NEW YORK, NY – – In response to Governor Kathy Hochul’s FY2023 Executive State Budget, Citizens’
Committee for Children Executive Director Jennifer March issued the following statement:

Governor Hochul’s Executive Budget goes a long way to position the state for an inclusive recovery. CCC is pleased to see investments in the healthcare workforce, funding for 100,000 affordable homes, and a commitment to expanding access to child care by raising eligibility for child care subsidies to 300% of the federal poverty line over the next three years. We also applaud the Governor’s commitment to the full funding of Foundation Aid for schools, with a $1.6 billion increase marking the second year of a scheduled three-year phase-in.

While we will be examining appropriation and program language closely, our read of the budget briefing document suggests that just as there are great opportunities for children, families and communities in Governor Hochul’s budget, there are also areas where greater attention and investments are needed to ensure New York’s children and families are healthy, housed, educated and safe.  Among our top priorities, we look forward to working with Governor Hochul and State Legislature to inform an SFY’23 adopted budget that:

• addresses the deep inadequacies in reimbursement rates that are driving the crisis in children’s behavioral health access;
• stems the surge in families entering shelter and looming eviction crisis by funding a statewide housing voucher program;
• improves access to Early Intervention services for children under age three with developmental delays and disabilities;
• develops and funds a plan for universal infant and toddler child care and universal pre-K with services that are full-day and full-year;
• expands and enhances the Empire State Child Credit and;
• reauthorizes child welfare financing with full funding of 65/35 match for protective, preventive, and independent living; funding for kinship guardianship outside of the block grant; and an increased value for the housing voucher for child welfare involved children and youth.

New York’s children and families are at a critical juncture. The investments our state makes now will impact the lives of New Yorkers today and for generations to come. We urge the State to prioritize an equitable recovery in which New York children and families do not simply survive, but recover and thrive.

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About CCC
Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York (CCC) educates and mobilizes New Yorkers to
make the city a better place for children. CCC’s advocacy combines public policy research and
data analysis with citizen action. CCC casts light on the issues, educates the public, engages
allies and identifies and promotes practical solutions to ensure that every New York City child is
healthy, housed, educated and safe. For more information about CCC, visit www.cccnewyork.org.