Thriving Providers Project (TPP)

PHMC is the implementation partner of the Thriving Providers Project (TPP) in Philadelphia.

Thriving Providers Project is a national initiative spearheaded by Home Grown to support local organizations launching direct cash pilots to stabilize the economic well-being of home-based child care providers so children can succeed. Learn more at thrivingproviders.org.

Thriving Providers Project provides ongoing direct cash transfers to licensed Family Child Care (FCC) providers. Unrestricted cash transfers are likely to be an effective way to economically stabilize providers and increase the continuity of care. When providers aren’t burdened with how they are going to pay their mortgage or where their next meal is coming from, they are able to improve the responsive relationships with children, and ultimately improve early learning experiences for families.

This initiative prioritizes the impact home-based caregivers have on the children and communities they serve when financial stressors are reduced. Utilizing research from guaranteed income initiatives around the country and best practices in early childhood education, we know that supporting and stabilizing providers and caregivers will improve the availability and quality of care for children and families.

TPP Exit Resources

• What We’ve Learned so far about the Thriving Providers Project (Link)
• Professional Association Members Sponsorship for either QIP / NAFCC or PENAEYC
  Contact thrivingprovidersproject@phmc.org for additional information
• CACFP Business Coaching is available to providers:
  https://phmcorg-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/personal/astruble_phmc_org/EQ-x6FdGSHpJh5bLDBAlQW4B1YAgQ3WlySi0FUJ8NFUfdg?e=rGektj
• Resources for ECE Business Owners: https://ecebizopssupports.phmc.org/resources
• All Our Kin Family Child Care Business Series 2026:
  Addressing debt management strategies
  https://www.phila.gov/programs/financial-empowerment-centers/
  https://www.clarifi.org/what-we-do/financial-empowerment/

The Access Program
Accessing Child Care Expansion and Sustainability Supports (ACCESS) offers resources to STAR 1 and 2 providers in Philadelphia to invest in their facilities and move up in the STARS system. https://www.reinvestment.com/grants/accessing-child-care-expansion-and-sustainability-supports-access/

Coaching to Success
The Coaching to Success(C2S) program at Reinvestment Fund offers assistance to all Philadelphia-based child care providers regardless of size, structure, and quality level. This program seeks to help support child care programs who are seeking to navigate and sustain the delicate ECE business model. https://www.reinvestment.com/grants/coaching-to-success/

The Fund for Quality
The Fund for Quality (FFQ) is a partnership between Reinvestment Fund and Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC), with funding from the William Penn Foundation, and Vanguard Strong Start for Kids Program. Through the provision of business planning and facilities-related financing, Fund for Quality supports high-quality early care and education providers with expanding their services to reach more low-income families.
https://www.fundforquality.org/

Philly ECE Loan Fund
The Philadelphia Early Childhood Education Loan Fund offers flexible and low-interest loans to child care providers in Philadelphia. https://www.reinvestment.com/grants/phila-ece-loan-fund/

The Seed Fund
The Sustainable Economic Empowerment and Development (SEED) grant funded by the Vanguard Strong Start for Kids Program is designed to empower Family and Group child care owners/operators in Philadelphia through financial training, coaching, and retirement planning. By partnering with trusted organizations like Quality Influential Professions (QIP) and Latinos Educando Juntos (LEJ), the program equips participants with tools to build wealth and long-term financial stability.

The SEED grant is a pilot program set to launch in early 2026. It will provide tailored financial education, one-on-one coaching, and seed funding to help participants establish retirement accounts and make informed financial decisions for both their businesses and personal lives.

If you are a home-based child care provider in Philadelphia, please stay tuned for application details coming soon!

Sharon Mullings-Neilson
ECE Program Manager
Sharon.neilson@reinvestment.com

Parent Child +
ParentChild+s mission is to ensure that all children regardless of their race, socio-economic status, or zip code have equal possibilities from the start – we work with families, home-based child care providers, and communities to support not only early literacy and school readiness, but early opportunities. Home-based Child Care partnerships are available in Philadelphia.  https://parentchildplus.org/our-work/#our-models

Contact: info@parentchildplus.org

Early Intervention:

Early Intervention has two separate programs:

Early Intervention (EI) is a program available at no cost, regardless of family income, to provide services to children who have or are at risk of developmental delays. The program is designed to be a collaboration between families and the specialists helping their children. Specialists coach parents and caregivers to help their children in their natural routines, including in early care and education settings.

Make a referral to Early Intervention: https://www.pa.gov/services/dhs/make-a-referral-for-early-intervention-servicesEarly

Intervention Advocacy
The Thriving PA Coalition is working to ensure each and every child in PA with developmental delays is able to access quality, timely Infant and Toddler EI services through a strong and supportive workforce.  Join us as we advocate for each and every infant and toddler with developmental delays to have access to quality, timely Early Intervention services!

Sign Up to receive newsletters and important updates about EI work: www.earlylearningpa.org

Philadelphia Rapid Response Team:
RRT strives to provide quality supports to child care programs that are experiencing consistent problematic behaviors in the classroom.  We offer developmentally appropriate strategies to curb behaviors and prevent suspension and expulsion in a short-term time period.

Complete the Rapid Response Request Form: www.surveymonkey.com/r/Phill

Important Dates:

• March 15, 2024 – Pre-Application Information Session
• March 15, 2024 – Applications for FCC providers to participate in TPP made available by invitation
• April 15, 2024 – Application Deadline
• May 4, 2024, 10:00AM – 1:00PM – Orientation for participating FCC providers

Eligibility:

This program is intended for licensed Family Child Care providers in Philadelphia.

• Working a minimum of 20 hours a week
• Care for at least 1 child under the age of 5

Priority Consideration will go to applicants:

• STAR 1 / 2
• Serves subsidized families
• *Operating in area of High-Poverty
• *Operating in region identified as having “shortage in Total Childcare Supply”

*https://www.reinvestment.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/RF_WPF_childcare_summary_2023_final_update.pdf

How to Apply

Thriving Providers Project In The News

• Early Learning Nation: Thriving Providers Project: First of Its Kind Effort Uses Guaranteed Income to Address Compensation of Early Childhood Education Workforce
• EdSurge:  What Happens When You Give Child Care Providers Money — With No Strings Attached?
• YES! Magazine: Child Care: Invaluable and Undervalued
• The Colorado Sun: Programs offering universal basic income — or direct cash with no strings attached — are increasing across Colorado