Update on Status of Child Care Relief Funds

Update on Status of Child Care Relief Funds

Dear Child Care Providers and Other Stakeholders:

We are thrilled that so many providers are requesting their funds. And we understand that you need these funds as soon as possible. While the Child Care Relief Fund (CCRF) process is moving slower than we would like, we want to share some additional information with you about the current status.

TWC is awarding over $750 million dollars – that’s more than TWC’s typical annual budget for subsidized child care.  As part of the process of awarding funds to over 9,000 child care programs who have applied, TWC is taking numerous fraud-prevention measures to protect these funds.

• One way to protect these funds is by ensuring that the individual signing the agreement on behalf of the child care program is the same person that was initially designated as the “controlling person.” However, TWC is finding that another person was the actual signatory in many cases (child care programs changed the name that TWC entered in the agreement).  
• And, in home-based providers that are sole proprietors, TWC has found in some cases the Texas Identification Number (TIN) ID that was established was created in a different person’s name; the TIN ID must match the Award signatory.

These are just some of the issues that TWC is reviewing and resolving. As these issues were identified, they required that TWC look at all of the applications to confirm if they were accurate. Please be assured that we are working as quickly as possible to address and resolve these issues. 

In order to provide you with more information about your application status, we are sending out emails to all providers who have submitted their applications with details about what to expect based on the current status of your application. 

In addition, if you have problems with the online application or get an error, please email Texas@ECEBizCoach.org for help (include your operation number and a screenshot if possible).  Providers should also refer to the Relief Funds FAQ, posted on childcare.texas.gov.

Finally, TWC is in the finishing stages of linking the online application and the state’s financial systems in order to issue paper checks to all eligible child care programs who have applied. We are testing the check issuance system this week, and if the tests are good, then we can begin mailing checks to providers with approved applications by August 6^th.