Child Care Stabilization Grants
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Division of Child Development and Early Education administers the North Carolina Child Care Stabilization Grants. Applications are still being accepted. Eligible early care and learning programs may apply at any time.
Be ready to apply, you’ll need:
Apply now or manage your application Go to Stabilization Grant Application Portal
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GET HELP
Many questions are answered in the Frequently Asked Questions document. Assistance is available Monday-Friday from 8:30 AM-4:30 PM by email at [email protected] or phone (919) 814-6300, Option 2.
CHILD CARE STABILIZATION GRANT DATA
NCDHHS Division of Child Development and Early Education has created two data dashboards to provide Child Care Stabilization Grants summary data. The first dashboard gives insight into the impact of this historic investment, showing the total child care capacity and jobs that are supported by the grants both as a statewide to-date total and by county in an interactive map. The second dashboard illustrates the strength of NCDHHS’s commitment to the state’s early care and learning network by showing the total stabilization grant dollars paid to-date to child care programs statewide, and a pie chart of grantees by program type. This dashboard also features an interactive map of stabilization grant payment totals by county with several display options: All Payments, Fixed Cost Payments, Compensation Support Payments, [Child Care] Center Payments, [Family Child Care] Home Payments.
LATEST NEWS
Stabilization Grants Quarterly Update and Recertification Open Oct. 2, Due Oct. 13!
The Child Care Stabilization Grant Update for Quarter 8: July-September 2023 will open October 2 and will close October 13 at 4:59 PM. All recipients of Quarter 8: July-September 2023 funds must submit a Quarterly Update by the October 13th deadline. After completing the Update, you can access the Recertification Application.
The Recertification Application for Quarter 9 will open October 2 and close will open October 2 and will close October 13 at 4:59 PM. All current grant recipients must submit an approved Recertification Application by the October 13th deadline to continue receiving stabilization grant funds.
To get stabilization grant funding for Quarter 9: October-December 2023, you must complete both the Quarterly Update AND the Recertification Application.
How much will each facility get?
Option 1: Bonuses Only Grant Amount Per Quarter
- $600 per full time staff
- $300 per part time staff
- + 12% for administrative costs
Option 2: Increase Base Pay and/or Benefits Grant Amount Per Quarter
- 1 & 2 Star – Teaching Staff – $650/FT , $325/PT
- 3 Star – Teaching Staff – $780/FT, $390/PT
- 4 and 5 Star –Teaching Staff – $1560/FT, $780/PT
- Non-Teaching Staff – $650/FT, $325/PT
- + 12% for administrative costs
ABOUT CHILD CARE STABILIZATION GRANTS
On October 7, 2021, Governor Roy Cooper announced a historic, one-time federal $805 million investment in North Carolina’s early care and learning programs. The North Carolina Child Care Stabilization Grants, made possible by funding from the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act, support working families with access to high-quality, affordable child care. The grants also help early care and learning programs with recruitment and retention, enabling them to provide better wages and benefits to teachers, and promoting equity for all—children, parents, and teachers.
There are two components of North Carolina’s Child Care Stabilization Grants. The two components are intended to grant early care and learning programs funds to facilitate high quality early childhood education at its true cost and increase compensation to staff. Each approved program receives a Fixed Costs and Families Grant, based on capacity, subsidized child care enrollment, program quality (star rating), infant/toddler enrollment, and community context (using Social Vulnerability Index).
Approved programs that elect to receive additional funding will also be awarded Compensation Supports Grants. There are two options for Compensation Supports. Programs selecting Option 1 agree to use the additional funding to provide bonuses to all staff. By selecting Option 2, approved early childhood programs agree to increase base pay and/or benefits, implementing a compensation scale that ideally factors in education and length of service as well as job responsibilities.
Eligibility
Licensed Child Care Programs that are eligible for Stabilization Grant funding must:
- Hold a license or be regulated under a notice of compliance by DCDEE on or before March 11, 2021, or
- Hold a current license or a notice of compliance and be eligible to participate in the Subsidized Child Care Assistance Program.
Allowable Uses for Grant Funds
Funds received for Compensation Supports must be spent on personnel costs as described when awarded.
Fixed Cost and Families Grant funds can be used for:
- Tuition Assistance to Families
- Personnel costs, including payroll, salaries, similar employee compensation, employee benefits, retirement costs, educational costs, child care costs; and supporting staff expenses in accessing COVID-19 vaccines;
- Rent (including under a lease agreement) or payment on any mortgage obligation, utilities, or insurance; also, may include late fees or charges related to late payments;
- Facility maintenance or improvements, defined as minor renovations, including outdoor learning spaces/playgrounds, and minor improvements to address COVID-19 concerns;
- Personal protective equipment, cleaning and sanitization supplies and services, or training and professional development related to health and safety practices;
- Purchases of or updates to equipment and supplies to respond to COVID–19;
- Goods and services necessary to maintain or resume child care services;
- Mental health supports for children and employees;
- Health and safety trainings for staff, including but not limited to CPR, First Aid, and medication administration.
Monitoring
DCDEE monitors the stabilization grants program to ensure child care program grantees use funds for allowed uses only and in compliance with the Terms and Conditions. If an audit finds no problems, the child care program will receive a letter notifying them of the audit result. If an audit reveals any issues, the auditor will contact the child care program with any questions or to request documentation. Grantees must cooperate and respond to any instructions from DCDEE auditors.
RESOURCES
TRAINING
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WATCH: Stabilization Grants Training 1 - NC Stabilization Grant Application
Get the slide deck from NC Stabilization Grant Application 2021-2022 (PDF)
WATCH: Stabilization Grants Training 2 - Using Your NC Stabilization Grant
Get the slide deck from Using Your NC Stabilization Grant (PDF)
WATCH: Stabilization Grants Training 3 – Introduction to Quarterly Reporting
Get the slide deck from Introduction to Quarterly Reporting (PDF)
WATCH: Stabilization Grants Training 4 – Recertification Information Session
Get the slide deck from Recertification Information Session