Licensed child care centers and home providers in Autauga, Bullock, Butler, Chilton, Covington, Dallas, Elmore, Lowndes, Montgomery, and Wilcox Counties should apply NOW!
The Alabama Partnership for Children (APC) in collaboration with The Alabama Department of Human Resources (hereinafter referred to as the Department) is accepting applications for the September 2023 Child Care Stability Grant (CCSG). The Department recommends child care providers read all guidance prior to submitting a CCSG Application. Please note, an application that is submitted incomplete or with errors may result in a significant delay in receiving any eligible funding.
For questions regarding the application, please contact APC at (334) 271-0304 or 1-866-744-4025 or email CCSG@apcteam.org.
For other counties in the state:
Call (256) 362-3852 ext. 31 or
Email CCSG@tcrchildcare.org.
FAQs
Grants will be awarded to eligible child care providers contingent upon availability of funding. In order to be eligible to apply for the CCSG, a child care provider must meet the following criteria:
- Have a license to operate a child care facility from the Department as of September 1, 2023 (per the Alabama Child Care Safety Act of 2018, only licensed providers are eligible to receive state and/or federal funding);
- Have no current adverse action imposed by the Department, including probation, revocation, or suspension;
- All programs issued a DHR Child Care Services Division license that serve private-pay children, children participating in the Child Care Subsidy Program, and/or children enrolled in the DHR Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership Program. Programs/classrooms that exclusively serve children funded by State funded Pre-K must hold a DHR issued license to qualify. Exclusive Head-Start, or non-DHR Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships are ineligible.
- Be currently open and operating as of September 1, 2023;
- Continue to remain open and operating for a period of one (1) year from the date of receiving the grant award. This requirement does not include temporary closures consistent with the ordinary course of business (i.e. – weather, illness, holidays). Child care providers must seek the Department’s approval for any permanent closures for which they are seeking to be exempt from repayments due to mitigating circumstances prior to closing.
Funding for the grant is based on the maximum child capacity using the table below.
| Type | Center | Family | Group |
| Capacity 0-50 | $20,250 | $6,600 | $7,750 |
| 51-99 | $27,000 | NA | NA |
| Over 100 | $36,000 | NA | NA |
*Providers who have Head Start/non-DHR EHS-CCP classrooms must deduct capacities from those classrooms from their total licensed capacity when applying for grant funding. For example, XYZ Child Care has both Head Start and Non DHR EHS-CCP classrooms. The capacity in those rooms total 24. The capacity for XYZ Child Care is 64. Taking the total capacity of 64 minus the total capacity for the Head Start and Non DHR EHS-CCP classroom capacity 24 (64-24= 40), XYZ Child Care has a maximum child capacity of 40. Therefore, XYZ Child Care is eligible for a grant total of $20,250.
The CCSG funds may be used in any manner that is a benefit to the child care facility. Examples of expenditures includes: retaining or hiring employees including substitute teacher pay, the continuation of providing employee bonuses, classroom materials and supplies, unreimbursed food, facilities costs, supplies to adhere to CDC and ADPH guidelines, tuition relief for families, and other. A description of each category is provided below. CCSG funds shall not be expended for the purchase or improvement of land, or the purchase, construction, or permanent improvement (other than minor remodeling) of any building or facility used to increase the square footage of a facility in any way.
| Substitute Teacher Pay: | This category is intended for spending related to employing teaching staff and non-teaching staff. Eligible costs include, but are not limited to, salary and wages, bonus pay, hazard pay, health insurance benefits, life insurance benefits, flexible benefits such as dental or vision, the provider’s portion of federal and state taxes and withholdings, costs associated with hiring a new teacher or employee, and costs associated with employing substitute teachers.
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| Classroom Materials and Supplies: | This category is intended for spending related to ensure that all classrooms are safe, healthy, and nurturing educational spaces. Eligible costs include, but are not limited to, typical materials and supplies for classroom environments for all ages, furniture, books, art supplies, blocks and accessories, curriculum, and well as instructional technology.
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| Unreimbursed Food: | This category is intended for spending related to food services that are not reimbursed through another public funding stream such as the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program or the USDA Summer Nutrition Program.
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| Facilities Costs: | This category is intended for spending related to the costs necessary to maintain the program’s facility. Eligible costs include, but are not limited to, lease payments, mortgage payments, building insurance, utilities, and facility maintenance. CCSG funds shall not be expended for the purchase or improvement of land, or the purchase, construction, or permanent improvement (other than minor remodeling) of any building or facility to increase the square footage in any way.
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| Supplies to Adhere to CDC and ADPH Guidelines: | This category is intended for spending related to the additional costs that may be incurred due to adhering to CDC guidance related to group size and space to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Eligible costs include, but are not limited to, cleaning services, cleaning supplies, obtaining personal protective equipment, or the costs of measures to limit contact between individuals.
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| Tuition Relief for Families: | This category is intended for spending that would be as a result of providing tuition relief for families that are paying to maintain their child care slot at a program.
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| Other: | This category is intended for valid Covid-19 expenditures that do not fit in another category. For specific questions regarding acceptable expenditures, contact APC. Prior DHR approval is required for expenditures in this category. |
Applications will be accepted beginning on September 1, 2023 and until September 18, 2023.
Applications may be submitted via electronic submission, email, fax, mail or in-person. Electronic submission, email, or in-person drop off have proven to be the most dependable form of submission.
Information on where to submit an application can be found below.
Point of Contact: Alabama Partnership for Child Care
Email: CCSG@apcteam.org
Fax: (334) 271-0315
Mail: 2595 Bell Road Montgomery, AL 36117
In-person delivery: 2595 Bell Road Montgomery, AL 36117
Questions? – (334) 271-0304 or 1-866-744-4025
Payments will be disbursed via the chosen method indicated on the grant application. If your chosen payment method is paper check, it will be mailed to the address indicated on the grant application. If your chosen method is direct deposit, you will obtain and complete a direct deposit form from the regional agency processing your application. Grant payments will not be made from the STAARS payments Vendor System.