Background:
Effective August 9, 2020 licensed child care programs were able to
return to pre-pandemic ratios and class sizes. Governor DeWine also shared that
funds would be made available to support those providers who decided to maintain
the lower ratios and class sizes. On August 25, 2020 the Ohio Department of Job
and Family Services opened up the August application to provide:
1.COVID-19 Support Payments: Newly licensed, approved and certified
child care providers (Centers, Temporary School Age Child Care Centers, Type A homes
and Type B homes, Approved Day Camps and In-Home Aides) and previously licensed,
approved and certified child care providers (Type A homes and Type B homes, Approved
Day Camps and In-Home Aides) opening for the first time since March 25, 2020 were
eligible for COVID-19 payments. These payments were intended to provide assistance
in covering the cost of COVID-19 classroom dividers, personnel costs, cleaning supplies,
personal protective equipment (PPE), temporary sinks, thermometers, and other expenses.
2.Ratio Support Payments: Licensed child care programs that were
electing to maintain the reduced ratio and class sizes received a payment to support
their ongoing costs. This payment was based on enrollment and star rating.
Support
The funding structure for September is as follows:
COVID-19
Payment:
Newly licensed and certified child care providers (Centers, including
Temporary Pandemic School Age Child Care Centers, Type A homes and Type B homes,
and In-Home Aides) and previously licensed and certified child care providers (Centers,
Type A homes and Type B homes, and In-Home Aides) opening for the first time since
March 25, 2020 in September will be eligible for a COVID-19 payment. These payments
are intended to provide assistance in covering the cost of COVID-19 classroom dividers,
personnel costs, cleaning supplies, personal protective equipment (PPE), temporary
sinks, thermometers, and other expenses.
COVID-19 payments are a flat amount. Centers and family child care
programs will have payments based off the program’s star rating.
The payment structure is as follows:
|
|
|
Rating
|
|
Setting
| Base Payment |
1 star
|
2 star
|
3 star
|
4 star
|
5 star
|
Unrated
|
|
In Home Aides
|
$100
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Centers
|
$2,500
|
$2,625
|
$2,950
|
$3,025
|
$3,225
|
$3,375
|
$2,500
|
|
Type B Homes
|
$250
|
$300
|
$350
|
$400
|
$450
|
$500
|
$250
|
|
Type A homes
|
$500
|
$600
|
$700
|
$800
|
$900
|
$1,000
|
$500
|
Child Care Center
- Ratio Support Grant:
Centers that received an August ratio support payment will automatically
be issued a September payment at the same amount as the August payment as they committed
to reducing ratio and class size for both August and September in the August application.
A
new application is not required and no new applications will be accepted.
This payment is intended to continue to support Child Care Centers who maintain
the reduced ratios for September. If a center was awarded an August grant and chooses
to return to regular ratios for October, please notify pandemicsupportgrant@occrra.org
stating that the program is returning to regular ratios and therefore, waiving the
right to an October 2020 ratio support grant, if funding allows.
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,
payroll and other expenses.
The payments will be as follows:
|
|
Star Ratings
|
|
# of Children Served 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
|
$3,234
|
$3,634
|
$3,726
|
$3,973
|
$4,157
|
$2,961
|
|
19 - 24
|
$4,311
|
$4,845
|
$4,968
|
$5,297
|
$5,543
|
$3,948
|
|
25 - 33
|
$5,928
|
$6,662
|
$6,832
|
$7,283
|
$7,622
|
$5,429
|
|
34 - 42
|
$7,545
|
$8,479
|
$8,695
|
$9,270
|
$9,701
|
$6,909
|
|
43 - 51
|
$9,162
|
$10,296
|
$10,558
|
$11,256
|
$11,780
|
$8,390
|
|
52 - 60
|
$10,779
|
$12,113
|
$12,421
|
$13,242
|
$13,858
|
$9,871
|
|
61 - 69
|
$12,395
|
$13,930
|
$14,284
|
$15,229
|
$15,937
|
$11,351
|
|
70 - 75
|
$13,473
|
$15,141
|
$15,526
|
$16,553
|
$17,323
|
$12,338
|
|
76+
|
$13,653
|
$15,343
|
$15,733
|
$16,774
|
$17,554
|
$12,503
|
Application & Payment
An application will only be required for those newly licensed or
those re-opening since March 25, 2020 applying for the COVID-19 payments. The application
may be submitted beginning September 21, 2020 through September 25, 2020. Processing
of payments will begin the week of September 28, 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/.
Reconciliation
A reconciliation will be required for each payment received. For
the September payment, the reconciliation is due December 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