The country’s Early Care and Education infrastructure has been devastated by the pandemic and the subsequent economic collapse. Advocates and policymakers have the opportunity to maximize the impact of rescue funds to rebuild and reimagine a system that was inadequate before COVID-19 struck. Some of the new provisions build on actions Congress previously took in earlier COVID relief packages including CRSSA and the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.
GENERAL SUMMARIES AND GUIDANCE
(07/2021) State and Territory Child Care Stabilization Grant Applications, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
(06/11/2021) Information Memorandum – ARP Act CCDF Discretionary Supplemental Funds, US Department of Health and Human Services
(06/02/2021) Stabilization Grant Guidance FAQs, Child Care Aware of America
(05/10/2021) Information Memorandum – ARP Act Child Care Stabilization Funds, US Department of Health and Human Services
(04/15/2021) Biden-Harris Administration Announces American Rescue Plan Funding to Rescue the Child Care Industry so the Economy Can Recover, The White House
(04/14/2021) ARPA Supplemental Stabilization and CCDF Discretionary Funding Allocation Tables: State and Territory Tables, Tribe Tables; Office of Child Care at the US Department of Health and Human Services
(03/13/2021) Letter ACF ARP Guidance, CLASP
(03/2021) State Implementation of the Historic COVID Child Care Relief and Stabilization Funds, Center for Law and Social Policy
GENERAL ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
(07/14/2021) Technical Assistance Brief: How Child Care Stabilization Grants Can Improve Nutrition & Physical Activity, Nemours Children’s Health System
(07/2021) State Implementation of Federal Relief Funds for Child Care, Child Care Aware of America
(06/01/2021) Make Child Care More Stable: Pay by Enrollment, New America
(05/17/2021) Optimizing Distribution of American Rescue Plan Funds To Stabilize Child Care, Center for American Progress
(05/2021) Questions & Answers from ARP Webinars, NAEYC, CLASP, EdCounsel, NAFCC
(05/2021) How States Can Improve Child Care Facilities & Physical Spaces Using Federal Relief Dollars, NAEYC, CLASP EdCounsel, NAFCC, NCFN
(04/2021) Congressional Recess Toolkit: Opportunities to Raise Awareness and Show Support for Child Care Relief in the American Rescue Plan, First Five Years Fund
FUNDING TIMING
Is your state being bold and creative in its use of the federal funds? Send us the information to share with policy advocates in other states.
(06/09/2021) How and When Federal Child Care Relief Funds Will Be Distributed, First Five Years Fund
PROVIDERS AND WORKFORCE
(07/2021) Progress and Peril: Child Care at a Crossroads -ARP Funding Survey, NAEYC
(06/2021) Why and How States Should Use Child Care Relief Funding to Increase Compensation for the Early Childhood Education Workforce, NAEYC
(05/04/2021) The American Rescue Plan: Recommendations for Addressing Early Educator Compensation and Supports, Center for the Study of Child Care Employment
(05/2021) How Early Childhood Education Providers Can Use COVID-19 Relief Funds to Establish Lasting Mental Health Supports for Staff and Children, National Center for Children in Poverty
(04/29/2021) Child Care Subsidies and Home-Based Child Care Providers, Urban Institute
(03/15/2021) Child Care Center Financial Viability During COVID-19: Short-Time Compensation Programs (Work Sharing) Update, CED
(03/2021) Investing Recovery Dollars (ARP) in Early Learning Professional Development Systems, National Workforce Registry Alliance
(02/2021) Supporting the Child Care and Early Education Workforce: A Menu of Policy Options for the COVID-19 Pandemic and Recovery, Urban Institute
EQUITY
(06/17/21) ACF Encourages Bold and Equitable Implementation of CCDBG Relief Funds, CLASP
(06/2021) Advancing Equity Through the American Rescue Plan Act, Arizona State University
(05/18/2021) Six Opportunities to Advance Equity in the ARPA Child Care Stabilization Grant Guidance, CLASP
(03/04/2021) Three Steps State Child Care Agencies Can Take to Support an Equitable Economic Recovery, Urban Institute
(03/2021) Centering Values: Building an Equitable Future through the American Rescue Plan Act, Bank Street Education Center
STATE ACTIONS AND ADVOCACY RECOMMENDATIONS
Arkansas (06/2021) Recommendation for Federal Funds Allocated to Child Care in Arkansas AECA Public Policy Committee, Arkansas Early Childhood Association
Arkansas (05/27/2021) Arkansas Department of Human Services ARPA Planning: Engaging Providers and Parents to Ensure Short Term Funding Leads to Long Term Impact, NIEER
Connecticut (03/26/2021) Governor Announces Historic Investments in Child Care, Including Through the Release of $210 Million from Pandemic Recovery Funding, Office of the Governor, State of Connecticut
Delaware (07/01/2021) Recommendations for American Rescue Plan Act Child Care Investments, Delaware Early Childhood Council
District of Columbia (04/07/2021) Recommendations to the Mayor, Co-signed by 29 District Organizations
Georgia (05/17/2021) ACCESS – Awarding Child Care Education Scholarship Supplements, Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL)
Florida (04/2021) Legislature requires the Office of Early Learning to Collaborate with Stakeholders Before Budget Amendments are Approved for CRRSA Funds, Florida State Legislature
Illinois (06/29/2021) Gov. Pritzker Announces Significant Expansion of Financial Assistance for Families Seeking Child Care and Providers, Illinois News
Illinois (04/29/2021) Advocate Recommendations for Use of Short-term Federal Funds to Advance the ECE Workforce, Start Early
Kansas (07/01/2021) More Kansas families will be eligible for financial assistance; new round of sustainability grants support childcare providers, Kansas Department of Children and Families
Michigan (03/25/2021) Ensuring Quality Care for All Children in the State Budget, Michigan’s Children
Michigan (06/11/2021) Child Care Federal Funds Briefing Document, Michigan Department of Education
Missouri (06/30/2021) American Rescue Plan Act Funds Dedicated to Child Care Relief, Kids Win Missouri
New Mexico (07/01/2021) N.M. dramatically expands Child Care Assistance, New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department
New York (04/21/2021) New York State Budget Update, Alliance for Quality Education
New York (03/10/2021) Recommendations for Investing Federal Child Care Stimulus Funds, Empire State Child Care Campaign
North Carolina (04/27/2021) What Will the American Rescue Plan Mean for North Carolina Child Care?, EdNC
Pennsylvania (06/11/2021) Start Strong PA Provider and Family Field Forums: Building a Stronger Child Care System Through the American Rescue Plan, Start Strong PA
South Carolina (05/13/2021) New partnership provides childcare scholarships for families, SC First Steps
South Dakota (07/2021) ARP Recommendations, Early Learner South Dakota
West Virginia (07/15/2021) Recommendations on Use of American Rescue Plan Funds for Child Care in West Virginia, The Earlier, The Better” Child Care Policy Workgroup in WV
West Virginia (07/21/2021) Infographic on WV Recommendations and Forums for ARP Child Care Funds, The Earlier, The Better” Child Care Policy Workgroup in WV
Washington (04/24/2021) Summary of Key Components of 2021-23 Operating and Capital Budgets, Start Early
PREVIOUS COVID RELIEF LEGISLATION
(04/14/2021) Guidance on CCDF funds in the CRRSA Act, Office of Child Care at the US Department of Health and Human Services
(04/5/2021) CCDBG COVID-19 Relief Funding At-a-Glance, First Five Years Fund
(03/28/2021) States’ Plans to Use the CRRSA’s $10B in Child Care Relief Funds, CLASP
(03/24/2021) 2021 Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA) 60 Day Reports for States and Territories, U.S. Office of the Administration for Children and Families
(03/22/2021) State Use of Supplemental CCDBG funds from the December COVID Legislation, Bipartisan Policy Center
