Reminder: the final payment for the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Child Care Stabilization Grant (which began September 2021 and ends August 2022) will be sent out mid-September 2022.
The Early Childhood Educators Salary Supplemental Program was passed into law by Maine’s Legislature this past session. The passed Bill covers many areas intended to support the child care workforce, including wage supplements. As of September 2022, the workforce wage supplement payments are to be $200 per month with the first payments arriving mid-October 2022.
The Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS) is currently developing the complete guidelines for this new program. Once completed they will be issued to all providers. In regards to the wage supplement, FCCAM’s understanding is that family child care providers are being considered “staff” within their program.
Again to eliminate confusion, this Salary Supplemental Program is not an extension of the federally funded APRA Child Care Grant. This is a totally new program funded by the State.
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