NYS Child Care Assistance Program Dashboard

New York State’s Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) allows eligible families to receive low-cost child care so parents can work or pursue an education while their children receive care in a safe and nurturing environment. Funding for the CCAP comes primarily from state and federal dollars.

Over the past several years, state policymakers have expanded eligibility for the CCAP, allowing more families to qualify for this important support. Doing so has dramatically increased enrollment in the program. And while New York State has added significant funds for the program, demand for care often exceeds available resource. Some counties operate a wait list, adding families when enrollment and spending dip. Others choose to close enrollment altogether, telling otherwise-eligible families to apply again when enrollment re-opens.

CCAP funding levels vary greatly by county (even when accounting for size or the number of eligible children), causing some counties to face more persistent shortfalls than others.

The information on this dashboard was obtained from the New York State Office of Children and Families Services website. Program enrollment typically lags closure status by approximately two months, so the effects of closure may take some time to appear in the monthly enrollment data.