Access to Quality Childcare for Children with Disabilities Grant in District of Columbia

The Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) will issue a Request for Applications to expand the supply of child care options that meet the needs of children with disabilities. Donor Name: Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) State: District of Columbia Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 06/20/2024 Size of the Grant: More than $1 million Grant Duration: 3 Years Details: The purpose of the Access to Quality Child Care for Children with Disabilities Grant is to expand the supply of quality, accessible and affordable child care for infants, toddlers and school-age children with disabilities. The primary objective of this initiative is to provide resources to child development facilities and out-of-school time programs, licensed by OSSE, to create and operate, on an ongoing basis, child care slots specifically designed and equipped to meet the needs of infants, toddlers and school-age children with disabilities, in the context of an inclusive early learning or out-of-school time program. Target Population Infant and Toddler Programs Programs serving infants and toddlers must ensure that children in grant-funded slots meet the following criteria: Age-Children must be at least 6 weeks of age and must not turn 3 years of age before Sept. 30, 2024. Residence-Children must live with a parent(s), guardian(s), or adult with a legal relationship to the child and be a resident of the District of Columbia (DC). Exceptions are made for children in foster care or under the protection of the DC Child and Family Services Agency or the DC Superior Court, who may reside outside of DC, provided they receive care in a District child development facility Disability status-Children shall be eligible to receive grant-funded slots if they meet one of the following criteria: Children with an active Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) at the time of enrollment in the child care facility; and/or Children diagnosed with a medical condition by a certified/licensed therapist or health practitioner, including: Genetic disorders; Sensory impairments; Motor impairments; Neurologic disorders; Sociocommunicative disorders; Medically related disorders; Acquired trauma-related disorders; or Other health impairments as approved by OSSE. Out-of-School Time Programs Out-of-school time programs must ensure that children in grant-funded slots meet the following criteria: Age Children must be at least 5 years of age and younger than 19 years of age. Out-of-school time programs that serve 3- and-4-year-old children in their programs, as well as school-aged children, may consider such children age-eligible for services. Residence Children must live with a parent(s), guardian(s) or adult with a legal relationship to the child and be a resident of DC. Exceptions are made for children in foster care or under the protection of the DC Child and Family Services Agency or the DC Superior Court, who may reside outside of DC, provided they receive care in a District child development facility. Disability status Children shall be eligible to enroll in grant-funded slots if they meet one of the following criteria: Children with an active 504 Accommodation Plan at the time of enrollment into the out-ofschool time program; or Children with an active Individualized Education Plan (IEP) at the time of enrollment into the out-of-school time program. Funding Information The total funding available for this grant is $6 million. OSSE anticipates but does not guarantee, a minimum award amount of $200,000 and a maximum award amount of $4 million. Project Period The total award period for the FY25 Access to Quality Child Care for Children with Disabilities Grant is three years. Eligibility Criteria Eligible applicants for this grant are: Community-based non-profit, for-profit or faith-based organizations that operate licensed child development centers caring for infants and toddlers and/or out-of-school time programs licensed by OSSE; or Consortia of multiple organizations operating child development facilities or out-of-school time programs that agree to work together to support effective implementation of the grant program across multiple facilities and organizations. Operators of child development homes and expanded homes caring for infants and toddlers may apply to participate in a grant as part of a consortium with other operators of child development facilities (including other child development homes or expanded homes, as well as at least one organization that operates a child development center), but applications for grants to support a single child development home or expanded home will not be considered. Consortia and organizational applicants that operate multiple child development facilities must indicate in their application the specific facilities in which services will be provided. Applications submitted on behalf of a consortium must designate one organization participating in the consortium to serve as the lead applicant and fiscal agent for the grant. For more information, visit OSSE.