Childcare Nonprofit Receives $250K Grant, Says More State Money Needed For Eastern CT Agencies

by Hudson Kamphausen CTNewsJunkie

HARTFORD, CT – A new grant from one of Connecticut’s quasi-public agencies will expand family-based childcare into the eastern part of the state, officials said Wednesday.
The Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority – which provides grants of different levels to different organizations throughout the state – was joined by Speaker of the House Matt Ritter in announcing that it is giving a $250,000 enterprise grant to the organization All Our Kin.
Ritter, speaking at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford, said that the move continues an investment in childcare in the state.

“This just continues the investment and the growing understanding of the importance of childcare, and the need for childcare in Connecticut,” Ritter said.
All Our Kin (AOK) is a nationwide nonprofit that is focused on building child care throughout the country, and has already established a network supporting family child care providers in Stamford and New Haven. 
It provides numerous services for childcare producers, including business training and educational training. 

It also helps child care providers with network development. 
AOK Co-founder and CEO Jessica Sager said Wednesday that the grant will help the organization expand into eastern Connecticut, and will allow AOK to serve hundreds more providers. 
“Connecticut’s families need quality child care. They need programs that work for their schedules and for the individual needs of their young children. Family child care does just that,” she said. 

Family child care homes typically serve up to six children, according to the Office of Early Childhood.
Lawrence Davis – who chairs CHEFA’s grant committee – said that the grant will provide “vital programming,” described it as groundbreaking.
“It serves as a strategic investment in the sustainability and growth of family child care businesses across Connecticut. It supports a comprehensive approach to childcare, addressing the educational and business needs of family child care providers,” he said.  

Davis said the grant is a “double win” for the state’s economy. 
While expanding programs provided by organizations like All Our Kin increases the number of available childcare opportunities, it does not address the issue of helping residents pay for childcare.
Sager said that while the investment by CHEFA is important and appreciated, more substantial public money is needed in order to more adequately subsidize child care in the state. 

“Affordability can only come with state funding and support,” Sager said. 
Ritter referenced Public Act 24-91 – signed by Gov. Ned Lamont last month – which will establish the Early Childhood Care and Education Fund, which will be overseen by the Office of the Comptroller. 
He also said that significant state investments were made during the last legislative session, with $23.9 million being agreed upon to help subsidize child care in the state, with a majority of that going toward the Care 4 Kids program. 

Ritter said he does not know what the budget will look like next year, but said he has a feeling that it will include a large stipend for childcare.
“I don’t know what it’s going to look like next year, I really don’t know,” he said. “At the end of the day, next year, my gut tells me when you see a biennium budget, whether it’s from the governor, [or] proposed by Republicans or Democrats, you’re going to see an emphasis on child care. I think that point has been well made.”