RFA 1223 Child Care Support Centers

The New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) is the state agency responsible for promoting the safety, permanency, and well-being of children, families, and communities across New York. As part of its mission to strengthen child care systems and support working families, OCFS has issued Request for Applications (RFA) 1223 Child Care Support Centers. This opportunity is designed to enhance the infrastructure of child care services by funding regional Child Care Support Centers (CCSCs) operated by Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agencies. CCR&Rs are established nonprofit, community-based organizations that play a critical role in supporting child care providers and families through referrals, training, and system coordination. The primary purpose of this grant is to establish CCSCs that will administer regional substitute caregiver pools for licensed and registered child care programs. These substitute pools are intended to provide qualified professionals who can temporarily fill staffing gaps in child care programs, ensuring continuity of care and uninterrupted operations for families. By addressing workforce shortages and unexpected absences, the program aims to stabilize the child care sector and improve reliability for parents and guardians who depend on these services. Funding under this program will support the development and administration of substitute pools, including recruitment, training, and coordination of substitute caregivers. CCSCs will also receive technical assistance and access to relevant technology from the Early Care and Learning Council (ECLC), which will help standardize operations and improve the effectiveness of substitute deployment. While specific allowable cost categories are not detailed in the summary, funds are clearly intended to support operational infrastructure, staffing, and system implementation related to substitute pool management. Eligibility for this opportunity is limited to established not-for-profit CCR&R agencies that are currently serving one of the OCFS-defined regions within New York State. Only one award will be made per region, and applicants must demonstrate their capacity to administer regional programs and support licensed or registered child care providers. This targeted eligibility ensures that awardees have both the geographic reach and organizational experience necessary to implement the CCSC model effectively. The application process is competitive, with proposals evaluated based on criteria outlined in the full RFA. While detailed application components are not specified in the summary, applicants are expected to submit a complete proposal by the stated deadline, likely including program design, organizational qualifications, and budget justification. Questions regarding the RFA must be submitted by June 9, 2026, and responses will be posted publicly on June 24, 2026. The final application deadline is July 9, 2026 at 4:00 PM Eastern Time. OCFS anticipates making up to four awards statewide, with an expected award announcement date of August 14, 2026. Each awardee will receive approximately $625,000 annually over a five-year contract period, totaling an estimated $3.125 million per recipient. The total program funding is $12.5 million over five years. The performance period is 60 months, reflecting a long-term investment in strengthening child care workforce stability. This funding opportunity does not indicate recurring cycles and appears to be a single competitive procurement tied to a specific program initiative.