Our experience in Texas was, that all of the previous Federal CARES ACT funds, dedicated specifically for supporting CHILDCARE centers and programs went directly to the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) to be distributed via the Community Development Block Grant program. The problem with that structure, was that childcare programs that did not participate in the subsidy program were unable to access any of those funds. The only thing available to them were the PPP loans. Also, subsidized programs that did not have many or any active referrals at the time the pandemic hit, were allocated a much smaller portion of the funds or no funds from that program. TWC did however help subsidized providers by increasing the reimbursement rates and then adding an additional temporary 25% of the rate as an add on payment on each of the referrals and they agree to pay regardless of attendance of the active referral. Because TWC did not have a process in place, prior to the pandemic, to use the CDBG funds in a more flexible way, their hands were tied to be able assist non subsidy providers.
However since then, we have been actively working with TWC to get new procedures approved so that they can use the new Federal Funds to create grant programs for those centers not participating in the subsidy program. That should be in place before Texas receives the next round of funds.
Although the intent of the new Federal Funds is to help all childcare centers, it is important for childcare providers to know how their individual states will handle the distribution of the funds and through which of their state agencies that will happen, especially if it is going to flow through their CDBG programs. Prior to the pandemic, we didn't understand how all of that worked and it was a wake up call for us which is why we were able to push to get some changes made.
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Tim Kaminski
Director/Owner
Gingerbread Kids Academy
Richmond TX
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-10-2021 10:23 PM
From: Jorge Saenz De Viteri
Subject: CLASP: Child Care Relief Funding in American Rescue Plan: State-by-State Estimates
Excerpt: Of the $39 billion included in the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP Act), nearly $15 billion will provide expanded child care assistance through the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) to support families and providers, including supporting the child care needs of essential workers. The remaining nearly $24 billion creates a stabilization fund for eligible child care providers, including those who haven't previously received funding through CCDBG.
https://www.clasp.org/publications/fact-sheet/child-care-estimates-american-rescue-plan
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Jorge Saenz De Viteri
http://jorgesaenzdeviteri.com
Pomona NY
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