LEGISLATOR MYERS ANNOUNCES EXPANSION OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY CHILD CARE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 7, 2006
Contact: Judy Myers, (914) 995-2802
County Legislator Judy Myers (D,I,WF- Larchmont), Chair of the Family, Health and Human Services Committee, today announced a new program, initiated by Myers and the Committee, that will provide financial assistance for quality child care to an underserved group of parents---working parents whose income makes them ineligible for public subsidies but who still can’t afford the high cost of quality day care in Westchester County. The Child Care Council of Westchester will administer the $250,000 program.
“The program will be financed through funds we set aside in this year’s budget to expand the availability of subsidized day care to working parents whose incomes are just above the subsidy threshold,” said Myers. “Although our County’s child care eligibility standards are generous compared to other New York counties and we have decreased a parent’s co-payment from 33% to 20% over the last two budget cycles, the $10,000 per year cost of child care is still out of reach for many hard working families.”
Myers said Westchester’s higher than average cost-of-living is largely to blame for leaving parents with insufficient funds to afford quality child care.
“Of the 3,000 existing County subsidized day care slots in quality regulated facilities, about 1,000 slots are unfilled,” said Myers. “We’re told that this high vacancy rate is largely attributable, not to the lack of need for quality day care, but to affordability. We’re targeting working parents whose incomes may be slightly over the current eligibility threshold.”
To be eligible, parents must reside in Westchester County, be working full-time and enroll their children in full-time child care at a program regulated by the NYS Office of Children and Family Services.
 |
For scholarship applications and additional information, click here or contact the Child Care Council directly through their website at www.ChildCareWestchester.org or by phone (914) 761-3456. Information will also be available through regulated child care providers. |
The deadline for scholarship applications is July 14th and awards will be announced the week of August 7th. All awards will be made for a full year of child care and will vary according to the age of the child, type of care, and household income.
The Board of Acquisition and Contract is set to sign off on the $250,000 program at its meeting on June 15.
