Bellone and Child Care Advocates Join to Announce an Increase in Child Care Subsidy

(Hauppauge, NY-April 8, 2013)  Today, County Executive Bellone was joined by Child Care advocates to announce that Suffolk County will increase its child care subsidy to 125% of the State Income Standard (SIS).  Currently Suffolk County provides subsidies that assist 3,626 children. This increase will allow 700 more children to be served and ease the burden of families. 

The increase in the subsidy will also have a positive effect on the child care industry in Suffolk County as it will allow child care agencies to increase their staffing levels thereby allowing more people to contribute to Suffolk County’s economy.

“I am proud to announce that Suffolk County is increasing its child care subsidy,” said County Executive Bellone.  “I included additional funding of $3.5 million in the 2013 budget to address the subsidy cut last year and our Department of Social Services has been actively working to advocate for funding of the program.  I applaud Governor Cuomo and the Suffolk County State Delegation for holding the line on the funding received by Suffolk County under the Child Care Block Grant.  All of these measures coupled with the steadfast advocacy of labor, child care agencies and social service organizations provides Suffolk County with the ability to increase the child care subsidy and service more children who are in need of quality day care services.”

Based on current trends, current funding amounts and more precise forecasting, Suffolk County’s Department of Social Services will be able to sustain this level of subsidy at least through December 2014.  The newly adopted income guidelines are listed below:

New Income Guidelines

New Income Guidelines

Statements of Support: 

Kathy Liguori, HabiTots Preschool and Child Care Center stated, “This child care subsidy is not another taxpayer handout perceived to be taken advantage of, but rather a raised hand of support.

This increase to 125% now allows that single parent with two children to take that raise from their employer they had to deny before to prevent losing this vital support. The single parent with two children can now earn $11.47 an hour rather than $9.18.

The positive ripple effect of this incremental step that CE Bellone has created by raising the income eligibility to 125%, allows the family of three to earn $400 a month more, it creates 140 jobs in the child care industry and it will generate $10 million back into Suffolk county's economy just by those two variables alone and we know there are many more.

Nick LaMorte, CSEA Long Island Region President stated, “I applaud County Executive Bellone and his team for securing county funding for child care subsidies for working families in Suffolk County.  This is a good start and a great example of how - working together - our union and local government found a way to begin to address the issue here in Suffolk, what is a crisis in counties across the state.  We have not seen such consideration for our community’s child care needs by a County administration in nearly 8 years. This was the right choice for Suffolk. Child care subsidies help keep parents working.  Children have better access to stable, quality early learning and care, preparing them for school and beyond. Seven hundred children and their parents will benefit from this important decision and hundreds of Suffolk County child care providers can stay in business which is good for employers and other local businesses. In a nutshell, county funding for child care subsidies supports economic recovery and growth in our communities.”

Dick Koubek, Suffolk County Welfare to Work Commission stated, "The Welfare to Work Commission released a thorough report in December 2012 on the plight of almost 200,000 Suffolk residents who are working poor, earning under 200% of the federal poverty level (FPL) which is too much to qualify for government supports like subsidized child care but too little to make ends meet. We are grateful that County Executive Bellone has found the funds to expand child-care services to families earning 125% of the FPL. But we need to get the State to restore funding so Suffolk can return to where it was in 2011, providing subsidized child care to families earning 200% of the FPL which is only $46,050 a year for a family of four.”

Roger Clayman, Executive Director of the Long Island Federation of Labor stated, “By increasing eligibility standards for child care subsidies, Suffolk County leaders have given our regional economy a much needed boost.  It will keep child care providers employed, allow parents to go back to work and make certain that our children receive the care and attention they need.”

Trudy Trujillo, Family Child Care Provider, Central Islip stated, “Raising parent eligibility is a good start to address Suffolk County's child care crisis.  I commend County Executive Bellone and our County Legislators for responding to CSEA/VOICE, parents and community members who asked for help last summer. My family child care program has served the community of Central Islip for 22 years.  When working parents can afford good early learning and care programs they are more reliable and productive at work. Children are better prepared for kindergarten.  Our small businesses provide jobs and support other community businesses.  We look forward to working with County Executive Bellone and our legislators to make Suffolk County a model for NY.”

Michelle Walsh, Parent from Brentwood stated, “A month after losing my child care subsidy, I was facing some hard choices when Suffolk County DSS notified me that my child care subsidy was reinstated. County Executive Bellone made child care assistance for working families a priority and I am truly thankful for that. This means my son can continue to learn and grow in his family child care program with the provider who has cared for him since he was born and has taken care of my family for 8 years now. I can keep working and support my family and will continue to contribute to our local economy.”

(CSEA Representatives, Maria Acevedo, Voices Latinas, Janet Wallerstein- Executive Director of the Child Care Council of Suffolk, John O’Neill, DSS Acting Commissioner, Nick LaMorte, CSEA Long Island Regional President, Richard Koubek-Welfare to Work Commission of the Suffolk County Legislature, Kathy Liguori-HabiTots Child Care, Adrian Fassett, President/Chief Executive Officer-Economic Opportunity Council of Suffolk)

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