For Childcare Providers
Natured Roots & Sprouting Wellness
Natured ROOTS and Sprouting Wellness is a culturally rooted wellness program designed to support community caregivers — the grandparents, aunties, uncles, neighbors, and family childcare providers who hold our youngest children with love and wisdom.
Too often, the caregivers doing the deepest work are the least supported. When caregivers are well-supported, children can flourish. Why It Matters
This program pairs you with an Ecosystem Coach (also known as a Childcare Health Consultant) who will walk alongside you, providing tools and guidance for nurturing wellness in yourself and the children you care for.
Together, we center ancestral care, nature connection, and everyday well-being in the lives of caregivers who are raising future generations — often without the spotlight they deserve.
Natured Roots & Sprouting Wellness
This program is designed for:
This program is designed specifically for community-based caregivers of children from birth to 5 years old, including:
Community grandparents
Aunties, uncles, godparents
Family members caring for kin
Family, friend, and neighbor (FFN) caregivers
Licensed or unlicensed family childcare providers
Family center-based childcare programs
Those offering childcare in their homes or children’s homes
If you are someone caring for young children in your community — this is for you.
What to expect:
For 6 months to 1 year, you’ll receive holistic support from an Ecosystem Coach through a blend of personalized sessions and group gatherings.
Sessions may Include:
Monthly group sessions to share stories, practices, and support
1:1 coaching on wellness, safety, child development and public health
Indoor & outdoor nature-based activities for you and your children
Culturally grounded resources in nutrition, healing, and early childhood care
Wellness tips and self-care practices just for you
We also bring the playful and healing elements of nature — indoors and outdoors — into your care routines and spaces, while affirming the ancestral knowledge you already carry.
Note: this program is offered in partnership with with the King County ChildCare Health Consultation Program.
The Benefits of Nature for our Health & Wellness
Stress Reduction & Improved Mental Health
Natural environments have a calming effect, helping to reduce stress and anxiety levels. Activities like walking in the woods, gardening, or simply sitting in a park can significantly lower cortisol levels, the body's primary stress hormone. This mental health benefit is critical for caregivers who often face high-stress situations.
Enhanced Social Wellbeing
Social activities often provide opportunities for social interaction, whether it’s walking with a friend, joining a community garden, or participating in group hikes. These social connections are vital for emotional support, especially for caregivers and parents who might otherwise feel isolated.
Cultural, Generational & Environmental Connection
Nature serves as a living repository of cultural stories, traditions, and practices. Early exposure to specific landscapes, plants, and animals hold significant historical and spiritual meanings. Engaging with nature can strengthen little ones’ connection to ancestral heritage and cultural identity.