MLCDC Receives Grant for Refugee Child Care Development Program

The Midlands Latino Community Development Corporation (MLCDC; midlandslatinocdc.org) has been awarded a federal, three-year grant to develop child care programs in refugee communities within Omaha, Bellevue, and Lincoln. The budget approved by the Office of Refugee and Resettlement for the first year of MLCDC’s Refugee Micro-Enterprise Child Care Development Program was $187,278 (October 1 – September 30, 2019).

Through this program, refugees will improve their resettlement in the US through education, business development, and jobs and leadership opportunities. Each year, 30 refugees will receive business and child care training and 15 refugees will establish and operate their own child care business.

Refugee families with young children will be supported in their transition into the workplace by having culturally appropriate child care services available. Creation of child care businesses serving the refugee community will improve the livelihoods of the business owners and the refugee community itself.

To assist enrolled refugees to pay start-up costs of their child care business, MLCDC will provide stipends up to $3,000. To qualify to receive a stipend, the enrolled refugee must complete the Business Development Program, have a completed business plan, complete the Child Care Development Program, and prepare the child care licensing application.

MLCDC would like to thank the partners that were crucial in the success of this project: Nebraska Children and Family Foundation, Lutheran Family Services, and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

Learn more about the Refugee Micro-Enterprise Childcare Development Program at midlandslatinocdc.org.