Stabilizing Child Care for a Thriving Alaska

Then, Now and Next

From the onset of COVID-19, Alaska’s child care system has faced incredible challenges. While residents were asked to stay home, Alaska’s child care programs stayed open to support essential workers, and eventually those families returning to the workplace or needing care.  But two years of fluctuating enrollments, costly adaptations to local health and safety mandates, and workforce issues left many of these (small) businesses at risk of collapse. 

In many ways child care is the backbone of our economy. It supports all other sectors working. Beginning in 2020, federal relief funding provided a critical lifeline to child care across the country.

The State of Alaska Child Care Program Office (CCPO) in partnership with thread, Alaska’s Child Care Resource & Referral Network, embraced the mission of distributing federal relief funds to Alaska’s child care system to help stabilize child care businesses and retain workers.

With dedicated funding to stabilize child care in Alaska, it was determined to administer grants in phases in order to encourage short and long-term stability in the system. As of September 1, three grant programs have been administered in Alaska with funding from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Act (CRRSA) and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Input from the field has been gathered along the way to help inform where assistance is most needed for the next phase.

The grant programs have directly impacted the ability of a majority of licensed child care businesses to stay open and early educators to remain teaching. Today, more than 90% of child care businesses are open, although still struggling.

A final phase is planned for Winter 2022-23, to distribute the remaining funding of $24M allocated for child care stabilization. The application will be available on the thread website before the end of the calendar year.

Thank you for processing the (Phase 1) stabilization grant money. I borrowed from set aside tax money to get through COVID through the constant closures and parents not able to pay. It was a business decision I didn’t like making. I had to arrange a payment plan with the IRS which added stress to my already stressed business. I just got my grant check and thought I was hallucinating. Thank you for all you are doing to get this money to providers who really need it and appreciate it .

Child Care Program Administrator
Matanuska-Susitna Valley
October 2021

Funding Timeline & Impact

September-December 2021
American Rescue Plan (ARPA)
Phase 1 – Child Care Stabilization Grant
Phase 1 – Child Care Stabilization Grant
Total Grants Distributed Statewide: $4,549,700

Purpose
  • Short-term assistance for licensed child care programs to remain open.

Impact 
  • Total Programs Awarded: 398
  • Average Payout: $11,431
  • Children Enrolled (self report): 9,073
  • Desired Enrollment (self report): 14,401

Status of Child Care at Phase I 
  • Majority of child care programs owners were concerned about their future business stability.
  • Ninety-six owners were not receiving a salary in order to cover operational expenses.
  • Child care enrollment was down overall, specifically in child care centers and after-school programs.
  • Child care programs were experiencing labor shortages.
  • Family access to child care was worse than pre-COVID, especially for children with special needs.
December 2021-January 2022
Coronavirus Response & Relief Supplemental Act (CRRSA)
Alaska SEED ROOTs Award
Alaska SEED ROOTs Award
Total Awards Distributed Statewide: $4,407,000
(as of June 1, 2022) 

Purpose

  • Retain the child care workforce.

 

Impact 

  • Total Early Educators Approved: 1,469
  • Payout: $3,000 per person

 

 

 

Application period is closed, and final applications are being processed. Watch this space for final impact and findings.

 

 

January-June 2022
American Rescue Plan (ARPA)
Phase 2 – Child Care Stabilization Grant
Phase 2 – Child Care Stabilization Grant
Total Grants Distributed Statewide: $12,284,250
(as of June 1, 2022)

 

Purpose

  • Stabilize licensed child care programs.

 

Impact 

  • Total Programs Awarded: 296
  • Average Payout: $41,925

 

Phase 2 closed on June 1, and applications are still being processed.  Watch this space for final impact and findings.

December 2022 - Q1 2023
American Rescue Plan (ARPA) and Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA)
Phase 3 – Child Care Stabilization Grant
Phase 3 – Child Care Stabilization Grant
Total Grants Distributed Statewide: $41,233,163  

Breakdown of funding distributed:

  • $29.9M stabilization grants
  • $4.8M workforce initiative
  • Remaining amount was awarded based on location supported by the Municipality of Anchorage’s Assembly and Mayor’s Office, and the Mat-Su Health Foundation.

 

 

Purpose

  • Stabilize licensed child care programs.
  • Support programs in developing workforce initiatives for retention/recruitment of staff.
  • Included additional community-based grants, made possible by the Municipality of Anchorage’s Assembly and Mayor’s Office, and the Mat-Su Health Foundation.

 

Impact 

  • Total Programs Awarded: 378
  • Total Programs Awarded Workforce Initiative: 278
  • Total Programs Awarded Location Based: 214

 

Phase 3 Child Care Stabilization Grant – Regional Impact

Click on the region below to view regional distribution of grants.

Phase 2 Child Care Stabilization Grant – Regional Impact

Click on the region below to view regional distribution of grants.

Phase 1 Child Care Stabilization Grant – Regional Impact

Click on the region below to view regional distribution of grants.

I experienced burn out to a level that I had to reduce my work hours significantly for months to reset myself to be able to care for children and myself the way we deserve. I’m spending this (Alaska SEED ROOTs) award on the rising cost of childcare for my child, and on my mental health needs.

– Early Educator, Juneau