This announcement provides information on the Child Care COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Award application. The one-time award of $600 is paid to eligible child care employees and child care support staff of Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) certified child care providers. This award is paid through Early Learning Resource Centers (ELRC) on behalf of Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) directly to eligible certified child care providers. DHS certified child care provider’s owner/operator/director will apply on behalf of their eligible child care employees and child care support employees currently working directly with children for a minimum of 20 paid hours a week and employed at the child care agency as of Jan. 1, 2021. Holiday, sick or other approved time off will not be considered when determining the eligibility criteria of working a minimum of 20 paid hours a week. This requirement pertains to the employees regularly scheduled work week. The child care eligible employees will be paid directly by the DHS certified child care provider’s owner/operator/director.
Certified child care providers can apply on behalf of all their eligible, certified child care employees starting today, Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021.
The COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Award will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis. Funding will be distributed regionally and be limited, so applicants are encouraged to apply sooner rather than later.
