The Child Care COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Award application is now open. Deadline for submitting applications is Feb. 12, 2021.
The one-time award of $600 is paid to eligible child care employees and child care support staff of Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) certified child care providers. This award is paid through Early Learning Resource Centers (ELRC) on behalf of Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) directly to eligible certified child care providers. DHS certified child care provider’s owner/operator/director will apply on behalf of their eligible child care employees and child care support employees currently working directly with children for a minimum of 20 paid hours a week and employed at the child care agency as of Jan. 1, 2021. Holiday, sick or other approved time off will not be considered when determining the eligibility criteria of working a minimum of 20 paid hours a week. This requirement pertains to the employees regularly scheduled work week. The child care eligible employees will be paid directly by the DHS certified child care provider’s owner/operator/director.