The University of Idaho has received a federally funded contract to continue work focused on improving child care in the state.

The $14.6 million contract will fund ongoing work with IdahoSTARS, a U of I-Idaho Department of Health and Welfare project aimed at training child care workers and helping parents find child care that meets their needs.

“This award reflects more than two decades of partnership with Idaho’s child care community,” Melissa Crist, director of early childhood programs at the U of I’s Idaho Center on Disabilities and Human Development, said in a U of I news release. “It also recognizes the strong, statewide infrastructure built by the IdahoSTARS project that child care providers, families and our state partners rely on today.”

The two-year contract will fund IdahoSTARS’ core missions — such as providing a comprehensive training system for child care workers and maintaining the statewide Quality Recognition and Improvement System for child care centers.

Idaho Health and Welfare administers the contract. The $14.6 million comes from the federal Child Care Development Fund.