Funding Opportunities

Early Educator Pandemic Retention Bonuses

The RI Department of Human Services (DHS) is excited to facilitate the administration of the Early Educator Pandemic Retention Bonus program. This program is funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State Fiscal Recovery Fund (SFRF), as appropriated by Governor Dan McKee and the General Assembly. This program is intended to invest in early educators by offering bonuses to direct child care staff employed at licensed child care providers. Intended to supplement educators’ compensation to support retention and recruitment in the early learning sector, the program will also recognize the vital work that early educators do in supporting the State’s littlest learners. Full time and part-time employees at licensed center or family child care programs ¬ who work directly with children during some portion of the average day may be eligible to apply.

• When should I apply?

  Window	Timeline	Funding Amount	Eligibility Criteria
  Application Window #6	July 3, 2023- July 31, 2023	$750.00	An active full-time or part-time employee of a DHS-licensed child care program Providing direct care to children during some portion of the average day of operation Currently employed at the same DHS-licensed program as of March 1, 2023
  Application Window #7	*October 2, 2023 – October 31, 2023 *These dates are tentative	$750.00	An active full-time or part-time employee of a DHS-licensed child care program Providing direct care to children during some portion of the average day of operation Currently employed at the same DHS-licensed program as of June 1, 2023
  Application Window #8	*January 1-31, 2024 *These dates are tentative	$750.00	An active full-time or part-time employee of a DHS-licensed child care program Providing direct care to children during some portion of the average day of operation Currently employed at the same DHS-licensed program as of September 1, 2023
  Application Window #9	*April 1-30, 2024 *These dates are tentative	$750.00	An active full-time or part-time employee of a DHS-licensed child care program Providing direct care to children during some portion of the average day of operation Currently employed at the same DHS-licensed program as of December 1, 2023
  Application Window #10	July 1-12, 2024	TBD	An active full-time or part-time employee of a DHS-licensed child care program Providing direct care to children during some portion of the average day of operation Currently employed at the same DHS-licensed program as of March 1, 2024

• How do I apply?

  • Step One: Submit an Eligibility Form

    Eligibility Form

    • How to access: The form will gather basic information, including your name, email, DHS-licensed program at which you work, and your role. This form will take approximately 5 minutes. This application may be completed on a computer, tablet or mobile device.
    • Purpose: This Eligibility Form will be used to verify your employment. Information gathered in this form will shared by email with your DHS-licensed program employer for verification of your employment. Once verified, you will be emailed the link to the full application.

  • Step Two: Submit Application

    • How to access: The link to the full application will be sent directly to your email (as submitted in the Eligibility Form) from childcaregrants@pcgus.com. Additional instructions will be included in this email.

  • Step Three: Track Progress of Application

    • Each applicant is responsible for tracking the progress of their application through the bonus process. If you have not received an automated update after Step One or Two, or would like to know the status of your application in the process, you can contact childcaregrants@pcgus.com.

Other Opportunities and Resources

Archived Grant Opportunities for Child Care

Family Child Care Start-Up Grants

The Family Child Care Start-Up Grant program will help increase the number of newly licensed Family Child Care (FCC) providers in the State. Designed to help stabilize the child care sector, the start-up grants will assist providers in opening 100 new FCC homes through grants of up to $2,000 in addition to receiving technical assistance to successfully open. Funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State Fiscal Recovery Fund (SFRF) — as appropriated by Governor Dan McKee and the General Assembly — the grant program will support the need to increase capacity in a vital part of a mixed-delivery system.

The application window will remain open from June 30 to December 15, 2023. If you are interested in becoming a newly licensed Family Child Care provider, please contact ChildCareGrants@pcgus.com or call 833-930-3540 for assistance in English or Spanish.

• Who can apply?

  To be eligible for this grant, you are either:

  1. A recently DHS-licensed Family Child Care provider, (licensed a maximum 30 days prior to submitting this grant application); or
  2. In the process of becoming a DHS-licensed Family Child Care provider.
  3. Previously licensed Family Child Care providers (that is, provider who are not currently licensed but have been licensed in the past) may also be eligible for this grant as they reopen their program, given their previous license was in good-standing at DHS.

  To become a licensed Family Child Care Provider, you must follow all of the instructions outlined by the Center for Early Learning Professions on their website.

• How do I apply?

  You can find the application for the Family Child Care start-up grant here.

  Family Child Care Start Up Grants Application

ReInvigorate Child Care Stabilization Grants

The ReInvigorate Child Care Stabilization Grants program is a grant opportunity for DHS-licensed child care providers to stabilize their business operations and ensure that they can continue providing safe care.

Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS) was awarded federal funds through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 to be directed to eligible child care providers via Child Care Stabilization Grants. Both application windows are now closed.

• Am I eligible for a stabilization grant?

  Any licensed child care provider (or active license-exempt) in the state of Rhode Island that is open, available to provide care or temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic is eligible to receive a grant. The following providers are eligible:

  • Licensed Child Care Center
  • Licensed Family Child Care Home
  • Licensed Group Family Child Care Home
  • Active License-Exempt Provider

• How much will my program receive?

  Provider Type	Monthly Grant Amount	Payment Amount
  Child Care Center	Varies based on number of classrooms and licensed capacity. Monthly grants begin at $4,500 per classroom.	Varies. Centers may receive up to 6 monthly grants based on two separate grant applications and awards (of 3 monthly grants each). A potential 10% Staff Bonus Add-on may be applied to the second award, pending program spending plan. Grants are capped at $50,000 per licensed center per month.
  Family Child Care Home	$2,000	$12,000 (6 monthly grants in 1 lump sum payment)
  Group Family Child Care Home	$3,000	$18,000 (6 monthly grants in 1 lump sum payment)
  License-exempt provider	$400	$2,400 (6 monthly grants in 1 lump sum payment)

• What can the funds be used for?

  Allowable use of funds	Examples
  Equipment or supplies to respond to COVID-19	Purchases of or updates to equipment and supplies to respond to the COVID–19 public health emergency, such as business software upgrades, room dividers, or floor stickers for social distancing.
  Goods or services necessary to maintain child care services	Goods and services necessary to maintain or resume child care services. Goods may include: food, equipment and materials to facilitate play, learning, eating, diapering/toileting, and safe sleep. Services may include business automation training, child care management services, food services, or transportation. This may also include fees associated with licensing and costs associated with meeting licensing requirements.
  Mental Health Supports	Mental health supports for children and employees. This may include: infant and early childhood mental health consultation, or mental health consultations for staff.
  Personnel Costs	Personnel costs, including payroll and salaries or similar compensation for an employee (including any sole proprietor or independent contractor), employee benefits (such as health, dental, or vision insurance; paid sick or family leave; and retirement contributions), premium or hazard pay, or costs for employee recruitment and retention. Personnel costs may also include: ongoing professional development or training, premium or hazard pay, staff bonuses, and employee transportation costs to or from work.
  Personal Protective Equipment	Personal protective equipment, cleaning and sanitization supplies and services, or training and professional development related to health and safety practices.
  Rent or mortgage	Rent (including rent under a lease agreement) or payment on any mortgage obligation, utilities, facility maintenance or improvements, or insurance.