Georgia Childcare programs eligible for Round 2 of STABLE payments

ATLANTA–Beginning Monday(Nov. 16), all licensed Georgia child care providers may apply for a second round of Short Term Assistance Benefit for Licensed Entities (STABLE) payments from the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL). Funding for these payments comes from the federal Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act passed by Congress earlier this year. In the first round of STABLE payments, DECAL awarded more than $38.8 million in financial support to 3,789 licensed child care providers.

DECAL Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs said the second round of STABLE payments will be paid to licensed child care providers who are open and serving families based on their attendance in October, 2020. Providers will receive $240 for each child who attended child care in-person at least one day during the month.

“We know that family child care learning homes and child care learning centers in Georgia are struggling as a result of COVID-19,” said Commissioner Jacobs. “To expedite these payments, we are developing a simple application that will ask for attendance by age and by program, including the CAPS program and Georgia’s Pre-K Program.” DECAL estimates this round of STABLE payments could total $55 million for licensed child care providers across the state depending on the response.

Providers can apply for STABLE through December 2, 2020, using DECAL’s KOALA portal for child care providers. Payments will begin after the application period closes.

Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, Governor Brian P. Kemp has allowed licensed child care to remain open to serve children and families. However, with more families staying at home, child care attendance significantly declined except for children of first responders and essential workers. Currently, approximately 3,322 of Georgia’s 4,449 licensed child care providers are open and serving children and families.

Get more information on STABLE Round 2 by listening to this latest episode of DECAL Download, the agency’s weekly podcast:  https://decaldownload.buzzsprout.com/211637/6312181-episode-12-stable-round-2