POLICY and ADVOCACY ALERT

In the final 2012-2013 State Budget, released on March 30^th,  Child Care Resource and Referral funding was maintained at $22,034,000, the same level as 2011-2012.  In the new Request For Proposal to be released, Commissioner Carrion announced on Friday that there would be an overall 5% cut in funds for services to counties.

This decision, done outside of the realm of the state budgetary process was not made available for public comment.  In a year where the Governor’s office provided additional funding for subsidies to meet the ever-growing need for child care, why is the Office of Children and Family Services imposing mid-year cuts? 

We must question this decision and remind all elected officials and policymakers that:

•  Child Care is an Economic Development tool
• CCR&Rs are the Agencies that Connect Families to Child Care
• CCR&Rs are the agencies that connect communities to Quality Early Learning
• Services may be lost or left to local government to help families is state funding is not restored

As the details of the RFP unfold, CCR&Rs, Providers, Parents and Community Members Need To Contact their Elected Officials to remind them of the valuable services we provide:

Office of the Governor:  (518) 474-8390 http://www.governor.ny.gov/contact/GovernorContactForm.php 

Commissioner of OCFS: (518) 473-8437

Deputy Commissioner of OCFS: (518) 486-6247

http://www.ocfs.state.ny.us/main/contact/contact.asp 

Division of Budget-

Director: (518) 474-2300    Budget Services:   (518) 473-0580

 http://www.budget.ny.gov/site/pressForm.html

Legislators: Speaker of the Assembly:  (518)455-3791  Senate Majority Leader: (518) 455-3171

http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/   or   http://www.nysenate.gov/contact_form

County Legislators: http://www.nysegov.com/map-ny.cfm

Let us know if we can help you find information on how to contact any of your local elected officials!

It is very important to rally parents and providers around this issue, since the number of voices that government officials at all levels hear will be important.  We will continue to keep you informed and please do not hesitate to express your questions and concerns. 

Sincerely,

Jessica

Jessica Klos Shapiro

Policy Associate

(518) 690-4217 ex. 32