Georgia child care providers are now eligible to take their share of $80 million in grant funds from the federal American Rescue Plan under the Georgia Child Care Services Health and Safety Grant. Eligible centers and learning homes can get $5,000-$40,000 each to be used on health and safety resources.
Do you qualify? How much money could you get, and what are the guidelines for spending it? What is the deadline to spend the funds? We are here to help! Kaplan has been named an approved vendor for the Health & Safety Grants and we have a decades-long history of supporting Georgia educators as they apply for grants and spend their funding dollars for the greatest impact.
To help you navigate this new funding opportunity, we put together an easy-to-understand guide that will help you get smart on the CCS Health & Safety Grant, walk you through the application process, provide clarity on what the funds can be spent on, and some tricks to getting the most out of your funding dollars.
What is the Georgia Child Care Services Health and Safety Grant?
As part of President Biden's American Rescue Plan Act, Georgia has $80 million to spend on child-care providers’ purchases of equipment and materials that support compliance with health and safety regulations (read more on the regulations below).
Funds must be received and spent through a third party online platform called ClassWallet, using only Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) approved vendors, which includes Kaplan.
For a detailed run-down of the program, click here.
How much money is available through the Georgia CCS Health and Safety Grants?
Now through March 2024, eligible centers can apply to receive their share of the $80 million, which will be allocated in awards ranging from $5,000 to $40,000. The awards are issued on a sliding scale, based on the center’s licensed capacity.
Here’s the great news: You don’t have to apply for eligibility! All licensed child-care programs in Georgia are automatically eligible.
If you have a question about how much your center will receive, contact CCSHealthSafetyGrants@decal.ga.gov
Who is eligible for the CCS Health and Safety Grants?
Any open, operating and licensed Georgia Child Care Learning Center and Family Child Care Learning Homes that are currently serving children are eligible to receive funds.
If your center was granted permission to operate after the initial list of funding was awarded in 2023, you should be able to become eligible in the second phase.
What is the timeline for receiving and spending funds for the CCS Health and Safety Grant?
The Georgia Health & Safety Grants will be distributed in two phases, based on licensed capacity. The deadline to spend funds is based on the phase you fall into:
- March 20, 2023-Sept. 30, 2023 – Grants awarded to eligible centers and learning homes with licensed capacity up to 100 children.
- All grant money must be spent by Sept. 30, 2023.
- Oct. 2, 2023-March 31, 2024 – Grants awarded to eligible centers and learning homes with licensed capacity of 101 or more children.
- All grant money must be spent by March 31, 2024.
- All school-age programs that operate in public school buildings, regardless of capacity, will be awarded in the second phase.
What can I purchase under the Health & Safety grant guidelines?
You can use your Health & Safety grant dollars on all items that support compliance with health and safety rules and regulations, found here.
- Sleep & Resting
- CPSC-approved cribs
- Evacuation cribs
- Cots/mats
- Crib sheets
- Diapering
- Location Safety
- Playground
The grants will be used to cover all costs of the purchase, including taxes and shipping.
Need help putting together an order with approved materials? Click here to find your Georgia territory sales rep.
How do I start spending my Georgia CCS Health & Safety Grant dollars?
First, read above to check that you are ordering within the correct timeline for your licensed occupancy. Next, look for an email from ClassWallet - they are sending to the email address associated with your DECAL KOALA account. Follow the directions in the email to login and verify your ClassWallet account. New users must login and activate the account online within 30 calendar days of the day the account was first funded.
Didn’t get an email? Contact CCSHealthSafetyGrants@decal.ga.gov
Finally, start shopping! All purchases will be reviewed by DECAL, so it may take 3-5 business days to process an order.
If you have questions about the ClassWallet platform, email help@classwallet.com
Who is an approved vendor for the Health & Safety Grants?
All DECAL approved vendors will be available within your ClassWallet account, which is updated as new vendors are approved.
Currently, all of the top child-care supply vendors are approved, including Kaplan, Discount School Supply, Becker’s School Supplies, Lakeshore Learning, and School Specialty.
Still need help? We have you covered! The Georgia territory reps are experts on the CCS Health & Safety Grants and are here to walk you through your process.
