- Connecticut Office of Early Childhood debuting Child Care Stabilization Funding this week
- Eligible child care providers can receive funding to assist with a variety of expenses to help them recover financially from the COVID-19 pandemic
- OEC is overseeing $346 million in federal funds being made available to Connecticut to assist child care providers
Summary by Dirk Langeveld
The Connecticut Office of Early Childhood is debuting Child Care Stabilization Funding, a program designed to help child care providers recover financially from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The OEC says the program is open to licensed family child care homes, licensed group child care home, licensed child care centers, and license-exempt center-based learning program eligible to receive Care 4 Kids funding. Eligible businesses with a State Supplier ID, which is provided to businesses that receive OEC funding, will receive an e-mail this week with instructions on how to apply for Child Care Stabilization Funding.
Funds can be used for any costs associated with providing child care or preparing to offer care during the COVID-19 pandemic. These include rent or mortgage payments, utilities, payroll, training or professional development, maintaining or improving facilities, cleaning supplies, personal protective equipment, consultations with medical professionals to ensure a healthy environment, and mental health supports for staff and children.
The OEC says the program is non-competitive, so funds will be available as long as the business meets basic eligibility requirements. The amount of funding a business receives will be calculated based on several factors, including capacity and accreditations. Three separate payments will be issued six weeks apart via direct deposit or check, and the funds must be spent by Sept. 30, 2023.
To qualify, businesses must either be currently open and serving children or planning to reopen within 30 days of submitting their application. Applications for the program will be accepted through June 30.
Child care providers will receive an e-mail from childcarefunding@ctunitedway.org, and should add this address to their trusted senders list or check their spam folder to make sure they receive the application instructions. If you don’t have a State Supplier ID, or if you have not been contacted but believe you qualify for the program, send a message to the above e-mail address or call 2-1-1 Child Care at 800-505-1000.
The program is part of the OEC’s “Ready Set Rebuild” initiative, which is overseeing the distribution of $346 million in federal funding through a variety of targeted programs. Connecticut is receiving $276 million through the American Rescue Plan, including $170 million for the stabilization of the child care industry and $106 million to expand child care assistance. Another $70 million, coming from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, will be used for direct child care services, resources, supplies, technical assistance, and stabilization grants.
