Wage Supports for Early Childhood Educators offers payments to staff at eligible child care programs. Get an overview of the program.
This page outlines how much money staff and programs are eligible to receive. Phase 2 of this program offers 3 types of payments:
- Per-staff payments to staff (base payments and additional payments)
- Flexible program bonuses for staff compensation
- Administrative payments for programs
Per-staff payments (base payments and additional payments)
We send all eligible staff a base payment based on the hours they work. On top of that, they may get additional payments based on whether the child care program qualifies.
For full-time workers
| Base payment for eligible full-time workers | $1,700 |
| Additional payment if the program: –Is accredited by NAEYC or NAFCC -Has Head Start Approval | +$170 |
| Additional payment if the program has an OEC license to serve infants and toddlers | +$170 |
| Additional payment if the program: – Has had at least one active C4K certificate between July 1, 2021 and January 31, 2023. | +$170 |
Add up the amount to get the staff member’s per-staff payment total.
For part-time workers
| Base payment for eligible part-time workers | $650 |
| Additional payment if the program: –Is accredited by NAEYC or NAFCC -Has Head Start Approval | +$65 |
| Additional payment if the program has an OEC license to serve infants and toddlers | +$65 |
| Additional payment if the program: – Has had at least one active C4K certificate between July 1, 2021 and January 31, 2023. | +$65 |
Add up the amount to get the staff member’s per-staff payment total.
Flexible program bonuses for staff
If your child care program is eligible, we send these funds to the program. The program must use this money to compensate staff. Learn how programs can use this funding.
| SVI bonus If the program is located in an area with a Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) of 0.6 or higher | +25% of all staff members’ per-staff base payment totals |
| Registry bonus If program administrators and teaching staff have active accounts in the OEC Early Childhood Professional Registry by March 31, 2023 Learn how to become eligible for this bonus. | +25% of all staff members’ per-staff base payment totals |
Learn more on the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) on the Connecticut Childcare Providers and SVI Dashboard. Then look up your program’s address to find the highest SVI in your area. Visit the dashboard.
Administrative payments for programs
We will also send eligible child care programs a payment of 18% of all payment totals.
Programs can use this money to cover administrative support, such as:
- Social Security
- Employer share of state and federal taxes
- Other administrative processing fees incurred by the program, etc.
• Questions about applying? Call 2-1-1 Child Care at 800-505-1000 or send an email.
• Watch our webinar about Wage Supports. OEC hosted 2 informational webinars for child care programs about the program. Watch the video now.
• Make sure your program is eligible for bonuses. Learn how to get ready.
• Check your inbox. We sent emails with a link to the application on March 2, 2023. Look for a message from childcarefunding@ctunitedway.org. Applications will be due March 31, 2023.