Federal Block Grant Award Summary

The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Department of Community and Cultural Affairs (DCCA) received a $5.26 million Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families (CFDA 93.575). The award, effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2028, supports the delivery of child care services and early childhood development infrastructure across the Northern Mariana Islands.

Under this block grant, DCCA provides child care subsidies to low-income families through vouchers and certificates, while also implementing quality improvement initiatives for both subsidized and unsubsidized child care programs. As a territorial lead agency, DCCA is responsible for developing and administering a three-year Comprehensive Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) plan, coordinating with local stakeholders and federal partners, and establishing sliding fee scales to ensure accessibility. The agency frequently sub-awards portions of discretionary funding to local nonprofit organizations and community entities to expand service delivery and support workforce development in the child care sector throughout the territory.