Last updated on August 8, 2008

The mission of the Washington Association for the Education of Young Children (WAEYC) is to support, promote and advocate for:
• early learning and quality care for young children, ages birth through eight
• a broad based, inclusive, professional membership
• public policy and social change efforts related to the needs and rights of all young children and their families.

Description:
WAEYC is the Washington State affiliate of NAEYC, the nation's largest organization dedicated to improving the quality and accessibility of early care and education programs for children from birth - eight. WAEYC is comprised of nearly 2,000 members with local affiliate chapters throughout the state.

WAEYC promotes and supports training, education, and equitable compensation for staff in the early childhood profession. As supporters of early learning and quality care for young children, we advocate for public policy and social change through legislative action, program standards, and public awareness. We also encourage appropriate developmental, cultural and linguistic practices for children and families.

Early Childhood Professionals and Families:
WAEYC provides current research and relevant information on early learning topics; offers state-of-the-art resources and advice to help early childhood professionals and families enrich the educational experience of their young children; delivers a state conference with relevant and quality training, networking, and professional development opportunities; and promotes best practices among early childhood professionals.

Public Policy:
WAEYC advocates for improving early learning and quality care for children in Washington State; develops policies for statewide child care training system (STARS); provides leadership encouragement and mentorship at the local and state level; and represents the interests of early childhood professionals at both the local and state levels.

Diversity:
WAEYC promotes, supports, and respects diversity in every aspect of WAEYC’s programs, efforts and membership; offers opportunities and resources to support diverse members and leaders; collaborates with community partners to provide training, resources, and materials to support and ensure culturally relevant and anti-bias education; and promotes and supports bilingual and bicultural education.

History:
Established in 1976, WAEYC is part of the largest organization of early childhood professionals working on behalf of young children and their families. WAEYC supports nearly 2000 members throughout Washington State and is an affiliate of NAEYC, which was founded in 1926 and represents more than 100,000 educators, policymakers, and parents. The professionals we serve work in a variety of settings including child care centers, afterschool care, family child care homes, ECEAPs, Head Starts, elementary schools, part-day preschools, colleges, resource and referrals, community organizations and other professional associations.

Contact people:

Missy Harrel, (phone), (email) Tenlee Bell, Program Coordinator, (phone), (email) Michelle Kuwasaki, Assistant Director, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (253) 813-3646

Address:

841 N Central Ave Suite 206 Kent, WA 98032 This location is handicap accessible (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.waeyc.org

Directions:

Several major highways and freeways will lead you to our office. Here are some of the most common routes. For specific directions, you might use the following sites, which we have reviewed and utilized in generating the below directions: www.googlemaps.com and www.mapquest.com. ************* FOLLOW BELOW DIRECTIONS AND DOING THE FOLLOWING FOR EACH. The Kent Business Campus is a tan, two-story building. Go in the main entry, and take the stairs or elevator to the 2nd floor. WAEYC is located in Suite 206, which is to the left and down the hallway from the top of the stairs (or to the right as you leave the elevator). ************* SOUTHBOUND ON I-5: (I-405/WA-167 Route from I-5 South)--- From I-5 South, take exit 154A on the left and merge onto I-405 N toward Renton (2.0 mi). Take exit 2 off I-405, and merge onto Valley Freeway/WA-167 S toward Auburn (4.9 mi). Take the 84th Ave S exit toward N Central Ave (0.2 mi). Turn left at 84th Ave S (becomes Central Ave) (0.1 mi). Continue on Central Ave N (0.6 mi). Turn right into the Kent Business Campus, just before the James Street intersection. OR SOUTHBOUND ON I-5: (WA-516 ROUTE FROM I-5 SOUTH)--- From I-5 South, take exit 149 to WA-516 toward Kent/Des Moines (0.3 mi). Turn left at S Kent des Moines Rd/WA-516 (becomes E Willis Street), and continue to follow it until you reach Central Ave S (3.6 mi). Turn left at Central Ave S (0.7 mi). After you cross the James Street intersection, turn left into the Kent Business Campus. ************* NORTHBOUND ON I-5: (WA-18/167 Route from I-5 North)--- From I-5 North, take exit 142A to merge onto WA-18 E toward Auburn/N Bend (2.9 mi). Take the exit onto Valley Fwy/WA-167 N toward Kent/Renton (7.3 mi). Take the 84th Ave S exit toward N Central Ave (0.2 mi). Turn right at 84th Ave S (becomes Central Ave), and continue on Central Ave N (0.6 mi). Turn right into the Kent Business Campus, a tan, two-story building just before the James Street intersection. OR NORTHBOUND ON I-5:(WA-516 Route from I-5 North)--- From I-5 North, take exit 149A for WA-516 E toward Kent (0.3 mi). Head east on S Kent des Moines Rd/WA-516 (2.6 mi). Continue east on S Kent des Moines Rd/WA-516 (becomes E Willis Street) and continue to follow it until you reach Central Ave S. Turn left at Central Ave S (0.7 mi). After you cross the James Street intersection, turn left into the Kent Business Campus, a tan, two-story building. ************* SOUTHBOUND ON I-405: From I-405 South, take exit 2A, and merge onto Valley Freeway/WA-167 S toward Kent/Auburn (5.2 mi). Take the 84th Ave S exit toward N Central Ave (0.2 mi). Turn left at 84th Ave S (becomes Central Ave) (0.1 mi). Continue on Central Ave N (0.6 mi). Turn right into the Kent Business Campus, just before the James Street intersection. ************* NORTHBOUND ON I-405: From I-405 North, take exit 2, and merge onto the Valley Freeway/WA-167 S toward Auburn (4.9 mi). Take the 84th Ave S exit toward N Central Ave (0.2 mi). Turn left at 84th Ave S (becomes Central Ave) (0.1 mi). Continue on Central Ave N (0.6 mi). Turn right into the Kent Business Campus, just before the James Street intersection. ************* EASTBOUND WA-512/161 AND SOUTHBOUND ON WA-167: From WA-161 N/WA-512 E, take the WA-167 N/WA-410 E exit toward Seattle/Yakima (0.7 mi). Merge onto WA-167 N (14.7 mi). Take the 84th Ave S exit toward N Central Ave (0.2 mi). Turn right at 84th Ave S (becomes Central Ave), and continue on Central Ave N (0.6 mi). Turn right into the Kent Business Campus, just before the James Street intersection. ************* NORTHBOUND & SOUTHBOUND ON W-167: For directions from WA-167, see appropriate portions of previous entries.   Nearest Bus Stop: Kent Station, 5-10 minutes minute walk

Miscellaneous Information

Liability
	Yes
Does your organization welcome court-ordered community service volunteers?
	Yes
Does your organization have volunteer positions for youth 12-18?
	Yes

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