Monday - Friday, 10 AM–5:30 PM
• 24/7 Phone Consultation Services for psychosocial support.
Beginning in 2018, Sisters in Common has a history of providing culturally embodied and culturally competent-effective Child Care Health Consultation services to our Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) child care providers in low-income, African American, and East African (Amharic, Tigrinya, Oromo, and Somali-speaking) communities across South King County, South Seattle, High Point, and West Seattle. Our services have historically equipped FFN caregivers with the knowledge, resources, and culturally relevant support needed to create safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate child care environments. Many families in our communities rely on trusted kinship networks for child care, yet FFN providers still lack access to culturally competent-effective training, technical assistance, and the funding available to both State FFN Providers and licensed child care providers.
Sisters in Common has addressed gap in delivering trauma-informed, culturally embodied, and culturally competent-effective consultation and training that includes health and safety guidance, mental and behavioral health support, early childhood development resources, and family engagement strategies.
Today, we continue to build on this foundation by integrating our Child Care Health Consultation work within Medicaid Transformation, Physical and Behavioral Health Integration, and other system-wide initiatives, working to ensure that FFN caregivers receive sustained, community-centered support. Our approach remains rooted in cultural embodiment and Health Behavior Assessment and Intervention (HBAI) services, ensuring that FFN providers have the tools to support children’s emotional well-being, school readiness, and overall development in a way that reflects their values, traditions, and lived experiences. Through trusted relationships, community-driven solutions, and accessible, culturally tailored consultation, we continue to work alongside FFN providers to strengthen caregiving practices, improve child health outcomes, and build capacity within our communities.
At Sisters in Common, our team is composed of dedicated professionals, community leaders, Stakeholders, and culturally embodied specialists who bring a wealth of expertise and lived experience to our work. Each team member is rooted and deeply connected to the communities we serve, ensuring that our Child Care Health Consultation services remain culturally embodied, culturally competent-effective, trauma-informed, and community-driven.
Leadership & Consultation Team
- Executive Director
With 40 years of experience in community-based behavioral health, early childhood support, and cultural advocacy, JC Ephraim has been a driving force behind Sisters in Common’s culturally embodied services. As a licensed Mental Health Professional, Child Mental Health Specialist, Ethnic Minority Mental Health Specialist, Disability Mental Health Specialist, and Substance Use Disorder Specialist, he is expert in Health-Behavior Assessment and Intervention (HBAI) services. He lead the organization’s strategic direction and ensure that services remain responsive to all our communities voice and choice needs. - Child Care Health Consultation Multi-lingual Manager and Supervisor
A Mental Health Professional, Child Mental Health Specialist, Ethnic Minority Mental Health Specialist, and Disability Mental Health Specialist, with extensive experience in childhood development, family support, and trauma-informed care, Yohannes Hagos MSW, speaks five languages, and oversees our FFN provider engagement, training, and consultation. He specialize in culturally relevant child development strategies that align with East African caregiving traditions.
Community Support Team
- Community Health Worker (CHW), African American
Bringing firsthand knowledge of African American caregiving practices and FFN provider experiences, they provide peer support, coaching, and resource navigation to FFN caregivers, ensuring that they have access to the tools and training needed to provide high-quality care. - Community Health Workers (CHW), East African
A fluent [Amharic/Tigrinya/Somali]/ and Oromo, they specializes in supporting East African FFN caregivers, offering culturally and linguistically appropriate consultation, and coaching, on child health, safety, and development.
Health & Behavioral Support Team
- Dr Gayle Robinson – Health & Nutrition Consultant (PhD, MS, RN)
An expert in physical health, nutrition, and childhood wellness, Dr. Gayle provides FFN caregivers with guidance on health planning, infection control, first aid, and emergency interventions. - Licensed Mental Health & Behavioral Specialist (MHP)
With extensive experience in childhood trauma, behavioral interventions, and caregiver stress management, they supports FFN providers in developing strategies for emotional regulation, behavioral challenges, and trauma-informed caregiving. - Community Resource & Referral Coordination
With expertise in health related social needs, HRSN, family support services, and Medicaid Transformation, they connect FFN caregivers with funding, technical assistance, and REAL referral pathways to strengthen their caregiving experiences.
Technology
- IT Technology & Digital Learning Specialist
Expert in digital literacy and community-based technology training, they supports staff and FFN caregivers in navigating, learning resources, telehealth services, and digital record-keeping for child care providers.
Operations Manager– Administrative & Logistics Coordinator
- With a background in community engagement, they ensures that our services are efficient, accessible, and responsive to FFN providers’ needs.
Our Commitment
At Sisters in Common, our team is not just providing services—we are walking alongside our own community members. Each of our team members shares the lived experiences of the providers, families, and children we serve. With deep cultural knowledge, professional expertise, and a commitment to building community capacity, we continue to strengthen, support, and uplift FFN caregivers across King County.
Sisters in Common is skilled in providing culturally embodied and culturally competent-effective Child Care Health Consultation services for Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) child care providers in low-income, African American, and East African (Amharic, Tigrinya, Somali, and Oromo speaking) communities across South King County, South Seattle, High Point, and West Seattle. Our services are designed to equip FFN caregivers with the training, consultation, and resources they need to create safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate environments for the children in their care.
Our comprehensive, trauma-informed, and community-driven services ensure that FFN providers receive ongoing, accessible, and culturally relevant support that aligns with their values, traditions, and lived experiences.
1. Child Care Health & Safety Support
Sisters in Common provides health and safety consultation and training to help FFN caregivers create safe, developmentally appropriate home-based child care environments. Services include:
- Infection Control & Disease Prevention Guidance – Training on hygiene best practices, cleaning and sanitation techniques, and illness prevention strategies in child care settings.
- Nutrition & Meal Planning for Child Care Providers – Education on healthy eating habits, culturally relevant meal preparation, and food safety for children.
Available through in-home consultations, or virtual training sessions.
2. Mental & Behavioral Health Consultation for Child Care Providers
We provide trauma-informed, culturally affirming behavioral health support to FFN caregivers, ensuring they have the tools to promote children's emotional well-being and manage behavioral challenges. Services include:
- Behavioral Health Coaching for FFN Caregivers – Strategies for addressing challenging behaviors, stress management, and caregiver well-being.
- Trauma-Informed Child Care Training – Education on understanding and responding to children who have experienced trauma.
- Coping Strategies for Caregivers – Support in managing stress, secondary trauma, and emotional exhaustion for FFN providers.
- Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Training – Guidance on promoting self-regulation, positive relationships, and emotional resilience in young children.
Available through one-on-one consultations, or online coaching.
3. Family & Community Engagement Support
Sisters in Common works to bridge the gap between FFN providers, families, and community resources by offering advocacy, parent-caregiver training, and culturally affirming parenting coaching.
- Parent & FFN Caregiver Coaching – Training on building strong relationships, managing parent-caregiver communication, and supporting children's growth.
- Culturally Affirming Parenting Strategies – Education on discipline, family traditions, and mental well-being in caregiving.
- Advocacy & Policy Support for FFN Providers – Assistance in navigating child care policies, funding opportunities, and system-wide advocacy efforts.
- Community Resource Navigation – Help in connecting FFN providers with local child care networks, financial assistance, and support groups.
Available through community workshops, peer discussion groups, and advocacy sessions.
Why Choose Sisters in Common?
Sisters in Common’s Child Care Health Consultation services are:
1. Culturally Embodied & Culturally Competent-Effective – Designed to honor the traditions, values, and languages of African American and East African FFN caregivers.
2. Trauma-Informed & Strength-Based – Focused on resilience, emotional well-being, and community capacity-building.
3. Accessible & Community-Driven – Delivered in-home, virtually, and settings to remove barriers to access.
4. Holistic & Family-Centered – Supporting caregivers, children, and families as an intergenerational unit.
For more details on our services, training opportunities, and consultation support, please reach out to us.
We are committed to walking alongside our communities, providing trusted, culturally relevant consultation that ensures every child receives safe, nurturing, and developmentally supportive care.
Sisters in Common provides culturally embodied and culturally competent-effective Child Care Health Consultation services to Families, Friends, and Neighbors (FFN) child care providers in the communities we serve, and we, ourselves, are members of. Our work is rooted in the lived experiences, traditions, and values of the communities we support, ensuring that caregivers, our children, and families receive services that are accessible, relevant, and culturally affirming.
We work within the following communities in South King County, South Seattle, High Point, and West Seattle:
1. African American Child Care Providers & Families
Sisters in Common has a long-standing commitment to African American child care providers, parents, and families who rely on kinship-based caregiving networks for child care. Many of these providers are grandparents, aunts, uncles, older siblings, fictive kin, and community members offering FFN care, yet they often lack access to training, funding, and support. Our services equip them with the tools to create safe, nurturing, and developmentally supportive environments, while also addressing the impact of racial disparities, systemic inequities, and historical trauma on caregiving and child development.
2. East African FFN Caregivers & Families (Amharic, Tigrinya, Somali, Oromo -Speaking Communities)
We work closely with East African immigrant and refugee families, specifically Ethiopian, Eritrean, and Somali communities, many of whom prefer FFN child care because it allows them to maintain their language, culture, and religious traditions while raising their children. These providers often face linguistic barriers, situation -literacy-misalignment, and a lack of culturally responsive child care training and coaching. Sisters in Common ensures that they receive language-specific, culturally appropriate consultation that respects their values and caregiving practices.
3. Families Raising Children with Special Needs & Different Abilities
Many FFN providers in our communities care for children with developmental delays or disabilities, yet they may not recognize early signs of special needs or know how to navigate early intervention services. Sisters in Common offers culturally competent-effective specialized training, developmental milestone education, and referrals to assessment services, ensuring that children receive the support they need as early as possible.
4. Low-Income & Underserved Child Care Providers
FFN providers and families in our communities often face financial hardships, housing instability, and barriers to accessing healthcare and traditional child care options. Many are unlicensed providers offering care as a means of supporting their households, yet they lack access to financial assistance, technical training, and professional development opportunities. Our services provide resources, training, and career coaching, helping caregivers build sustainable, high-quality caregiving practices.
5. Multilingual & Immigrant Child Care Providers
We support FFN caregivers who speak multiple languages and serve children from diverse linguistic backgrounds. Many of these providers need translated materials, bilingual training, and culturally relevant learning strategies to help children develop early language and literacy skills while maintaining their home languages.
6. Faith-Based & Community-Centered Child Care Networks
Many of the families and caregivers we support rely on faith-based and community-led child care solutions, including care provided within mosques, churches, and cultural centers. Sisters in Common partners with local religious and community leaders to ensure that child care providers within these networks receive culturally aligned training, health and safety guidance, and behavioral health support.
Where We Serve
Currently our services are used by FFN providers and families in:
South King County – Kent, Renton, Federal Way, SeaTac, Tukwila, Des Moines
South Seattle – Rainier Beach, Columbia City, Beacon Hill, Georgetown, South Park
West Seattle – High Point, Delridge, White Center
North King County – Shoreline, Lake City, Kenmore
We recognize that trusted, community-driven support is essential for FFN caregivers. Sisters in Common is and remain deeply embedded in the communities we serve, ensuring that child care providers, families, and children receive services that reflect their lived experiences and cultural identities.
We are committed to uplifting and strengthening our communities, ensuring that all children receive the culturally affirming care they need to thrive.
