Child Care Support Centers

The New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), Division of Child Care Services, has issued a Request for Applications (RFA 1223) to support the establishment of Child Care Support Centers. OCFS is a state agency responsible for promoting the safety, permanency, and well-being of children and families across New York State. Through this initiative, OCFS seeks to strengthen the child care infrastructure by funding established Child Care Resource and Referral agencies to create and operate regional support centers that administer substitute caregiver pools for licensed and registered child care providers. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to address workforce shortages and operational disruptions within child care programs by developing substitute pools of qualified caregivers. These pools will allow programs to maintain required staff-to-child ratios and continue providing services when regular staff are unavailable. The initiative stems from a statewide policy priority to improve access to reliable child care and support providers facing staffing challenges. Each funded Child Care Support Center will serve a designated OCFS region and will be responsible for recruiting, vetting, training, and deploying substitute caregivers. Funding for this program is appropriated through the New York State budget, with a total anticipated investment of 12.5 million dollars over five years. Approximately 2.5 million dollars will be allocated annually and distributed evenly among up to four awardees, resulting in an expected annual award of 625,000 dollars per grantee. Funds are intended strictly for program administration, including recruitment, verification, training support, and operational oversight of substitute pools. Up to 20 percent of funds may be used for stipends to support caregiver onboarding and professional development, including training and required health screenings. Eligibility for this opportunity is limited to not-for-profit organizations currently operating as Child Care Resource and Referral agencies within New York State. Applicants must be listed on the OCFS public website, be prequalified in the Statewide Financial System if required, and be actively serving the region for which they are applying. Only one award will be made per region, and applicants may submit only one application. Subcontracting is not permitted under this program, and awardees must obtain and maintain an operating certificate issued by OCFS. The application process consists of two required steps. First, applicants must complete an online administrative form to initiate the application and receive a confirmation email with an application number. Second, applicants must submit all required attachments, including the program application and budget, via email in response to the confirmation. Required components include detailed responses to programmatic and budget questions, a completed budget form reflecting first-year costs, and all supporting documentation outlined in the submission checklist. Applications are evaluated based on technical merit and cost, with scoring weighted at 80 percent technical and 20 percent cost. The timeline for this opportunity includes an application submission window opening in early July 2026 and closing by late July 2026. Written questions were accepted prior to the application period, and responses were posted publicly. Award notifications are anticipated in early September 2026, with contracts expected to begin on October 1, 2026. The contract term spans five years, ending September 30, 2031, contingent upon continued funding availability. Applicants are encouraged to submit materials early to avoid technical issues and ensure completeness. Applications will be reviewed by trained evaluators using a structured scoring process. Only applications meeting minimum eligibility requirements and achieving a score of at least 65 percent will be considered for funding. Final awards will be determined based on scoring rankings within each region. OCFS provides a designated contact email for all communications related to the application process, and all submissions and inquiries must be directed through this official channel.

Ensure all required documents are complete and submitted early; budgets must be realistic and justified; follow instructions precisely; failure to include attachments may disqualify application