DHS Releases CARES Act Funding Totals for April and May
June 12, 2020
(Des Moines, Iowa) – On May 8, 2020, the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) released its COVID-19 Childcare Sustainability Plan to help licensed centers and registered homes to remain open or, if temporarily closed, reopen through a variety of funding strategies. The four key strategies include:
- A basic monthly stipend of $2,000 for licensed centers and $500 for registered homes;
- An add-on to the basic monthly stipend of $2,000 for licensed centers and $500 for registered homes for those providing essential employees a 25% discount;
- Rejuvenation grants of $1500 for licensed centers and $600 for registered homes to help currently closed providers reopen; and
- Reimbursing providers for Child Care Assistance (CCA) family co-pays.
DHS received $31,899,093 in additional childcare funding from the federal CARES Act. The total amount expended on these four strategies as of June 1, 2020, is $5,859,905.50. Tables 1-4, below, provide further information on the number of providers receiving funding under each strategy and the total funding amount issued as of June 9, 2020.
Providers who wish to receive the monthly stipend must complete the monthly stipend survey. Each month’s monthly stipend survey will close on the last day of the month. After each survey has closed, DHS staff will review responses to verify final eligibility for both the basic monthly stipend and the essential employees add-on. Providers should receive funds approximately the middle of the following month. Below are the anticipated payment dates for the monthly stipends:
- June 22, 2020, for the April and May stipend
- July 22, 2020, for the June stipend
- August 24, 2020, for the July stipend
If a provider believes they were eligible but have not received funds by the dates above, their program should contact their local Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R).
You can find more information, including FAQs here.
“Child care is an integral service in the community and vital to supporting Iowa’s workforce. The dedicated partnership and collaboration with child care providers during this unprecedented time has been inspiring,” said Julie Allison, the bureau chief of child care.
You can find more information on child care during the COVID-19 pandemic here.
# # #
Program Contact: Julie Allison wecanhelp@dhs.state.ia.us Jalliso1@dhs.state.ia.us 515-281-6177
Media Contact: Matt Highland mhighla@dhs.state.ia.us 515-281-4848
Visit dhs.iowa.gov for information on DHS and its programs.
|