Governor
Steve Bullock today announced $10 million in federal CARES Act funding is now
available to Montana childcare providers to continue serving Montana families
with essential workers and assist with efforts to reopen after closing due to
COVID-19.
The $10
million dollars is funded through the CARES Act Child Care & Development
Block Grant (CCDBG). It is not part of the $1.25 billion Coronavirus Relief
Fund allocated to Montana.
“We
know many Montana families have been balancing working and caring for children
at the same time over the last several weeks and need sustainable and safe
childcare options to continue working or to go back to work,”
Governor Bullock said. “This
funding will provide much-needed financial assistance to providers, as well as
support Montana families.”
The $10
million in Child Care and Development Block Grants will provide support for
existing childcare providers, assistance for low-income families participating
in the Best Beginnings Scholarship Program, and will fund emergency temporary
childcare for essential workers.
Approximately
half of the funding will provide assistance to existing licensed and registered
childcare providers. Funding can be used to continue paying staff or go toward
increasing sanitation and other measures to operate safely.
“Childcare
providers do an excellent job of ensuring safe and healthy environments for
Montana’s children,”
Sheila
Hogan, Director of the Department of Public Health and Human Services, said.
“I appreciate all they do to meet the needs of families in their communities,
and I’m hopeful this funding will help them through this unique and challenging
time.”
Providers
registered to care for up to six children are eligible for a $3,000 emergency
payment. Group providers that care for 7-12 children can receive $5,000 and
centers licensed for 13 or more children are eligible for $8,000. Providers
will be able to apply for this assistance through their local Child Care
Resource and Referral agencies.
About 30
percent of the funding will benefit low-income and at-risk children through
Best Beginnings scholarships. DPHHS will continue paying for Best Beginnings
childcare through the scholarships even if the child is not in attendance
during the statewide emergency. These scholarships will allow families to
resume care when they can return to work, and keep childcare providers open
long term.
“This
is particularly important because we want to support the continuity of care for
children,”
Jamie
Palagi, Early Childhood and Family Support Division Administrator for DPHHS,
said.
“Maintaining relationships between a childcare teacher and the child
is crucial for children’s security and positive development.”
DPHHS will
reimburse childcare facilities that are temporarily closed once they reopen.
The
remaining 20 percent of the funding will be available to support temporary
childcare needs. For example, this funding can help health care facilities
establish temporary emergency childcare for their employees.
Specific
information about how to access or apply for this funding is online at
BESTBEGINNINGS.MT.GOV.