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Alabama Child Care Grants, Programs and Services

Whether you are looking to start a child care program in Alabama or are a seasoned owner, there are many resources available to help fund your programs. Each state has a primary agency or organization responsible for subsidizing child care programs. They partner with local child care resource and referral (CCR&R) agencies and shared services organizations to raise awareness of grant opportunities and support the distribution of funding. They also provide additional programs and services to help you run your business. 

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Alabama Child Care Grants, Programs and Services 

Primary State Agency (Child Care Development Fund)

This primary agency oversees early care and education programs and services in Alabama, and is responsible for subsidizing child care programs through federal and state grants. Visit the Alabama Department of Human Resources

Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R Agency)

Child Care Resource & Referral agencies (CCR&Rs) are another great resource for assisting child care providers with available grants and funding and other resources. Find your local CCR&R.

Champions for Mixed Delivery Monthly Call

The Early Care and Education Consortium (ECEC) and National Child Care Association (NCCA) and are partnering to offer Champions of Mixed Delivery, a series of monthly check-in calls to share and receive updates about key proposals, coordinate messaging and talking points and share resources for advocacy. View dates and register for a call here.

Alabama Child Care Licensing Requirements

Learn more about Alabama early learning standards: Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education

Learn more about child care licensing requirements in Alabama: Alabama Department of Human Resources

Alabama Early Childhood Education Quality Ratings, Curriculum and Assessments

Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS) 

Child care providers earn a rating when they meet quality standards. Many states require these quality standards in order to receive grants and additional funding. View more details at Alabama Quality Stars.

State-Aligned Curriculum

Procare Solutions is partnering with Learning Beyond Paper to provide curriculum to our customers. No state approval is required, but you can be confident knowing your curriculum aligns to your state standards by implementing Procare Early Learning Powered by Learning Beyond Paper. This 100% digital curriculum addresses the needs of child care centers, daycares, preschools and early learning teachers. The curriculum provides 52 weeks of lesson plans that include learning tailored to seasons.

Assessments

Simplify the assessment process and meet state standards with a unique early childhood assessment framework that makes clarity a key strength of your child care center’s assessments and communications.

Average Cost of Child Care in Alabama

Understanding the cost of child care in Alabama is important for both parents and child care providers. 

Annual Child Care Costs in Alabama
In Alabama, the average annual cost of infant care is $7,800.

Child Care Affordability in Alabama

Families in Alabama struggle to find affordable child care. For the typical Alabama family, child care costs 8% of gross income.

More Information on Alabama Child Care

Minimum wage workers in Alabama make as little as $15,080 per year or less, contributing to Alabama’s poverty rate of 16.9%, the sixth highest in the U.S. Families in Alabama would benefit significantly from the increased availability of affordable, quality child care in their communities.

View child care costs in other states.

Professional Development Resources

Professional development programs are designed to encourage, support and recognize early childhood professionals seeking to expand their skills to raise the quality of their programs. View a list of professional development resources for child care providers here.

Professional Development Training Requirements

In Alabama, it is required that early childhood directors complete 24 hours and teachers complete 12  hours of professional development every fiscal year. Training hours and continuing education units (CEUs) are documented in each person’s professional development record in the Alabama Pathways registry. Be sure to create and manage your registry profile to track and document your training hours to comply with Alabama state licensing requirements for ECE professionals. Visit the National Database of Child Care Regulations or the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education to find licensing regulations and requirements in your state. 

Bertelsen Education, a Procare Solutions Company provides IACET-accredited courses that meet state licensing requirements. Visit BertelsenEducation.com to purchase.