Governor Hochul Announces $30 Million to Expand Child Care Programs in Underserved Areas of New York

Governor Kathy Hochul at this time introduced that almost $30 million has been awarded to assist enhance capability at greater than 400 present state-licensed, registered, or permitted youngster care packages which are positioned in underserved areas of the state. Administered by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, the federal funding is an element of Governor Hochul’s $100 million initiative to assist enhance the capability of packages positioned in youngster care deserts-areas of the state the place there’s inadequate capability to serve present want.

“No New Yorker should ever suffer the far-reaching and heart-wrenching effects of unaffordable and inaccessible child care programs,” Governor Hochul stated. “These latest awards will help New Yorkers access the quality child care programs they need to provide for their families and build careers. My administration will continue to make crucial investments in child care, ensuring working families and vulnerable populations receive the support and assistance they deserve.”

Made accessible via the American Rescue Plan Act, the awards to 418 present youngster care suppliers in underserved areas will assist them construct their packages; recruit, practice and retain staff; and assist their workers in accessing COVID-19 vaccines. In July, Governor Hochul introduced greater than $68 million to assist set up 344 new youngster care packages in areas of the state thought-about youngster care deserts.

Child care deserts are areas of a county the place there are three or extra kids youthful than 5 for every accessible youngster care slot, or there aren’t any accessible youngster care slots in any respect. Roughly 60 % of New York State is taken into account a child care desert primarily based on this standards.

The funding awards embrace:

This newest spherical of funding to tackle youngster deserts enhances Governor Hochul’s unprecedented $7 billion dedication over 4 years to increase entry to high-quality youngster care to assist kids and households and assist stimulate New York State’s continued financial restoration. Adopted as half of the FY 2023 State Budget, this dedication consists of growing the revenue eligibility threshold for youngster care subsidies to 300 % of the Federal Poverty Level -$83,250 for a household of 4 -extending eligibility to an estimated 394,000 younger kids all through the state.

This 12 months alone, Governor Hochul offered a historic $2 billion funding to enhance the quantity of households eligible for youngster care help and to guarantee youngster care suppliers are adequately funded for his or her important providers. This funding consists of $894 million in new funding for New York State Child Care Block Grants, which was adopted as half of the latest State Budget; greater than $500 million in unspent funds beforehand allotted to native departments of social providers; and greater than $600 million in present COVID-19 pandemic funding.

New York State Office of Children and Family Services Commissioner Sheila Poole stated, “This funding recognizes the acute shortage of infant and toddler child care and the lack of available child care in rural areas. It’s hard to go to work when you can’t find anyone to care for your child, which can also contribute to the labor shortage. Early child care experiences can shape children for the rest of their lives. OCFS is committed to supporting the creation of additional child care programs where families need them the most and for families with special needs.”

Senator Chuck Schumer stated, “For many working families, affordable child care is out of reach, and the pandemic made it worse, which made it harder to go back to work. That is why I passed the American Rescue Plan with robust child-care funding. Now, $30 million in federal funding that I secured will go directly to eliminating child care deserts, creating good-paying jobs, and providing real help for struggling parents and children.”

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand stated, “The ongoing shortage of affordable child care in our state is nothing short of a crisis. We have to do more to support our families and our child care workers. That’s why I’m proud to have fought to pass the American Rescue Plan, legislation that is now delivering nearly $30 million in federal funding to child care providers across New York. This funding will help parents across our state return to work with the knowledge that their children are in good hands while giving child care workers the resources they need to be successful. I’ll keep working with Governor Hochul to ensure that all New York families have the support they need to thrive.”