STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday that more than 48,000 New York state military families will now be eligible to receive child care fee assistance covering 15,000 state-licensed child care providers.
The assistance will relieve the cost of child care not covered by the parent fee as calculated by their total family income up to a maximum child care rate of $1,800 per month per child. New York state is the first state in the nation approved to qualify licensed/registered child care providers for participation in this federal military fee assistance program.
Child care providers who are licensed by the state Office of Children and Family Services are eligible to participate in the program and receive fee assistance on behalf of a military family under the U.S. Department of Defense’s Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood-PLUS program.
“While the costs of child care continue to rise beyond what many families can afford, providing high-quality, accessible, and low-cost care choices for New York families is vital. That commitment extends to our military families,” Hochul said.
Created more than 15 years ago, the Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood-PLUS program offers financial aid to reduce the personal cost for military families using community child care providers. However, under the program, the child care providers are required to be nationally accredited, and this can leave families with limited options. The military fee assistance will offset the cost not covered by the parent fee as calculated by total family income up to a maximum child care rate of $1,800 per month per child.
“From Fort Drum to West Point, access to affordable child care is essential for military families across New York State,” said U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer. “That is why I’m proud to help deliver this vital federal assistance to our over 48,000 military families, making New York the first state in the nation to participate in this expanded…
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