Child Care Stabilization Grants and Recovery
Congress awarded approximately $24 billion to the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) program. The goal was to provide financial relief to child care providers to help pay for costs associated with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and stabilize the child care market.
Child care is critical to supporting children, families, and the economy. The Office of Child Care is providing timely guidance and technical assistance to help states, territories, and Tribes quickly and effectively distribute these funds. The stabilization grants provide an unprecedented opportunity to rebuild a stronger child care system that provides equal access to high-quality child care.
States, territories, and Tribes must use the majority of these funds to provide subgrants to child care providers. They can spend the remaining funds on administrative activities, supply-building strategies, and technical assistance. Lead Agencies are particularly encouraged to build the supply of child care to meet the varying needs of families and reach a wide range of providers, including those who may not have previously participated in the child care subsidy system. Key resources include the following:
- Child Care Technical Assistance Network. (n.d.). Child care stabilization grants. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families
- Office of Child Care. (2021). Stabilizing child care and COVID-19 FAQs. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families
Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response and Recovery
Preparing for and responding to emergencies and disasters are important goals for the Office of Child Care. Child safety, family well-being, and the sustainability of child care are key parts of a healthy economy and nation. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has focused attention on the important role of child care and the CCDF program. CCDF Lead Agencies can create strong, effective disaster plans to help child care programs respond and recover.
The Office of Child Care created a web page of emergency preparedness resources for grantees and child care providers.