Purpose

This report examines how New York’s system of granting child care assistance program funds to 58 separate social service districts is inefficient and exacerbates funding inequities between different regions of the state. It also makes recommendations for how New York State can reform the system to better serve families throughout the state.

Method

The Children’s Agenda analyzed county, state, and federal child care funding and allocation data as well as a census population and Child Care Assistance Program participation data for long-term trends and per child funding levels. Based on that analysis, The Children’s Agenda makes specific recommendations to the Child Care Availability Task Force and state policymakers.

Findings

• Thanks to a historic commitment of state funds in the most recent state budget, Child Care Assistance Program funding in NYS will rise to unprecedented levels in 2024-2025.
• Child Care Assistance Program allocations for 2024-2025 suggest uneven enrollment growth in the state over the past several years.
• New York State’s system of granting Child Care Assistance Program funds to local social service districts is inefficient and outdated, especially given statewide policy changes implemented over the past several years.
• Larger, wealthier counties receive a disproportionately high share of Child Care Assistance Program funds from New York State.

Recommendations