FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 9, 2021
Meghin Delaney
Communications Director
CONTACT: press@gov.nv.gov
Applications open for funds to support Nevada child care
American Rescue Plan Act funds available for small businesses and families.
Carson City, NV – Today, Governor Steve Sisolak and the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services encourage child care providers to apply for funds to support their programs and reduce costs for families.
As approved in a recent Interim Finance Committee, more than $222 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds are allocated to support child care in the Silver State. Governor Sisolak and the State of Nevada know investing in childcare is critical to all Nevada families and will continue to work on this as a priority.
Applications are being accepted now for funds from the Administration for Children and Families that will be available as stipends for operating costs to help providers stay in business and help existing and newly-recruited child care centers increase revenue.
Funding will be administered by the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Welfare and Supportive Services and by providing these stipends, fewer costs will be passed along to families.
“As I heard during my recent listening tour throughout our state, the accessibility of affordable, high quality child care is critical for all Nevada families as they work and face the challenges of this pandemic,” said Governor Sisolak. “This investment will help stabilize and grow our child care sector by supporting providers and families, as well as ensuring state-level infrastructure is in place to meet continuing needs of parents and employers while giving our children opportunities to learn, grow and succeed.”
The majority of funding is intended to help stabilize and reimagine the child care sector through support for providers (including licensed family child care homes), increased access to child care services and reduced costs to families.
The remaining funds will be used for special rates for underserved populations, an employment training program, and child care subsidies for families in need. Through this program, providers are required to pass along 20% of the stipends to families which can be done by supplying diapers, food, reducing co-pays or other options that benefit working families.
The investment is expected to save Nevada families more than $50 million in child care costs, support more than 750 small businesses and provide more than $50 million in direct financial supports to child care workers.
The Child Care Development Program will partner with organizations throughout the state to administer the funds and implement programs designed to support both child care providers and parents. Partner organizations include The Children’s Cabinet, Las Vegas Urban League, Nevada Association for the Education of Young Children, The Nevada Registry, Nevada Community Health Worker Association, Workforce Connections and the University of Nevada, Reno Cooperative Extension.
For more information or to apply visit the following website.
Eligible applicants include:
- Child care centers licensed in Nevada (with the exception of Head Start)
- Family or group child care licensed in Nevada
- Nevada Out of School Time (OST) providers (excluding city and county parks and recreation programs) as defined by NRS 432A.0278
- License-exempt family child care(family, friend and neighbor) provider participating in subsidy/Child Care and Development Fund
Home-based license exempt provider applications are available and must be submitted no later than December 31, 2021. Licensed and before and after school provider applications must be submitted no later than February 28, 2022.