Accessing Child Care Expansion and Sustainability Supports (ACCESS)

About

ACCESS is a partnership between Reinvestment Fund and Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC), with funding from Vanguard Strong Start for Kids Program™. The program aims to increase the number of children receiving care in positive learning environments in Childcare Map (CC Map) persistent high-need neighborhoods by supporting STAR 1 and 2 providers with longstanding community backing to invest in their facilities and move up in the STARS system.  

The program aims to support 20 providers, who are actively engaged in quality improvement initiatives, over a three-year period by offering improvement supports (for 15 providers) and expansion supports (for 5 providers).  

In addition, the Coaching to Success (C2S) community of practice will be a free resource open to providers city-wide:  

Coaching to Success:   

• Providers who are interested in participating in a broader community of practice are  invited to participate in this peer learning group to connect to sustainable resources. 

STARS Movement Facility Grants – 3 Cohorts – Application Available Now

Are you a licensed STAR 1 and 2 child care provider in Philadelphia currently involved in and looking to make facility improvements, such as purchasing additional furniture or completing minor renovations, at your existing site? Apply to participate today.

There will be three cohorts of five projects throughout the program (2023 – 2025). The first cohort was selected in 2023. A second cohort will be selected in spring 2024, and applicants may be waitlisted to the third cohort. We are currently seeking up to 10 providers to fill our next two cohorts.

Application Process:

• Application step 1: Apply here
  • Priority will be given to providers who submit their application by Friday, March 1.
• Application step 2 – interview: applicants will be notified in early March if invited to an interview and/or site visit.
• Final application notifications: final notifications will be made by April 30, 2024.

Program Supports:

• Planning Supports: If accepted into the program, providers receive personalized facility scans to co-develop quality improvement/sustainability plans, and then, create a capital investment plan. Cohort participants meet together regularly for peer learning.
• Capital Supports: Projects supported are with a $25,000 capital grant for centers, and a $12,500 minimum capital grant for Group and Home providers. Projects are professionally monitored through construction inspection.

Eligibility:

• Licensed STAR 1 and 2 child care providers in Philadelphia
• Small business/nonprofits
• In good standing with DHS
• Open in community for 5+ years
• Demonstrated strong community backing
• Site ownership or lease for three years from funding
• Never received Child Care Facility Fund
• No business taxes owed or tax liens on property (if owned)

Priority consideration will be given to sites in CC Map persistent high-need neighborhoods, and to centers with a licensed capacity of 40+.

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STARS Movement & Expansion Facility Grants – 1 Cohort (Not Accepting New Applications)

The ACCESS program will support five childcare providers looking to expand the number of children they serve as they move up in STARS. This cohort is open to licensed providers in Philadelphia involved in current quality improvement initiatives and looking to expand the number of children they serve either on-site or at a new site in center-based care. Grantees were selected in 2023. More details about this program can be found here.