NYS Budget Brings Good News on Child Care
Advocacy works. We made real progress for parents, child care/after school programs and employers in this budget. Much more to be done to address the staffing crisis in child care.
For families
- Income eligibility for child care assistance rises to 85% State Median Income (SMI) (or $93,258 for a family of 4), opening up access for thousands.
- Reduction in the family co-pay to 1% of family income above the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).
- Funding for a small pilot program to increase child care access for families of children who are currently excluded due to their immigration status.
- Expansion of the NY child tax credit to children 4 and under, making nearly 800,000 children newly eligible.
- Development of online applications and categorical income eligibility for child care assistance to ease some of the barriers to accessing child care.
- $150 million to expand preK to 20,000 more children statewide
For child care/after school programs
- $500 million for a 3rd round of stabilization grants for child care programs to use for workforce retention.
- Reimbursement for 80 absences annually per child where care is paid for by child care assistance.
For employers
- $4.8 million for an Employer Supported Child Care Pilot Program serving families with income between 85% and 100% of SMI in 3 regions of the state.
- Employer Child Care Tax Credit for businesses that create new child care options and expand existing programs for their workers.
- $1 million to create a business navigator program in each of the 10 Regional Economic Development Council regions to help businesses support the child care needs of their employees.
