GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR FILLING CHILD CARE GAPS

( WILMINGTON, DE) -- The Family & Workplace Connection (FWC) is looking to award grants to Delaware child care providers to increase the supply of safe, healthy, quality child care where shortages exist. The grants are available through the Delaware Child Care Capacity-Building Program. Delaware Health and Social Services contracts with FWC to manage the program, which seeks to increase the availability of school-age care, infant and toddler care, care for children with disabilities, care during non-traditional hours, and care for mildly ill children for low-income children. Funds come from the federal Child Care Development Fund. Providers interested in obtaining grants during the next funding round must submit a proposal by February 27, 2006.

The Family & Workplace Connection will award grants to child care providers who meet the criteria for expanding, enhancing, or creating programs to fill identified gaps. Approximately 25% of grant funds are available for incentive grants to help increase the quality of existing programs. The remaining 75% is designated for competitive grants to assist providers with start-up expenses and first-year operating costs related to expansion. Two rounds of competitive grants will be available through a Request for Proposal process, in which child care providers will detail their capacity-building plans. Providers will be able to use funds for training, staff-related expenses, and for the purchase of equipment and supplies. Providers who are interested in applying can call 302-479-1699 or visit The Family & Workplace Connection’s website at www.familyandworkplace.org.

The capacity-building program has been in existence since late 1997. Since the program’s inception, FWC has awarded over $1,035,543 to 407 programs. Over 5,500 new child care slots were created, including about 1,330 for infants/toddlers, 2,626 for school-agers, and 142 for children with disabilities. In addition, 79 programs began offering care during non-traditional hours. All provide services to low-income children. Other aspects of the program include mentoring, training, community resource linkages, and a data collection plan to identify existing gaps and track successful initiatives.

The mission of The Family & Workplace Connection is to enhance the supply and quality of care and education for children and elders and to help families effectively manage their work and personal life responsibilities.

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