Overview
Enrollment in New York State’s Child Care Assistance Program has grown substantially over the past several years. Reforms enacted by Governor Hochul and the state legislature since 2021 expanded eligibility for assistance to more families, lowered co-pays for families enrolled in the program and increased reimbursement rates for providers. These efforts, coupled with unprecedented increases in state funding for the program, have helped over 100,000 more children benefit from the Child Care Assistance Program today than when Governor Hochul took office in 2021.
While enrollment has increased throughout New York State, the most significant growth has occurred in New York City. Child Care Assistance Program participation (also known as the “voucher” program within New York City) increased from 39,163 in September 2021 to 112,135 in January 2026. Unfortunately, demand for child care assistance began to exceed available funding during late-2024. In June 2025, New York City closed enrollment to the program for most new applicants and established a waiting list for families who completed applications and qualified for assistance. From June 2025 to March 2026, 17,100 children have been placed on the City’s Child Care Assistance Program wait list.