New Mexico Daycare and Child Care Grants
A daycare grant is a form of financial assistance given by the United States government to child daycare centers. The US government grants this free money to such centers because they allow parents to be productive and continue to contribute to the positive growth of the country’s economy. To show its support to all people, the government has other types of grants for other purposes as well, like scientific research, education and opening of new businesses. If you are interested in opening your own daycare center and lack the necessary funds for this purpose, you can apply for a daycare grant. The good thing about grants is that you don’t need to repay the money back as long as you spend the profits on building up you daycare center. But don’t be too happy just yet because it is not easy to get one. You may have to go through the needle’s eye in order to be considered eligible for a daycare grant. There’s a lot of red tape you have to cut through and there may be thousands of other applicants for the same grant that you are after.
To find the right grant that you need, you have to conduct a research which you can conveniently do online. You have to look for local, state, federal and even private institutions that provide grants. You can start with the local child care organizations, business funds, and charity or community service organizations such as the Rotary Club, Lions, Kiwanis and even college sororities and fraternities. They would have information about current grants that are available for daycare centers. You can also ask your local county government if they have special funding a available for child care.
You may also look beyond monetary grants as this point as these institutions may be able to give “in-kind” contributions instead such as new or used equipment, materials, good or volunteer services that can help you launch your daycare center.
Once you find the possible source of grant for your daycare center, you have to make sure that you are eligible and you fit their requirements. For example, some grants are given only to daycare centers in a particular geographical location or are limited in the amount of money they can give. Do not waste anyone’s time and make sure you apply only for grants where you are qualified. After determining your eligibility, you can now request for an application package from the institution. If is important that you examine the application form very thoroughly. You have to give essential information such as your personal background, the amount you need and for what particular purpose you are going to spend the money. All your answers must be organized and specific so that your application will stand out among the many applications that they receive.
There appears to be no law against applying for several grants at a time so you can apply for various grants at the same time. This will increase your chances of getting at least one daycare grant in the long run.
Different Sources of Grants
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Federal
Federal grants are funded by the different agencies of the federal government. Typically, grants from a federal agency are funneled down to the communities through state agencies.
U.S. Department of Agriculture – It has two agencies with start-up/expansion funding programs:
The Rural Housing Service (RHS) has facility funding available for non-profits or local governments that support child care facilities. (http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/index.html)
The Rural Business Cooperative Service has guaranteed loan programs for small business development available for profit child care programs. For eligibility or to apply for any of their programs, contact the state or local Rural Development Office, http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd.map.html
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) – The agency has funding programs that support child care services. The Child Care Bureau has several funding programs for child care facilities. http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ccb/
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) – It supports child care facilities near or within public housing, EZ/EC’s, or low-income areas through facility construction using block grants, programs, and networks. To determine eligibility or to apply for any of their programs, contact the state HUD office at http://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD/states
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) – It provides small businesses financing options, technical assistance, and child care resource information. Check with your local SBA offices at http://www.sba.gov/localresources/index.html
U.S. General Services Administration – It has programs that allow the donation of surplus federal personal property to state and local public agencies and qualifying nonprofits, which include child care centers. Please contact http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/contentView.do?contentType=GSA_OVERVIEW&contentId=10092&noc=T
There are other federal programs that support child care such as:
The Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) provides child care vouchers to subsidize the cost of care for low-income families as well as funds for state child care quality improvement initiatives. Nearly half of all children receiving CCDF subsidies are between the ages of five and 12. States are required to utilize at least 4 percent of their CCDF funds on quality activities and may also use discretionary funds earmarked by Congress for school-age care quality improvements and/or resource and referral activities. States may choose to use these funds to support initiatives to improve the quality and availability of school-age care, such as training programs or capacity-building grants for afterschool providers.
Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) funds, which provide financial support for low-income families, may also be used to support afterschool programs in ways consistent with one or more of the four purposes of the TANF program. States may either directly spend TANF funds on afterschool programs and initiatives, or states can transfer up to 30 percent of their federal TANF allocation to the CCDF. TANF funds transferred to CCDF are subject to all of the CCDF rules and requirements, and can be used to expand out-of-school time capacity-building and quality-enhancement efforts. Direct TANF spending can provide states with additional flexibility when it comes to afterschool care. For example, funds can support services for older youth and can support programs as well as individual subsidies for children.
The 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21CCLC) is the only federal funding source that exclusively supports afterschool programs. The purpose of 21CCLC is to support community learning centers that provide students with a broad array of academic enrichment services, including tutoring, homework help, and community service, as well as music, arts, sports, and cultural activities. When the program first began in 1998, the U.S. Department of Education made competitive awards directly to school districts. However, following the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act in 2002, 21CCLC was converted into a state formula grant program. As a result, the Department of Education awards grants to State Education Agencies (SEAs), which then manage statewide competitions to grant funds to eligible organizations.
Federal Food and Nutrition Programs may support snacks or meals for afterschool program participants. After school programs may be able to receive reimbursements from one of four different food and nutrition programs administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture: the National School Lunch Program: Afternoon Snacks, the Child and Adults Care Food Program, the Summer Food Service Program and the School Breakfast Program. Reimbursement from these programs can be used to free up funds already spent on meals and snacks to support other program components.
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State
There are several state agencies in Iowa that fund child care assistance programs. Many grants can be obtained through the Family Child Care and Development Grants. Applications can be made through http://www.governmentgrants.us. In addition, funding sources can be accessed through the following programs of the New Mexico Department of Human Services:
Office of Child Development
The Office of Child Development was created by statute in 1989, funded July of 1990, and became operational in November 1990. A seven member Governor-appointed Child Development Board has oversight of the Office of Child Development. Recognizing that a good beginning has no end, the mission of the Child Development Board is that all New Mexico children, from birth through age eight, and their families have access to a quality, age, and individually appropriate child development system.
Quality Care and Education
Increasingly, child care is viewed as not only a social service that enables parents to work or go to school, but as an opportunity to enhance the healthy growth, development and learning of young children. The state of New Mexico is committed to building the quality of the child care system, and to assuring that children from low income families have equitable access to high quality programs. Access to quality early care enables children to enter kindergarten with the good health and skills necessary to be successful.
Early Child Development (Focused Portfolio) Programs
The Early Child Development Programs, initiated by statute in 1991, provide comprehensive early childhood program services statewide for children birth to age five. These programs are commonly known as Focused Portfolio Programs, since they utilize an authentic assessment process to determine children’s development and progress.
PreK
The New Mexico PreK program was established in 2005, and provides early education services to four-year-olds across the state. PreK services are offered by community programs and public schools. The initiative is collaboratively administered by the Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) and the Public Education Department (PED).
Training and Technical Assistance
Eight regional Training and Technical Assistance Programs are located throughout the state, and provide a myriad of training opportunities to early care and education staff, parents and interested community members. Program staff provides on-site consultation through the AIM HIGH quality improvement initiative for programs wanting to improve their quality and attain a higher star level. The staff also works closely with child care licensing staff to determine the quality of licensed child care programs statewide in order to assign the appropriate number of stars toward the program’s license.
Child Care Resource and Referral
A centralized child care resource and referral service for parents searching for quality child care is available on line or by calling 1-800-691-9067. A web site, www.NewMexicoKids.org, provides parents the opportunity to search for child care in their area based on criteria important to them. As well, parents can call the toll-free number and speak to a child care and development specialist who can assist them with finding child care, or provide referrals to community-based services based upon specialized needs.
Professional Development
Training
This type of professional development includes facilitated learning opportunities that are less intensive than college credit courses, are more informal in nature, and are situated in practice. The professionals who attend training opportunities that are offered by the Early Childhood Training and Technical Assistance Programs (TTAPs) are widely diverse with respect to their roles (directors, teachers, teachers assistants), organizational affiliations (Head Start, child care, PreK), qualifications, education, and experience. Attendees serve diverse young children who vary widely in terms of their abilities, race, ethnicity, culture and language.
Head Start Collaboration Office
A federally-funded Head Start Collaboration Director acts as the liaison between state government and all Head Start grantees in the state. Acting as a clearinghouse for information, the Head Start Collaboration Director ensures that state government personnel are aware of federal and community Head Start activities, and also disseminates information to Head Start grantees that they otherwise might not be aware of. This individual coordinates statewide support activities for Head Start programs, and facilitates professional development and training activities.
For more information on Child Development, please call (505) 827-7946
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Private
Private foundations that are based or operating in the State of New Mexico, as well as those operating nationwide, can also be tapped as source of funding for the establishment and operation of child care business, support for parents and families to avail of child care services, and the training of professionals in the field of child care. Some of these foundations are the following:
The Daniels Fund Grants Program supports nonprofit organizations in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, as well as programs with a national impact (national grants are by invitation only). The program areas eligible for grants through the Daniels Fund are: Aging; Alcoholism & Substance Abuse; Amateur Sports; Disabilities; Education; Early Childhood Education (K-12 Education Reform, Ethics and Integrity); Homeless & Disadvantaged; Youth Development. The funds are allocated geographically according to the following percentages: Colorado 65% (50% in Metro Denver, 15% in balance of state), New Mexico 10%, Wyoming 10%, National programs (by invitation only) 10%, and Utah 5%.
Contact Information:
http://www.danielsfund.org/Grants/index.asp
http://www.danielsfund.org/Contact/Frederick H. Leonhardt Foundation
The Frederick H. Leonhardt Foundation (FHL Foundation) is a theory-based, high engagement philanthropic organization dedicated to providing collaborative support in the areas of Attachment Education, Services, and Research, all with a focus on eliminating those barriers that impede adults, children, and animals in their attempts to form safe, secure, and nurturing attachments. The majority of our grants go to organizations within the state of New Mexico. Grants made to organizations outside of New Mexico are usually in support of research projects at colleges, institutes, or universities.
Contact Information:
Mail:
P.O. Box 27650
Albuquerque, NM 87125Phone:
505-247-2400Fax:
505-247-2300Since its inception, the Limited Brands Foundation has invested nearly $100 million in their home office communities. The foundation is committed to supporting community programs that focus on empowering women, nurturing and mentoring children and improving education. Also embedded in their focus is a commitment to inclusion. Going hand in hand with their efforts to help improve education is their commitment to enriching the cultural arts.
Contact Information:
Community Contact
Limited Brands, Inc.
Three Limited ParkwayColumbus, OH 43230
Point of Contact:
Janelle Simmons
Todd Tuney
Shelly Lewis
Tel: 614-415-6400Fax: 614-415-7786
MakeADifference@LimitedBrands.com
http://www.limitedbrands.com/responsibility/community/foundation.aspxRockefeller Brothers Fund (RBF)
RBF is dedicated to promoting the well-being of all people in the transition to global interdependence. One of the goals of the fund’s Education Program is to promote universal, quality education and care for pre-K children by using a comprehensive approach to their development, including concerns for health, safety, and readiness to learn. Strategies include supporting development of public policies that promote universal access to early childhood programs, and advancing the professional development of early educators.
Contact Information:
New Mexico Children’s Foundation
The New Mexico Children’s Foundation is a grant-making body with the mission of supporting programs and projects that serve the physical, mental, educational and social needs of children and their families. They provide donors with the opportunity to support the total needs of children. The Foundation strives to provide services all over the state of New Mexico giving its attention to the current and changing needs of children.
Contact Information:
http://newmexicochildrensfoundation.org/
info@NewMexicoChildrensFoundation.org
phone: (505) 986-2043Northeastern Regional Community Foundation
The mission of the Northeastern Regional Community Foundation is to support and benefit programs that improve the quality of life for residents in the Northeastern area of New Mexico consisting of Colfax, Guadalupe, Harding, Mora, San Miguel, Union, and Quay counties. Field-of-Interest includes education, health, human services, cultural affairs, children and youth, historic preservation, and environmental conservation.
Contact Information:
http://www.newmexicogives.org/
Contact Us:
Mailing Address
Northeastern Regional Community Foundation
P. O. Box 388, Las Vegas, NM 87701
FAX
877-794-2981Stocker Foundation
The Stocker Foundation is restricted by geography, eligible communities include: Lorain and Cuyahoga counties, Ohio; Pima County, Arizona; Bernalillo and Las Cruces counties, New Mexico, Oakland and San Francisco counties, California; and King County, Washington. The Foundation mission statement: Their mission statement: “Improving the lives of children, youth, and families – strengthening communities where trustees reside.” We seek creative ideas and projects – both new and existing – that are catalysts for constructive change and help strengthen communities, families, and educational programs.
http://www.stockerfoundation.org/default.aspx
Email Address: contact@stockerfoundation.org
