Early Childhood Education Funding
Funding for Indoor and Outdoor Play Equipment in Louisiana Child Care Centers
Child care centers have a unique opportunity to lay the foundation for healthy habits in young children. When kids receive proper nutrition and stay active from an early age, they’re better equipped to thrive once they start school. One great way to support this is by providing both indoor and outdoor play equipment and giving them plenty of chances to move and play throughout the day.
The ECE Training Series Community Action Project opportunity provides up to $2000 to child care centers owners to purchase materials and install play equipment. This opportunity is available to centers that have participated in all three of our ECE Trainings Series Modules: Indoor and Outdoor Play and Screen Time.
More about the program
The child care center is eligible to apply for the ECE Training Series Community Action Project if it:
- Licensed to operate through the Louisiana Department of Education’s licensing division.
- Participated in all three Greaux Healthy ECE Training Series for professional development: Screen Time and Indoor and Outdoor Play.
- Ensure there is staff capacity to install and/or purchase play equipment.
- Portable Play Equipment for Indoor or Outdoor Play (jumping toys, push-pull toys, twirling toys, balance toys, throw/catch/strike toys, and crawling/tumbling toys)
- Shaded Area (trees or shade sails)
- Painted Playgrounds (paint, GH has stencils that can be used)
- Physical Activity Centers: Indoor Play Equipment (Hopscotch carpet or rug, Fold and Go Beanbag Toss, Golf Set, Push and Pull Toys, Balloons, Tunnels for crawling, Balance toys, Speed and Agility Ladders)
- Meet with Greaux Healthy staff to review and finalize the budget and approve items for purchase.
- Participate in monthly virtual meetings (30 minutes to 1 hour) with Greaux Healthy staff.
- Complete and submit evaluation surveys as requested to assess progress and outcomes.
- Complete the installation of a play environment with materials purchased from grant funding.
- Provide a date for a Greaux Healthy site visit of the installation.
- Submit documentation of the environmental improvements, including before and after photos.
- Submit invoice with required supporting documentation.
- Commit to adopting and implementing the recommended best practice health and wellness policies at your center.
- The applicant must not use funds to discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or any other basis of discrimination prohibited by law.
- Funds may not be used for individual prizes or incentives.
- Funds may not be used for salaries, lobbying or advocacy activities, or office equipment (such as computers, printers, pens etc.).
- 3 month timeline starts when a center is notified of award.