Child Care Associates, Tarrant County announce plan to expand access to child care

Child Care Associates and Tarrant County announced a plan Thursday to expand access to early education and child care within the county.

Cities and school districts may apply for funding to bring early education centers to communities that lack child care options. The expansion will be funded with money from the American Rescue Plan Act.

“This is a transformational opportunity for early childhood development,” Tarrant County Precinct 1 Commissioner Roy Charles Brooks said in a statement. “I am excited that Tarrant County and CCA together will work to bring Early Head Start services to some of our highest need neighborhoods. Bringing high quality early education and care services for infants and toddlers of families who need those services is one of the greatest returns on investment we can provide and is a solid step toward the elimination of generational poverty in Tarrant County.”

Among the requirements:

▪ Minimum 12,200 square feet facility

▪ Minimum of eight classrooms and one indoor play area, each ranging from 360 square feet to 1800 square feet. (in addition to other Early Head Start and child care regulations).

▪ Minimum 22 parking spaces.

Tarrant County has 24 ZIP codes identified as “child care deserts,” according to Kara Waddell, President-CEO of Child Care Associates.

Applications are being accepted. For more information, visit the CCA website.

Child Care Associates is one of the largest child development nonprofits in North Texas and has served more than half million children over the past 54 years. Visit http://childcareassociates.org/head-start-early-head-start for eligibility and enrollment information. For more information, visit childcareassociates.org.