Using Relief Dollars for Child Care Facilities

Today, the National Children’s Facilities Network, along with Center for Law and Social Policy, National Association for the Education of Young Children, Education Counsel, and National Association for Family Child Care released How States Can Improve Child Care Facilities & Physical Spaces Using Federal Relief Dollars. This policy brief addresses the need to invest federal dollars on facility infrastructure for child care providers. ([link removed])

Providers faced health and safety challenges long before the COVID-19 pandemic. New demands on providers for critical pandemic-related investments like portable hand-washing stations and space modifications to keep a safe distance have become costly for programs. These additional burdens have stretched providers already working diligently to support children and families.

With more than $50 billion in federal relief invested in the child care sector, states have an unprecedented opportunity to create a more equitable, sustainable, and comprehensive early care and education system. This includes facilities investments, which are key element to creating a high-quality child care experiences in centers and family child care homes.

We hope your state uses this policy brief as a tool to leverage funding to close the gaps for child care business owners and early childhood educators, especially in communities served by providers of color, so they can benefit from facilities that support high-quality child care.

What’s in the brief?

-Opportunities to improve physical spaces through federal relief funding mechanisms provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA), and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
-Strategies for states, territories, and tribes to partner on child care center and family child care facilities investments through a Community Development Financial Institution.
-Tactics for states to support child care centers and family child care programs as small businesses and prioritize capital projects to benefit these facilities.
-Methods for increasing essential worker pay through grants.
-Examples of how funding can improve centers and family child care homes, such as: installing new HVAC systems, improving food prep and indoor play spaces, and purchasing outdoor play equipment.

To equitably meet the needs of children and families with low incomes—especially those in communities of color—we must ensure center- and home-based providers have the resources to create safe, high-quality spaces for children to learn and grow. And these new federal funds will allow them to do so without assuming additional economic burden.

If you have any questions, please contact Christine Johnson-Staub at [email protected]. 

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