Please join Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York as we share new findings that illustrate the challenges New York City parents face in accessing publicly funded child care. The research identifies barriers including a lack of clear public information; difficult and time-consuming application processes; and limited access to full-day, year-round care among primary concerns raised by New York City parents. 

You will learn about key highlights including data on enrollment and capacity and garnered feedback from listening sessions with parents and ECE providers that to call attention to the ways in which the city must act to reduce barriers experienced by families in accessing 3-K, Pre-K and child care programs, and identified recommendations to build a more sustainable path to a universal system.  

Speakers Include

Rebecca Charles, Policy and Advocacy Associate

Marija Drobnjak, Senior Research Associate for Data Resources

Bijan Kimiagar, Associate Executive Director for Research

Cristina Onea, Research Associate

About the Project 

The webinar will include an overview of findings from a citywide survey of parents that was part of a year-long research project undertaken by CCC to elevate the voices of parents and providers and inform government decision-making on how to address under-enrollment across the city’s Early Care and Education (ECE) system.

The project also examined administrative data on enrollment and capacity and garnered feedback from listening sessions with parents and ECE providers to call attention to the ways in which the city must act to reduce barriers experienced by families in accessing 3-K, Pre-K and child care programs, and identified recommendations to build a more sustainable path to a universal system.  

Following a pandemic that has put a financial strain on many families, and where women have reported being pushed out of the workforce due to child care needs at higher rates than men, parents expressed concern over the high cost of care along with other basic household expenses. The survey also elevates the extent to which parents’ concerns for the health and safety of their children and uncertainty about the spread of COVID-19 remain central to their decisions on their child care arrangements.