Georgia Child Care Programs Invited to Apply for STABLE Payments

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Funds Will Help Providers Remain Open or Reopen After Financial Impact of COVID-19

All licensed Georgia child care providers are invited to apply for Short Term Assistance Benefit for Licensed Entities (STABLE) payments from the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL). These payments represent the first phase of administering $144 million Georgia received under the federal Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

STABLE payments may be used to pay for salaries and benefits for:

  • lead teachers, assistant teachers, and other employees;
  • substitute teachers;
  • tuition relief for families;
  • lease or mortgage payments;
  • utilities;
  • cleaning supplies;
  • classroom materials and supplies;
  • unreimbursed food; and
  • additional supplies required by CDC guidelines.

“We know family child care learning homes and child care learning centers in Georgia are struggling as a result of COVID-19,” said DECAL Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs. “To expedite these payments, we are developing a simple application that will ask providers to describe how they will use the funds. The amount of funding a provider receives will be based on their attendance before COVID-19 and on their current status, open or closed.”

Providers can apply for STABLE through May 15, 2020, using DECAL’s KOALA portal for child care providers.

Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, Governor Brian P. Kemp has allowed licensed child care to remain open to serve children and families. However, with more families staying at home, attendance significantly declined except for the children of first responders and essential workers. Approximately 1,700 of Georgia’s 4,449 licensed child care programs remain open.

“Georgia’s child care providers have found themselves in an unimaginable position wanting to serve the children and families of their communities while protecting the health and safety of their staff and their own families,” said Jacobs. “DECAL has supported and will continue to support all members of the early childhood community—those who made the difficult decision to close and those who chose to remain open. Neither decision was easy, and we want to help all providers return to full capacity as Georgia’s economy rebounds.”


Contact:
Reg Griffin
DECAL Communications Director
404-656-0239
reg.griffin@decal.ga.gov

Bill Valladares
GaFCP Communications Director
404-739-0043
william@gafcp.org

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Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning is responsible for meeting the child care and early education needs of Georgia’s children and their families. It administers the nationally recognized Georgia’s Pre-K Program, licenses child care centers and home-based child care, administers Georgia’s Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS) program, federal nutrition programs, and manages Quality Rated, Georgia’s community powered child care rating system. The department also houses the Head Start State Collaboration Office, distributes federal funding to enhance the quality and availability of child care, and works collaboratively with Georgia child care resource and referral agencies and organizations throughout the state to enhance early care and education.

Georgia Family Connection Partnership (GaFCP) is a public-private partnership created by the State of Georgia and investors from the private sector to assist communities in addressing the serious challenges facing children and families. GaFCP also serves as a resource to state agencies across Georgia that work to improve the conditions of children and families. Georgia KIDS COUNT provides policymakers and citizens with current data they need to make informed decisions regarding priorities, services, and resources that impact Georgia’s children, youth, families, and communities.