary financial hardship and for free respite care for families staying at the Ronald McDonald House.
“We love that TCC offers a variety of programs and experiences that have helped our child develop socially. I love that he is learning about other cultures and is learning to be kind and respectful.”
— TCC Parent
Our Impact
TCC opened in 1998 to provide inclusive childcare and early learning programs for the community. We prioritize families experiencing homelessness or living in transitional housing, families with foster children, families living in Burke Gilman Gardens and other subsidized housing in the PDA area in which we are located. We offer free respite care for families in crisis, and partner with several local agencies to provide these services. We place no limit on enrollment for families receiving childcare subsidies and offer additional private scholarships for families in need.
$650,000
PROVIDED IN scholarships over the past 10 years
Over 1/3 of our families enrolled each year receive tuition assistance. In 2020, TCC provided an even bigger impact with over $100,000 in scholarships.
2/3rds
of full-time staff have been at tcc more than 10 years
Our staff also brings diversity to the classroom, with backgrounds from 10 countries and more than 9 languages represented.
50,000+
Meals and snacks served from our kitchen in 2020
TCC serves over 100 children and families each year and is committed to providing healthy meals and snacks throughout the day.