Could your family home or group home day care use NEW materials?
Or outside equipment?
Do you or your staff wish to obtain more training?
Then we may have just what you need!
Quality Improvement Mini-Grants
This is a new program designed to improve the quality of family and group home child care environments. The purpose of this project is to make quality child care more available for Georgia families, with emphasis on low income families and families of children with special needs.
Who is eligible to apply?
Any Family Child Care or Group Child Care provider is eligible to apply. Priority will be given to applicants serving at least 25% children from low-income families and providers whose policies include serving children with special needs. This is a competitive process and a selection committee will score applications.
Eligibility:
Individuals who are currently registered and in good standing with the Bright from the Start: Department of Early Care and Learning as a Family or Group Child Care Home may apply. Providers with a business less than twelve months old may apply for start-up funding, while those in business longer than a year may apply for improvement funds. If you have received a Quality Improvement mini-grant in the past, you are still eligible to apply for professional development funds under Phase II of this project.
Purpose:
Family and Group Home Child Care providers may receive mini-grants to improve the quality of their existing programs, or start a new program. The mini-grant includes equipment, materials, and supplies, together with assistance from a technical specialist, who can help with training needs, answer questions, provide on-site support ,and ultimately guide the caregiver through their next step in professional development.
The Quality Improvement Coordinator will make site visits to help determine the best use of funding.
Funding may be used for
Outdoor Equipment
Classroom equipment or furniture
Adaptive equipment for children with special needs
Materials needed to directly assist children in the learning process.
Supplies (paper, crayons, markers, curriculum, etc)
Training - Technical Assistance is provided to each mini-grant recipient which includes on-site and telephone consultations to help providers conduct self-evaluations of their programs, to select developmentally appropriate materials and equipment, and to reach and maintain quality standards for becoming a "Home of Merit" or a "Home of Distinction".
Workshops are scheduled for:
*January 2006*
To learn more about how to start a Family Home Day Care, Group Home Day Care, or Child Care Early Learning Center, contact:
Bright From the Start: Department of Early Care and Learning
Child Care Services
10 Park Pl. South
Suite 600
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404)657-5562
or visit
www.decal.state.ga.us
If you have any questions, be sure to call
Provider Warmline
706.613.1603, ext.231
800.924.5085
or Dial 2 1 1
twingfield@communityconnection211.org
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