Lawmakers, DCF discuss H.248 changes to emergency childcare grants and federal CCDF requirements

Janet McLaughlin, deputy commissioner of the Child Development Division at the Department for Children and Families, told the House Human Services committee that H.248 would adjust the state's existing extraordinary financial relief (EFR) grants and add flexibility to implement federal Child Care and Development Fund rule changes.

McLaughlin said the bill does not request new funding but would alter statute language so the state can respond more quickly and direct EFR funds to the program that will continue serving children rather than, in some cases, to a closing site. "We want it to go to the people that are going to be serving the children," she said, giving examples of situations in which the statute's current wording blocked timely assistance.

The committee heard two concrete examples McLaughlin offered: a licensed site that needed to close for safety reasons while another provider agreed to accept the displaced children, and a multi-site provider with a new classroom ready to open that was delayed by sudden water damage. In both cases, McLaughlin said, the statutory language prevented the division from directing EFR funds to the receiving site or…