FROM: Office of Child and Family Services
The following is from a memo sent out on Nov. 14, 2022. FCCAM has added additional information.
CCDF ARPA Discretionary Fund ECCP® Stipend Award Guidance
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) included $14.99 billion in supplemental Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Discretionary Funds. Maine received $45.7 million of these Federal funds. The Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS) will begin a new initiative to further stabilize and support Maine’s child care providers, and continue to place value on the three goals outlined in the Child Care Plan for Maine: increase access, quality, and workforce.
OCFS has allocated $1,455,000 ARPA CCDF Discretionary funds to incentivize child care programs to participate in Maine’s Early Childhood Consultation Partnership (ECCP®) program. Programs that participate in Core Classroom Services or Family Child Care Provider Services through ECCP® are eligible to receive stipends.
OCFS will issue stipends to a maximum of 220 providers through September 30, 2023, or the until funds are exhausted.
Eligibility & Requirements:
- Eligible programs may receive a one-time $5,000 stipend per classroom or family childcare program after completing participation in Core Classroom Services OR Family Child Care Provider Services through September 30, 2023.
- Licensed child care facilities and licensed family child care providers are eligible for stipends. License-exempt and programs licensed solely under the Department of Education, such as a public Pre-K classroom, are not eligible for stipends.
- Stipends will be awarded per classroom. Programs may receive multiple stipends if they meet the criteria below.
- ECCP® Child-Specific Services through ECCP® are not eligible for a stipend.
- Requirements for a completed service include:
- The program must complete all service visits in the Core Classroom OR Family Child Care Provider Service up to and including the one-month follow-up visit.
- To qualify, the head or lead teacher in the classroom or program receiving the Core Classroom OR Family Child Care Provider Service must remain employed by the program and serving as the head or lead teacher in the classroom throughout the service through the one-month follow-up visit. If the head or lead teacher leaves employment or is reassigned to another classroom prior to the one-month follow-up visit, the classroom or program will not be eligible for a stipend.
- Licensed child care facilities and licensed family child care provider programs who have already completed a Core Classroom Service OR Family Child Care Provider Service since January 1, 2021, may be retroactively issued stipends.
- OCFS will identify programs eligible for a retroactive stipend and contact the program directly.
- Programs must allocate a minimum of 30% ($1,500) of each awarded stipend directly to currently employed classroom staff who participated in the Core Classroom OR Family Child Care Provider Service. Staff that are no longer employed by the provider are not required to receive this allocation.
Family Child Care Provider Services (from ECCP® program brochure)
The Family Child Care Provider Service, a specialized version of the Core Classroom service designed for the unique needs and environment of the family or home-based child care provider, is a good resource for providers seeking to improve overall quality, introduce or strengthen social-emotional learning, help children with emotional regulation, improve transitions, or enhance relationships with families. Family Child Care Provider Services involve weekly on-site consultation visits for approximately 8-10 weeks with a one-month follow-up visit.
This service focuses on supporting, coaching, and offering practical strategies to strengthen a provider’s ability to help children express their emotions, manage peer dynamics, and respond effectively to challenging behaviors. Consultation is provided on-site at the program on a weekly basis. This is a strengths-based service that respects each program’s needs and perspectives.
Family Child Care Providers may self-refer their programs.
There is no application to complete. OCFS will identify programs that qualify for the stipend and
contact the program directly once the program has completed an ECCP® Core Classroom Service OR Family Child Care Provider Service.
ECCP® is currently available in the following counties: Androscoggin, Aroostook, Cumberland,
Hancock, Kennebec, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Washington, and York counties. Per recent legislation, ECCP® will be expanding statewide after January 2023.
Maine ECCP® website
For more information on ECCP®, please contact our office at 1-877-680-5866 or 207-624-7991 or ECCPProgram.DHHS@maine.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document to provide further information: ARPA ECCP Stipend FAQ 11.18.22.pdf
fccamaine.com 