COVID-19 has affected working families and the child care programs they rely upon. As the lead state agency for the federal Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), TWC has received several increases to the CCDBG Grant to support child care response and recovery efforts.
More information on the funding allocated to Texas is available in this summary: CC Stimulus Funding Categorized (March 2023)
Child Care Stimulus Initiatives
TWC's Child Care Program has many initiatives to support child care response and recovery efforts.
On October 19, 2021, the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) approved $2.45 billion in American Rescue Plan Act funds for direct relief to child care programs. On February 1, 2022, TWC approved $1 billion more funds, bringing the total to $3.45 billion. TWC accepted applications for the Child Care Relief Fund 2022 from March through May 31, 2022.
Learn more on our Child Care Relief Fund 2022 page.
For questions, please reach out to our technical assistance team by emailing ccrelieffunds@twc.texas.gov.
| Provider Type | Total Providers Invited to Apply | Total Number of Applications | Number of Applications Processed* | Average Award Amount | Total Awarded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed Child Care Center | 9,333 | 7,741 | 7,741 | $441,675 | $3,419,005,847 |
| Licensed Child Care Home | 1,535 | 1,236 | 1,236 | $35,874 | $44,340,232 |
| Registered Child Care Home | 2,573 | 1,836 | 1,836 | $30,687 | $56,340,898 |
| TOTAL | 13,441 | 10,813 | 10,813 | $325,505 | $3,519,686,977 |
2022 Child Care Relief Funds Status by Board
*The total number of applications processed includes all providers that were approved to receive at least one quarterly installment. It excludes providers that did not apply, were ineligible to apply, or started but did not complete an application.
TWC approved $234 million to increase the number of high-quality home- and center-based child care providers. Part of this funding will go towards the Child Care Expansion Initiative, which will:
- offer start-up funding to expand care to areas that lack enough supply (child care deserts).
- fund programs opening or expanding in partnership with a local employer; and,
- fund the expansion of infant care around the state.
New and existing home- and center-based child care providers who are opening or expanding their child care businesses after March 1, 2022, were eligible to apply if they were:
- Serving families in a pre-defined child care desert;
- Operating in partnership with a company or consortium of companies to serve children of their employees; or
- Expanding availability of care for infants (0-17 months).
Funding can be used to offset operational costs incurred during startup and/or the first few months of opening or expanding. It cannot be used on major renovations or on construction.
Thanks to the overwhelming interest in the Child Care Expansion Initiative, the submission window for applications has ended November 22, 2023. Congratulations to the 877 providers who have already been awarded!
Learn more on our Child Care Expansion Initiative page. This information is also available in Spanish.
| Details | Desert | Onsite Partnership | Near site Partnership | Infant | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applications Submitted | 216 | 107 | 681 | 446 | 1,450 |
| Applications Approved | 128 | 68 | 613 | 259 | 1,068 |
| Total Funding Approved | $19,516,561 | $16,921,869 | $123,193,047 | $15,833,417 | $175,464,894 |
| Total Funding Paid | $19,180,973 | $11,497,136 | $102,788,610 | $14,800,863 | $148,267,582 |
| Child Care Slots (18+ months) Proposed* | 4,312 | 4,380 | 23,201 | 631 | 32,524 |
| Infant Slots Proposed* | 1,331 | 772 | 9,066 | 3,570 | 14,739 |
| Total Child Care Slots Proposed* | 5,643 | 5,152 | 32,267 | 4,201 | 47,263 |
*Slots Proposed represent the number of new slots awarded providers expect to add. A provider’s actual number of new slots may vary after they receive their new or updated Child Care Regulation permit.
During the summer of 2021, TWC made $775 million available for Child Care Relief Funds, plus $15 million to provide child care business coaching. The funds are available to registered homes, licensed homes, and licensed centers. The application window for this round of funding closed on July 31, 2021.
| Provider Type | Total Providers Invited to Apply | Total Number of Applications | Number of Applications Approved & Processed | Average Award Amount | Total Awarded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed Child Care Center | 8,949 | 6,772 | 6,717 | $83,936 | $563,797,820 |
| Licensed Child Care Home | 1,521 | 1,125 | 1,113 | $6,904 | $7,684,156 |
| Registered Child Care Home | 2,621 | 1,668 | 1,649 | $6,497 | $10,713,480 |
| TOTAL | 13,091 | 9,565 | 9,479 | $61,420 | $582,195,456 |
Child Care Relief Funds Status by Board
You can find more information on the eligibility criteria and allowable uses of the first round of funding at childcare.texas.gov.
Technical assistance and business coaching is available to assist child care programs:
- access additional funding;
- documenting expenditures; and
- provide general business education support.
You can access a business coach at childcare.texas.gov or by emailing Coaching@ECEBizCoach.org.
TWC worked with the Texas Policy Lab at Rice University to understand child care provider participation and satisfaction with the Child Care Business Coaching Program. Below are some key finding from the report.
- In the first year of the program, 1,965 child care providers participated in business coaching
- 90% of providers were satisfied with the support they received from their business coach
- 85% of providers said that knowledge and skills gained from coaching improved their ability to operate their business successfully.
View the Texas Child Care Business Coaching Program report.
Sign up for free individualized guidance from a trained coach who knows child care businesses.