ULSTER COUNTY – Family of Woodstock, Inc.’s Child Care Connections is taking advantage of Governor Cuomo’s decision to fund the cost of child care for essential workers. This allocation of funding comes to the state from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”), which has provided New York with $163.6 million in emergency relief to support the State’s child care system.
New York State is using a portion of this funding to provide free child care for income-eligible essential workers. Essential workers using a regulated child care provider will receive a scholarship for the cost of care as long as funding is available. All licensed and regulated providers who are caring for essential workers are able to participate in this new program.
“Access to affordable and safe child care is a barrier for working parents during the best of times, and even more so during a crisis,” said Kerry Wolfeil, Team Leader for Child Care Services for Family of Woodstock, Inc. “New York State’s plan will ensure that the workforce that is needed to protect and care for the public during this pandemic have the child care that allows them to continue to serve us all.”
Family of Woodstock, Inc.’s Child Care Connections will be administering the CARES Child Care Scholarships in Ulster County under the guidance of the NYS Office of Children and Family Services. Individuals who meet the definition of an essential employee and have child care needs must register online here. Child Care Connections staff will contact them within one business day to gather information about the family’s child care needs and will work with their current registered or licensed child care provider or help the family identify a participating child care provider.
For more information, visit https://www.familyofwoodstockinc.org/ccc/
