R.E.W.A.R.D. funding limited:

The number of R.E.W.A.R.D. stipend agreements awarded monthly is now limited.

Why is this happening?
Funding for the R.E.W.A.R.D. program comes to WECA through the Wisconsin state budget. For the 2007-2009 biennium, WECA received $1.6 million to operate the R.E.W.A.R.D. program. This funding was to cover the time period beginning October 1, 2007 and ending September 30, 2009. Since October 2007, the program has been awarding an average of 172 stipend agreements per month to eligible applicants (some months as low as 30, some months as high as 340 depending on application traffic). At this rate, and following current procedures, the R.E.W.A.R.D. program would have exhausted its funds in December of 2008. This would have left 9 months during the biennium in which no NEW stipends could be awarded. Essentially, the program would shut down until (and if) R.E.W.A.R.D. gets re-funded in the next biennium. Capping the number of new agreements awarded each month is an effort to maintain the program through the end of the biennium so it does not get overlooked in the next budget process.

How will the waiting list work?
The daily work of the R.E.W.A.R.D. program will continue as usual. Agreement renewal forms will be sent out on schedule. New applications will still be accepted. Mid-agreement verifications will continue.

New applications and renewal materials that are coming into the WECA office will now be date and time stamped to determine their order on the waiting list. When an application or renewal form is received it will be placed at the end of the waiting list. Individuals placed on a waiting list will be removed on a first-come, first-serve basis. Each month, the first 75 eligible individuals at the beginning of the waiting list will receive an agreement and the first half of their stipend. The process will continue each month always starting at the beginning of the waiting list.

All current agreements will be honored. Full stipend amounts were set aside at the beginning of awarded agreements. The second half of a stipend will be awarded as long as the participant is continuing to meet program eligibilities. However, when it comes time to renew that agreement, the participant will become part of the waitlist process.

You may be asking yourself - Is it worth applying if I am only going to be put on a waiting list? Yes! WECA is holding on to its vision of better compensation for Wisconsin's child care workforce. Demonstrating that there is a need for increased funding for the R.E.W.A.R.D. program - by having a waiting list - will be very powerful in the upcoming budget process. In addition, your support and advocacy for this program matters. We'll be contacting you at key times so that you can contact your legislators and tell them "I need my R.E.W.A.R.D. stipend, but I'm on a waiting list. Fund R.E.W.A.R.D. at a higher level so that all eligible applicants can get their stipends." Your message can help make a difference!

Hopefully the waitlist will be temporary - until the new biennium begins. So send in your R.E.W.A.R.D. materials when it is time.

Hold your place in line. Don't give up on the R.E.W.A.R.D. program. We're not!

If you have any questions, contact us at reward@wecanaeyc.org.