Special Accommodation Grant

The Special Accommodation Grant (SAG) administered by the Vermont Department for Children and Families’ Child Development Division aims to support Vermont-regulated Specialized Child Care Programs in providing inclusive child care services for children with identified special needs. This grant facilitates the procurement of specialized materials, staff training, consultation, and the hiring of inclusion support personnel, ensuring safe and successful child inclusion within childcare programs. The solicitation, numbered CDD-SAG-9.4.25 and issued in September 2025, invites applications over twelve rounds with deadlines extending through September 2026. Grants are awarded for terms of 6 to 12 months, and subrecipients must adhere to state child care licensing requirements, demonstrate compliance history, and maintain or progress toward Vermont’s STARS quality rating. Eligible applicants are responsible for using an electronic JotForm system for submission and must monitor updates via the Vermont Business Registry. The grant agreement embodies a cost-reimbursement structure and includes various standard state contractual provisions governing compliance, reporting, and performance metrics. Key deliverables include submission of multiple surveys and reports measuring child retention in care, safety concerns, and staff engagement levels with individualized child support teams. Payment requests require appropriate certification and are submitted electronically. Evaluation of applications uses a weighted point system focusing on safety, enrollment, child protection involvement, individualized planning, behavioral and emotional needs, inclusion practices, collaboration, and financial justification. The period of performance centers on the award start and end dates with a termination clause allowing either party to cancel upon 30 days’ notice. The grant mandates ongoing staff development, compliance with federal OMB Uniform Guidance, and record-keeping for monitoring. Overall, the program is designed to enhance inclusive childcare through targeted funding that addresses the specialized needs of participating children, and it includes oversight mechanisms to ensure accountability and effective service delivery.