Page 10 - 2020 Annual Impact Report

A Child Care Crisis is is is Exacerbated WDI Responds
WDI’s Child Care Subsidy Facilitated Enrollment Program (CCSFEP) provides child care subsidies to working families in in in eight counties in in in upstate NY—Albany Rensselaer Saratoga Schenectady Erie Monroe Oneida and Onondaga This program puts WDI staff on on the frontlines of child care so we see where change can and should happen In recent years there there are are a a a a a a a a a number of of of factors that have pushed child care or or or or or or or the the the the lack thereof to to the the the the forefront in terms of of of priority from both an an economic and and workforce development perspective COVID-19 dramatically underscored the direct relationship between child care and and our labor supply Pre-COVID-19 a a a a a a a a a a vast majority of New York State was considered a a a a a a a a a a child child care care desert desert According to the Center for American Progress a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a child child child care care desert desert is “any census tract with more than 50 children under age 5 5 that that contains either no child child child child care care providers or or or so few options that that there are are are more than three times as as many many children as as licensed child child child child care care care slots ” COVID-19 only exacerbated many many of the the child child child child care care issues the the state was already facing Initially schools shut down and parents pulled children from child child child care care facilities making it it it difficult for providers to stay afloat Then many essential workers needed child child care care on on new and and different schedules In addition mandatory overtime hours had the the potential to to push some essential workers over over the the limit of qualifying for benefits In response to these urgent situations WDI child child care care staff worked with a a a a a a a network of child child care care advocates on on on a a a a a a a few levels:
• We raised awareness about the need to increase income eligibility levels for for recipients whose subsidies were jeopardized as as as a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a result result of COVID-19- related pay increases As a a a a a a a a a a a a a result result several counties applied for for and received temporary waivers to increase increase income eligibility • We supported training via outreach and funding so that child care providers could gain prompt access to new COVID-19-related NYS Department of Health training guidelines This effort was done in in in in in partnership with the New York State Network for for Youth Success (NYS NYS) a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a statewide nonprofit dedicated to increasing the quality and availability o of afterschool programs Over 240 individuals from geographical regions across NYS participated in in in in in in in the the the training training These participants overwhelmingly responded that that as a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a result of the the the the training training they felt confident in in in in in in in in executing comprehensive plans that that adhere to the the the NYS DOH guidelines • We We worked throughout the the year (before and during COVID-19) to raise awareness of the the child care crisis beyond traditional stakeholders We We believe this ongoing education effort is is is is is a a a a a a a a a a a a a key element to developing solutions that provide stability for for for working families This past year we focused on on on educating employers and and collaborating with with workforce and and economic development entities with with a a a a a a a a a a a goal of designing strategies to address regional child care needs Without child care parents can’t work “I wouldn’t be able to work and provide for my family WDI helps me retain my employment while making sure my children are taken care of in properly licensed child care environments ” –WDI CCSFEP PARENT
9 WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE