On March 4, 2020, the Governor declared a State of Emergency in California in response to COVID-19. Since then, CCPU fought hard to win several rounds of child care stipends that have been sent out to child care providers serving families who receive subsidized child care. These stipends are meant to help providers with hardships caused by the pandemic such as reduced enrollment, increased teacher-to-child ratios, additional cleaning costs, and other expenses.

Winter 2023 Stipends ($1,442 Per Child)
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and the California Department of Education (CDE) are responsible for issuing the ARPA funding to child care providers and child care and development contractors, and for collecting data about how the funds were used, in order to comply with federal reporting requirements. The CDSS contracted with the Foundation for Community Colleges (Foundation) to send out the stipend funding to Alternative Payment Programs (APPs), direct-service contractors, child care centers and child care providers. Stipend checks will be issued in Winter 2023. Each agency will have their own distribution process and timeline. More information about these stipends will be updated on the subsidized stipend webpage bit.ly/CDSSstipends.

Providers who served children receiving subsidies from the following programs in April 2022 will be eligible for a $1,442 per-child stipend:

• CalWORKs Stages One, Two (C2AP) and Three (C3AP)
• California Alternative Payment Program (CAPP)
• Migrant Alternative Payment Program (CMAP)
• General Child Care and Development Program (CCTR)
• Migrant Child Care and Development Program (CMIG)
• Family Child Care Home Education Network (CFCC)
• Child Care and Development Services for Children with Special Needs (CHAN)
• Emergency Child Care Bridge Program for Foster Children (Bridge Program)

This includes providers who submitted “hold harmless” requests for reimbursement for children normally in their care but who were kept home by their parents due to the pandemic. To be eligible for these stipends, providers must complete the newest version of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA survey) even if you completed one last year. Visit bit.ly/arpaccpu to complete the survey. This survey must be completed by June 1, 2023. More information about the ARPA Survey can be
found on the ARPA Survey Webpage bit.ly/ARPAinfo.