Mayor Adams Reaches Another Major Milestone in “Blueprint for Child Care & Early Education,” Increasing Access to Subsidized Childcare for Children Whose Immigration Status Makes Them Ineligible for Existing Programs — Namely Undocumented Children — Due to Restrictive Federal Rules
City is Investing $10 Million in New Program by Contracting with Community-Based Organizations That Have Trusted Relationships and Deep Ties to Immigrant Communities
New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced “Promise NYC,” a new childcare assistance program that will, for the first time in New York City’s history, provide childcare assistance to low-income families with children whose immigration status makes them ineligible for other, federally-funded subsidized childcare. New York City will partner with four community-based organizations (CBOs), each with deep ties to immigrant communities in their respective boroughs. This is a promise kept that was first made earlier this year when Mayor Adams released “Accessible, Equitable, High-quality, Affordable: A Blueprint for Childcare & Early Education in New York City,” in which he announced plans to increase access to subsidized childcare for undocumented children and others ineligible for existing programs due to restrictive federal immigration rules. Mayor Adams today said that the timing of this launch will be particularly beneficial to the newly-arrived asylum seekers, helping to ensure parents can pursue stable housing and gainful employ while their children are cared for safely. Set to launch in January 2023, New York City expects Promise NYC to support at least 600 children over the next six months.
“Every child deserves the opportunity to succeed, no matter where they came from, and as a city of immigrants, we know that the American dream starts here in New York City,” said Mayor Adams. “Navigating obstacles in a new city and a new country are tough, and coupling those issues with a lack of childcare can prevent parents and families from achieving the dream they so desperately set out to achieve. By launching Promise NYC, we are alleviating the stress from those concerns, supporting children and families, and creating a fairer city for all New Yorkers.”
“Today, with the launch of Promise NYC, we stand up and say that no child should be excluded from early childhood education because of their immigration status,” said Deputy Mayor of Strategic Initiatives Sheena Wright. “Thanks to the work of ACS, in partnership with four amazing CBOs, we are moving this city closer to the ideal that all are welcome in New York City. Together, we are rolling out critical childcare services to undocumented children and their families in all five boroughs.”
“All children in New York City deserve the opportunity to access safe, reliable, and affordable childcare and I am thrilled that the Promise NYC program will provide even more children this opportunity,” said Deputy Mayor of Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “This new program is a gamechanger for countless immigrant families whose children were previously ineligible to receive critically-needed childcare assistance. Thank you to Mayor Adams for fulfilling his promise to launch such a monumental program for immigrant families, and to ACS Commissioner Dannhauser and the community-based organizations for helping to implement Promise NYC.”
“All children, regardless of immigration status, deserve the benefit of environments that nurture their development, and Promise NYC will make this happen,” said New York City Administration of Children Services (ACS) Commissioner Jess Dannhauser. “ACS is thrilled to be launching this new program in New York City, which will, for the first time ever, provide childcare assistance to hundreds of low-income families who were previously and unfairly ineligible due to their immigration status. Thank you to Mayor Adams for recognizing the importance of such a historic and innovative program, and for continuing to expand families’ access to affordable childcare options.”
“While some state and federal childcare programs are out of reach for many immigrant families with undocumented children, New York City will not leave any child behind. The historic launch of Promise NYC allows our city to continue to advance the promise of a better future for all New Yorkers, regardless of their immigration status,” said Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs Commissioner Manuel Castro. “As the city works to support recently arrived asylum seekers, Promise NYC will have a positive impact on their ability to seek meaningful opportunities so they can improve their lives in their new homes. We were proud of our interagency collaboration developing this childcare initiative, and we thank ACS and the community partners who will play a critical role in connecting families with this valuable resource.”
ACS is contracting with four CBO partners with experience serving immigrant communities and families to help launch the program. Center for Family Life will serve families in Brooklyn, NMIC will serve families in the Bronx and Manhattan, La Colmena will serve families in Staten Island, and the Chinese American Planning Council will serve families in Queens. Each CBO will be responsible for community and family outreach in their respective borough(s); signing eligible families up for Promise NYC; and supporting families’ search, selection, and enrollment with a childcare program, including issuance of monthly subsidy payments.
Eligibility for federally-funded benefits, like childcare assistance, is limited to U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents, and others with “qualified” immigration status, which excludes thousands of families in New York City. This first-of-a-kind program will help to provide childcare assistance to these families.
“Without a doubt, this new initiative by Mayor Eric Adams shows who we are as New Yorkers. The mayor demonstrates that New York is home to all, that it doesn't matter what condition we are in when it comes to doing what is necessary for our people and for those who need it most,” said New York State Senator Luis Sepúlveda. “Children of undocumented parents or those without regulated immigration status will be able to benefit from the Promise NYC program. This will provide a tool that will change the lives of our people for the better, because while they work or study, they will know that their children are in good hands. I thank the mayor for his commitment to our communities and for doing the right thing in the right direction. This announcement is important because until now these people were not eligible for this childcare service. I am confident that once again this will be a national example and a further demonstration of the mayor’s commitment to serving the people of New York.”
“This is a victory for children, families, and our city because providing an education and care infrastructure to all regardless of immigration status has enormous benefits,” said New York City Comptroller Brad Lander. “Our city will now engage 600 of our youngest learners left behind by previous programs and ensure that working families have access to high quality care before their children reach school-enrollment age. We are building a city where no child is turned away from obtaining care, workers can support their families holistically, and everyone can thrive.”
“Asian American and Pacific Islanders have the highest rates of undocumented status of all racial groups, and this disproportionately impacts undocumented children who are often shut out of critical educational and support services,” said Wayne Ho, president and CEO, Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC). “As an early childhood education provider for immigrant families of all backgrounds, we are proud to serve as a community partner in Promise NYC, a childcare assistance program which will allow undocumented children to participate in crucial academic and social-emotional development programs and which will provide quality childcare for working immigrant parents. We applaud Mayor Adams for spearheading this important initiative, and we appreciate Councilmembers Cabán and Hanif for their support. We look forward to working with the mayoral administration, NYC Administration for Children’s Services, and other community partners to make this program a success.”
“Center for Family Life in Sunset Park is so very proud to join together with sister organizations across New York City to provide critically needed support to children in immigrant families. ACS's recognition of the presence of immigrant children who need the same benefits and supports as all children in New York City is truly heartening,” said Center for Family Life in Sunset Park Co-Executive Director Julia Jean-Francois, Ph.D., LCSW. “It represents a huge step in the direction of a vision of child welfare that centers community strength and resilience and addresses a fundamental need that all children in all families have for early education and the funds to pay for it. Child welfare, in its truest sense, is achieved when children are educated, fed, and housed and families have the financial resources to live with dignity and joy.”
“Insurmountable childcare costs are often a barrier to families seeking access to education, employment, and stable housing. That burden is particularly heavy for immigrant families who are ineligible for assistance. NMIC is proud to partner with the Administration of Children’s Services to offer childcare assistance to undocumented parents and children in our community; assistance that will alleviate families’ childcare cost burden so they can work towards secure and prosperous futures,” said NMIC Executive Director Maria Lizardo, LMSW.
“Every day at La Colmena we hear stories from immigrant families of the need for childcare assistance. This is why La Colmena is grateful to help ACS launch its historic Promise NYC that will change the lives of many immigrant children in Staten Island. We are grateful to Mayor Adams for prioritizing this much needed new program. We are ready to support our Staten Island immigrant families,” said Yesenia Mata, executive director, La Colmena.
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