TWC Approves $40M In Supplemental Child Care Distribution To Support Communities, Families

The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), in an effort to support our working community and families affected by COVID-19, will distribute $40,000,000 of supplemental child care.

These funds will allow local Workforce Development Boards to provide child care to the new COVID-19 Essential Workers, and, pending approval of a federal waiver from the Office of Child Care, make supplemental payments to child care programs to cover lost Parent Share of Cost (PSOC) payments.

These measures are part of the State’s efforts to address the impact the COVID-19 virus is having on the state’s economy and its workforce.

COVID-19 Essential Workers with children under the age of 13 may receive child care financial assistance to cover a portion or, in some cases, all of the costs for child care.

TWC has also requested a federal waiver to simplify the eligibility process to more quickly enroll these essential workers’ children into child care.

According to Workforce Solutions, if a daycare facility should determine that it is in the best interest of its staff, families and the community to temporarily close due to the impact of COVID-19, they would continue to pay for all active referrals. 

In addition, daycares that provide full-time service for their school-age students during school closures will be reimbursed at the full-time rate until school resumes or childcare services end. 

“We recognize that Child Care Licensing has issued guidance limiting public access which prevents parents from entering the facility to record attendance, so we will continue to pay for absences/non-swipe days beyond the allowable 40 days and children will not be adversely impacted,” TWC said on their website. 

Last week, Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra ordered the closure of all state-regulated and licensed daycare facilities as a measure to further prevent community spread of COVID-19.

But the judge’s latest shelter-at-home order, issued Wednesday, March 25, and effective March 26 at 11 PM, identifies daycares as essential businesses and allows them to reopen and provide services so long as certain measures are implemented.

The City of San Marcos has advised its residents to follow the new county order. 

However, daycares within the City of Kyle and the City of Buda will remain closed until their Mayoral Orders expire. 

The City of Kyle’s order expires on April 5, and the City of Buda’s expires on April 3. 

All daycares within the county can check their eligibility and find more information on the Texas Workforce Commission’s Workforce Development Board’s page. For information on the Rural Capital area go here.

Workforce Development Boards administer child care services through Workforce Solutions offices. Eligibility requirements and coverage amounts may vary by service area.

Hours, virtual openings and contact information is updated daily so please check back before visiting an office.  

In addition to resources for new COVID-19 Essential Workers, boards will also have funds to cover lost PSOC payments.

Given the broad impact of COVID-19, many parents enrolled in the child care subsidy program may face financial hardship.

Families may be unable to pay the PSOC due to loss of income, inability to leave home due to self-isolation or quarantine, child care program closure, or other COVID-related reasons.

Offsetting the PSOC losses to all affected child care programs could help mitigate the financial impacts to programs.

Gov. Greg Abbott’s March 19, 2020 order to shut down many state businesses, including schools did not apply to the state’s child care centers.

For updated information on child care programs or to find a Texas Rising Star child care center to provide for your children during the COVID-19 outbreak visit the TWC child care COVID-19 resource page.

TWC is committed to providing essential resources to all Texans during the COVID-19 outbreak. In addition to creating central resource pages for employers and job seekers, TWC has also expanded telecenter hours, waived the waiting week and job search requirements for unemployment benefits.

The agency is committed to ensuring all Texans have access to resources they need.