FAMIWE stands for Family-Centered Integrated Work & Education. It is a policy initiative designed to update Washington State childcare law so it reflects how families actually live, work, and care for children today.
The Problem
Washington’s childcare laws assume that care only happens when parents are separated from their children. This narrow definition limits safe, flexible options, increases costs, and prevents many family-present spaces from operating legally, even when they support children and families well.
What FAMIWE Does
FAMIWE creates a clear, licensable category for spaces where parents remain present while working or learning alongside their children. It allows these spaces to be regulated appropriately, rather than excluded, so safety, transparency, and accountability are maintained.
Why This Matters
FAMIWE expands affordable childcare options without replacing traditional childcare. It supports families who need flexibility, strengthens community-based education, and reduces pressure on an overstretched childcare system, all while aligning with existing legislative goals and without requiring new public spending.
Who FAMIWE Is For
FAMIWE supports parents, children, educators, cooperatives, and community organizations. It is especially helpful for families who are priced out of traditional childcare or whose lives require care models that allow work, learning, and caregiving to happen together.
The Goal
The goal of FAMIWE is to make family-present, community-governed childcare legal, safe, and accessible. It ensures that caregiving models based on presence, trust, and shared responsibility are recognized as legitimate and valuable parts of Washington’s childcare ecosystem.
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