The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 issued Supplemental
Discretionary funds to states through the Child Care and Development Fund.
Amended Substitute House Bill 45 of the 134th General Assembly of Ohio
authorized the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) to issue
funding to a limited number of County Department of Job and Family Services
(CDJFS) to:
- Help strengthen and expand child care providers
and;
- Establish new family child care (FCC) type A and
type B programs across the state.
This funding consists of one-hundred percent federal funds. The
assistance listing number is 93.575.
CDJFSs will be selected by ODJFS to participate in the FCC type
A and type B recruitment efforts based on capacity and utilization of publicly
funded child care slots. This data
already exists in ODJFS’ systems. There are three instances in which a CDJFS
may receive funding:
1.Start-up
funding - Selected CDJFSs will be eligible to receive $10,000 in
start-up funds. These funds can be used to host FCC recruitment events within
the service delivery area of the partnering Child Care Resource & Referral
(CCR&R) agency. These funds should be used for fair supports and to
purchase materials for providers to assist with start-up costs. These materials
should include but are not limited to a first aid kit, fire extinguisher, smoke
detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, outlet covers, fall surface, materials
and equipment, BCI/FBI background checks, and first aid and CPR training.
2.Financial
Incentives to eligible providers - Eligible CDJFSs will receive
funding to provide financial incentives, for new FCC type A and/or type B
providers. For this effort, a CDJFS will receive incentives quarterly until
funds for this allocation are exhausted. The incentive payments will be based
on the table below.
|
Provider Action
|
Incentive Funds
|
Verification Source
|
|
Complete Pre-licensing Training
|
$250
|
Ohio Professional Registry
|
|
Submit Licensing Application in the Ohio Child
Licensing and Quality System (OCLQS)
|
$500 or $750 when non-traditional care is listed in
OCLQS at the time of application
|
OCLQS
|
|
Sign Provider Agreement
|
$250
|
OCLQS
|
|
Program is licensed and have a Publicly Funded Child
Care (PFCC) authorization within eight weeks of the recruitment fair attended
by that individual
|
$2,000
|
OCLQS & Ohio Benefits
|
|
Receive a SUTQ Rating within eight weeks of license
begin date
|
$500
|
OCLQS
|
3.CDJFS
incentives – A participating CDJFS will receive $2,500 per FCC
program, for up to six programs, and will be awarded the incentive payment for
becoming licensed and having a PFCC authorization. To receive the award
counties must submit a list of programs that met these criteria by April, 1,
2024 to child_care_technical_assistance@jfs.ohio.gov. Once verified by ODJFS in the OCLQS and Ohio
Benefits systems, incentive payments will be awarded to the CDJFS.
The CDJFS incentive is available as cash and is considered
earned at time of receipt. There are no further restrictions on the use of the
funding and will not be considered federal funds but "local dollars."
ODJFS will communicate direct project codes via a Bureau of
County Finance and Technical Assistance alert through the CFIS_HELP_DESK@jfs.ohio.gov.
ODJFS will communicate the funding and liquidation period
through the county finance information system (CFIS).
For questions regarding fiscal reporting please contact your
ODJFS Fiscal Supervisor or the CFIS Helpdesk CFIS_HELP_DESK@jfs.ohio.gov. For
questions concerning the calculation of the funding please contact the Child
Care County Technical Assistance team at child_care_technical_assistance@jfs.ohio.gov.