Resources

Take advantage of free and discounted opportunities

There are numerous resources for caregivers at both a statewide level and by region. Below you’ll find recreational fun, health care, learning resources and more! 

 

Illustration of family - two parents and one child in wheelchair and one child playing soccer

Washington State and National Programs

The Alliance CaRES program does not support or endorse any of the listed items; they are compiled for your convenience. We make every effort to keep these up-to-date, if you know of a correction or an item not listed, please let us know by emailing notifycares@uw.edu.
Check out the full guide with even more Free and Discounted Resources for Foster and Kinship Caregivers.

  • Access to Baby and Child Dentistry (ABCD): puts young children across Washington state on a lifelong path to good oral health.
  • Boys & Girls Club: Members ages 6 to 18 years old get a no-cost Boys & Girls Club basic membership, covered by Coordinated Care.
  • Camping and day use entry to WA State Parks: Free campsite and day use entry to foster and kinship care families with dependent children.
  • Camp Ten Trees: Residential camping programs for LGBTQ+ youth and youth of LGBTQ+ families.
  • Craft + Boogie: Easy crafts and activities, planned, prepped, and delivered. Request a craft kit sent to you for foster child(ren) age 3+ who are in your care.
  • DCYF Who to Contact Resources for Foster Parents and Kinship Caregivers: Knowing who to contact for different needs can be really hard for foster parents and kinship caregiver in a large child welfare system. This guide lets caregivers know who to contact about different topics.
  • DSHS Reduced Cost Service Guide: The Reduced Cost Services Guide highlights a variety of products and services available in or near Washington state that are offered at reduced cost for people meeting certain income levels.
  • Fosterful: Through trauma-informed care practices, provide nurturing environments and basic necessities to kids entering foster care. Located across the state and expanding.
  • God’s Closet: Children’s Clothing closet in with locations in: Deer Park, East Wenatchee, and Spokane, Yakima, Monroe, Des Moines, Lacey, and Vancouver.
  • IFoster: A free, members-only community supporting children in or at-risk of entry into child welfare, to access the resources and opportunities they need to become successful, independent adults.
  • Imagination Library of Washington: Enroll your child online. In 6-8 weeks, your child will receive their first book in the mail, ‘The Little Engine That Could’. Books arrive in the mail monthly until your child’s 5th birthday.
  • Kids Bowl Free: Select bowling centers and schools around the country are participating in the Kids Bowl Free program. This program is designed by bowling centers to give back to the community and provide a safe, secure, and fun way for kids to spend time this summer.
  • Royal Family Kids’ Camp: Summer camp especially designed with foster children in mind.
  • Sibling Strong: Reunite brothers and sisters who have Washington ties and who are separated because of foster care and other out-of-home care for camps and events that reinforce their
    sibling connection.
  • Team Celebrate: Provides Birthday cards and party supplies in Bellingham, Bothell, Bremerton, Burlington, Cowlitz County, Federal Way, Issaquah, Pasco, Poulsbo, Spokane.
  • Ted Brown Music Outreach: Free or reduced cost instruments. In addition they offer Instrument Exploration Camps.
  • Together We Rise: Offers many programs supporting youth in care: Birthday boxes, duffel bags, Bikes, Educational Scholarships and more.
  • Treehouse: Offers many programs to youth across the state including educational support, holiday
    gifts, driver’s assistance, a clothing closet and just in time funding program.
*Many regionally based opportunities are open to families from outside that region. That will be noted in the description.

Resources By Region

  • Beautiful Threads: Offer a variety of clothing and other items for all ages of youth in foster care.
  • Compassion ClosetClothing closet in Ellensburg.
  • Mo’s Place: Supports foster families in the TriCities, Walla Walla, and the surrounding areas through networking, encouragement, training, and engagement.
  • Gold’s Gym in TriCities: Provide a valid foster care license or pocket card to receive the
    discount. $0 enrollment fee, $29 per month, $39 annual fee 60 days from the starting point. This is per person. It is also a 1-year agreement. Members do have to be 12yrs and up to use the gym floor. Email judy@goldsgym.fitness for more information and to sign up.
  • Splash & Swim School: In TriCities offers 20% discounts for foster families. Please show your foster parent license or pocket card to receive the discount. 
  • Voices for ChildrenGives buddy bags and has a Wish and Need fund available throughout the Yakima Valley.
  • Blue Skies for Children: Sponsor enrichment activities like academic and educational
    services plus Little Wishes and Winter Warm Up programs. 
  • Clothes for KidsChildren who attend school in Snohomish County or the Northshore School District can shop the clothing closet. 
  • Foster ClosetProvides free clothing, toys, childcare items to families caring for foster children in Whatcom, Island, Skagit, and Snohomish counties. 
  • Foster HeartsProvides personal items and life enhancing opportunities for children in foster care. 
  • Furniture for Foster Families: Offers support with furniture for foster families. Email
    curttrudy@gmail.com.
  • Kids First Services: Island County organization dedicated to filling unmet needs of local area children in foster care.
  • Skagit Children’s Museum: $3.00/person, up to 4 people. *Also available to families outside the region.
  • Snohomish Aquatic Center: Swimming lessons scholarships available, between 20% to 50% off.
  • Foster Champs of Maple Valley: Clothing closet and other supports for foster, adoptive, and kinship families.
  • Fostering Hope Seattle: Programs include Foster Youth & Family Home Essentials and Foster Family Support Group.
  • KidsQuest Children’s MuseumAdmission is $3 per person, must show child’s Provider One or WIC card with you upon admission. *Also available to families outside the region.
  • Little Hands Creations: is an arts-based educational company focusing on in-house enrichment classes and camps within the schools and community centers. Wave the onsite classes and camps free to any children in the care of licensed foster parents. Email littlehandscreations@gmail.com with a picture of your foster parent card. *Also available to families outside the region.
  • Museum of Flight: Receive 50% off general admission for foster parents and FREE admission for youth. *Also available to families outside the region. 
  • Pacific Science CenterTwo types of discounts available for foster youth. *Also available to families outside the region. 
  • Seattle Angels: The Love Box program provides fostering families with community and holistic support. The Dare to Dream program provides one-on-one mentorship to youth in care. 
  • Seattle Aquarium: Free for 2 caregiving adults and up to 5 children. *Also available to families outside the region. 
  • Seattle Children’s Museum: Show child’s provider one card for a $2 entry fee for that child. *Also available to families outside the region.
  • Seattle Children’s Theatre: Show foster parent card for complimentary tickets for all foster children. *Also available to families outside the region. 
  • Woodland Park ZooA $35 membership for foster and kinship families. *Also available to families outside the region. 
  • The Works: Shoreline Public Schools clothing closet.
  • Ali’s prom project: Provides formal dresses for youth in care *Also available to families outside the region. 
  • Celebrate You Foundation: Sponsors birthday celebrations for foster children in Pierce County. 
  • Enigma Escapes WAEscape room events offering 10% for foster families. *Also available to families outside the region. 
  • Kitsap Foster Care Association: Supports youth in Kitsap County by offering the DREAM Project grant, up to $75 towards the purchase of enrichment activities. Along with other supports for foster and kinship families. 
  • New BeginningsClothing (and other items) closet in Bremerton. 
  • Tacoma Children’s Museum: Free memberships for all foster families in Pierce County.
  • Point Defiance Zoo & AquariumUp to 6 daytime admission tickets for $5 each for you and your immediate family members. An annual Wild Access membership for $40. This household membership covers 2 named adults and all legal dependents ages 3-18. Children 2 and under are always free.
  • WA State History MuseumOffers foster families $1 per person or $2 per family. Free on the third Thursday of each month. *Also available to families outside the region.
  • The Wishing Well Foundation: Provides clothing, supplies, and experiences to children currently placed in the foster care system in Pierce and Kitsap Counties.
  • Bridge the Gap: Bridge the Gap provides funds to cover activities, summer camps, etc. for kids in Clark, Cowlitz and Skamania Counties. 
  • Cloth+Foster: Meeting the needs of families and children experiencing foster care through
    tangible goods, in SW Washington and surrounding areas.
  • Capital Kids ConnectionChristmas gifts, School supplies, $100 wishes for youth to go towards
    an item or experience of their choice. For children in Thurston, Mason and Lewis Counties. 
  • Compelled to CareProvides graduation gifts, Care Boxes, and school supplies for kids entering
    the foster care system. Support dinners in Thurston and Grays Harbor counties. 
  • Dry Tikes and Wet WipesSupplements the diaper needs of low-income families. Serving the
    Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, and surrounding area. 
  • Foster Supports of Jefferson CountyServices include clothing closet, Kicks for Kids, and
    Academic Success for Kids Program. 
  • Hands On Children’s MuseumOffers a $25 membership to youth with a PEBT card. *Also
    available to families outside the region. 
  • Olympic AngelsThe Love Box program provides fostering families with community and holistic support. The Dare to Dream program provides one-on-one mentorship to youth in care. 
  • Pizza Klatch: Offers support group for LGBTQ+ youth and their allies; held in classrooms during lunchtime at participating schools in the following districts: North Thurston, Tumwater,
    Olympia, Rainier, Tenino, Rochester, and Yelm Community Schools.
  • South Sound Foster/Adoptive Clothing ClosetFree clothing for ages 0-12, shoes, gear,
    strollers, toys, etc. 
  • The Wishing Well Foundation: Provides clothing, supplies, and experiences to children currently placed in the foster care system in Thurston County.
  • Youth to Teen Essentials: Clothing closet in Shelton.

Resource Library

Challenging placements or transitions are often a part of the fostering journey. There are a few things you can do to prepare for what comes next. Review this document for some added support. 

Check out this list of commonly used DCYF Acronyms for Caregivers

Becoming a licensed foster parent can feel overwhelming. Just take it one step at a time. Keep this checklist handy to track your progress or reference as you’re moving forward! You can check things off in whichever order works for you.

Si decide seguir adelante, puede echar un vistazo a la lista de verificación adjunta “Un camino hacia la licencia”. Esta lista resalta los pasos del proceso para que pueda que pueda estar al tanto de su progreso fácilmente.

Explore some Alliance Training and Alliance CaRES top trainings.  

As part of the Alliance CaRES program’s ongoing effort to support you as you support the children or youth in your care, we love sharing book ideas across age ranges that tell stories on a variety of themes that can help children in foster care.
Reading with a child strengthens the attachment between you. It’s also a great way to find an entry point for talking about and normalizing hard things, celebrating differences, and sharing values. Plus, of course, working on literacy and language skills!

View all the resources https://alliancecares.org/book-corner