Expanding Access to High-Quality Care

Last Reviewed Date
January 25, 2023

child care stabilization grants logo

These resources can help CCDF Lead Agencies and policymakers use ARP Act supplemental funding to do the following:

  • Increase provider payment rates
  • Explore the use of grants and contracts to increase the number of available child care slots
  • Increase wages for early childhood education and child care professionals
  • Expand access to high-quality care by building the supply for underserved populations

Estimating the Impact of Improved Subsidy Payment Practices

This webinar explains how the Provider Cost of Quality Calculator (PCQC) can be used for a narrow cost analysis or to estimate program costs associated with policy decisions. 

Increasing Base Payment Rates: Implementation Guide to ARP Act CCDF Discretionary Supplemental Funds

This guide outlines strategies for increasing subsidy payment rates for direct child care services.

Guidance on Estimating and Reporting the Costs of Child Care

This guidance supports Lead Agencies and their partners as they prepare detailed reports and create cost estimates to inform their rate setting.

CCDF Budget Calculator Instructions

The CCDF Budget Calculator is intended to help Lead Agencies understand the impact of three common factors on the CCDF budget.

Increasing Subsidy Payments and Setting Rates Including Cost of Care: Requirements and Options

This webinar will help Lead Agencies understand the requirements and options for including cost-of-care information when setting subsidy rates.

Supporting Reliable Subsidy Revenue for Child Care Providers While Maintaining Program Integrity

A webinar for CCDF Lead Agencies about the requirements and flexibilities that promote provider- friendly payment policies.

Profiles of Innovation: New Mexico Subsidy Rate Increases Based on Cost of Care

The New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department worked in partnership with external fiscal consultants to develop a robust alternative methodology.

Improving Payment Practices: Implementation Guide to ARP Act CCDF Discretionary Supplemental Funds

This guide outlines strategies for increasing subsidy revenue for providers, including payment by enrollment, flexible attendance policies, and paying prospectively.

Tips for Completing a Narrow Cost Analysis

This webinar taught participants how to use available data and the Provider Cost of Quality Calculator to conduct a narrow cost analysis.

Child Care Cost Estimation Modeling to Inform Decisionmaking

This webinar explains the stages of developing cost models and how cost models can inform policy decisions.

Implementation Guide: Strategies to Support Use of Contracts for Child Care Slots

This brief provides states, territories and Tribes with research to support the need and benefits of inclusive environments.

Innovative Strategies to Support Use of Contracts in Child Care Systems

This implementation guide focuses on the use of contracts to stabilize child care and support overall improvements to the child care system.

Increasing Workforce Compensation Implementation Guide: Immediate Relief for the Workforce

The Office of Child Care recommends CCDF Lead Agencies use funds to expand access to high-quality child care by increasing provider compensation.

Provider Cost of Quality Calculator and The New Normal: What Is the Impact on Provider Costs?

This one-pager explains how the PCQC can help states, territories, and tribes understand the costs of mitigating COVID-19 in ECE settings.

Out-of-School Time Professional Development System Building Toolkit

This toolkit was designed to assist states as they build professional development systems inclusive of school-age providers.

Provider Cost of Quality Calculator

This tool is for estimating the annual costs and revenue of operating a center or home-based child care program at different quality levels.

Developing a Staffed Family Child Care Network: A Technical Assistance Manual

This technical assistance manual provides key considerations and questions necessary to implement Family Child Care (FCC) networks.

Staffed FCC Networks: A Research-Informed Strategy for Supporting High-Quality Family Child Care

This brief describes the support a staffed family child care (FCC) network can provide and the value it brings to the FCC profession.

Staffed Family Child Care Network Cost Estimation Tool

This tool is designed to assist state, regional and local organizations in better understanding the costs of operating a staffed family child care network.

Resource Guide: Starting and Operating a Child Care Business

This resource guide presents some basic steps to consider when planning and operating a child care business.

Using Child Care Subsidies to Support Special Populations

This brief highlights mechanisms for identifying special populations and strategies Lead Agencies can use to support access to child care.