Proper now, mother and father of two-year-olds in New York Metropolis are dealing with an inconceivable actuality: the common value of kid take care of a two-year-old is $23,000 a yr. To afford care on the beneficial 7% of family revenue, a household must earn $334,000 yearly. Merely put, the numbers don’t add up for a majority of New Yorkers. That is why we’re combating for 2-Care: an growth of New York Metropolis’s widespread and profitable Pre-Okay for All and 3-Okay applications to incorporate two-year-olds
Admittedly, challenges stay within the 3-Okay system, stemming from annual cuts and lack of prioritization from the Adams administration. Final yr, many mother and father obtained 3-Okay seats that had been too distant from their residence or had already paid 1000’s of {dollars} in deposits for personal care by the point they had been known as off the waitlist. On prime of this, early childhood educators are underpaid and that has led to recruitment and retention challenges for these key roles. Given all this, some might ask: why push for little one take care of two-year-olds when 3-Okay isn’t in excellent form? The reply is straightforward—New York’s households can’t afford to attend. Our battle isn’t about selecting between fixing what exists and increasing to extra households; it’s about doing each.
New York’s little one care disaster is just not new, however it’s getting worse. Dad and mom of two-year-olds have reached a breaking level–compelled to decide on between paying for little one care they can’t afford or leaving the workforce completely. The excessive prices are inflicting ripple results throughout the financial system. In 2022, New York Metropolis misplaced $23 billion in financial exercise as a result of lack of reasonably priced little one care, and more and more households are taking a 3rd path: leaving New York Metropolis completely. Dad and mom with kids below six are twice as more likely to depart the town in comparison with different residents.
It’s time to demand what we deserve. The answer is obvious: New York Metropolis should commit to creating 2-Care a actuality. Which means increasing free little one care to all two-year-olds simply as we did for Pre-Okay and 3-Okay. We will begin by changing present, licensed capability that serves two-year-olds via a fee-for-service, immediately establishing free, Metropolis-funded 2-Care applications throughout the town whereas starting to construct out new capability as effectively. Within the meantime, we will repair the failings in our present childcare system for three-year-olds and keep away from setting two-year-old care up for a similar challenges by making certain everlasting and secure funding for full-day applications. We will make sure that mother and father are conscious of the choices out there to them by reinstating essential outreach efforts. So as to make sure that we recruit and retain one of the best staff, we will assist little one care suppliers with truthful wages and funding to make sure a robust, secure workforce.
Ready to repair each concern in 3-Okay earlier than increasing entry to little one care can be a mistake. Historical past has proven us that the easiest way to construct robust public programs is thru continued funding and growth—not by ready till each single piece is ideal. We fought for common Pre-Okay and 3-Okay whereas stabilizing present little one care applications. Now, we should do the identical for 2-Care.
We can not afford to attend. Dad and mom want little one care now. New York’s future will depend on it.
