Sunday, October 08, 2006
Apply for Family Child Care Grants!
Okay, I changed my mind about the last posting for the week... I don't normally post on the weekends, but I would be resmiss if I didn't bring this up before I return from North Carolina....
Now is the time to apply for Technical Assistance Grants in our area. I am on the grant committee for Region 6W in Minnesota and I know that the application deadline for this round of grants in our area will be Friday, October 13th.
If you live in region 6W, you can get more information and download an application at http://www.midwestchildcare.com/grants.html. If you are in another area of Minnesota, check with your CCR&R or go to http://www.mnchildcare.org/providers/grantsched.php to find out about grant applications and deadlines.
I encourage you to apply for grant funding for items that you need for your child care business. The application looks a bit intimidating, but it really is very self explanitory.Money that does not get used in an area goes back to the State and then the next round of funding is reduced.
Here are some frequently asked questions about CCR&R grants. If you have any further questions, feel free to contact me.
1. Question: Who can apply for these grants?
Answer: Any family child care provider who is licensed, or is soon-to-be licensed and has been visited by the licensor, is eligible to apply for these grants. You must be providing care for a minimum of 2 school-age youth to apply for the school-age care funding that is available through this grant.
Employer/Church-Based Rule 2 programs are not eligible for these grant programs, but may apply for grants under the center-based program application.
2. Question: What kinds of things can I apply for?
Answer: The Department of Human Services has identified special services related to child care. These grants are a way to provide these services to all children. The special services include providing:
· Care for children with special needs
· Non-standard hour care
· Care for non-English speaking or English as Second language families
· Care for children in transition or crisis
· Culturally responsive child care
· Care for families receiving child care assistance (subsidy)
In order to provide special services, DHS has identified priorities to meet these needs. Providers will receive funding to purchase items or training that will meet the identified priorities. The priorities that have been identified by DHS are:
· Training and providing professional development opportunities for child care providers.
· Enhancing the cultural responsiveness of Minnesota’s child care system.
· Supporting child care as it relates to creating high quality and affordable care for families in Minnesota.
· Providing funding for providers who haven’t received a grant in the previous 4 years.
In addition to the state priorities set by DHS, there are regional priorities set by the local CCR&R grants advisory committee to address child care needs in your area. The local priorities are:
· Support for providers who offer care during out of school time.
· Support for providers offering or expanding infant/toddler care.
· Requests for literacy-based learning materials, curriculum resources, school readiness and early literacy materials.
3. Question: What kinds of things should I NOT apply for?
Answer: You cannot receive grant funds for a new addition to your home or for cosmetic home improvements. You also will not be considered for funding if your request is not directly related to the safety and quality of your child care services or does not meet the priorities. In addition, the following items are not eligible for grant funding: walkers, trampolines, violent toys, Johnny jump-ups, wooden and metal outdoor play structures, swimming pools, computers, video games and video game equipment, licensing fees, background checks, fire marshal fees.
4. Question: How often may I apply for a grant, and how many grants am I eligible to receive?
Answer: You may receive only one grant award each year. At the time your application is reviewed, you will be considered for all of the grants that are available. Grant applications will be submitted and reviewed based on the regional schedule for each grant round. The final date for submitting an application is Friday, October 13, 2006 (postmarked).
5. Question: How much money can I apply for?
Answer: You may apply for no more than a total of $2000.00.
Individual items for which a maximum has been established include:
Fence $500 Stroller $75
High chair $50 Double stroller $100
Wagon $50 Exersaucer $50
Egress window $250 Mesh-sided portable crib $50
Crib $150 CPR training for sub $50
6. Question: If I am awarded a grant, how will I receive the money?
Answer: All grants are paid on a reimbursement basis. If you receive an award you will be reimbursed only for purchases made after the date of the award letter and after all grant requirements have been met. (Grant awards that are specific to start-up costs may be reimbursed prior to completion of the training requirement)
7. Question: Are these grants or loans? Do I have to pay the money back?
Answer: These are grants, not loans. You will not be required to pay the money back UNLESS you are out-of-compliance with the grant requirements or you give up or lose your Minnesota child care license for any reason within two years from the date of your award letter. If for any reason you do not continue to provide active licensed child care in Minnesota during that time, or you are out-of-compliance with your grant requirements, you will be required to repay your grant.
8. Question: If I receive a grant, are there any requirements that I have to meet?
Answer: Yes. If you receive a grant you will be required to complete a certain amount of training. The training requirement is 12 hours of training for a grant award of up to $500 or 16 hours for a grant award of more than $500. The cost of participating in this required training is your responsibility. You may choose to include the cost of the required training as part of your grant application.
The training that is required for you to receive a grant must occur either within 90 days before the grant award date (a maximum of 6 hours of training) or after the grant award date.
The timeline for completing the training requirement will be outlined in your award letter if you receive this grant. Also, you must complete the training requirement prior to receiving reimbursement for your award.
Okay, I changed my mind about the last posting for the week... I don't normally post on the weekends, but I would be resmiss if I didn't bring this up before I return from North Carolina....
Now is the time to apply for Technical Assistance Grants in our area. I am on the grant committee for Region 6W in Minnesota and I know that the application deadline for this round of grants in our area will be Friday, October 13th.
If you live in region 6W, you can get more information and download an application at http://www.midwestchildcare.com/grants.html. If you are in another area of Minnesota, check with your CCR&R or go to http://www.mnchildcare.org/providers/grantsched.php to find out about grant applications and deadlines.
I encourage you to apply for grant funding for items that you need for your child care business. The application looks a bit intimidating, but it really is very self explanitory.Money that does not get used in an area goes back to the State and then the next round of funding is reduced.
Here are some frequently asked questions about CCR&R grants. If you have any further questions, feel free to contact me.
1. Question: Who can apply for these grants?
Answer: Any family child care provider who is licensed, or is soon-to-be licensed and has been visited by the licensor, is eligible to apply for these grants. You must be providing care for a minimum of 2 school-age youth to apply for the school-age care funding that is available through this grant.
Employer/Church-Based Rule 2 programs are not eligible for these grant programs, but may apply for grants under the center-based program application.
2. Question: What kinds of things can I apply for?
Answer: The Department of Human Services has identified special services related to child care. These grants are a way to provide these services to all children. The special services include providing:
· Care for children with special needs
· Non-standard hour care
· Care for non-English speaking or English as Second language families
· Care for children in transition or crisis
· Culturally responsive child care
· Care for families receiving child care assistance (subsidy)
In order to provide special services, DHS has identified priorities to meet these needs. Providers will receive funding to purchase items or training that will meet the identified priorities. The priorities that have been identified by DHS are:
· Training and providing professional development opportunities for child care providers.
· Enhancing the cultural responsiveness of Minnesota’s child care system.
· Supporting child care as it relates to creating high quality and affordable care for families in Minnesota.
· Providing funding for providers who haven’t received a grant in the previous 4 years.
In addition to the state priorities set by DHS, there are regional priorities set by the local CCR&R grants advisory committee to address child care needs in your area. The local priorities are:
· Support for providers who offer care during out of school time.
· Support for providers offering or expanding infant/toddler care.
· Requests for literacy-based learning materials, curriculum resources, school readiness and early literacy materials.
3. Question: What kinds of things should I NOT apply for?
Answer: You cannot receive grant funds for a new addition to your home or for cosmetic home improvements. You also will not be considered for funding if your request is not directly related to the safety and quality of your child care services or does not meet the priorities. In addition, the following items are not eligible for grant funding: walkers, trampolines, violent toys, Johnny jump-ups, wooden and metal outdoor play structures, swimming pools, computers, video games and video game equipment, licensing fees, background checks, fire marshal fees.
4. Question: How often may I apply for a grant, and how many grants am I eligible to receive?
Answer: You may receive only one grant award each year. At the time your application is reviewed, you will be considered for all of the grants that are available. Grant applications will be submitted and reviewed based on the regional schedule for each grant round. The final date for submitting an application is Friday, October 13, 2006 (postmarked).
5. Question: How much money can I apply for?
Answer: You may apply for no more than a total of $2000.00.
Individual items for which a maximum has been established include:
Fence $500 Stroller $75
High chair $50 Double stroller $100
Wagon $50 Exersaucer $50
Egress window $250 Mesh-sided portable crib $50
Crib $150 CPR training for sub $50
6. Question: If I am awarded a grant, how will I receive the money?
Answer: All grants are paid on a reimbursement basis. If you receive an award you will be reimbursed only for purchases made after the date of the award letter and after all grant requirements have been met. (Grant awards that are specific to start-up costs may be reimbursed prior to completion of the training requirement)
7. Question: Are these grants or loans? Do I have to pay the money back?
Answer: These are grants, not loans. You will not be required to pay the money back UNLESS you are out-of-compliance with the grant requirements or you give up or lose your Minnesota child care license for any reason within two years from the date of your award letter. If for any reason you do not continue to provide active licensed child care in Minnesota during that time, or you are out-of-compliance with your grant requirements, you will be required to repay your grant.
8. Question: If I receive a grant, are there any requirements that I have to meet?
Answer: Yes. If you receive a grant you will be required to complete a certain amount of training. The training requirement is 12 hours of training for a grant award of up to $500 or 16 hours for a grant award of more than $500. The cost of participating in this required training is your responsibility. You may choose to include the cost of the required training as part of your grant application.
The training that is required for you to receive a grant must occur either within 90 days before the grant award date (a maximum of 6 hours of training) or after the grant award date.
The timeline for completing the training requirement will be outlined in your award letter if you receive this grant. Also, you must complete the training requirement prior to receiving reimbursement for your award.
// posted by Tammy Wachter @ 8:55 AM 
