Over two dozen counties in New York have ceased taking applications for its largest child care affordability program.
In recent years, Governor Kathy Hochul and the legislature have quadrupled spending on the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) in New York, increasing it to $1.1 billion, and expanded eligibility for the program [1]. However, despite these efforts, the program continues to face significant challenges, particularly with enrollment.
As of early July, more than a third of New York counties have stopped enrolling eligible parents in the CCAP due to insufficient funding [5]. Even in New York City, which increased its spending on the program to $381 million, the additional funding has not been enough to allow new parents to start enrolling [5].
The federal share of funding for CCAP, although large, is complex and partly dependent on fluctuating relief funds, making local administration challenging [4]. To access the $50 million in new funding for the CCAP outside of New York City, OCFS requires counties to spend their entire existing allocation first [4]. Many counties find this requirement impractical, as they don't know how much of the $50 million they'd receive, and social service administrators are hesitant to deplete their budget without a guarantee of sufficient funding [4].
Four counties said in early July that they might have to start turning down parents later in the month [5]. Advocates argue that the state CCAP needs a bigger, permanent investment to meet growing demand and expanded eligibility [6].
In a bid to address these issues, Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, who won the New York City Democratic mayoral nomination on an affordability platform, has proposed a plan for universal free child care [2]. Mamdani's plan, which aims to expand the city's existing universal pre-K programs to cover every child between 6 weeks and 5 years old, is estimated to cost between $5 billion and $7 billion a year [3].
The final state budget, passed in May, included an additional one-year investment of $350 million for New York City and $50 million for the rest of the state, bringing total state spending on the program to $1.5 billion this year [3]. Legislators from the city pushed for a $900 million funding boost from the state [3].
The state Office of Children and Family Services published data on the program online after being requested under the Freedom of Information Law [1]. Despite these efforts, caregivers and daycare providers have publicly demanded clarity on withheld federal funding and expressed concerns about access to consistent funds [1].
In conclusion, while the state budget attempts to bolster child care assistance, the program faces significant funding distribution challenges linked to federal funding freezes and negotiation uncertainties, resulting in enrollment restrictions and service gaps for parents and providers.
References:
[1] OCFS (2022). Child Care Assistance Program data. Retrieved from https://www.ocfs.ny.gov/main/childcare/data/
[2] Mamdani, Z. (2021). Affordability platform. Retrieved from https://www.zohranmamdani.nyc/affordability
[3] New York State (2022). 2025-26 Enacted Budget. Retrieved from https://www.budget.ny.gov/2025/
[4] New York State (2022). OCFS memo on $50 million funding for CCAP. Retrieved from https://www.ocfs.ny.gov/main/press/2022/07/070722_ccap_funding_memo.asp
[5] New York State (2022). CCAP enrollment freezes in counties. Retrieved from https://www.ocfs.ny.gov/main/press/2022/07/070622_ccap_enrollment_freeze.asp
[6] Advocates for Children of New York (2022). CCAP funding needs permanent investment. Retrieved from https://www.advocatesforchildren.org/press-releases/new-york-state-needs-to-invest-in-child-care-assistance-program-to-meet-growing-demand-and-expanded-eligibility/
- Governor Kathy Hochul, along with the New York legislature, has increased spending on the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) in New York, reaching $1.1 billion, and broadened eligibility for the program, but enrollment challenges persist despite these efforts.
- In early July, more than a third of New York counties halted enrolling eligible parents in the CCAP due to inadequate funding, and additional funding allocated in New York City was not enough to allow new parents to enroll.
- The federal funding for CCAP is intricate, partially reliant on fluctuating relief funds, and the administrative complexities of this funding make it difficult for local governments to manage.
- To access the $50 million in new funding for the CCAP outside of New York City, the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) mandates that counties spend their existing allocation first, a requirement that many counties find impractical.
- Advocates have proposed that the state CCAP should receive a larger, long-term investment to meet increased demand and expanded eligibility.
- Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani has advocated for universal free child care as a solution, a plan estimated to cost between $5 billion and $7 billion annually, which could expand the city's existing universal pre-K programs to cover every child between 6 weeks and 5 years old.
