Background:
In December 2020, Congress passed the Coronavirus Response and
Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021. The Act provided Ohio with
funding to help support the child care workforce. On May 17, 2021, Governor Mike DeWine signed
Senate Bill 109 of the 134th General Assembly allowing for the appropriation
of these funds to verified early childhood professionals. As a result, the following payment framework
has been established.
Support:
Early childhood professionals who worked in an eligible role at a
child care center, type A home or type B home licensed by the Ohio Department
of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) may be eligible to receive Hero Pay. Eligible individuals will receive $300.00 for
each of the following quarters when the individual has worked in the program
for the entire quarter, excluding gaps of less than 10 days.
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Quarter 1
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October 1, 2020 - December 31, 2020
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Quarter 2
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January 1, 2021 – March 31, 2021
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Quarter 3
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April 1, 2021 – June 30, 2021
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Quarter 4
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July 1, 2021 – September 30, 2021
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Payments will be issued through the Ohio Professional Registry
(OPR) to eligible individuals with the following profiles:
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Administrator on JFS License
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Individual Service Provider Not Used in Ratio
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Assistant Teacher
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Individual Service Provider Used in Ratio
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Cook
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Lead Teacher
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Driver
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Owner
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Extracurricular Not Used in Ratio
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Program Management Not Used in Ratio
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Extracurricular Used in Ratio
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Program Management Used in Ratio
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Floater
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Substitute
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To receive this funding, individuals must log into their OPR
Profile, click on the Hero Pay tab, and complete information in the secure
Payment Portal. Hero Pay Quarter 1
payments for eligible individuals will begin in mid-July 2021. This funding
does not count as income toward any public assistance eligibility.
Hero Pay guidance and frequently asked questions can be found on
the OCCRRA website. Questions can also be
submitted through the OCCRRA website.