CCC Testimony: Challenges Facing the Child Care Community

Published December, 2011

CCC testified about the upcoming state budget process, New York City’s EarlyLearn RFP, and the shortage of funds to maintain capacity, let alone enhance quality when low- income, working New Yorkers need subsidized child care more than ever, at the December 12, 2011 New York State Senate Children and Families Committee Hearing on challenges facing the child care community.

CCC’s testimony includes the following recommendations regarding the state:

• Work closely with the City to maintain the system’s capacity under EarlyLearn, so that no child loses services and low-income families are able to stay engaged in the workforce.
• Allow local districts flexibility in how they utilize UPK funding, including to support full-day UPK.
• Amend the Social Services Law to require SCR clearances and/or fingerprinting of informal child care providers.
• Ensure the State Child Care Block Grant is sufficiently funded.