Nebraska DHHS Division of Children and Family Services launched the Child Care Stabilization Grant on October 25, 2021. The Child Care Stabilization Grant program awarded over $90 million in grants to child chare providers that will be distributed in two installments. One was in last December and the next one will be in March of 2022.
Child care providers had the opportunity to apply in several categories that included:
Personnel costs, benefits, premium pay, and recruitment and retention;
Rent or mortgage payments, utilities, facilities maintenance and improvements, or insurance;
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), cleaning and sanitation supplies and services, or training and professional development related to health and safety practices;
Purchases of or updates to equipment and supplies needed to respond to COVID-19;
Goods and services necessary to maintain or resume child care services including food costs, toys and outdoor playgrounds;
Mental health supports for children and employees;
Co-payment and tuition relief for families struggling to make child care payments (to the extent possible); and,
Paying for past financial losses incurred between March 13, 2020, and March 11, 2021.
“We are very pleased with how the Child Care Stabilization Grant program turned out,” Said CFS Director Stephanie Beasley. “Responses have been overwhelmingly positive and I am very proud of how our team managed this program. With the second disbursement of funds coming in March we hope to provide even more financial aid for child care providers who need it the most.”
There is a second opportunity to apply for Stabilization Grants targeting those providers who did not apply during the first application window as well as include an expanded list of eligible providers. Child care providers who need additional assistance in understanding the grant process can call 833-500-8810 Monday through Friday 8 am to 5 pm to ask questions regarding their grants or the grant process.