Empire State Campaign for Child Care

NY is poised to make universal child care a reality for families. We can’t get there without paying the child care workforce a thriving wage. We need @GovKathyHochul, @AndreaSCousins, @NYSA_Majority to fund workforce compensation for early childhood educators.

Let's be clear: the child care workforce is among the lowest paid workers in our state. We will not be able to deliver universal child care without increasing compensation for the workforce.

ESCCC Steering Committee member Janna is featured in today's edition of Newsday, sharing why child care is an essential public good.

ESCCC was proud to stand with early childhood educators, parents, advocates, and elected officials yesterday in NYC and LI to mark the national #DayWithoutChildCare. Thank you to @ReynosoBrooklyn, @votejgr, and @CMRestler for joining us!

From the North Country to New York City, tens of thousands of NY families have lost child care assistance. @GovKathyHochul, @AndreaSCousins and @NYSA_Majority must address this in the final budget. northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/533…

Universal child care can't work without the workers who make it possible. We MUST pay providers a living wage. @EmpireStateCCC @SchuylerCenter cityandstateny.com/policy/2026/04…

There is no path to universal child care in New York State without compensating the child care workforce and clearing the Child Care Assistance Program waitlists. See our statement here: empirestatechildcare.org/wp-content/upl…

Can you take a moment and send a letter to lawmakers? @GovKathyHochul @AndreaSCousins @NYSA_Majority must include funding for the Child Care Assistance Program and workforce compensation in the final budget! actionnetwork.org/letters/dont-l…

ESCCC leaders Dede and Shoshana spoke with @WTEN about the need for the state to fully fund the Child Care Assistance Program and compensate the child care workforce in this year's budget. news10.com/news/ny-news/a…

Our campaign leaders recently spoke with @TUCapCon's @DanClarkReports about what's missing in Governor Hochul's child care plan. We must include funding for the child care workforce and the Child Care Assistance Program in the path to a universal system. capitolconfidential.com/p/whats-missin…

Let's be clear: there is no way we can achieve universal child care with tens of thousands of low income families on a waitlist. @GovKathyHochul, @AndreaSCousins, @NYSA_Majority must include additional CCAP and workforce funds in the budget. nysfocus.com/2026/03/31/chi…

ESCCC members and partners rallied at Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie's office in the Bronx demanding that the final budget include $500M for workforce compensation. We can't achieve universal child care in NY without paying the workforce!

Today nearly 100 parents, providers, and allies showed up and showed out in the Bronx as we all rallied outside Speaker Heastie’s office, demanding a $500M Worker Retention Fund for our childcare providers! Our educators and workforce deserve livable wages NOW!!

It is time to address the root cause of the #wagegap: Value women’s work by addressing the insufficient pay of care workers and other low wage earners! #EqualPayNY #childcare @PowherNY

We can't achieve universal child care in NY without paying early childhood educators! @GovKathyHochul, @AndreaSCousins @NYSA_Majority must include permanent compensation in the workforce in this year's final budget.

"We invest in firefighters and road maintenance crews by paying living wages; we should make the same investments in people who care for our babies." We agree, @SenWarren and @NYCMayor! usatoday.com/story/opinion/…

Universal child care means we must care for children ages birth through 12, includes all modalities of care, AND pays the workforce a thriving wage. @GovKathyHochul @NYSA_Majority @AndreaSCousins, affordability starts with child care for all!

Thank you to @sarahhartclark for highlighting the struggles of families across NY to afford child care and the necessity of compensating the child care workforce. Together, we can deliver universal child care for all families in the state. spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/capital-re…

Diana, an ESCCC Steering Committee member and mom of two, has a great letter in Queens Chronicle about the importance of compensating the child care workforce! qchron.com/opinion/letter…

ESCCC parent leader and steering committee member Mansie recently spoke with NPR about the struggle to access child care for her infant. We're not giving up until parents across the state can access the child care they need. npr.org/2026/03/10/nx-…

Today we are celebrating the New York women who make up our campaign, the parents who rely on child care, and the child care workforce. In order to achieve universal child care, we MUST pay the workforce a thriving wage. #InternationalWomensDay