Tribal ECEAP

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) acknowledges and respects our government-to-government relationship with Tribal Sovereign Nation contractors and sub-contractors. We also acknowledge the historical trauma that Native people have experienced in institutional settings.

Tribal Nations have sovereign right over how to educate their children. We are committed to building strong relationships with Tribal Sovereign Nations for high-quality early learning and care that reflect each Tribe's culture and values.

We do this through:

  • Requirements that can be individualized to honor the unique traditions and perspectives of Tribes.
  • Offering flexible programming that promotes Tribal cultural, language preservation, and revitalization efforts.
  • Working with Tribes to remove barriers to provide ECEAP services.
  • Requiring DCYF ECEAP staff to participate in government-to-government trainings.
  • Our commitment to increasing the number of Tribal children in Tribal ECEAP early learning programs that fit with each Tribe's needs.
  • We host a Tribal ECEAP workgroup meeting each month, open to Tribal contractors and sub-contractors.
  • Robust partnership with DCYF's Office of Tribal Relations.

Tribal ECEAP Providers

Are you a Washington state Tribe interested in providing ECEAP? Below are current Tribal ECEAP providers. They are willing to share with you about ECEAP and how it has worked for their Tribe.

Tribal Contractors

Tribal Subcontractors

Tribal ECEAP Legislative Report

A 2021 report to the Washington State Legislature recommended changes to remove barriers for Tribes to provide ECEAP in their community and increase supports for Tribal children who attend at non-Tribal sites. These recommendations are from the Tribal ECEAP workgroup and DCYF Tribal advisory groups. Read the Tribal ECEAP Pathway Recommendations to the Legislature.

Tribal ECEAP Recruitment Flyers

The flyers have information about ECEAP eligibility for Tribal children. They can be customized with your program's contact information. DCYF has four different options of Tribal ECEAP Recruitment flyers. 

Resources

These classroom resources include curriculum, health, and book lists. They are not required, but are designed for Tribal early learning programs. 

Curriculum and Classroom Observation Tools
Health
  • Free books, e-books and resources from the CDC for diabetes prevention and healthy eating in Native communities. These books were created for K-4 and can be adapted for a Pre-K classroom. They work well with small groups of children.
  • Powwow Sweat are powwow dance exercise videos.
  • The Cedar Box Curriculum is a traditional foods curriculum from the Muckleshoot Tribe. It is a resource for ideas and concepts that can be incorporated into curriculum planning.
  • Physical Activity Kit (PAK) is a program from Indian Health Services that encourages increased physical activity for Native people of all ages. Each book has two links: one to a PDF with activities and one with an activity video.
    • Books 1, 2, 3, and 4 has activities for children that can be used or modified for pre-k
    • Book 5 has activities for infants, toddlers, and pre-k age children
    • Book 7 has activities for elders
    • Book 8 has resources for physical activity
Books

Resources to support families achieve their goals

Health Supports for Families

Financial Education

  • Oweesta offers culturally appropriate training programs to help Native organizations establish and sustain financial education.

Higher Education

Scholarships and funding for higher education for Native people

Housing

Legal

Enrollment

Information for individuals who would like to research their family history and eligibility to enroll in a tribe

Indian Child Welfare

Provides information and support for Native families who are involved in the child welfare system