Funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) supports the recovery and stabilization of child care providers across the nation. In Ohio, this money is now available to child care programs in the form of Stabilization Grants. Since these funds are being distributed through grants that means the money does not need to be paid back if it is used according to the guidelines.
All ODJFS licensed programs meeting the Phase 3 qualifications are eligible to receive these funds. A child care program doesn’t need to be SUTQ-rated or provide care for families using publicly funded child care to apply for these Stabilization Grants. Payment timelines are still estimated to be 4-6 weeks from the application approval date.
If you must repay any Phase 1 and/or Phase 2 funding, Phase 3 payment will be delayed. Here are two ways to check to see if you are in a repayment status (click on image to enlarge):
Go to your Applications Tab of the Organization Dashboard
Or check the Payments Tab of the Organization Dashboard.
It is important to note that the repayment message will remain in the chart but you will see a green ‘Yes’ to know OCCRRA received the funds.
Repayments are due 30 days from the reconciliation approval date. Checks may be made payable to OCCRRA at 2469 Stelzer Road, Columbus, Ohio 43219. Be sure to write your license number and the phase number you are repaying on the check.
Reconciliations requiring repayment may be edited to include additional allowable expenses from the expense period to reduce or potentially eliminate the repayment. If the reconciliation status is other than additional info, the program should send an email to support@occrra.org to request the status to be changed to additional information with the license number and phase number to make edits. Edits and resubmissions must occur by 11:59 pm on August 12, 2022.
4C for Children is here to help Miami Valley and Southwest Ohio child care programs understand and access this funding. Our services are 100% free, funded through the State of Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, as well as many generous foundations and individuals across the 15 counties we serve.
We want to help your program receive all the funding you are eligible for. Download this simple 4C for Children Template to help you estimate costs, track your expenses and gather your documentation.
Here are the steps to take to get started. Do them in the ordered listed.
Read the Manual Procedure Letter, the Application Guidance Document and the Application User Guide for your program type.
If you still have questions, you can email Amy at abelanger@4cforchildren.org or join us for a virtual Q&A session held every Tuesday from 1-2p.m.
Click on this link at the meeting start time to join our Q&A Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88164865337?pwd=b1Z1OE1lcENYZEg5TjZiYzBhZUFHdz09
Contact support@occrra.org if you have other questions.
For Family Child Care Providers: Resources from Tom Copeland
The Tax Implications of the Child Care Stabilization Grants Video Recording – Tom Copeland’s Taking Care of Business (tomcopelandblog.com)
This video covers:
- How you can pay yourself with this grant
- How to report the grant as income
- What is the tax consequence of spending part or all of the money on business items?
- Why you are always better off getting this grant