Va. expands access to child care, support for providers
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Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced recently that the state will invest an additional $203.6 million in federal stimulus funds to expand eligibility criteria for the Child Care Subsidy Program and help working families and child care providers hit hard by the pandemic.
Although nearly 90 percent of child care center programs have reopened, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to staffing challenges, revenue shortfalls, and increased operational costs for many providers. Through the additional funding, Virginia will continue to provide stabilization grants to sustain current providers and help closed providers re-open, as well as retention bonuses and scholarships for child care educators. To support families and children in areas where there are few or no options, Virginia will also offer grants to help open new programs.
The expansion of the Child Care Subsidy Program is a result of House Bill 2206, sponsored by Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn and signed into law by Northam, which establishes a new short-term eligibility category for parents seeking financial assistance for child care while they look for work, and temporarily expands income eligibility guidelines for families with young children.
The new income eligibility levels allow families with a household income of up to 85 percent of the state median income to apply if they have a child under age five, or not yet in kindergarten. Funding for the new eligibility category comes from federal coronavirus relief funds dedicated to child care assistance that Virginia received through the December stimulus package.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the immense value of quality, accessible child care for Virginia families,” said Speaker Filler-Corn. “These times have been incredibly hard on parents balancing the need to put food on the table while having to look after their children at home."
For details about child care assistance in Virginia, visit ChildCareVA.com. Families can learn more about expanded eligibility and how to apply here.
