6. WHAT IS THE APPLICATION PROCESS?

• Eligible child care programs must complete and submit an online application. Visit www.Michigan.gov/childcare to complete the application.
• An application must be submitted each month to receive a grant award.
• Please use care in completing all required elements on the application to avoid processing delays.
• Providers successfully completing an application will receive a confirmation email of receipt.

7. CAN AN AGENCY SUBMIT ONE APPLICATION FOR ALL SITES IF THEY HAVE MORE THAN ONE SITE?

No. Each site (physical location with a child care license number or provisional designation) is considered a different program. Each license number requires an application.

8. WHAT IF I FORGET MY SIGMA CODE?

If you have forgotten your SIGMA vendor code, please contact the SIGMA Help Desk for assistance. You can reach the Help Desk via email at: SIGMA-[email protected].

9. WHAT IS THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION?

The April grant application is now available.

The May grant application will be available in mid-May. An updated FAQ will be released to include future application deadlines.

Note: Because the nature of the COVID-19 is changing frequently, there may be modest changes to the grant application in May. Please check back for more information.

10. HOW WILL I RECEIVE MY GRANT?

After a provider applies, the Michigan Department of Education will verify that the provider is eligible. Child care providers may be contacted for clarification of application items.

Then payments will be processed. If a child care provider has a SIGMA vendor code and provides it in the application, they will receive funds through the payment method they have set (EFT or check). If a provider does not have a SIGMA vendor code, a check will be mailed.

Please allow 2-3 weeks for payment processing.

11. WHAT CAN I USE THE FUNDS FOR? ARE THERE ANY RESTRICTIONS?

Funds are very flexible and can be used to support a range of expenses, including, but not limited to, payroll, mortgages and rent, utilities, insurance, and supplies and equipment.

Fund are also intended to provide financial relief to families and make care more accessible and affordable. To achieve that goal, providers must also use funds to:

1. Lower weekly rates for the families they serve by at least 10%. This discount must continue (at a minimum) in the months they receive funding from the Child Care Relief Fund.
   
   Note: The intent is not for providers to refund payments to families. We acknowledge this creates a financial hardship for providers. This policy must be in effect for at least 30 days from the time the provider applies for a grant.


2. Not charge a fee to hold a child’s spot in your program. This practice must continue (at a minimum) in the months I receive funding from the Child Care Relief Fund.
   
   Note: The intent is not for provider to refund payments to families. We, again, acknowledge this creates a financial hardship for providers. This policy must be in effect for at least 30 days from the time the provider applies for the grant.

12. CAN YOU CLARIFY THE REQUIREMENT THAT PROVIDERS NOT CHARGE A FEE TO HOLD A CHILD’S SPOT IN THEIR PROGRAM WHILE RECEIVING GRANT FUNDS?

Depending on your child care contract, providers may be allowed to charge families to hold their spot, even if a provider is not open. This practice is understandable during normal absences from care, however, during this crisis, these fees create a financial hardship for many families. One of the goals of the Child Care Relief Fund is to make care more affordable for families. This requirement helps achieve that goal.

By accepting this grant funding, you are agreeing to not charge a fee to hold a child’s spot in the months you receive the funds. The intent is not for a provider to refund payments to families. We, again, acknowledge this creates a financial hardship for providers. This policy must be in effect for at least 30 days from the time the provider applies for the grant.

13. IF I RECEIVE GRANT FUNDING, AM I STILL ELIGIBLE FOR UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE?

If your site is closed, you or your staff members may have filed for unemployment insurance. Receiving this grant does not affect your ability to file or receive unemployment insurance. However, how you spend the money may.

If you use the grant to pay wages for you or your staff, this could affect whether you or your staff are eligible to receive unemployment insurance on a weekly basis.

If the wages you pay an individual (including yourself or a staff member) from grant funds are more than 1.5 times their weekly benefit amount, they will not be eligible for unemployment insurance benefits that week. This includes state and federal benefits ($600 a week until July 31). Individuals should still complete their unemployment certification but should select NOT to claim benefits for this week. By doing this, their benefit weeks will not be reduced.

If the wages you pay an individual (including yourself or a staff member) with grant funds are less than 1.5 times their weekly benefit amount, their state benefits may be reduced for that week, but they will still be fully eligible for federal benefits ($600 a week until July 31).

Any of the grant dollars that are going toward wages (and not mortgage, utilities etc.) will need to be reported as income when you or a staff member certify for unemployment insurance benefits.

14. AM I ELIGIBLE FOR A GRANT IF I HAVE RECEIVED A SMALL BUSINESS LOAN?

Yes. Providers are eligible for a grant regardless of other funding they have received, including (but not limited to) loans from the federal Payroll Protection Program.

15. DO GRANTS NEED TO BE REPORTED AS INCOME?

Child Care Relief Fund grants will be counted as income and 1099s will be issued for payments over $600.

16. HOW SHOULD I COUNT HOW MANY CHILDREN OF ESSENTIAL WORKERS I WAS SERVING?

In April, child care providers were only eligible to remain open if they were serving children of essential workers, sometimes called “critical infrastructure workers.”

If you were open and serving essential workers in April, report the number of children under age 3 and over age 3 who were in attendance for one or more days in the month.

If you were not open and serving children in April, you will not be required to answer this question in the grant application.

Childcare providers are required to ask a parent or caregiver to confirm that they are an essential worker (sometimes called critical infrastructure worker). Childcare providers are not required to verify whether a parent qualifies.

For reference, the state of Michigan provides a detailed summary of who is considered an essential worker.

17. HOW SHOULD I COUNT HOW MANY DIRECT CARE STAFF ARE ON MY PAYROLL?

On the application, enter the number of direct care staff on your payroll as of March 10, 2020 (before the state of emergency was declared). Our intent is to use this number as a proxy for the size of your program. This guidance applies regardless of whether a provider is open or closed.

Direct care staff includes teachers, assistant teachers, and support staff who directly work with children. You may include full and part time staff.

If you are the owner of a family home or group home you should count yourself in the staff number reported.

18. WHAT IF I MAKE A MISTAKE WHEN SUBMITTING MY APPLICATION OR I NEED TO MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT TO MY APPLICATION?

We encourage all providers to read the FAQ fully before submitting the grant. Please also review your application to confirm all information is correct before clicking the submit button. If you believe you have made an error, call the CDC Office 866-990-3227 to discuss your application and determine next steps.

19. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

The Michigan Department of Education will be processing applications as quickly as possible. If you have questions about your application, please contact the Child Development and Care Office at the Michigan Department of Education at 866-990- 3227 or your Regional Resource Center 877-614-7328.