Says City Families Would Suffer
Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi sent a letter to the state Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) Commissioner Gladys Carrion in regards to his concern about the agency’s decision to cut nearly $1 million statewide from the Child Care Resource and Referral program.
Hevesi said the funding decrease, which comes amid nearly a decade of stagnant financing of the program, will likely disproportionately affect families in New York City due to citywide cuts to childcare services. Nearly half of the funding being cut will be targeted in the five boroughs.
The assemblyman called on Carrion to restore this funding during a time when New York’s middle and low income residents are struggling to make ends meet.
The OCFS Child Care Resource and Referral services help parents find safe and affordable child care. Ensuring adequate child care for middle and low income families allows parents the opportunity to gain employment to support their family, and in turn additionally helps to strengthen New York State’s economy.
“Funding for child care and resource services hasn’t increased in nearly a decade, and this cut comes amid a time when the City of New York is also decreasing support for child care and after school programs,” Hevesi said. “These services are absolutely essential for ensuring the stability of middle and low income families throughout New York State, and particularly in New York City.”
