Harris County, TX

In 2023, leaders in Harris County allocated $16.4 million in Local Fiscal Recovery Funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to launch the Early Learning Quality Networks (ELQN) program. ELQN aims to elevate community voices, foster local solutions, and strengthen local leadership and capacity. Overseen by Harris County’s Early Childhood Initiatives Team, ELQN funded through 2026.  ELQN empowers four Local Network Organizations (LNOs) in five targeted Harris County communities to develop and implement Child Care Quality Action Plans (CCQAPs) tailored to their needs. Through this community-driven approach, ELQN encourages parents, child care providers, and other local stakeholders to identify challenges and opportunities related to early care and education, ensuring that each action plan reflects the unique needs of the community it serves.  The program is supported by a Network Support Hub, Children at Risk, and four local partner organizations: Harris County Public Library, VN Teamwork, East Harris County Empowerment Council, and the YMCA of Greater Houston. These organizations work closely with the targeted communities by forming advisory committees to gather insights on local child care conditions, design Child Care Quality Action Plans, and mobilize resources to implement these strategies effectively.  LEARN MORE: EARLY LEARNING QUality networks program Sources: Harris County Public Library. (2023, October 20). Harris County Commissioners Court Boosts Early Learning Initiatives with Child Care Quality Improvement Grants. Children at Risk. (2024, November 22). Harris County Early Learning Quality Network (ELQN) Announces Next Project Phase to Invest in Early Learning Environments.

In 2022, Harris County launched the Brighter Futures for Harris County Kids Initiative, a comprehensive effort to enhance the well-being of young and vulnerable residents through an $84 million investment of ARPA funds. The initiative includes five programs for children ages zero to three, including the Early Reach Program. Early Reach aims to establish 1,000 new high-quality childcare slots, using a $26 million budget allocated from ARPA funds. This pilot program, which will run for 2-4 years with the potential to be continued by the Harris County Commissioners, targets children aged 0-4 in high-need areas. learn more: early reach program Sources: Defender Network News Service. (2022). Brighter Futures for Harris County Kids Initiative launched. Gordon, M. (2023). Affordable day care is hard to find. A new Harris County program could help fix that. Houston Landing. Early Reach.(n.d.). What is Early REACH (Raising Educational Access for Children in Harris County)?

In December 2023, the Harris County Commissioners Court approved $17.7 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for the Supportive, Healthy, Innovative, Nurturing Environments (SHINE CCFF) initiative. A collaboration between the Low Income Invest Fund (LIIF), Volunteers of America Texas, LiftFund, and the Harris County Commissioners Court, SHINE CCFF helps providers with construction, remodeling, and expansion projects for the spaces where they offer early learning and care.   SHINE CCFF awards grants to expand or rehabilitate both home and center-based early education facilities and offers free technical assistance to help providers assess a project’s feasibility and apply for the grant. Eligible expenses include, but are not limited to, physical facility and site renovation costs, equipment necessary for health and safety, playground equipment, security upgrades, and parking improvements. Eligible expenses also include improvements that increase a program’s ADA accessibility for children, parents, guardians, or staff with special physical or mental health needs.  The program prioritizes applicants with urgent needs, programs where at least 20% of enrolled children receive Child Care Services or scholarships from the Harris County Early REACH program, providers serving infants and toddlers, and programs in an area that has a Social Vulnerability Index score of .75 or above, among other factors. SHINE CCFF aims to award all grants by March 2025. All projects must be completed by September 2026.  learn more: shine child care facilities fund Sources: Harris County SHINE Child Care Facilities Fund. (n.d.). Program Overview. Harris County Office of County Administration. (n.d.). Shine Child Care Facilities Fund.