New York, NY April 24, 2020— The New York City Child Care Resource and Referral Consortium (Child Development Support Corporation, Chinese-American Planning Council, Committee for Hispanic Children & Families, and Day Care Council of New York, Inc.) applauds the action of the Cuomo Administration in developing a plan to provide child care to essential workers at no cost. This allocation of funding for child care for essential workers comes to the state from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”), which has provided New York with $163.6 million in emergency relief to the child care system.
In response to Cuomo’s announcement, Marcia Rowe-Riddick, Executive Director of the Child Development Support Corporation, remarked, “Having the much-needed scholarship funding via the CARES Act available to essential workers who continue to work, as the City responds to the Covid19 pandemic, is a welcome response from the Governor’s office. These essential workers who need quality child care will get some relief from their financial obligations through this funding. The child care providers who continue to provide a safe space for their children will also benefit from these funds, to purchase supplies that will help to carry out the mandates for required PPE necessary to maintain a safe and caring environment for the children.” Wayne Ho, President & CEO of the Chinese-American Planning Council, added, “The Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC) along with our NYC CCR&R Consortium partners applaud Governor Cuomo’s allocation of federal CARES Act funding as child care scholarships for essential workers. These scholarships will relieve the financial burden of child care and mitigate the stress of essential employees who are on the frontlines of fighting the pandemic.” “Cuomo’s decision to make these CARES Act scholarships available, is a recognition of the essential role that child care providers play in these difficult times by providing them with financial relief,” said Ramon Peguero, President & CEO of Committee for Hispanic Children & Families. Andrea Anthony, the Executive Director of the Day Care Council of New York, Inc., agreed that, “With this funding, the Governor is clearly demonstrating the importance of child care services for our essential workers.”
New York State is using a portion of this funding to provide free child care for income eligible essential workers. Essential workers using a regulated child care provider will receive a scholarship for the cost of care as long as the funds to support it are available. All licensed and regulated providers who are caring for essential workers are able to participate in this new program.
Access to affordable and safe child care is a barrier for working parents during the best of times, and even more so during a crisis. New York State’s plan will ensure that the workforce that is needed to protect and care for the public during this pandemic have the child care that allows them to continue to serve us all. CCR&Rs are the child care experts and the conduit to accessing child care in New York State.
If you meet the definition of an essential employee and have child care needs, register here (shorturl.at/hkrSX). You will be contacted by a member of the Consortium within one business day. We will follow up on next steps to gather information about your household and help you identify a participating child care provider or work with your current registered or licensed child care provider.
