Background:

In 2019, Ohio was awarded the Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five, which provides the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) funding to ensure families have adequate access to quality early childhood care and publicly funded child care services.

Incentive:

In an effort to encourage newly licensed programs to provide publicly funded child care, ODJFS is creating a one-time incentive payment. Newly licensed ODJFS child care centers and family child care providers are eligible for this incentive if the new program also signs a provider agreement for publicly funded child care. The new license and provider agreement must become effective between the date of this letter and June 30, 2020.

The incentive payments will be $5,000 for child care centers and $2,500 for family child care providers. Payment will be automatically issued by ODJFS via electronic funds transfer approximately 60 days after meeting the requirements.  Any payments approved or authorized by ODJFS are subject to the availability of appropriate state or Federal funds.

Please contact the Child Care Policy Helpdesk at 1-877-302-2347, option 4, if you have any questions.