Child Care Stabilization Grant

OFCS Announcement:  Second Round of the Stabilization Grant

Starting July 5, 2022, child care providers can apply for the second round of the Stabilization Grant.  This part of the grant will help child care providers strengthen their infrastructure and support their workforce. 75% of the Child Care Stabilization Grant 2.0 for Workforce Supports be spent on workforce support expenses.

What Can You Use the Grant For? (75%)

  • Bonuses or increased wages for workforce
  • Contributions towards health insurance costs that reduce such costs for staff
  • Contributions to staff retirement plans that supplement any employer contribution
  • Supplemental educational advancement or tuition reimbursement
  • Mental health supports and services for staff

Other Eligible Expenses: (25%)

  • Personnel costs, including payroll, salaries, similar employee compensation, employee benefits, retirement costs. educational costs, child care costs; and supporting staff expenses in accessing COVID-19 vaccines
  • Rent (including under a lease agreement) or payment on any mortgage obligation, utilities, insurance; also may include late fees or charges related to late payments (all costs must be incurred only up through 9/30/23)
  • Facility maintenance or improvements, defined as minor renovations, including outdoor learning spaces/playgrounds, and minor improvements to address COVID-19 convers
  • Personal protective equipment, cleaning and sanitization supplies and services, or training and professional development related to health and safety practices
  • Purchases of or updates to equipment and supplies to respond to COVID-19
  • Goods and services necessary to maintain or resume child care services
  • Mental Health supports for children and employees
  • Health and Safety trainings for staff, including but not limited to CPR, first aid, trainings related to COVID-19

Eligibility:

Eligible program types include OCFS licensed or registered programs, enrolled legally exempt group child care programs and NYC permitted group child care (as defined in Article 47 of the New York City Health Code) programs that were licensed/registered/permitted/enrolled by January 1, 2022. No provider will be able to apply for Stabilization 1.0 grant as that application period has closed. Providers who were licensed/registered/permitted/enrolled on January 1, 2022 are eligible to apply.

All programs must be in good standing, open and caring for at least one (1) child at the time of application, except if they are closed due to a short-term reason of one month duration or less. One month is defined as thirty (30) calendar days. Enrolled legally exempt group (LEG)

programs are eligible to apply, and their award will be calculated based on the number of children receiving subsidy in their program.

Additionally, for legally exempt group programs, programs need to have been enrolled by January 1, 2022 and serving at least one (1) family with subsidy, and be enrolled and serving at least one (1) family with subsidy at the time of application to be eligible for an award. Head Start, Early Head Start Programs, and publicly funded PreK programs, which have other sources of federal and state support, will need to attest that these stabilization funds will be used to support the portion of their program that is not receiving any other governmental funding. Programs will be funded at their licensed/registered capacity level.

What do I do if I have questions?

If you need assistance with completing your application, please contact us directly. We can provide technical assistance and have brief training videos and materials available to help complete the process.