Early Learning Coalition of Santa Rosa County

American rescue plan act (arpa) funded several different initiatives: arpa stabilization provided direct assistance to eligible child care providers to support their financial stability and offset unexpected costs associated with the covid-19 pandemic. Coalition received funding through arpa child care stabilization and arpa build a world class workforce programs to provide direct financial support for all eligible child care providers to assist with recruiting and training new teachers, health and safety bonuses and class training certification bonuses. Separate training bonuses were paid to vpk and sr directors through class observer director training grant. Arpa discretionary grant aimed to continue to enhance recruitment, retention and upskilling the workforce; quality performance and special needs differentials. It also covered arpa build class capacity double coding initiative and arpa impact child outcomes expand access to curriculum initiative, which allowed elc to reimburse child care providers for the cost of trainings and professional Learning activities, coaching, materials, workshops and fidelity tools. Ongoing arpa Early Learning discretionary started in 2023 and includes increasing/building the supply of child care; training, professional Learning activities and workforce initiatives; local initiatives/pilot projects to improve kindergarten readniness; community outreach and family engagement; equipmnet, supplies, classroom materials; curriculum; business administration computer software; Early Learning software and technology.

Voluntary pre-kindergarten - this program consists of state mandated dollars used to support a voluntary pre-kindergarten program for all four-year-old children.

Subsidized child care program - this program provides for Early education and care for children of families with limited income and enables parents to gain and/or sustain their economic self-sufficiency through maintenance of employment or participation in job skill/vocational training leading to employment.

Early Learning Florida - this program supports Early care and education providers that participate in the Early Learning Florida courses. Teen parent programs - these programs provide child care, resource and referral services to students. Services are designated to assist each student towards the goal of independent living and self-support in the community.