WORKFORCE RETENTION GRANT
BACKGROUND
On May 31, 2023, Governor Kathy Hochul announced a $500 million investment in the FY 2024 budget to bolster New York’s child care workforce through the Workforce Retention Grant program. Funding from the program will support up to 150,000 child care workers with bonus payments ranging from $2,300 to $3,000 to staff in caregiving roles, as well as funding to support child care programs’ efforts to recruit new staff, offer sign-on and referral bonuses, and more.
The Workforce Retention Grant program is for eligible New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) licensed/registered school-age child care programs (SACC), day care centers (DCC), family day care homes (FDC), group family day care homes (GFDC), small day care centers (SDCC) and New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) permitted Article 47 group day care centers (GDC).
THE APPLICATION PORTAL WILL OPEN ON JULY 26, 2023
CHILD CARE STABILIZATION GRANTS 1.0 & 2.0
The New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) has awarded $900 million to 15,000 eligible child care providers through the Child Care Stabilization Grant. The first Child Care Stabilization grant (also known as Stabilization 1.0) was released on August 3, 2021 and $1.074 billion was made available to eligible child care providers. Applications were closed for the Child Care Stabilization 1.0 on November 30, 2021.
Based on the success of the Child Care Stabilization 1.0 grants, OCFS will distribute another round of funds to child care providers to strengthen their infrastructure and support their workforce. OCFS is prioritizing workforce support for child care staff by requiring that at least 75% of the Child Care Stabilization Grant 2.0 for Workforce Supports be spent on workforce support expenses.
The Child Care Stabilization Grant 2.0 for Workforce Supports Application Portal is now open for all eligible providers to apply! The portal will close at 11:59pm on November 30, 2022. CLICK HERE TO Learn more and apply.
Brightside Up is here to support child care providers through the grant application and record keeping process. Browse our selection or resources and tutorials below or call our office for support.
CHILD CARE DESERTS
RFA #1
New York State Office of Children and Family Services has announced a grant opportunity to assist and support the development of new child care programs in areas with the least supply. The Invest in New York - Child Care Deserts Grant for new child care providers makes funding available to new licensed, registered, or permitted child care programs in areas of the state identified as child care deserts. This funding represents an unprecedented opportunity and investment to build capacity and strengthen the state’s economy by addressing the issues that impact businesses and families.
RFA #2
New York State identified $100M to build and expand child care capacity in areas with the least supply, with $30M available to existing programs expanding capacity under their current license. Utilizing funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), child care desert funding represents an unprecedented opportunity and investment to build capacity and strengthen the state’s economy, by addressing the issues that impact businesses including chronic absence, productivity reductions and turnover due to inadequate options for quality child care in the most needed parts of the state. RFA#2 for Existing child care providers seeks to expand the capacity and/or types of care currently available within licensed programs.
