Our Mission

WCDC’s overall mission is to promote quality child care in the District of Columbia through a variety of community-directed activities and services. WCDC seeks to address this critical and urgent need for early childhood development programs by:

Providing Technical Assistance

WCDC has played a key role in developing a Family Child Care Training Network; has become a "Licensing Buddy" to potential providers; coordinates Early Childhood Development Workshops on a continual basis; and continues to recruit and train child care staff. WCDC's trainings are publicized in its Monthly Child Development Calendar which is distributed to all licensed child care programs in the city.

Advocating for Quality

WCDC has been a leader in guiding public policy and highlighting the importance of establishing and maintaining quality child care development programs; and has kept parents and staff informed of local and national events that impact on child care programs.

Counseling Parents

WCDC provides direct help to parents finding licensed care through our computerized Resource and Referral Service; outlining fundamental DC child care components parents should consider when selecting a child care program, and informing parents of their eligibility for subsidized care and the availability of tax credits for child care; focusing on working with teenage mothers by serving as an advocate to promote much needed child care services for this at-risk population.

Empowering Parents and Providers

WCDC is a catalyst for action by promoting cooperation and fostering communication among child care providers, parents, government officials and community leaders, thus raising awareness, maximizing resources and in turn expanding the quality, and scope of child care services in our nation's capital.