Refugee Family Child Care Microenterprise Development Program

Overview

The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) announces funding under the Refugee Family Child Care Microenterprise Development Project (RFCCMED). Through the RFCCMED program, ORR will fund successful applicants to provide refugee participants with training and technical assistance in professional child care, microenterprise development, and financial literacy; assist refugee participants in navigating the child care licensing process; and provide direct financial assistance as needed to enable participants to prepare their homes for child care business operation. Successful applicants will demonstrate internal capacity and partnerships to provide program services. The three main objectives of RFCCMED are to 1) help refugees to achieve economic self-sufficiency by establishing licensed family child care (FCC) businesses; 2) help refugee families gain access to licensed FCC businesses which will meet the early care and developmental needs of refugee children; and 3) assist refugees in learning how to navigate mainstream child care services.

The Refugee Family Child Care Microenterprise Development (RFCCMED) Program supports refugees in becoming self-sufficient by opening and operating licensed family child care businesses. 

Families with young children often have to choose between either expensive child care so both parents can work, or loss of income so that one parent can stay home with their children. Small family child care businesses have empowered many refugees to earn a steady income while also caring for their children. They also enable other parents to work. 

ACF’s Why Prioritize Early Childhood explains that access to decent child care increases a parent’s ability to remain gainfully employed, work more hours, and pursue advanced education or job training. 

However, opening a family child care business poses challenges, particularly for refugees, including: 
•    A complex licensing system. 
•    Unfamiliarity with child care norms and practices. 
•    Unfamiliarity with U.S. small business operation requirements. 

The RFCCMED Program will support local organizations in providing recently arrived refugees with the necessary training and technical assistance to establish family child care businesses. They will equip refugee participants with knowledge, skills, and limited financial support in preparation for opening their businesses.

The RFCCMED Program’s objectives are: 
•    Helping refugees achieve economic self-sufficiency through opening licensed family child care businesses to generate income. 
•    Facilitating refugee families’ access to quality child care through helping them gain access to licensed family child care businesses that meet their children’s early care and developmental needs. 
•    Training refugees on how to navigate and access mainstream child care services. If funded, you will support participants by providing: 
-    Crucial knowledge and skills to set up their businesses. 
-    Possible limited financial support in the form of a stipend. 
-    Help through the child care licensing process. 
-    Support during early stages of their business operation. 
-    Culturally and linguistically appropriate training and technical assistance. 
-    Collaboration with local or state agencies responsible for child care regulations to confirm that participants fulfill all legal requirements. 
-    Assistance with preparation for small business annual tax requirements or referral to a volunteer income tax assistance site. 

Eligible participants
RFCCMED participants must be eligible for ORR Refugee Resettlement Program benefits and services, through their immigration status or category as one of the following:

• Refugee
• Asylee
• Cuban or Haitian entrant
• Iraqi or Afghan Special Immigrant
• Amerasian
• Victim of human trafficking
• Another individual made eligible by law, such as a humanitarian parolee from Afghanistan or Ukraine who arrived under specific circumstances during a defined period

Equity is a central purpose of this program. We especially aim to increase self-sufficiency among women.

These types of organizations may apply: Public and private nonprofit organizations.

Estimated total program funding: $2 million
Total expected awards: 8
Minimum award amount for the first budget period (award floor): $175,000
Maximum award amount for the first budget period (award ceiling): $250,000
Funding periods: 36-month period of performance with three 12-month budget periods