You are on this page: Invest in New York - Child Care Deserts Grant for New Providers
On Friday, October 21 OCFS announced the award recipients for the Invest in New York: Child Care Deserts RFA 2 Grant for Existing Providers. 418 providers were awarded, and all applicants should have received an email informing them of their application status. We thank you for your patience as there was a large amount of interest in the funding opportunity.
If you have questions on your award status, please reach out to your CCR&R. If you would like to complete your expense report, you can do so here:
If you are an award recipient, you can read more information on the grant requirements and find useful information in the Resources for Grant Recipients section.
Child Care Deserts Help Line: 844-863-9320
Hours: Monday - Friday: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Contents
Program Overview
New York State identified $100M to build and expand child care capacity in areas with the least supply. Utilizing funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), child care desert funding represents an unprecedented opportunity and investment to build capacity and strengthen the state’s economy, by addressing the issues that impact businesses including chronic absence, productivity reductions and turnover due to inadequate options for quality child care in the most needed parts of the state.
Child Care Desert Definition
The standard definition of a child care desert involves not having enough licensed/registered child day care slots to adequately serve the number of children in a geographic area. For this funding opportunity, the geographic area used to measure population is a census tract. An area is identified as a child care “desert” if there are three or more children under the age of five per available child care slot in local day care centers, family day care, or group family day care programs.
OCFS and the Council on Children and Families (CCF) have created an online mapping tool illustrating the locations of New York State’s child care deserts, which are the areas eligible for funding under the request for applications (RFA). To view the detailed REDC Child Care Deserts map visit bit.ly/cc_deserts.
Important Dates
- Invest in NY Child Care awards were announced on July 25, 2022.
- Second round award announcements were made on February 10, 2023.
- Payments will be made no later than June 30, 2024.
- Final contracts will be issued once the program’s license/registration is completed.
Resources for Grant Recipients
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Invest in New York: Child Care Deserts Grant 2nd Annual Meeting
- Child Care Deserts Expense Report Tip Sheet
Informe de gastos de la subvención para desiertos Hoja de recomendaciones - Child Care Deserts RFA 1 Welcome Packet
RFA 1 Paquete de bienvenida - RFA 1 – Invest in NY Child Care Emergency Request for Applications (RFA) for New Programs
- NYS Department of Labor Business Engagement Overview: NYS Department of Labor Business Engagement Overview Video | NYS Department of Labor Business Engagement Overview Webinar Slides
- Departamento de Trabajo del Estado de Nueva York Servicios Empresariales: Departamento de Trabajo del Estado de Nueva York Servicios Empresariales Video | Departamento de Trabajo del Estado de Nueva York Servicios Empresariales Webinar Slides
- RFA 1 Tip Sheet - English
RFA 1 Tip Sheet - Spanish - Child Care Deserts Annual Meeting Slide Deck
Child Care Program Sustainability Plan
- Child Care Program Sustainability Plan Process Guide
Proceso para cargar el plan de sustentabilidad - Child Care Program Sustainability Plan Template
Plantilla del plan de sustentabilidad del Programa de Cuidado Infantil - DCC.SACC Budget Worksheet
DCC.SACC Hoja de trabajo de presupuesto - FDC.GFDC Budget Worksheet
FDC.GFDC Hoja de trabajo de presupuesto
Child and Adult Care Food Programs
The Division of Nutrition, Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is excited to partner with the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) to engage new child care providers who were recently awarded funding to build and expand child care capacity in child care deserts. As a first step, CACFP created a prerecorded outreach webinar that child care centers can view at their own pace to learn more about CACFP, benefits of participating, program requirements, reimbursement rates and how to apply.
- CACFP Webinar January 2023:
CACFP Webinar January 2023 Video | CACFP Webinar January 2023 Webinar Slides
Spanish/Español - CACFP Webinar January 2023 Spanish Video | CACFP Webinar January 2023 Spanish Webinar Slides
Helpful CACFP Resources
- Together We Can Raise Heathy Children flyer
- Good Nutrition Pays flyer
- Child Meal Pattern
- Infant Meal Pattern
- Crediting Foods in CACFP guide
- Sample Child and Adult Care Menus
- Sample Infant Menus
Grant Awardees
Note: Total Award amounts are projected and can be reduced based on deliverable performance.
- Child Care Provider Grant Recipient Update - January 2023
1099 Form Information
Información del formulario 1099
Frequently Asked Questions
- When will awards be announced?
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Awards for the Invest in NY Child Care Deserts grant for new providers were announced on July 25, 2022 via email to the grant applicants.
- How many providers applied for the grants and how many were awarded?
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Over 1,700 providers applied for the grant and 344 providers were awarded statewide.
- Why was I not funded?
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- Unfortunately, OCFS was not able to award grants to everyone who applied. Awards were distributed across New York State to providers seeking to open programs, based on the score that applicants received when completing their grant application, until all funds were exhausted.
- Where can I go if I have questions?
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- Please reach out to your local Child Care Resource & Referral Agency (CCR&R) on the licensing or registration process. If you are unsure of your CCR&R you can reach out to the Child Care Deserts hotline at 1-844-863-9320 and they can assist you in finding this information.
- Have more questions?
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- Download the Complete FAQ
Complete FAQ English (Updated July 26, 2022)
Preguntas frecuentes Español (Updated August 18, 2022) - RFA1 Responses to Questions:
RFA1 Responses to Questions English (Updated May 27, 2022)
RFA1 Responses to Questions Español (Updated June 9, 2022)
- Download the Complete FAQ
- The complete FAQ is also available in other languages.
• عربى • বাংলা • 中文 • Français • Kreyòl Ayisyen • Italiano • 한국어 • Polskie • Pусский • יידיש • -
- Arabic / عربى: أسئلة مكررة
- Bengali / বাংলা: প্রায়শই জিজ্ঞাসিত প্রশ্ন FAQ
- Chinese, traditional / 中文: 常見問題
- French / Français: Foire aux questions
- Haitian Creole / Kreyòl Ayisyen: Kesyon yo poze souvan
- Italian / Italiano: Domande frequenti
- Korean / 한국어: 자주 묻는 질문
- Polish / Polskie: Często Zadawane Pytania
- Russian / Pусский: Часто задаваемые вопросы
- Yiddish / יידיש: אָפֿט געשטעלטע פֿראגן
Resources for Navigating the Application Portal
- How to Show Proof of Insurance - Proof of Insurance English | Proof of Insurance Español
- Update: How to Submit Additional Documentation - Additional Documentation (Updated) English | Additional Documentation Español
- Step 6: Vendor Responsibility - Vendor Responsibility English | Vendor Responsibility Español
- Step 6: Completing the Vendor Responsibility Questionnaire (Video) - STep 6 Video English
Find Child Care Deserts in NY
To view the detailed REDC Child Care Deserts map you can select the map below or visit bit.ly/cc_deserts.
Child Care Deserts Map Instructions: Child Care Deserts Map Instructions English | Child Care Deserts Map Instructions Español
Child Care Deserts Map Instructional Video: Child Care Deserts Map Instructional Video English | Child Care Deserts Map Instructional Video Español
(Supporting data used to create the Child Care Deserts map.)
Find Child Care Priorities in your Region
Child Care Resource and Referral agencies (CCR&Rs) collaborated with their REDC and other stakeholders to compile the child care priorities for their region. Potential applicants should review the priorities for their region to learn more about the needs of parents and families.
- Capital District Regional Priorities
- Central New York Regional Priorities
- Finger Lakes Regional Priorities
- Long Island Regional Priorities
- Mid-Hudson Regional Priorities
- Mohawk Valley Regional Priorities
- New York City Regional Priorities
- North Country Regional Priorities
- Southern Tier Regional Priorities
- Western New York Regional Priorities
Resources for Understanding the Child Care Deserts Program
General Requirements of RFA1 for New Providers
All interested parties must complete the OCFS Child Day Care Orientation before applying for the Invest in NY Child Care Grant for New Providers. After completing the Orientation, applicants can request a licensing application.
Programs applying to become an NYC DOHMH Article 47 day care center, must attend a pre-permit orientation (check the box next to “Group Child Care and Summer Camp Orientation Sessions”, then click “Continue” at the bottom of the page) before applying for a new permit. After you have attended that orientation, you can apply for a permit for a new child care program.
All awarded programs will be expected to enroll and participate in the QUALITYStarsNY program.
Additional Information
- Press Release
- Child Care Deserts Informational Flyer - Child Care Deserts Informational Flyer in English | Child Care Deserts Informational Flyer in Spanish
- Council on Children and Families – Child Care Deserts Resources
- Regional Economic Development Councils Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) Projects
- NYS Birth Through Five Project – Early Childhood Resources
- Blending and Braiding Funds to Support Early Childhood Education Programs
- NYS Parent Portal
- Pyramid Model Implementation in NYS
- Early Childhood Career Development Centers
- Early Childhood Factsheet: Snapshot of New York's Youngest Children (Ages 0-5)
- Start a Business in New York State
- New York State Business Wizard
- Child Care Deserts RFA#1 Applications Dashboard - May 20, 2022
Resources for Opening a Child Care Center
If you are new to child care and looking to open a facility for the first time the following resources are provided to assist you with this process.
For more information on the training needed to become licensed, visit the OCFS Child Care Training site. You can also check out Orientation Sessions in your area on how to open a child care program
- OCFS Child Care Training
- Child Care Deserts Statewide Informational Sessions by Region
Spanish / Español: Desiertos de Cuidado Infantil Sesiones Informativas por Región
Technical Assistance and Support
Child Care Resource and Referral agencies are key partners in assisting with the child care provider licensing process. Statewide, there are 35 CCR&Rs covering every county. To find out who your CCR&R is, check the OCFS Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies directory.
For more information on becoming a New York City permitted Article 47 child care center, visit the NYC Group Child Care (Center-based) — Information for Operators site.
For more information on the training need to become licensed, visit the OCFS Child Care Training site.
Promotional Images
The following graphics are available to promote the Child Care Deserts opportunity.
Ads and Banners
- Child Care Deserts Banner 1 - 728x90 ( Banner 1 - 728x90 Spanish / Español )
- Child Care Deserts Banner 2 - 728x90 ( Banner 2 - 728x90 Spanish / Español )
- Child Care Deserts Sidebar - 160x600 ( Sidebar - 160x600 Spanish / Español )
- Child Care Deserts Ad - 300x250 ( Ad - 300x250 Spanish / Español )
- Child Care Deserts Ad - 300x600 ( Ad - 300x600 Spanish / Español )
- Child Care Deserts Ad - 320x50 ( Ad - 320x500 Spanish / Español )
- Child Care Deserts Ad - 970x250 ( Ad - 970x250 Spanish / Español )
For Facebook
For Snapchat
- Child Care Deserts Snapchat 1 ( Snapchat Ad 1 Spanish / Español )
- Child Care Deserts Snapchat 2 ( Snapchat Ad 2 Spanish / Español )
For Twitter
- Child Care Deserts Twitter 1 ( Twitter Ad 1 Spanish / Español )
- Child Care Deserts Twitter 2 ( Twitter Ad 2 Spanish / Español )
Child Care Deserts Help Line
- Contact us by phone:
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Child Care Deserts Help Line: 844-863-9320
- Hours:
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M-F: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.