Quality Funding Announcements
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) is pleased to release funding announcements for several quality grants.
These grants were previously released by the California Department of Education (CDE). However, the Early Childhood Development Act of 2020 (Senate Bill (SB) 98, Chapter 24, Statutes of 2020) authorized the transfer of child care and development programs currently administered by the CDE to the CDSS effective July 1, 2021. The CDSS is committed to supporting an integrated and coordinated system of care to achieve the goal of promoting a high-quality, affordable system designed to comprehensively and effectively serve children, families, and the child care and development workforce.
CDSS Quality Improvement Budget by Fiscal Year
The below PDFs provide an overview of the CDSS Quality Improvement budget by fiscal year.
CDSS Quality Improvement Budget 2021-22
CDSS Quality Improvement Budget 2022-23
CDSS Quality Improvement Budget 2023-24
CDSS Quality Improvement Budget 2024-25
The Child Care Initiative Project (CCIP) Expansion Grant
As part of the 2021-2022 State Budget and the Child Care Pandemic Relief Package, $25 million in “One-Time” funding is available to support the expansion of the Child Care Initiative Project (CCIP). Federal funds (American Rescue Plan Act/ARPA) will be used to support this one-time expansion. The funding is available for two years and must be expended by June 30, 2023. These funds will be used to expand CCIP activities, support providers who have closed and are working towards re-opening, along with actions to address child care deserts across the state that will support equity and access to quality for all children and families. This grant has closed as of June 30, 2023.
Final CCIP Expansion Grant Funding Allocations
CCIP ARPA Webinar PowerPoint
CCIP ARPA Webinar
CCIP ARPA FAQs
FYs 2024-2027 Quality Counts California (QCC) Workforce Pathways Grant and Quality Improvement Grant Joint Request for Applications (RFA)
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) invites current grantees to apply for the CDSS Quality Counts California (QCC) Workforce Pathways Grant and the QCC Quality Improvement Grant (formerly QCC Block Grant) through a Joint Request for Applications (RFA). This RFA reflects the latest evolution of the grants.
RFA Quality Counts California (QCC) Workforce Pathways Grant and QCC Quality Improvement Grant FYs 2024-2027
Quality Counts California Block Grant
The Quality Counts California (QCC) Block Grant provides a total of $25.6 million for two years ($12.8 each year) of federal Child Care and Development Fund quality improvement funds in support of local QCC consortia to raise the quality of participating sites.
Funding announcements: QCC Block Grant FY 2021-22
Funding announcements: QCC Block Grant FY 2022-23
Quality Counts Workforce Pathways Grant
The QCC Workforce Pathways Grant seeks to expand the number of qualified child care providers and increase the educational credentials of existing child care professionals. The grant award is available to local consortia and multi-county consortia that apply for funding by submitting a QCC Workforce Development Plan. This grant is also available for the first time, to the Tribal Child Care Association of California (TCCAC). These funds will be used, to respond to the critical shortage of highly skilled early educators and providers. The impact of COVID-19 has exacerbate this shortage, which is an impediment to expanding ELC programs while maintaining or improving quality.
Funding announcements: QCC Workforce Pathways Grant
Funding announcements: QCC Workforce Pathways Grant FY 2022-23
California Preventive Health and Safety Practices (CPHSP) Grant
The California Preventive Health and Safety Practices (CPHSP) Grant provides California Emergency Medical Services Authority-approved training to child care providers regionally utilizing local itinerant Resource and Referral training staff.
Funding announcements: CPHSP Grant FY 24-25
CPHSP Expenditure Report Form Job Aid
CPHSP Expenditure Report Form