Special COVID-19 Child Care Financial Aid
UPDATE NOVEMBER 16TH, 2020
Applications for the COVID-19 Child Care Financial Aid Fund are DUE by MONDAY NOVEMBER 23rd 2020.
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UPDATE NOVEMBER 4TH, 2020
The COVID-19 Child Care Financial Aid Fund has been EXPANDED!
The program has been expanded to include, not just Essential Workers, but families whose child care needs have been impacted by COVID-19. Situations such as work schedules changing or families requiring new care arrangements may now qualify for financial assistance. An additional expansion of eligibility now covers care for kids up to 8 years old!
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In response to the current national health and economic crisis, and in collaboration with the Douglas County CARES Act, Positive Bright Start announces the COVID-19 Child Care Financial Aid Program. The goal of the program is to provide tuition assistance for Essential Workers and families whose child care needs have been impacted by COVID-19, in Douglas County, who need child care for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school age children up to age 8.
Who qualifies?
Funds will be awarded to income eligible essential worker families and families whose care needs have been impacted by COVID-19 who reside in Douglas County, Kansas.
Essential Workers include those who work in healthcare and emergency services, agriculture and food production (including grocery store and restaurant workers), government workers, education and childcare workers, those who work in transportation services, and more! You can find a comprehensive list of Essential Workers on the Kansas Hero Relief Fund website.
Families whose care needs have been impacted by COVID-19 may include scenarios such as work schedule changes, a child care center closing, the temporary withdrawal of a child from care because of unemployment or economic hardship, or any other situation where in child care needs changed due to COVID-19.
Income eligibility is determined on a sliding scale, depending on a family's income, up to 240% of the Federal Poverty Level, or, a monthly income of up to $5,240 for a family of four.
How it works:
Download, print, and fill out the 2020 COVID-19 Child Care Financial Aid Application and return it along with supporting documents to us at Positive Bright Start. You may return a physical copy to us, or mail or email it. Please call our office at 785-842-9679, if you'd like to pick up a paper copy of the application, if you need copies made of your supporting documents, or require any other accommodation.
Applications will be accepted beginning September 1st, 2020.
Your application will be reviewed and you will be notified of approval or ineligibility. Please note that incomplete applications with missing supporting documentation will delay processing.
Upon approval, funds will be paid directly to a licensed early child care and education program participating in the Douglas County Hero Relief Program. (Unsure if your care provider is a participant? Ask them! or our Scholarship Administrator Sunday can find out for you.) Families will receive their monthly tuition assistance from August 1st through December 31st, 2020. Backpay tuition can be paid to the care provider, in an arrangement at the care provider's discretion.
With questions contact: Sunday Monson sunday@positivebrightstart.org or call (785) 842-9679.
The Douglas County Hero Relief Program -- COVID 19 Child Care Financial Aid Fund, is a partnership between Federal CARES Act, Federal Coronavirus Relief Fund, Douglas County Hero Relief Fund, ChildCare Aware of Eastern Kansas, Success by 6 Douglas County, and Positive Bright Start.