Legislators Rally In Support Of Child Care During Day Of Action
New York State Assembly members and Senators came together to rally in support of the child care industry for the Child Care Day of Action .
Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo assisted in organizing the Child Care Day of Action which included events in Binghamton, Buffalo, the Capital Region, Hudson Valley, Irving, NYC and more. In Johnson City, she was joined by other child care professionals and parents at the Family Enrichment Network to call attention to the devastating impact COVID-19 has had on the industry, request that the CARES Act Funding be released to facilities across the state, and the overwhelming possibilities if needs are not met.
In an effort to support child care across the country, the federal government added $162 million in part of the CARES Act. That funding was separated into two allotments, CARES Act I which supported operating costs and the cost of personal protective equipment (PPE) and CARES Act II which support programs to reopen to extend capacity. Fund from CARES Act I have been exhausted but several million has yet to be distributed from the CARES Act II allotments.
"Early on during New York's On Pause order, child care was designated as 'essential;' we need to remember that it has always been essential and is more essential than ever as New Yorkers get back to work. We will never rebuild our economy without this critically important building block" said Assemblywoman Lupardo.
83 legislators across New York State sent Governor Cuomo a letter calling for the release of the CARES Act funding to support the reopening or expansion of child care centers as the need for providers soar. The pandemic has created excessive damage to an already fragile industry with a quarter of child care centers closing since the start of the pandemic.
“Child Care programs were struggling financially pre-COVID,” said Jennifer Perney, Child Care Resource & Referral Director for the Family Enrichment Network. “The reduced capacity and enrollment during the pandemic, combined with the increased costs for health and safety, further enhances the problems. Childcare programs need direct financial assistance to survive.”
