J. W. Childs Associates L.P. (JWC) is an American private equity firm focused on leveraged buyout and recapitalization transactions for middle-market growth companies.

The firm was founded in 1995 by long-time leveraged buyout investor John W. Childs after a split from Thomas H. Lee.

While at THL, Childs had helped negotiate the buyouts of Snapple Beverages and Ghirardelli Chocolate Company, along with others of the firm's largest investments.

However, in mid-2007, J. W. Childs decided to postpone the fundraising process because institutional investors were proving less receptive to the offering than had been expected.

Additionally, the fundraising environment for private equity firms became increasingly difficult with the onset of the 2007–2008 credit crunch.