Background:
As Governor DeWine announced, on May 31, 2020 child care will re-open
with reduced class sizes, increased hand washing, temperature screening, and additional
recommendations to keep children and professionals’ health and safety the top priority.
Additionally, the Governor announced an additional $60 million investment to create
a grant program to support providers during this time. As a result, the Ohio Department
of Job and Family Services has created the below grant framework.
Support
For the month of June, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
(ODJFS) has established the grant structure outlined below. For July payments, ODJFS
will use the data gathered during June, regarding the number of programs open and
children served to establish the payment structure for July and beyond, if possible.
For June there are two types of payments:
1.COVID-19
Payment:
Licensed child care centers will be eligible for a monthly COVID-19
payment. These payments are intended to provide assistance in covering the cost
of COVID-19 classroom dividers, cleaning supplies, personal protective equipment
(PPE), temporary sinks, thermometers, and other expenses.
Child Care Center programs will have payments based off of the program’s
star rating AND license capacity. This has likely not changed since the start of
the COVID-19 pandemic unless there has been a change in the building.
The payment structure is as follows:
| | |
Rating
|
|
Setting
|
Base Payment
|
1 star
|
2 star
|
3 star
|
4 star
|
5 star
|
Unrated
|
|
Centers
|
Small 1-25
|
$500
|
$750
|
$1,000
|
$1,250
|
$1,500
|
$250
|
| |
Medium 26 - 50
|
$1,000
|
$1,500
|
$2,000
|
$2,500
|
$3,000
|
$500
|
| |
Large 51-75
|
$1,500
|
$2,250
|
$3,000
|
$3,750
|
$4,500
|
$750
|
| |
X-Large 76+
|
$2,000
|
$3,000
|
$4,000
|
$5,000
|
$6,000
|
$1,000
|
2.Child Care
Center - Ratio Support:
In addition to the COVID-19 Payment, Child Care Centers are also
eligible for a Ratio Support Payment. This payment is intended to support Child
Care Centers as a result of reduced ratios. This payment will be based on the enrollment
of both your private pay children and those receiving publicly-funded child care.
The children reported as enrolled MUST have been served at least one day prior to
reporting AND the program must be open for no less than two full weeks in the month
of June to receive support payments (i.e. re-open date must be Sunday June 14, 2020
or before). These payments are intended to provide assistance in covering the cost
of COVID-19 classroom dividers, cleaning supplies, personal protective equipment
(PPE), personnel working in reopened classrooms, temporary sinks, thermometers,
and other expenses.
The payments will be as follows:
| |
Star Ratings
|
# of Children Served/Enrolled Public & Private |
1 star
|
2 stars
|
3 stars
|
4 stars
|
5 stars
|
Unrated
|
|
Up to 6
|
$273
|
$305
|
$313
|
$333
|
$348
|
$250
|
|
7 - 12
|
$545
|
$610
|
$625
|
$645
|
$695
|
$500
|
|
13 - 18
|
$4,204
|
$4,724
|
$4,844
|
$5,165
|
$5,405
|
$3,850
|
|
19 - 24
|
$5,605
|
$6,299
|
$6,459
|
$6,886
|
$7,206
|
$5,133
|
|
25 - 33
|
$7,707
|
$8,661
|
$8,881
|
$9,468
|
$9,909
|
$7,057
|
|
34 - 42
|
$9,809
|
$11,023
|
$11,303
|
$12,051
|
$12,611
|
$8,982
|
|
43 - 51
|
$11,910
|
$13,385
|
$13,725
|
$14,633
|
$15,313
|
$10,907
|
|
52 - 60
|
$14,012
|
$15,747
|
$16,147
|
$17,215
|
$18,016
|
$12,832
|
|
61 - 69
|
$16,114
|
$18,109
|
$18,570
|
$19,797
|
$20,718
|
$14,757
|
|
70 - 75
|
$17,515
|
$19,684
|
$20,184
|
$21,519
|
$22,520
|
$16,040
|
|
76+
|
$17,749
|
$19,946
|
$20,453
|
$21,806
|
$22,820
|
$16,254
|
Application & Payment
The application may be submitted beginning June 14th through June
21, 2020. In order to apply for the Child Care Center – Ratio Support grant, applicants
will be required to submit enrollment/attendance documentation. Processing of payments
will begin the week of June 22, 2020. Eligible providers must submit an application
through the Ohio Child Care Resource and Referral Association (OCCRRA), via a program’s
organization dashboard at https://registry.occrra.org/.
As stated above, ODJFS will utilize data collected during the month
of June to establish the payment structure for July and any additional payments.
A new application submission will be required to receive a July payment.
Reconciliation
A reconciliation will be required for each payment received. For
the June payment, the reconciliation is due July 31, 2020. Programs should retain
receipts, invoices and documentation for expenses. Reconciliation submission guidance
will be provided by OCCRRA.
Questions
Please email your questions to pandemicsupportgrant@occrra.org