City officials outline ARPA-backed training, stabilization grants and licensing supports for family child care

City staff told the Boston City Council’s Committee on Post Audit, Government Accountability, Transparency, and Accessibility on Sept. 18 that the Office of Early Childhood has used American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and operational money to stabilize family child care and expand training.

Paola (Office of Early Childhood) and Katie Gull (Office of Workforce Development) summarized investments that include a one‑time childcare stabilization grant for family child care, an “essential worker” grant (in collaboration with SEIU) to cover nonstandard hours for essential workers, business development and marketing trainings, and a “growing the workforce” program that pays for certificates and degrees for aspiring and incumbent educators.

Paola said the Office’s training work from 2020–2025 reached 512 educators and that 90 percent of those who received training remain open. “We have the licensing support program for aspiring family child care providers,” she told the committee, and added that the city offers business training, tech and marketing supports and curriculum and health‑focused partnerships with the Boston Public Health Commission.

Officials reported program reach and ongoing pilots - The office said it has supported family child care providers plus staff within 59 centers through ARPA and related investments; some ARPA programs remain ongoing. - Business training, delivered through community partners, had 412 participants since inception; an Ages & Stages (ASQ) curriculum training reached about 160 providers. - The city’s tech and marketing training was popular enough to be folded into regular operational offerings.

Workforce development grants and partnerships Katie Gull, director of workforce grantmaking, described a recent U.S. Department of Commerce grant and a regional Good Jobs Challenge award used to fund employer‑driven sector partnerships. She said the grants supported training at 79 employers across 178 sites in Greater Boston and highlighted a United Way business training in which 75 educators completed a 12‑week entrepreneurship curriculum and left with business budgets and policies.

City staff said targeted supports will be refined Office staff acknowledged gaps raised by providers — particularly around landlords, insurance and voucher access — and said the city will pursue better data collection to identify at‑risk providers and coordinate outreach in multiple languages. Staff also said they have landlord‑focused materials designed to correct myths and to explain licensing, liability and the public benefits of family child care.

Ending: City officials told the committee that many programs are pilots or time‑limited ARPA efforts and recommended continued collaboration among councilors, the Office of Early Childhood, workforce development, SEIU and provider networks to scale supports and address persistent gaps.