More than 250 child care professionals, parents and business, community and nonprofit leaders gathered virtually on October 28th for the Westchester Child Care Advocacy Hour, Watch it on YouTube.

After an introduction by Child Care Council of Westchester Board President Christie Noelle Krase, Council Executive Director Kathy Halas made “the ask” for child care funding in the 2022 Westchester County Budget, which includes:
• New Title XX child care subsidy slots
• Restoring the Westchester Child Care Scholarship Program
• Raising Westchester’s subsidy reimbursement rates
• Hiring staff for subsidy outreach and application assistance

Council Executive Director Kathy Halas was delighted to be part of a panel on child care at the NYS Legislative Women’s Caucus Retreat on October 13^th, thanks to an invitation by Assemblymember Amy Paulin.   Halas called for a fundamentally different approach to child care in NYS, one that recognizes that substantial public investment is required to provide truly equitable access to all who need it and fairly compensate the critically important workforce.   The session was opened by Governor Kathy Hochul, who also cited child care as a top issue.

To view the power point presentation, click here

The Council is pleased to release a new report, Access to Child Care:  The Key to Economic Recovery in Westchester County, which lays out the extreme challenges so many Westchester working families face in securing and paying for safe, quality child care.    Over 114,000 children under 13 live in households where both parents work, and few parents can afford Westchester child care prices.  At the same time, the child care workforce is among the most poorly paid of any profession.   Acknowledging the new appreciation of child care as integral to restarting our economy, the report includes recommendations for a stronger child care system in our county.

Click here to view report 

Hurricane Ida had a devastating impact on Westchester County. The aftermath of the storm is still affecting residents throughout the County. During these challenging times, we want to connect you to resources to help businesses, nonprofits and residents rebuild and recover.

Help For Those Impacted By Hurricane Ida

With the recent rise in COVID-19 cases and the uncertainty of the virus, the Council has decided to postpone the Park & Play event. The decision to postpone Park & Play was difficult but ultimately it is the decision that is best for the health of our staff and community. We apologize for any inconvenience. Please stay tuned for details on a future date.