EMERGENCY INTERVENTION NEEDED - DCYF Retention Grant

Child care providers across Washington State looked forward to having the capacity to financially recognize their staffs’ work during these challenging times via the Workforce Retention Grant. The recognition of child care staff is vitally important because the work of child care enables all other work in Washington State. Unfortunately, using the MERIT system to determine grant awards has proven to be extremely problematic.

DCYF Retention Grant award emails were received by providers starting Monday, November 21, 2022. Unfortunately, DCYF utilized MERIT records in a way that has eliminated a large number of our staff who should be receiving retention grants. Providers took the time to ensure MERIT records were up to date before applying, and the grant application included an attestation regarding the number of current eligible staff. Due to one unchecked box in MERIT, many staff were deemed ineligible that are actually eligible and were included in the application numbers. Additionally, many were deemed eligible that should not have been, which includes substitutes and household members.

In an effort to gauge the impact on providers across Washington State, WCCA conducted an informal online poll regarding the DCYF Retention Grant awards. Out of 114 responses, 70% have eligible employees who were not included in the grant award. Fifteen other centers collectively reported only 100 of 313 staff were deemed eligible. Based on this data and accompanying feedback, it appears the root of this problem lies in how confirming or verifying staff in MERIT was expected to be done, given the expectation was not clearly defined on the application.

If the intent of these funds is for child care staff retention, we cannot have centers forced to give funds to a select few, while excluding others or forced to return the funds due to the inequity of distribution, either option will increase turnover. Furthermore, child care providers do not have the financial resources to supplement retention payments for those staff who should’ve received them but were not included in the grant award. There is grave concern that instead of these funds helping to retain staff, the actual consequence may be more staff leaving the child care profession.

The Washington Childcare Centers Association (WCCA) Board of Directors, on behalf of Washington State child care providers, is requesting an emergency intervention to solve the DCYF Retention Grant debacle.