Greetings! Our entire team here at All Our Kin is thinking of you and missing you, and we're here to support you in every way we can.   We want to express profound gratitude to all who joined us in supporting AOK’s very own Bernadette Ngoh, of Trusted Care Family Day Care, who testified in a Senate hearing, last week. Senator Elizabeth Warren convened the hearing which centered on the role of child care in a post-pandemic economy, and discussed the need for a $700 billion investment in child care over the next decade. Bernadette (along with other advocates) delivered a powerful testimony that highlighted the need for pivotal change to our child care infrastructure.    In the words of Bernadette, “If we don’t invest in our kids now, then we are creating a problem down the line. Early childhood education helps everybody. The multiplier effect of caring for a child, enables the parents to work, which will have a long lasting benefit on the economy as a whole.”   There are ways we can all take action! Check out this week’s newsletter for more information on how you can make your voice heard.   As always, we’re sending our thoughts, friendship and love, and look forward to seeing you at an upcoming virtual event.     In solidarity, The All Our Kin team

Raise Your Voice on Child Care If you missed last week’s Senate hearing, you can now catch the full replay. Watch Bernadette’s powerful testimony starting at the 18:08 mark.

To address the funding inadequacy that has plagued our child care system for decades, the President and several members of Congress have proposed ambitious new investments in child care and early learning for 10 years. Their plans would dramatically improve family child care providers’ compensation and professional development, and families’ access to child care. However, these plans are running into opposition in Congress. Family child care provider Bernadette Ngoh took the brave step of testifying in the Senate last week to counter some of this opposition. There is power in numbers. Please add your voice to Bernadette’s and email your members of Congress, urging them to include $700 billion for child care in an infrastructure package.

TAKE ACTION NOW

NYC Elections Thank you to everyone who got out to vote in last week’s primary elections! Whether you voted during early voting, on election day, or via absentee ballot, voting is one of the most important ways to make our voices heard and elect candidates who support family child care! The Board of Elections expects to have the full results from the Mayoral, Comptroller, Borough President, and City Council elections counted by July 12. The winners of this primary election will run in the General Election in November.  If you still need to register to vote, you can find more information about how to do so here. Stay tuned for more ways to get involved in the policy conversation and to advocate for family child care in New York City!

Child Care Regulator Outreach Survey OCFS is planning to conduct a telephone survey of all family child care providers as part of their efforts to distribute Child Care Stabilization Funds. Your regulator will call you to ask questions. You must answer these to receive Stabilization Funds. For more information, click here.

Do you receive payments through ACS vouchers? If so, beginning July 1,2021, providers will need to use the online Child Care Attendance Processing System (CAPS) to process your attendance. CAPS Online will be used to submit attendance for payment after each service month. For more information and to register for training with ACS, see this flyer. Check out the earliest dates to submit attendance here. 

NY State Child Care Scholarships for Essential Workers OCFS has announced that more funding is now available for child care scholarships for children of essential workers. To access the scholarships, parents must apply here. Read this letter to providers for more information. Updated Background Check Requirements OFCS has announced updated requirements for comprehensive background checks for family child care providers and household members. Please read the information linked here and make sure you are up to date on your required background checks. As always, if you need assistance reach out to us at newyork@allourkin.org. 

End of Emergency Child Care Executive Orders The governor’s office has announced that the executive orders which allowed for some exceptions to child care regulations have now expired. This means that typical regulations are going back into effect for all child care providers. For more information about how this might impact your program, click here. As always, if you have questions or need assistance, contact our office at newyork@allourkin.org.

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