Early Learning Scholarships (ELS) are available for families seeking financial aid for Parent Aware child care programs.
Sue Monson is the child care programs (CCP) manager, and Mackenzie Adair is the CCP outreach coordinator with MAHUBE-OTWA Community Action Partnership, Inc. MAHUBE administers child care aid in 10 counties, including Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd and Wadena.
“Scholarships are for families that are income eligible with children ages birth to 5,” said Monson, noting that Parent Aware child care programs can include preschool, Head Start, a family childcare or a childcare center.
“Scholarships up to $15,000 can be awarded,” Monson added. “We were fortunate enough this program year to be awarded close to $16 million. So, our goal is to get that money into as many family hands as we can.”
“We just opened up an online application that our region is piloting for the State of Minnesota,” Adair added.
“They call it the Hub,” said Monson, referring to earlylearningscholarshipshub.mn.gov.
“That’s supposed to make it a little more accessible for families to apply,” said Adair, “so they can upload their income documentation right there, through the portal.”
The income requirement is a household gross income at or less than 185% of the federal poverty level. For a family of four, that’s $55,500, plus or minus $9,509 for each additional family member.
Families do not need to prove their income eligibility if they are already in one of the following programs: free and reduced-price meals, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), Food Distribution for Tribal Members, Head Start, Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or foster care.
To find a Parent Aware provider, visit ParentAware.org or call 888-291-9811. The way it works, Adair said, visitors enter their ZIP code and the site searches for local providers and tells them if they accept ELS or CCAP.
“Both programs help pay and offset the cost of child care,” said Adair. “If parents are already on Child Care Assistance, they can utilize Early Learning Scholarship in tandem with it.”
For example, she said, families may have a $300 copay with CCAP, but ELS can cover that copay to completely erase the cost of childcare.
Adair explained that if a parent has children enrolled in a four-star rated Parent Aware program, they can receive up to $15,000 per child per year if it’s center-based, school-based or a Head Start; or up to $12,000 per child per year under licensed family child care.
Maximum scholarship amounts are $9,000 for a three-star Parent Aware rating, $6,000 for a one- or two-star rating, or up to $5,000 with a signed Parent Aware participation agreement.
Adair said the scholarship pays the Parent Aware program for the child’s enrollment up to the maximum for the program’s star rating. Anything billed above that amount is the parents’ responsibility.
“That’s why it’s really great if they have CCAP as well,” she said, noting that CCAP dollars are applied first. “Early Learning Scholarship will cover whatever CCAP doesn’t. So, there are some families that have no child care bill by the end of it.”
Also new this year, Monson said, any licensed child care provider can opt into Parent Aware at one star and go through the training program to increase their star rating.
Adair said there is a need for providers willing to become Parent Aware rated. “It is a process,” she said, “but MAHUBE can help with Parent Aware rating, as well. We have coaches to help them walk through the rating process.”
“And helping them with the licensing process,” said Monson. “We have wayfinders that help them figure out the pieces. … Once they’re licensed, we have quality coaches.”.
Child care is important, Monson said, because parents need to go to work and school – “anything that’ll help them increase their economic abilities. If there’s any way they can get that help, they should go for it.”
Monson said she has relatives in Hubbard County who have a toddler and infant twins, and their daycare bill comes to about $1,900 per month. “I said, you guys really should apply for that and see if you’ll qualify. Anything that’ll help. And nobody’s saying that providers should not make this, because providers work super-hard for these families.”
Nevertheless, Monson acknowledged, “child care can sometimes be as big or bigger than a person’s house payment or rent. So, we’ve got to figure out a way to help them out, to keep them working.”
Since last July 1, scholarship coordinator Tammy Kircher said, the ELS program has served 103 children in Hubbard County. “We probably have, within the next couple days, almost 10 more (scholarships) that we’re ready to award,” she said.
Kircher said that, as of Feb. 13, 10 Parent Aware providers serving children in Hubbard County were accepting Early Learning Scholarships. Meanwhile, there are 27 eligible, Parent Aware programs in Hubbard County.
Adair added that families that already have providers should ask whether they will accept ELS, and of course, complete an application.
“I always encourage everybody to apply, even if you don’t know if you’re going to qualify,” she said, “because you never know if you are going to fall within that threshold.”
Even if you don’t, she said, MAHUBE may be able to refer you to a different program.
“It’s money that’s out there to be taken,” said Adair, noting that this year’s $16 million is four times the amount of funding the region typically receives for this kind of assistance.
Monson said MAHUBE-OTWA has submitted a request for another large award in the next fiscal year, which starts July 1.
Adair urged families to apply for the aid by then. “Right now, with the amount of funds we have, we aren’t anticipating a waiting list,” she said.
So far this year, they’ve awarded about $3.5 million in scholarships within their 10-county service area, Monson said – close to what they’re usually allocated. But there’s still plenty of money left in the pot.
“Not a lot of people know what it is, or that you can use it in tandem with CCAP,” said Adair. “Not everyone knows how it can benefit their family. Sometimes there’s the ‘I’ll let somebody else take that, because they need it more than me’ mentality. I just want to say, we have plenty to go around to everybody, so don’t hesitate to apply.
“Especially right now, with the online portal. You can do it from your couch.”
For information about Early Learning Scholarships in MAHUBE’s 10-county area, call 218-632-3600 or email els@mahube.org.
If you live within the boundaries of the White Earth Reservation, you may apply via the White Earth Child Care/Early Childhood Program by calling 218-983-3285 ext. 1380 or emailing Jessica.Harstad@whiteearth-nsn.gov.
