What's Happening?
Citizen Action of New York, along with parents, child care providers, and community leaders, gathered in Utica to urge state lawmakers to invest in the child care workforce. The rally, held outside Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon's office, emphasized
the need for a permanent workforce compensation fund. This call to action comes in response to New York State Governor Kathy Hochul's budget proposal, which includes significant investments in child care assistance and Pre-K expansion but lacks dedicated funding for increasing wages for child care workers. Key legislative priorities include creating a permanent compensation fund to provide an additional $12,000 annually per workforce member, adopting the Governor's proposed $1.2 billion investment in child care assistance, and investing $60 million in community care models. The initiative aims to address workforce shortages and ensure that child care providers are fairly compensated.
Why It's Important?
The push for increased investment in the child care workforce is crucial as it addresses the economic infrastructure of communities. Child care providers play a vital role in enabling parents to participate in the workforce, yet they are often underpaid. The current system, subsidized by low wages, has led to workforce shortages, reduced capacity, and long waitlists for families. By prioritizing the workforce, the initiative seeks to stabilize the child care system, ensuring that no eligible families are turned away from assistance. This move could also help retain workers and support economic growth by allowing more parents to work without worrying about child care availability.
What's Next?
If the proposed investments are approved, the child care workforce could see significant improvements in compensation and working conditions. This would likely lead to increased capacity and reduced waitlists for families seeking child care. The initiative also aims to achieve universal Pre-K statewide by 2028-29, integrating center- and home-based providers into expansion efforts. The success of these measures will depend on the state legislature's willingness to adopt the proposed funding and prioritize the child care workforce in their budget decisions.
