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NYS Office of Children and Family Services 

Dear Provider Letters

Please read the NYS OCFS Dear Provider Letters for important guidance and updates regarding child care programs. 

https://ocfs.ny.gov/programs/childcare/letters.php

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DCCS Quaretly Newsletter 

NYS OCFS Division of Child Care Services (DCCS) quarterly newsletter now available!

The newsletter includes information and updates from DCCS on new initiatives, changes in regulations and requirements, important reminders about trainings and contracts, and other early childhood resources to promote quality in NYS early childhood care and education programs. 

https://ocfs.ny.gov/programs/childcare/news/newsletters.php

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Child Care Stabilization Grant 1.0 & Workforce Supports 2.0

The New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) has awarded $900 million to 15,000 eligible child care providers through the Child Care Stabilization Grant. The first Child Care Stabilization grant (known as Stabilization 1.0) was released on August 3, 2021 and $1.074 billion was made available to eligible child care providers. Applications were closed for the Child Care Stabilization 1.0 on November 30, 2021. 

Based on the success of the Child Care Stabilization 1.0 grants, OCFS will distribute another round of funds to child care providers to strengthen their infrastructure and support their workforce. OCFS is prioritizing workforce support for child care staff by requiring that at least 75% of the Child Care Stabilization Grant 2.0 for Workforce Supports be spent on workforce support expenses. Applications were closed for the Child Care Stabilization 2.0 on December 14, 2022. 
Stabilization Grant Funds can be used for: 
Rent, Mortgage, Utilities
Payroll Benefits
Health & Safety Training
Facility Maintenance or Improvements
PPE Cleaning & Sanitizing Supplies
Equipment Related to COVID-19
Goods to Continue Child Care
Mental Health Support for Staff & Children

Click Here to find out more information about each category.
 

Child Care Deserts Grant 

New York State identified $100M to build and expand child care capacity in areas with the least supply. Utilizing funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), child care desert funding represents an unprecedented opportunity and investment to build capacity and strengthen the state’s economy, by addressing the issues that impact businesses including chronic absence, productivity reductions and turnover due to inadequate options for quality child care in the most needed parts of the state. 

RFA#1 for New child care providers 

  • Invest in NY Child Care awards were announced on July 25, 2022.

  • Payments will be made no later than June 30, 2024.

  • Final contracts will be issued once the program’s license/registration is completed.

  • Providers awarded a Child Care Deserts Grant for New Programs are expected to participate in QUALITYstarsNY’s Start with Stars initiative once their new program is licensed. 

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RFA#2 for Existing child care providers

  • The application portal closed on August 24th, 2022 at 11:59 p.m.

  • Invest in NY Child Care awards were announced on Friday, October 21, 2022.

  • Payments will be made no later than June 30, 2024.

  • Providers awarded a Child Care Deserts Grant for Existing Providers are required to participate in QUALITYstarsNY once awarded the grant.

Grant for Payment of Retroactive Absences 

The 2022 Enacted Budget authorized the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) to issue payments for absences to child care providers that served at least one child in receipt of child care assistance for care provided on or after April 1, 2020, and prior to December 1, 2021.This is a one-time grant opportunity for licensed, registered, and enrolled legally-exempt providers who are currently open and in good standing.

 

For grant questions, email: ocfs.sm.retro.absences.grant@ocfs.ny.gov.

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