Governor Mike Dunleavy has directed the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services to work in coordination with federal partners to disperse funding to the Child Care Program Office in order to meet the need of childcare providers statewide.
The Governor said: “My administration is committed to meeting the needs of Alaska’s child care providers who serve as an important aspect of reopening our economy. We recognize the need of parents to have functioning childcare as they to return to work and it is important we support these providers in this time. I’ve directed our Department of Health and Social Services to allocate needed funds to support childcare facilities across Alaska.”
Adam Crum, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, added: “Childcare providers in the State of Alaska are critical to the economic infrastructure of the state. Our workforce cannot function without safe, competent childcare for their children during working hours. It is imperative that these providers remain open and available during the COVID-19 crisis so that, as restrictions for social distancing are lifted, our workforce can return to work.”
There are 492 licensed providers in Alaska. Currently, 287 of these facilities are open, 205 facilities are closed, and 359 facilities submitted a Request for Payment for services in March. The total amount requested was $9,037,739. The U.S. Administration of Children and Families allocated $6,400,000 for these payments, so the remainder of $2.6 million will be supplemented by using State funds.