DCYF MERIT STARS

Let's Review the STARS System

STARS is the acronym for State Training And Registry System

STARS is a Washington State mandated training program for child care providers. STARS is a career development system designed to improve child care through basic and ongoing training for child care providers. The Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) administers the STARS Registry, a web-based database that tracks provider records.

MERIT (Managed Education and Registry Information Tool)

MERIT replaces the STARS database as the place for information on STARS approved training and education. The Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) is the state agency in charge of child care licensing and managing the STARS program. The Managed Education and Registry Information Tool (MERIT) is a voluntary, statewide tool to document and recognize the professional achievements of early care & education and school-age professionals. This innovative online tool helps professionals find training opportunities, access information on career pathways, and track their individual career progress. MERIT also identifies approved trainers who provide education to professionals.

MERIT is designed as a tool for all those who work with young children and their families in an early care & education or school-age program. This includes licensed child care professionals in family home and center-based care, Head Start professionals, Early Care and Education Assistance Program (ECEAP) professionals, preschool teachers, school-age professionals and administrators who support the direct care of children.

For more information, click on the links below:

The Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF)

DCYF licenses and monitor Washington's 7,400-plus licensed child care settings in family homes and centers that serve about 174,000 children. DCYF licensors support child care business owners and their staff in offering safe, healthy care, and take action if settings are found to be unsafe for Washington's children. DCYF also oversees the state professional development system (STARS) to help ensure that for those who care for and teach young children continue to increase their skills and education levels.

Visit the DCYF Website

Successful Solutions Training in Child Development

Successful Solutions Training in Child Development is a subsidiary of Successful Solutions Professional Development LLC. Successful Solutions Training in Child Development is a STARS (DCYF MERIT) registered training organization. Established in 2007, Successful Solutions offers respected high quality early childhood education at reasonable prices. We are a leading online training organization, offering the most comprehensive student support available in a web based learning environment. As an online training organization, we strive to provide personal service. We have made the commitment to not be an automated system, but instead provide the human connection and interaction that sets us apart from others. Our mission is to provide quality training to every extent possible; to meet all DCYF standards for online training, to continuously work toward improving the methods that are used to present online courses and further challenge those working with children to achieve greater accountability.

We have two independently approved trainers through the The Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) MERIT: