Adina Genn //April 17, 2024 //
Gwyneth Roberts/Lincoln Journal Star via AP
New York has a childcare crisis
Gwyneth Roberts/Lincoln Journal Star via AP
Adina Genn //April 17, 2024 //
New York has a childcare crisis.
The cuts in government funding and increased costs in labor and supplies at a time of rising inflation are taking a toll on childcare providers and working parents with young children.
Just ask Lisa Bridge, the executive director of Port Washington Children’s Center.
“One of the things that’s been a big loss was when the funding ended that subsidized COVID,” she said, referring to the nearly $24 billion childcare funding that was part of the American Rescue Plan.
That funding, she said, “was subsidizing tuition to middle class families.” The lack of funding is driving tuition costs up, and without it, families find they “couldn’t afford the care.”
In Port Washington, the Children’s Center serves families across the spectrum, with some in the lower-income bracket qualifying for government assistance to those in the upper-middle-end bracket.
But, Bridge said, “it’s hitting the middle-income families the most. And that’s what we’ve been really trying to look at to tackle.”
Across the state, two out of five New Yorkers with children report that either they, or an adult member of their household, forgo employment outside the home largely because of the high cost and availability of childcare, according Cornell University’s 2023 Empire State Poll.
With childcare growing increasingly unaffordable in New York, Sen. Kristen Gillibrand assembled the Child Care Working Group (CCWG). The group comprises advocacy organizations, elected officials and government agencies across the state. It aims to promote childcare as a public good, expand access to high-quality, affordable childcare and support the childcare workforce.
This aligns with the direction Bridge said would help address the crisis. She pointed to the Affordable Care Act, which aims to provide access to healthcare for all. And she pointed to right to a free public education. Through that lens, she asked, “Why is childcare not a right?”
Meanwhil, CCWG held its first meeting Monday in New York City.
“Providing childcare to every family is difficult work, but it can and must be done,” Gillibrand said in a written statement.
She said she formed the group “to convene minds from across sectors to help tackle the childcare crisis.”
“Access to quality, affordable childcare is essential to a child’s future and allows parents to succeed in their careers and to continue contributing to our economy,” Gillibrand said. “The CCWG is also focused on caring for our childcare providers, who are responsible for nurturing, shaping, and spearheading early learning for the next generation.”
Jennifer Marino Rojas, executive director of the Child Care Council of Suffolk, is a CCWG member.
“The childcare crisis is real and hurting many New Yorkers,” she said in a written statement.
Rojas added the CCGG aims to “identify realistic and meaningful actions that be taken to support the childcare providers, ensure the workforce is paid adequate wages and to make childcare available and affordable to all families with young children.”
In Port Washington and elswehere, the struggle is especially exacerbated for families with more than one child.
“A family might be able to afford a couple thousand dollars for a big preschool tuition, but then, if they have a second child, it’s $5,000,” Bridge said. “This starts becoming like … the cost of their mortgage.”
Now, she said, “we’ve been looking at one parent completely dropping out of the workforce and staying home to take care of the kids.”
The Cornell poll found that 78% of New Yorkers said childcare workers should be paid on par with elementary school teachers, with 79% saying they support public funding for universal childcare.
Increased pay would also help childcare centers attract and retain talent, as many teachers have moved on to fill spaces at the grade-school level as teachers retired amid the pandemic, Bridge said.
The issue of childcare is year-round, and not just for families with children ages 5 and younger. Families struggle, too, to put their kids in summer camp.
And any government subsidies should be considered at a regional level, as costs in the metropolitan area are much higher than elsewhere in the state, Bridge said. Also in the balance is a staff-to-child ratio to maintain safety.
In December, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced $50 million in grants to expand and build childcare centers and $50 million in tax credits for businesses supplying workplace childcare.
Additional meaningful change may not come, Bridge said, until families get vocal, and say things like “I can’t get back to work because childcare is too expensive.” Or, childcare centers are going to present “a dangerous situation because care is going to erode.”
For Bridge, and others, this level of advocacy is a priority.
Bridge put it this way: “If we don’t speak up, who’s going to?”
Share this!
Long Island’s largest adult-use cannabis store averages weekly sales of $420,000.
April 16, 2024
The dearth of available housing has had a noticeable effect in local communities, where many share concern abo[…]
April 11, 2024
Optimum Business, LIA Foundation launch small business grant fund
April 11, 2024
The morning is designed to offer insights for content creators, media relations professionals, social media ma[…]
April 9, 2024
The franchise concept bring fitness workouts, along with equipment, right to clients’ doors
April 2, 2024
The new concept is thanks to Kelli Fisher, the organization’s marketing and development specialist
April 1, 2024
Listen to this article Michael Violano, CPA, MST Audit Partner Make sure your 20[…]
As the Chief Financial Officer of 1Password, I’d love to share how 1Password t[…]
Boutique hospitality has found a home for live entertainment in New York. The me[…]
Sign up for your daily digest of Long Island Business News.
Listen to this article Long Island Business News announced that it has selected this year’s winner[…]
The 62,500-square-foot office building is on 5.5 acres.
March 8, 2024, marks a global celebration of women’s achievements. This special section honors out[…]
Long Island Business News announced this morning it has selected this year’s winners of the 2024 D[…]
The bulk grocery concept that’s been called the “kosher Costco” is expected to open in the sec[…]
The $4.7 million project will create 15 apartments and 517 square feet of retail space.
The panel discussion will take place at the offices of the Long Island Builders Institute in Islandi[…]
The 2,956-square-foot restaurant is on .66 acres.
The 14,400-square-foot building is on .64 acres.
The two-story, 8,034-square-foot building is on .64 acres.
On Our Island 4/12/2024
11/4/2024
Inked: Recent LI real estate deals
11/4/2024
How transit-oriented developments are helping Long Island downtowns thrive
11/4/2024
Panico: The looming garbage crisis, and the solution to avoid it
11/4/2024
Carroll: We cannot wait for a master plan for aging to do more
11/4/2024
Our mission at Long Island Business News is to be the vital business news and advertising source to Long Island’s most influential readers.
Get our free LIBN e-alerts & breaking news notifications!
Subscribe for access to the latest digital and special editions.
© 2024 BridgeTower Media. All rights reserved.
Use of this website is subject to its Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy | Do Not Sell My Info/Cookie Policy
