Thousands of Working Families Now Eligible for Expanded Block Grant Assistance 

Hagåtña, Guam – Effective today, thousands of the island’s working families are now eligible for expanded childcare assistance. The initiative follows Governor Lou Leon Guerrero’s Executive Order 2022-07, which launched Prugråman i Pinilan i Famagu’on Guåhan (Watching Over the Children of Guam Program). In addition to the administration of $81.5 million in federal dollars, Prugråman Pinilan tasks the Guam Economic Development Authority (GEDA) with developing the eligibility criteria for grant recipients under the program, including before and after school care programs, relative care programs, extracurricular child care providers, employer child care assistance programs, and community care programs. As announced today, the first phase expands income eligibility, enabling more families to avail of childcare. If eligibility requirements are met, Prugråman Pinilan can cover up to 100% of monthly child care costs (at a Child Care & Development Fund Program certified center) for families with children ages 0-13 years old. 

“Affordability and access to childcare is a major challenge for many working families. By increasing the eligibility threshold, thousands more Guam families, including our middle-class, are now eligible for financial assistance to cover child care costs through Prugråman Pinilan,” said Governor Leon Guerrero. “This expanded eligibility program is the first in a series of Prugråman Pinilan child care programs developed by our administration to meet the needs of Guam’s working families, support local businesses, and strengthen our economy. These programs will help more parents rejoin and stay in the workforce. In turn, local businesses, including the childcare industry and local non-profits, will increase employment and productivity and strengthen our economy.” 

“Working closely with the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) and other agencies and nonprofits focused on youth and families, we have identified ways to strengthen existing programs and create new and innovative ways to provide care while continuing to focus on the health, safety, and well-being of our people,” said Lt. Governor Josh Tenorio. “In the coming weeks, we will announce several more childcare programs to provide support through employers, non-profits, after-school care programs, community care, relative care, boot camps, and apprenticeship programs.”

The Prugråman Pinilan application period opens today, April 5, 2022. Program and eligibility specialists will be accepting block grant applications via email at qcgrants@investguam.com. For more information or to make an appointment with an eligibility specialist, interested parents or guardians are encouraged to visit guamchildcare.com.

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