Child Care Workforce Retention and Recruitment Grant Program

The Child Care Workforce Retention and Recruitment (CCWRR) Grant Program provides immediate support to child care providers for hiring qualified staff and retaining existing staff by providing financial assistance to help all regulated child care providers with workforce recruitment and retention costs to support the network of child care staff in Arizona. These funds are made available to Arizona through the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), as appropriated through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), 2020.

The Child Care Workforce Retention and Recruitment Grant is intended to help child care providers with salaries and benefits for employees, and bonus incentives for hiring and retention. For child care centers and group homes with staff, the CCWRR Grant funds must be used for salaries and benefits for employees, and bonus incentives for hiring and retention. Group Homes and Family child care homes without staff will not be held to the requirement to spend grant funds on salaries and benefits, and may spend funds on a variety of expenses including: DHS licensing fees, liability insurance, tuition and registration relief for families, lease and mortgage payments, utilities, cleaning supplies, classroom materials and supplies, and additional supplies required by CDC and DHS guidelines.

Beginning May 7, 2021, providers will need to apply for the CCWRR Grant Program.  Applications will only be accepted from May 7, 2021 to May 31, 2021. Grants are not competitive, meaning if a child care provider submits a complete application, is eligible, and agrees to the grant program terms, they will receive funding. Applicants must be open and providing child care services at the time of application and for the duration of the grant, through August 31, 2021. Child care providers will have until September 30, 2021 to spend the grant funds.

The CCWRR grant awards will be calculated utilizing a per child rate (rate to be determined based on the total number of approved applicants) for each enrolled child who was enrolled at the child care placement and attended at least one day of care in January 2020, up to the licensed/certified capacity. Exceptions to the January 2020 utilization will only be made if the provider did not open until after January 2020.

Each Child Care Workforce Retention and Recruitment Grant Program grantee is required to submit a monthly report regarding capacity and enrollment. Please visit the Frequently Asked Questions page for more information. For any additional questions regarding the Child Care Workforce Retention and Recruitment Grant Program, please email [email protected].

The application is now closed.  Applicants will receive notice of grant application status by June 18, 2021.

Frequently Asked Questions Monthly Reporting