Important Message from the
Early Learning Coalition of Palm Beach County
Dear Child Care Providers,

Last week, we announced via email and during the Provider webinar that the CARES Act funding is officially here and we are ready to help get these critical resources in the hands of eligible Early Learning Providers.

The State of Florida issued specific guidance on who is eligible with qualifying criteria in order for Providers to receive this funding.

We will be hosting a 1-hour Provider Q & A webinar on Friday, July 17th at 10am to discuss the different grants, the qualifying criteria, the application process, and funding distribution timeline.

We will be taking your questions live on the webinar. Our team has taken great steps to simplify the process. It is our hope that the webinars this week will give you the tools you need and opportunities to answer your questions.

Our goal is to help you apply and access these dollars as quickly as possible.

Sincerely,

The Early Learning Coalition of Palm Beach County
Sign Up for Friday's Webinar
Announcing CARES Act Funding for
Early Learning and Child Care Providers
Phase 1: Providers Open on April 30th
Emergency Child Care Relief Grant for Providers
These funds are reserved for School Readiness (SR) and Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Education providers and non-contracted providers that were open for business on April 30, 2020 .

Funding is based upon the provider’s total capacity as reported to the Department of Children and Families (DCF) or the Enhanced Field System (EFS) Mod capacity data.

Contracted SR providers will receive an additional bonus for serving infants and toddlers or children with special needs. 
Eligibility Requirements for Phase 1
Contracted Providers (SR/VPK) must meet each of the following eligibility criteria for payment:

  • Early learning/child care provider was open for business providing early learning services as of April 30, 2020 (and may have had intermittent closures); and

  • Early learning/child care provider had a current/active SR or VPK contract on April 30, 2020 with at least one early learning coalition or Redlands Christian Migrant Association, Inc. (RCMA); and

  • Early learning/child care provider completes the grant application.
Non-Contracted Providers must meet each of the following eligibility criteria for payment:

  • Early learning/child care provider was open for business providing early learning services as of April 30, 2020 (and may have had intermittent closures); and


  • Early learning/child care provider has not received any Class I DCF violations within the past 12 months; and

  • Early learning/child care provider did not have a contract with the early learning coalition that was terminated for cause within the past five years; and

  • Early learning/child care provider is not included on the Florida Child Care Food Program (CCFP) USDA Disqualified List; and

  • Early learning/child care provider completes the grant application, which includes submitting an IRS Form W-9 for payment.
Phase 2: Reopening Support for
Providers Closed on April 30th
High-Quality Reopening Support Grants for Providers
These funds are earmarked for SR and VPK providers and non-contracted providers that were closed on April 30, 2020 . High-quality SR providers are those that earned a program assessment/CLASS score of 3.5 or higher within the last 12 months. The only eligible non-contracted high-quality providers are those that earned the Gold Seal status. 
Eligibility Requirements for Phase 2
Contracted Providers (SR/VPK)

Early learning/child care providers will receive additional funding based on their DCF capacity, when available, or EFS MOD Provider Profile capacity data if DCF capacity is not available, with a minimum amount based upon capacity. Providers must meet each of the following eligibility criteria for payment:

  • Early learning/child care provider was closed for business as of April 30, 2020 and has reopened providing early learning services or plan to reopen by August 1, 2020 (consistent with local ordinances or restrictions); and

  • Early learning/child care provider has a current/active SR or VPK contract on April 30, 2020 with at least one early learning coalition or Redlands Christian Migrant Association, Inc. (RCMA); and

  • Early learning/child care provider has either Gold Seal status or CLASS composite score of 3.5 or higher; and

  • Early learning/child care provider completes the grant application, which includes plans for expenditure of funds and reopened date or tentative date for reopening.
Non-Contracted Providers  

Early learning/child care providers will receive additional funding based on their DCF capacity. Providers must meet each of the following eligibility criteria for payment:
 
  • Early learning/child care provider was closed for business as of April 30, 2020 and have reopened providing early learning services or plan to reopen by August 1, 2020 (consistent with local ordinances or restrictions); and


  • Early learning/child care provider has not received any Class I DCF violations within the past 12 months; and

  • Early learning/child care provider did not have a contract with the early learning coalition that was terminated for cause within the past five years; and

  • Early learning/child care provider has either Gold Seal status or CLASS composite score of 3.5 or higher; and

  • Early learning/child care provider is not included on the Florida Child Care Food Program (CCFP) USDA Disqualified List; and

  • Early learning/child care provider completes the grant application, which includes plans for expenditure of funds, entering a reopened date or tentative date for reopening, and submitting an IRS Form W-9 for payment. 
Important Notes

Early Learning/Child Care Providers that contract with multiple coalitions will be paid by the coalition where the provider is physically located ("home" coalition).

Non-contracted providers will be paid by the coalition that serves the physical location of the provider.

Duplicate grants will not be offered.