In the midst of the clamor that workers of the child care industry in New York have intensified this 2023 to have better working and salary conditions, the State has just announced that it will grant $500 million in grantswhat they estimate will benefit some 150,000 caregivers in the five boroughs and other municipalities.
The announcement was made by the governor, Kathy Hochul, after notifying that the State opened the registrations so that child care personnel available in New York, can apply for financial incentives, which range between $2,300 and $3,000 in retention and referral bonuses for existing workers and aid for new staff.
“As a mother who put her career on hold due to a lack of affordable child care, I understand firsthand how much not having access to these services can affect a family,” she said. the state representative. “Through the Workforce Retention Grant Program, we can help grow and support our child care workforce as we continue to work to expand access to this essential service for families across our state.”
The governor mentioned that the additional investments in the fiscal year 2024 budget also include financial support for employers of child care sites in New York to create and expand child care options which will also help, almost 630,000 more children.
Acting Commissioner of the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, Suzanne Miles-Gustavehighlighted that child care workforce grants are vital to recruiting and retaining quality staff to care for New York’s children, in what he called one of the most important jobs there is.
“Child care employees are primarily women, many of which are colored. These grants recognize their important role in the upbringing and development of our children,” said the official. “All of the Governor’s bold child care initiatives and reforms underscore just how deserving our providers are and help make vital child care services more affordable, accessible and equitable for New York’s working families.”
The office of Governor Hochul explained that eligible child care programs include school-age child care programs, day care centers, family day care homes, group family day care programs, small day care centers, and New York City permitted group centers. Subsidies may not be requested individually by workers.
“Staff eligible for retention and referral bonuses must be employed at the physical location of the program, have an active and direct childcare role, have worked a minimum number of hours per week from January 1, 2023, and January 26, 2023. June 2023, and have a background check on or before June 26, 2023,” said the State Attorney’s Office. “Eligible programs must apply for grant funds on behalf of each eligible staff member currently employed. Each eligible staff member must be listed on the application and the full (100%) of the bonus amount for staff retention must be transferred to each staff member, if they remain eligible at the time of payment to the program”.
The Hochul Administration He also noted that in addition to investments in the child care workforce, the FY 2024 budget includes additional funds, including, $4.8 million in a new employer-sponsored child care pilot program, where participating employers, the state and employees will split the cost of child care for families between 85 percent and 100 percent of state median income to qualify.
“The FY 2024 budget also established a new Employer Child Care Tax Credit available to businesses that create new child care positions (and expand existing options) for workers. The annual credit of $25 million It will be administered for two years through the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance (DTF) and the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS),” they added.
In addition, the state highlighted that by expanding the so-called Empire State Child Credit (ESCC) to include children under the age of four, with an investment of $179 million for more than 525,000 taxpayers low- and middle-income, an additional average benefit of $340 per affected taxpayer and $284 per newly included child.
- Tips to apply for subsidies
- July 26, the application process for the Child Care Workforce Retention program opened
- September 15 is the deadline to apply, since after that date the applications will be closed
- The Workforce Retention Grant program is for eligible School Age Child Care (SACC) programs licensed/registered with the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS)
- Day Care Centers (DCC), Family Day Care Homes (FDC), Day Care Homes (GFDC), Small Day Care Centers (SDCC) and Group Day Care Centers (GDC) may also apply for financial aid
- August 17 there will be an explanation seminar on how to apply for those who have doubts. You can register through this link
- Aid must be applied for by eligible child care sites
- Individual staff cannot apply on their own
- Applicant must work an average of 15 hours per week (10 hours for SACC staff)
- You must also work in a childcare role
- Another requirement will be the taking of fingerprints and background checks will be provisionally verified before June 26, 2023
- Applicants must appear on their program’s active staff list in FAM or CCATS by June 26, 2023
- In this link you can find out more information about the subsidies:
- You can register at this link:
- If you have any questions, you can also call 833-791-2743, Monday through Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
