Child Care Stabilization Grants: Frequently Asked Questions
Updated September 27, 2022
Table of Contents
General Information ........................................................................................................................... 2
North Carolina Child Care Stabilization Grants Timeline ...................................................................... 3
Fixed Costs and Families Grant ........................................................................................................... 4
Optional Funding for Compensation Support Grants ........................................................................... 5
Application/Recertification Application .............................................................................................. 7
Grant Award Payments .................................................................................................................... 10
Quarterly Update ............................................................................................................................. 11
Monitoring ....................................................................................................................................... 13
Get Help ........................................................................................................................................... 13
Index ................................................................................................................................................ 14
NC Child Care Stabilization Grants FAQs | Updated 27 September 2022
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General Information
Q. What are child care stabilization grants?
A. North Carolina child care stabilization grants are non-competitive financial awards made directly to
eligible, qualified early care and learning programs across the state to sustain and stabilize
their businesses, support working families with access to high-quality, affordable care and education,
and promote equity for children, parents, and teachers.
Q: How are child care stabilization grant funds awarded?
A: Child care programs must apply for Stabilization Grants. Each approved program receives a fixed
costs and families grant, based on capacity, subsidized child care enrollment, program quality (star
rating), infant/toddler enrollment, and community context (using Social Vulnerability Index).
Programs may choose to also receive additional funding, compensation supports grants, to support
recruitment and retention. The two components are intended to grant early care and learning
programs the funds to facilitate high quality early childhood education at its true cost and attract and
retain high-quality teachers by increasing compensation.
Q. What are the options for Compensation Support Grants?
A. If a child care program decides to apply for additional funding for compensation support, it must
select only one of the two options: Option 1: Bonuses Only OR Option 2: Increase Salary and/or
Benefits.
Q. Are child care stabilization grants loans? Do the funds they have to be paid back?
A. Child care stabilization grants are not loans. Child care stabilization grants do not have to be paid
back as long as they are used for approved purposes.
Q. Are child care stabilization grants payments automatically awarded to early care and learning
programs?
A. No, child care programs must apply for these non-competitive grants.
Q. Can a new child care program apply?
A. Yes, newly licensed programs are paid at 3-star rate for 6 months. If the program has applied for its
star rating and has not been rated, the same star rating will be used until the assessment process has
been completed.
Q. Can Head Start/Early Head Start programs apply for child care stabilization grants?
Q. Can publicly funded NC Pre-K programs apply for child care stabilization grants?
A. No. Because stabilization grant funding is intended to help the child care sector, public
prekindergarten programs, Head Starts, or Early Head Starts, which typically operate under different
program rules and funding structures than child care, are not eligible for NC child care stabilization
grants. However, private-pay NC Pre-K programs may apply.
Q. Can child care programs located in public schools apply?
A. Yes, if the school-based program is funded by family fees (including child care subsidy). No, if public
funds finance the program.
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Q. When can child care programs expect the grant money?
A. Review the Timeline below.
North Carolina Child Care Stabilization Grants Timeline
Quarter
#
Quarter
Dates
Est.
Pay Date
Quarterly
Update
Due
Plus
Recertification
Fixed Costs
Amount
Compensation
Grants
Spend by
Date
1
Oct 1-Dec 31,
2021
Nov 2021
5-Jan-22
Original
Original
30-Sep-23
2
Jan 1-Mar 31,
2022
Jan 2022
5-Apr-22
Yes
Original
Original
30-Sep-23
3
Apr 1-Jun 30,
2022
Apr 2022
5-Jul-22
Original
Original
30-Sep-23
4
July 1-Sep 30,
2022
Jul 2022
7-Oct-22
Yes
2/3 of Original
Option 2
Quality Bonus
reduced
30-Sep-23
5
Oct 1-Dec 31,
2022
Oct 2022
Early
Jan 2023
1/3 of Original
Option 2
Quality Bonus
reduced
30-Sep-23
6
Jan 1-Mar 31,
2023
Jan 2023
Early
Apr 23
Yes
1/3 of Original
Same as
Previous
Quarter
30-Sep-23
7
Apr 1-Jun 30,
2023
Apr 2023
Early
July 2023
Discontinued
Option 2
Quality Bonus
Discontinued
30-Sep-24
8
July 1-Sep 30,
2023
Jul 2023
Early
Oct 2023
Yes
Discontinued
Option 2
Quality Bonus
Discontinued
30-Sep-24
9
Oct 1-Dec 31,
2023
Oct 2023
Early
Jan 2023
Discontinued
Option 2
Quality Bonus
Discontinued
30-Sep-24
Quarterly Updates required until all funding has been reported spent.
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Fixed Costs and Families Grant
Q: How can the Fixed Costs and Families Grant be used?
A. Fixed Costs and Families Grant Expenditures must fit into one of these categories of approved uses:
1) Rent (including rent under a lease agreement) or payment on any mortgage obligation, utilities,
facility maintenance or improvements, or insurance.
a. Examples of acceptable facility maintenance or improvements include, but are not
limited to:
i. building or upgrading playgrounds
ii. renovating bathrooms
iii. installing railing, ramps, or automatic doors to make the facility more accessible
iv. removing non-load bearing walls to create additional space for social distancing
v. maintenance and minor renovations to address COVID-19 concerns
vi. facilities improvements that make programs inclusive and accessible to children
with disabilities and family members with disabilities.
2) Personal protective equipment, cleaning and sanitization supplies and services, or training and
professional development related to health and safety practices.
3) Purchases of or updates to equipment and supplies to respond to the COVID–19 public health
emergency.
4) Goods and services necessary to maintain or resume child care services.
5) Mental health supports for children and employees.
6) Tuition assistance for families.
7) Past Expenses: reimbursement of debt or expenditures incurred after January 31, 2020, for the
cost of a good or service that falls in the categories above to respond to the COVID–19 public
health emergency.
8) Personnel costs, including payroll and salaries or similar compensation for an employee
(including any sole proprietor or independent contractor), employee benefits, costs for
employee recruitment and retention as well as ongoing professional development or training,
premium or hazard pay, staff bonuses, and employee transportation costs to or from work.
Q. What can I not use Stabilization Grants (Fixed Costs and Families Grants) for? What are uses are
prohibited?
A. This is not an exhaustive list. Stabilization Grant funds may NOT be used for new construction or
major renovation. As defined in 45 CFR 98.2, “Major renovation” means:
• structural changes to the foundation, roof, floor, exterior or load-bearing walls of a facility, or
the extension of a facility to increase its floor area; or
• extensive alteration of a facility such as to significantly change its function and purpose, even if
such renovation does not include any structural change.
Q. What is the formula for the Fixed Cost & Family Grant?
A. The Fixed Cost & Family Grant formula components:
1. Total licensed capacity and star level
2. Program indicators:
a. % of infants & toddlers enrolled when full:
i. 1-25%: Increase in funds by 5%
ii. 26-50%: Increase in funds by 10%
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iii. 51-75%: Increase in funds by 15%
iv. 76-100%: Increase in funds by 20%
b. Community context by County (SVI)
i. 0-25%: Increase in funds by 3%
ii. 26-50%: Increase in funds by 6%
iii. 51-75%: Increase in funds by 9%
iv. 76-100%: Increase in funds by 12%
c. % of children currently enrolled in child care subsidy:
i. 1-25%: Increase in funds by 3%
ii. 26-50%: Increase in funds by 6%
iii. 51-75%: Increase in funds by 9%
iv. 76-100%: Increase in funds by 12%
Q. How and when are Fixed Costs and Families Grant reduced? What is the Fixed Costs and Families
Grant reduction?
A. Beginning with the July 2022 quarterly payment, the Fixed Cost and Families Grant component of
the child care stabilization grants has been reduced by about one-third (1/3) for all approved child care
programs. The planned decrease was postponed from April 2022 to allow programs time to recover
from the COVID-19 omicron surge in early 2022. An additional 1/3 reduction from the April 2022 in
Fixed Cost and Families Grant will take place in October 2022. The January 2023 Fixed Cost and
Families Grant payment will be the same amount as the October 2022 amount. (Also, see Timeline.)
Optional Funding for Compensation Support Grants
Q. What are the options for Compensation Support Grants?
A. Option 1. Provide Bonuses to all staff
• Implement a bonus plan.
• Submit the bonus plan (even if unchanged) during each quarterly update.
Option 2. Increase Base Pay and/or Benefits for all staff
• Implement a salary a/o benefits plan.
• Submit salary/benefits plan (even if unchanged) during each quarterly update.
• Use quarterly payments to maintain the increased salary/benefits.
• Use Fixed Costs or own funds for staff bonuses.
Option 3. Decline to participate in Compensation Grants. If child care programs have not applied
previously, they can apply to opt in during recertification.
Q: How can the child care stabilization grant compensative support grant option 1 be used?
A: Early care and learning programs selecting Option 1: Bonuses Only agree to use the additional
funding to provide bonuses to all staff. Programs will develop and implement a bonus plan that ideally
factors in education and length of service, as well as job responsibilities. The bonus plan must be
uploaded during each quarterly update. Programs must keep payroll records for seven years.
Q. How can the Child Care Stabilization Compensation Support Grants Option 2 be used?
A. By selecting Option 2: Increase Salary and/or Benefits, early care and learning programs agree to
increase base pay and/or benefits for any staff in a child care center or family child care home and their
employees. Once base pay and/or benefits have been increased using stabilization grant compensation
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funds, child care programs may use the quarterly payment to maintain the increases. Programs will
develop and implement a compensation scale that ideally factors in education and length of service, as
well as job responsibilities. Programs must keep records of payroll and premiums paid with grant funds
for seven years.
Q. What’s the difference between Compensation Support Grant Option 1 and Option 2?
Q. What is the difference between Bonuses and Increasing Salary?
A. Programs may use the Grant Payment Estimator on the DCDEE Stabilization Grants web page to see
the difference in grant award amounts between Option 1 and Option 2.
Option 1: Bonuses
Option 2: Increase Salary
and/or Benefits
Option 2: Benefits
Additional lump sum on
paycheck or separate bonus
check
Additional pay per hour
Non-monetary compensation
such as health insurance,
retirement plans, reimbursement
for professional development or
transportation, etc.
Is taxable
Is taxable
Often tax free
Counts toward income
eligibility
Counts toward income
eligibility
Typically doesn’t count toward
income eligibility
Higher grant award amounts
Q. I want to give bonuses AND increase salary/benefits. Can I choose both Option 1 and Option 2?
A. No. Programs may only choose one Compensation Supports Grant option. Programs that select
Option 2: Increase Salary and/or Benefits may use fixed costs and families’ funds to give bonuses.
Q: Can child care programs use the fixed costs for bonuses if they didn’t choose Option 2?
A: Yes, if a child care program didn’t opt-in to Option 2, it can use the fixed cost grant for bonuses.
Q. What is a salary scale? How do I make one?
A. North Carolina Early Childhood Compensation Collaborative Model Salary Scale for Early Education
Teachers is an excellent example salary scale. Child care programs do not have to copy it exactly; feel
free to adapt it to fit the facility.
Q. What counts as benefits for Compensation Support Grants Option 2?
A. Examples of benefits, includes, but is not limited to:
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Scholarships
• Paid time off
• Paid sick or family leave
• Retirement contributions
• Professional development or training
• Premium or hazard pay
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• Employee transportation costs to and/or from work.
• Funds may also be used to support staff in accessing COVID-19 vaccines, including paid time off
for vaccine appointments and to manage side effects, as well as transportation costs to vaccine
appointments.
Q. Will there a reduction in the Compensation Support Grants?
A. No. There will be no change in the formula for compensation support grants, but some grantees
may notice a decrease in the grant payment amount for Compensation Support Option 2: Increase Base
Pay/Benefits. This is not an error; included in the Option 2 formula is a quality enhancement bonus for
3, 4, and 5-star rated child care programs which adds 10% of the fixed costs and families grant amount
to the Compensation Grant payment. If the fixed costs and families grant increases, then the bonus
amount increases. Similarly, if the fixed costs and families grant goes down, then the bonus amount
goes down too. The reduction in the fixed costs and families grant doesn’t affect the amount of
Compensation Support Option 1: Bonuses.
Application/Recertification Application
Q: Are all child care programs in NC required to apply for child care stabilization grants?
A: No, programs are not required to apply, but all eligible, qualified child care providers in North
Carolina are encouraged to apply for child care stabilization grants funding.
Q: What is the deadline to apply for child care stabilization grants?
A: Applications for non-competitive child care stabilization grants are still being accepted. Child care
programs may apply at any time to begin receiving the child care stabilization grants.
Q. When is the recertification application due?
A. Child care programs that receive stabilization grants funds must apply to recertify the application
every 6 months.
Q: Who is eligible and qualified to receive child care stabilization grants ?
A: North Carolina child care programs that are eligible for Stabilization Grant funding include:
1. Licensed, private (for- and not-for-profit) Child Care Centers
2. Licensed Family Child Care Homes
3. Faith-based (GS 110) Child Care Programs operating under a Notice of Compliance
Qualified North Carolina Child Care programs are open and hold one of these three:
1. a current star-rated child care license;
2. a notice of compliance and eligibility to participate in the Subsidized Child Care Assistance
Program;
3. or have had a license or been regulated under a notice of compliance by DCDEE (i.e., faith-
based GS110-) on or before March 11, 2021.
Q. Are Head Start, Early Head Start and NC Pre-K programs eligible to receive child care stabilization
grants?
A. No. Because stabilization grant funding is intended to help the child care sector, public
prekindergarten programs, Head Start, or Early Head Start, which typically operate under different
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program rules and funding structures than child care, are not eligible for NC child care stabilization
grants. However, private NC Pre-K programs may apply.
Q. Can child care programs located in public schools apply?
A. Yes, if the school-based program is funded by family fees (including child care subsidy). No, if public
funds finance the program.
Q: What information is needed to apply for child care stabilization grants?
A: Eligible, qualified child care programs will need to:
1. Have or create a Business NCID and link the facility name to it. (See Job Aid – Creating and
Linking your NCID)
2. Have or setup a direct deposit account (See Job Aid - Setting up your Direct Deposit (PDF))
3. Detailed list of staff, including education and pay rate (See Staff and Training Worksheet)
4. Student enrollment information by age
5. Tuition rates
6. Estimated monthly expenses (payroll, benefits, rent/mortgage, utilities, insurance, teaching
supplies, cleaning supplies, PPE, groceries, etc.)
7. Estimated monthly revenue
Q. How does a program apply for child care stabilization grants?
A. Use the Job Aid - Application Instructions (PDF) for step-by-step guidance and screenshots to
complete the online application in the American Rescue Plan Stabilization Grants for Child Care
Providers Portal.
Q: Can I complete a paper application for child care stabilization grants?
A. No, paper applications are not available and will not be accepted.
Q: If a provider owns/operates more than one child care facility, how do he/she apply?
A: Providers can receive only one stabilization grant per licensed child care program. If a provider has
multiple sites, one application will need to be submitted per site.
Q: How often do programs need to apply for a child care stabilization grant?
A: Child care programs will only apply for the stabilization grant funding once. Every 6 months,
programs must complete a recertification application to continue receiving funds.
Q. How do child care programs complete the recertification application for child care stabilization
grants?
A. Use the Job Aid - Stabilization Grant – Recertification Application (PDF) for step-by-step guidance
and screenshots. Login to the American Rescue Plan Stabilization Grants for Child Care Providers Portal
to complete the recertification application.
Q: Where in the application or recertification application are records and receipts uploaded?
A: Child care programs do not have to submit receipts in the application or recertification application.
Child care programs will document the use of funds during quarterly updates.
Q: How in the application or recertification application is the star rating entered?
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A: Child care programs will not need to enter the star rating. The star rating will come from the DCDEE
regulatory system.
Q: How do I answer: *Was your program licensed (OR operating under a notice of compliance) by
DCDEE on or before March 11, 2021?
A: If the child care program was licensed on or before March 11, 2021, respond “yes”. If the child care
program is a GS 110-106 operating under a notice of compliance on or before March 11, 2021, respond
“yes”. Only respond “no” if it’s a new facility that was licensed after March 11, 2021.
Q: I am receiving error message “invalid date” when adding my license date. What do I do?
A: Make sure you answered the 2
nd
question in this section correctly. *See previous Q&A above.
Q: In Section 3, how do I calculate my facility’s “maximum enrollment?”
A: Maximum enrollment means the total number of children attending if the facility has full
enrollment. For example: If a facility serves three shifts of 8 children in each shift, the maximum
enrollment in that facility would be 24 children. If you serve children part-time, count shared slots as
‘one’ slot. For instance, if your enrollment is 4 full time and 4 part time, your enrollment is 6.
Q. How do I opt in to receive additional child care stabilization grants funding for compensation
support, i.e., compensation support grants?
A. In Section VI Certifications, Question 2 asks, “Would you like to receive funds for Compensation
Support (Bonuses, Salaries and/or Benefits)?” Answer “Yes”. Then select either “Option 1: Bonuses” or
“Option 2: Increase Base pay and/or Benefits”. You may only make one selection.
Q. How can I change my compensation support option or opt out of that funding?
A. During recertification application period, you may opt out, opt in, or switch options for
compensation support. Just be sure to spend the funds according to how they were awarded. For
example, if you’ve been paid option 1 funds and wish to change during the recertification period to
option 2, you must still spend any option 1 funds you received to award bonuses.
Q: What must child care providers attest to in order to qualify for a stabilization grant?
A: Applicants must certify that, if awarded grant funds, they will:
1. Follow local, state, and federal health and safety requirements.
2. Maintain full compensation for staff.
3. To the extent possible, provide relief from copayments and tuition for parents struggling to
afford child care.
4. Meet CCDF requirements (e.g., background checks, participate in health and safety
trainings).
Q. What does “Status” mean in the child care stabilization grants portal?
A. Status definitions for application or recertification application:
• Draft – Indicates that a recertification has been started, but not submitted. Action is required.
Programs must submit recertification by the applicable deadline.
• Pending Signature – Child care program has accepted the Terms and Conditions but has not
submitted the recertification. Action is required. Program staff log back in, sign and submit the
recertification to be considered for grant funds.
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• Approved – The recertification has been accepted and will be funded on the next grant
payment date.
• Pending – Program has submitted the recertification; but the electronic review has found one
or more items that need to be reviewed by an appropriate DCDEE staff member who will
address the issue or contact the child care program to resolve. These reviews can take 5-7
business days, occasionally longer, so please be patient.
• Denied – The child care program, as assessed from recertification, does not qualify to receive
child care stabilization grant funds.
Q: When will my application be approved? How long does DCDEE take to review a child care
stabilization grant application?
A. Applications are electronically reviewed immediately upon submission and assigned an application
status of approved, denied, pending signature, or pending, which will display on the screen.
Q: Once I submit my online child care stabilization grants application, how can I edit my
information?
A: You can’t. Once approved, the submitted application becomes a legally binding agreement between
the applicant and the Division of Child Development and Early Education. You may review the Terms
and Conditions of that agreement. Please take your time and make certain that all information is
accurate before signing and submitting.
Q: Should child care programs include contracted workers (accountants, sub- teachers, HR
consultants, etc.) in the payroll or fixed cost?
A: Use fixed costs and families grant funds to pay for these services.
Q: Are all program staff required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to get stabilization grant funds?
A: There is no COVID-19 vaccine requirement for child care stabilization grant recipients. However,
grantees are required to follow local, state, and federal public health requirements in the fight against
COVID-19. NC DHHS remains committed to providing the most effective and appropriate public
health guidance for the current phase of the pandemic. The best tools right now
are getting vaccinated, getting boosted when eligible, testing after exposure, and staying home when
sick. NC DHHS COVID-19 guidance for child care programs can be found in the Managing COVID-19
Cases in Child Care Facilities .
Grant Award Payments
Q: How much money will each program get?
A: Grant award amounts depend on several factors. Use the grant payment estimator on the DCDEE
Stabilization Grants web page for a close estimate.
Q: When are child care stabilization grant awards paid?
A. Child care stabilization award payments are issued once a quarter, usually later in the month. One
total payment will be issued with an amount for fixed costs and families grant, and if opted in, an
additional amount for compensation support grant. When a payment is issued, check the portal to see
how the payment is allocated. The final fixed costs and families portion of the grant will be paid in
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January 2023. Grant support to boost compensation for North Carolina’s early care and learning
teachers and staff will continue through December 2023. (See Timeline.)
Q: Are the stabilization grants considered taxable income?
A: The ARP Act does not exempt stabilization grant funding from taxation. Therefore, this funding is
subject to the same tax rules as regular CCDF funding. Child care programs may use Fixed Cost grant
funds to pay taxes.
Q. How much of the grant payment is for fixed costs and families and how much is for compensation
support? Where can I see the payments made to my child care program?
A. Each child care program grantee receives a payment deposit composed of a fixed cost and families
payment and, if opted in, a staff-based payment. After logging in to the portal and clicking on the
facility name, locate the section labeled “Payments” (below the section labeled “Benefit Program”).
Stabilization grants payments made to your facility are listed with the Payment Name, Payment Post
Date, Amount, and Description. See the screenshot below for an example.
Q: How will I report this on my taxes?
A: Child care facilities will receive a Form 1099 documenting the grant income. If you do not receive
the 1099, please contact FIS at +1(800) 894-0050.
Q: Will I need to maintain documentation and/or receipts detailing how the stabilization grants were
used?
A: Yes. Grant expenditures must be reported and documentation must be uploaded during a quarterly
update. Child care programs receiving stabilization grant funds will need to maintain documentation of
grant fund spending. Get receipts for cash payments. Keep all records for 7 years.
Quarterly Update
Q. What is a quarterly update?
A. During the quarterly updates, child care programs report their grant expenditures and upload
documentation of those expenses in the stabilization grant portal. They can also update their
workforce records to show new hires, staff changes, pay raises, teacher educational achievement, or
student enrollment to show how grants are helping their business.
Q. When are quarterly updates due?
A. See Timeline.
Q. How do child care programs complete the quarterly update?
A. Use the Job Aid - Stabilization Grant – Quarterly Update (PDF) for step-by-step guidance and
screenshots.
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Q. How do I log in to the Stabilization Grant Application Portal?
Go to the American Rescue Plan Stabilization Grants for Child Care Providers Portal to complete the
Quarterly Update.
Q. How do I know what category to put my fixed costs and families grants expenses in?
A. Use this table to help decide what category each expenditure will go in.
Fixed Cost/Family Grant Types
Category
Goods and services necessary to maintain or resume child
care services.
Goods and services
Copayments and tuition payments for families with children
enrolled in the program
Goods and services
Repayment of costs incurred after the declaration of the
public health emergency on January 31, 2020, for any of the
categories listed above
Goods and services
Mental health supports for children and employees
Mental health supports
PPE, cleaning and sanitation supplies and services, or training
and professional development related to health and safety
practices
Personal protective equipment
Teacher and staff recruitment
Personnel Costs
Teacher and staff compensation
Personnel Costs
Purchases of or updates to equipment and supplies to
respond to COVID-19
Purchases of or updates to
equipment and supplies
Rent or mortgage payments, utilities, facilities maintenance
and improvements, or insurance
Rent/Mortgage/Utilities
Q: What do child care programs need to upload? What kind of documentation is acceptable?
A: Child care programs can use a variety of documents to show how the stabilization grant funds were
used. For fixed costs and families grants, acceptable documentation includes, but is not limited to:
• Invoices, receipts, and bills
• Bank account or credit card statements
• Cancelled checks
• Loan statements or documents
• Payroll records
• P&L Statements from accounting software
• For tuition assistance to families, invoice marked “paid” or something on letterhead showing
the amount given and to whom.
If you received compensation supports grants, you’ll need to upload two items:
• A bonus plan, or a salary/benefits plan establishing the method the child care program is using
to distribute compensation grant funds to staff.
o The plan must include all employees.
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o This can be a narrative description, a table, spreadsheet or matrix for larger
programs. Show your work! Tell us what’s different. Plan should indicate changes you’ve
made or are planning to make.
• Proof of payments you’ve made or benefits you’ve provided
o Payroll records
o Cancelled checks
o Receipts or invoices from benefit vendors
Q. In the quarterly update, I get an error message “A home facility should have at least one active
administrator.” What does that mean?
A. To align with recently released federal reporting requirements, the Division of Child Development
and Early Education has changed a required response in Section VI: Workforce Updates. Every grantee
must designate one employee’s position as “administrator”. Many family child care homes may need
to change their position from “owner” to “administrator”. To do so, select “Yes” when asked “Have
there been any changes to your workforce during the past quarter?” Then follow instructions for
updating an employee on page 25 of the Recertification Job Aid Quarterly Update Job Aid.
Q. I received payments for Option 2: Increase Base pay and/or Benefits. How do I “identify the way
in which the funds were used for personnel cost” in Section III Compensation Supports of the
Quarterly Update?
A. Enter a value between 0 to 100 to indicate the percentage of your compensation support grant
funds you used to increase base pay and the percentage you used for benefits. Values should add up to
100 percent of Option 2 funds received.
Q: If we have recently made a part-time teacher full time, would that be considered workforce
update?
A: Yes, please update that information in the Workforce Section.
Q: How do I upload paper receipts to my computer?
A: The Job Aid-Stabilization Grants – Quarterly Update has upload and download instructions.
Monitoring
DCDEE monitors the stabilization grants program on an ongoing basis to ensure child care program
grantees use funds for allowed uses only and in compliance with the Terms and Conditions. If an audit
finds no problems, the child care program will receive a letter notifying them of the audit result. If an
audit reveals any issues, the auditor will contact the child care program with any questions or to
request documentation. Grantees must cooperate and respond to any instructions from DCDEE
auditors. Not all application will be reviewed; goal is approximately 1/3 to ½ of all applications.
Get Help
Q: Where can I get more information about child care stabilization grants?
A. The Division of Child Development and Early Education maintains a child care stabilization grants
webpage at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Stabilization-Grants.
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Q. How do I ask a question or report a problem?
A. Assistance is available Monday-Friday from 8:30 AM-4:30 PM. Ask questions using the Stabilization
Grant Customer Support Form or call Stabilization Grants Customer Service Team at (919) 814-6300,
press 2.
Q. If I am experiencing a technical problem, how do I contact NC FAST?
A. Child care providers who need assistance from the NC FAST Help Desk may call (919) 813-5460.
Index
A
Administrator · 14
Application · 7, 8, 9, 10, 12
Status · 10
Application Instructions · 8
approved uses · 4
B
benefits · 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 13, 14
Business NCID · 8
C
Child Care Stabilization Grants · 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14
Child Care Stabilization Grants Option 1
Bonuses Only · 6
Compensation Support
Option 2
Increase Salary and/or Benefits · 6
Compensation Support Grant · 6, 11, 14
Compensation Support Grants · 2, 5, 6, 7, 10
Compensation Supports
Option 1: Bonuses Only · 2
Compensation Supports Grants · 1, 13
construction · 4
COVID-19 vaccine · 11
Customer Service · See Customer Support
D
direct deposit account · 8
documentation · See receipts
E
Edit Application · 11
F
FIS · 12
Fixed Cost & Family Grant formula · 5
Fixed Costs and Families Grant · 1, 4, 11
G
grant award payments · 11
grant payment · 7, 10, 11, 12
Grant Payment Estimator · 6
H
Head Start
Early Head Start · 2
M
major renovation · 4
maximum enrollment · 9
monitor · See audit
Monitoring · 14
N
NC Pre-K · 2, 8
new child care program · 2
O
Option 1. Provide Bonuses to all staff · 5
Option 2: Increase Salary and/or Benefits · 2
Option 2. Increase Base Pay and/or Benefits for all staff · 5
Optional Additional Funding · Compensation Support Grants
NC Child Care Stabilization Grants FAQs | Updated 27 September 2022
Page 15
P
Past Expenses · 4
public schools · 2, 8
Q
Quarterly Update · 6, 12, 14
R
receipts · 9, 12, 13, 14
recertification application · 7, 9, 10
reduction · 5
S
salary scale · 6
Status
Pending · 10
Pending Signature · 10
T
tax · 6, 11
taxable · 11
taxes · 11, 12
Timeline · 3, 5, 11, See Dates
U
Uses, Allowable
Mortgage/Rent · 4
