Too often, the child care crisis in our state prevents parents, especially mothers, from maintaining meaningful employment, and it puts our children at risk of falling behind developmentally, which can have a lasting impact on their lives. A lack of access to affordable, quality child care remains one of the largest obstacles to financial security for New York’s low-income working families. We made some progress last year, but there is more that needs to be done. We need to make drastic improvements to the child care system so all of New York’s children have opportunities to learn and be cared for in a safe, nurturing environment.

The Assembly Child Care Workgroup first came together in 2013 to look at the specific challenges low-income working families face in obtaining child care. The lack of affordable, accessible, reliable and safe child care is a major obstacle to parents – especially women – in the workforce, the effects of which are felt by families, children, businesses and the economy alike. And the absence of paid family leave only exacerbates these issues.

After extensive research, including roundtables and discussions with child care providers, parents and advocates, the Assembly Child Care Workgroup published a report with recommendations for tackling the child care crisis in our state.¹ These recommendations helped secure an additional $34 million in funding for child care subsidies as well as greater access to child care as part of the 2014-15 state budget. Additionally, in 2014, laws were passed to:

• revise the formula for determining household income to make it consistent with other public assistance programs;
• require local social service districts to provide 60 days notification to families prior to lowering child care eligibility or raising the copayment; and
• increase access to and awareness of training programs and professional development activities for providers.

The lack of child care affects all of us. Our kids deserve better. Our families and our communities need child care that is affordable, safe, reliable and nurturing. The Assembly Child Care Workgroup will help guide effective legislation. I look forward to collaborating with the workgroup to improve child care in New York this legislative session.

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1. assembly.state.ny.us/comm/ChildCare/20131220/index.pdf