Child Care Staff Recruitment and Retention (CCSRR) Program

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The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) recognizes that providers continue to struggle to have the necessary staff complement to meet demand. Some providers are operating at a reduced capacity as staff leave the industry, thus disrupting the availability of care for Pennsylvania families.

To address the ongoing crisis, OCDEL will implement a new initiative titled the Child Care Staff Recruitment and Retention (CCSRR) Program. OCDEL will issue up to $25 million to qualified providers for the purpose of retention and recruitment efforts. The focus of this funding is to assist providers with employment resolutions, to the extent that funding is available.

To prepare qualified providers for the release of the 2025-2026 Child Care Staff Recruitment and Retention Program application period, the following includes pertinent details.

Read the full ELRC 25 #05: Child Care Staff Recruitment and Retention Program announcement for all information. >

Eligibility

A DHS-certified child care provider must meet all eligibility criteria as of the date of application submission and at payment by ELRCs to be considered a qualified child care:

  1. Certified by DHS as a Child Care Center, Group Child Care Home, or Family Child Care Home and holds a current Regular Certificate of Compliance.
  2. In operation and serving children/families.
  3. Holds a current CCW Certified Provider Agreement with DHS/OCDEL.
  4. Does not have an open referral to the Office of Attorney General (OAG) or an ongoing repayment plan with an ELRC for any previous OCDEL grants/awards.
  5. Has completed reporting on all previous OCDEL grants/awards.
  6. Does not owe liens/liabilities to the Commonwealth.

Read the full announcement for more information on provider ineligibility and more. >

Staff Retention Bonus

Qualified child care providers will request Retention Bonuses on behalf of all current, qualified staff. Retention Bonuses are not based on job performance or the qualified child care provider’s discretion. All qualified staff employed at the physical program location at the time of application must be included.

Qualified staff are eligible for a one-time $450 Retention Bonus. Payments may not supplant existing funds used for staff wages, bonuses, or benefits. Allocated funds may only be used for Retention Bonus payments.

Read all information in the full announcement. >

Staff Recruitment Bonus

Recruitment bonuses can be paid to a newly employed, qualified staff member hired after the date of application submission. New hires must meet all requirements detailed in the ‘Qualified Staff’ section to receive a Recruitment Bonus. The Recruitment Bonus is a one-time payment of $450 per new qualified staff as outlined in the Recruitment Bonus Funds chart below. Funding will be allocated based on provider type and licensed capacity.

Read all information in the full announcement. >

Application

Qualified providers must submit a completed application 2025-2026 Child Care Retention and Recruitment Application to their regional ELRC by January 29, 2026.  Qualified providers must also ensure the qualified staff listed in the application (and who will therefore receive a Retention Bonus) are appropriately assigned to the qualified provider’s Professional Development (PD) Registry profile. For additional details, please read the section labeled ‘PD REGISTRY’.

Applications can be submitted electronically or via USPS, as validated with a postmark date no later than January 29, 2026. ELRCs must approve or deny an application within 45 calendar days of receipt. Electronic submission of the application via email is the preferred submission method.  

Read the full announcement for applications and more information. >

Funding and Spending Requirement

STAFF RETENTION BONUS 

  • Funding for Retention Bonuses to qualified providers by the ELRCs will occur between January 21, 2026, and March 15, 2026.
  • Retention Bonuses must be paid to qualified staff (in full) by the provider within 45 calendar days of receipt from the ELRC. 
  • Retention Bonus funds cannot be used to supplant qualified staff salaries/wages.  
  • Retention Bonuses must be paid through employer payroll.
  • If there is a valid reason that a provider cannot issue a Retention Bonus to a qualified staff member within the 45 calendar days of receiving funds, the provider must submit a written request to the ELRC explaining why additional time is needed.

STAFF RECRUITMENT BONUS 

  • If funding is available, Recruitment Bonus funds to qualified providers will be issued between February 16, 2026, and April 17, 2026.
  • Recruitment Bonuses for newly employed, qualified staff must be issued by a qualified provider between February 16, 2026 and June 30, 2026.

If Retention Bonus and Recruitment Bonus funds are not spent by June 30, 2026, qualified providers must return any remaining balance to their ELRC.  

Timeline

December 15, 2025: CCSRR Application posted to the DHS and the Pennsylvania Key websites.  

December 15, 2025 – January 29, 2026: CCSRR Application submission period.  

January 21, 2026 – March 15, 2026: ELRC timeframe to release Retention Bonus funding to qualified providers.

January 29, 2026- March 15, 2026: ELRC processes applications to verify eligibility requirements are met by both the qualified provider and qualified staff.

January 29, 2026: Last day applications will be accepted by the ELRC. Any application postmarked after this date will not be eligible.  

February 16, 2026 – April 17, 2026: ELRC timeframe to release Recruitment Bonus payments to qualified providers.

February 16, 2026 – June 30, 2026: Provider timeframe to release Recruitment Bonus payments to newly hired, qualified staff.

June 30, 2026: Last day for providers to spend or return CCSRR funds.  

July 31, 2026: Last day for Final Expense Report Forms to be received at the ELRC.

Contact your ELRC for more information.