Proposal could expand child care access to 15,000 high need children
Mayor de Blasio today announced an initiative to expand low-cost and free child care for thousands of families across New York City. Through the passage of State legislation that would raise the qualifying income threshold for subsidized child care and extend full-time child care support to families who work part-time, the City could expand child care access to an additional 15,000 high-need children.
"Red tape can’t get in the way of our city’s recovery,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “To really bring our city back, we need our State partners to step up and help more working families qualify for childcare. Together we can beat back COVID and create a stronger and fairer city.”
“We must put families, and most importantly our children, at the center of our recovery,” said Melanie Hartzog, Deputy Mayor of Health and Human Services. “There is no better way to do that than to expand child care access and stabilize the child care sector. Quality early education and care is something every child deserves, and is a proven investment in our future. The need is urgent and we must respond.”
The Administration has invested significantly in child care and early childhood education through signature programs such as 3k and Pre-K, but the city is seeking to serve even more families and support the child care sector. Many families across the city are struggling with job, economic, health and housing instability, and enabling them to access child care is a critical step towards recovery from the pandemic.
To start, the City is supporting legislation sponsored by Assembly member Hevesi and State Senator Brisport that could expand child care access to an additional 15,000 children at minimum by:
- Enabling NYC to raise the income threshold to 70,000 for a family of four to help more working families qualify for subsidized child care.
- Providing full-time child care to people who work 20 hours a week or more. Under current state law, qualified families only receive child care for the hours they work.
In addition, New York State has received, but not yet distributed more than $2 billion in federal stimulus money, which would help further expand child care for working families citywide as part of the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding, coupled with additional state and federal flexibility, could expand child care access to thousands more families, and provide workforce supports, capacity building and other supports for the child care providers that have provided invaluable care to our children throughout the pandemic. New York City has just submitted a plan to the State detailing the additional flexibility needed to reach families in need of child care.
Providers and child care workers are the backbone of the City’s child care system and they need access to the flexible federal funding the federal government has allocated specifically to help this critical sector recover from the pandemic. Furthermore, for families, the current State eligibility and documentation rules are outdated and rigid. While current state legislation is an important first step, New York City is also calling on New York State to work collaboratively to expand access to child care in the neighborhoods hit hardest by COVID and to reduce the administrative burden to families and providers.
“To address the citywide challenges of income inequality, homelessness, and housing instability, we need all levels of government working together to find, develop, test, and implement solutions,” said Department of Social Services Commissioner Steven Banks. “These reforms would ensure families and working parents facing hard times can access the childcare they need, without jumping through arbitrary hoops, which is good for the whole family – helping children grow and providing parents with vital supports during challenging times. We urge the State to pass this legislation.”
“Expanding access to child care services is crucial to ensuring an equitable recovery,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Dave A. Chokshi. “Helping more families access child care will help our city recover quicker and provide much needed services and jobs across New York City.”
“For New York City to fully recover from the pandemic, we must ensure that all families have the resources and support they need to stabilize their lives. Ensuring that thousands more children have access to low-cost child care, especially children from communities across the City hit hardest by the pandemic, is an essential step in NYC’s recovery for all. I thank Senator Brisport and Assembly Member Hevesi for introducing legislation needed to expand access to affordable child care, and I look forward to working with the State to make our plan a reality as quickly as possible,” said ACS Commissioner David A. Hansell.
“Access to free and affordable child care is critical to New York City’s recovery from the pandemic, and this legislation would allow thousands of additional families to receive care, including through year round 3-K and Pre-K for All services,” said Schools Chancellor Meisha Porter. “Expanding access to child care will give more children a strong start in school and life, while providing a pivotal resource to communities across the City when they need it most.”
“Child care and early childhood education helps children and their families thrive. Now is the time to get this assistance to as many families as we can,” said Executive Director of the Children’s Cabinet Megan Tackney. “We must do this alongside support for our child care providers, who are the foundation of this critical system.”
