Release:

ATLANTA, Ga., April 30, 2020) – Beginning May 1, 2020, all licensed Georgia child care providers are invited to apply for Short Term Assistance Benefit for Licensed Entities (STABLE) payments from the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL). These payments represent the first phase of administering $144 million Georgia received under the federal Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

DECAL Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs said STABLE payments may be used to pay for salaries and benefits for lead teachers, assistant teachers, and other employees; substitute teachers; tuition relief for families; lease or mortgage payments; utilities; cleaning supplies; classroom materials and supplies; unreimbursed food; and additional supplies required by CDC guidelines.

“We know that family child care learning homes and child care learning centers in Georgia are struggling as a result of COVID-19,” said Commissioner Jacobs. “To expedite these payments, we are developing a simple application that will ask providers to describe how they will use the funds. The amount of funding a provider receives will be based on their attendance before COVID-19 and on their current status, open or closed.”

Providers can apply for STABLE through May 15, 2020, using DECAL’s KOALA portal for child care providers.

Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, Governor Brian P. Kemp has allowed licensed child care to remain open to serve children and families. However, with more families staying at home, attendance significantly declined except for the children of first responders and essential workers. Currently, approximately 1,700 of Georgia’s 4,449 licensed child care programs remain open.

“Georgia’s child care providers have found themselves in an unimaginable position wanting to serve the children and families of their communities while protecting the health and safety of their staff and their own families,” said Commissioner Jacobs. “DECAL has supported and will continue to support all members of the early childhood community – those who made the difficult decision to close and those who chose to remain open. Neither decision was easy, and we want to help all providers return to full capacity as Georgia’s economy rebounds.”