Our voices have been heard in Albany and in Washington!!  Congress just passed a federal budget that includes the largest ever one-year increase in funding for the Child Care Development Block Grant . This increase should translate to over $100 million for New York this year! This means that our New York leaders can use those funds to help more eligible families get the assistance they need to afford quality child care; and can also help child care providers meet the increased minimum wage and keep their doors open. We have been told that language that directs how this money should be used will be decided during the New  York budget negotiations. We are now in the final days of New York State budget negotiations and if we stay strong and loud, we could win a major increase in funding for parents and providers!!

As an ESCCC member, you should have received information on our statewide CALL IN DAY this Monday, March 26. Please Participate!  Also, please support that call in day by using the social media messaging below along with one of our memes or images.

Sponsor Twitter Handles:
@EmpireStateCCC, @WinBeginNY,
@PowherNY, @citizenactionny, 
​@timetocareny
​

Sample Tweets:

• @CarlHeastie #Fundchildcare in NY Budget:  Restore $7M cut to subsidies + $31M more for subsidies + raise provider payments to 75% market rate 
• @JeffKleinNY #Fundchildcare in NY Budget so parents can earn while their children learn.
• @LeaderFlanagan #Fundchildcare in NY Budget:  Restore $7M cut to subsidies + $31M more for subsidies + raise provider payments to 75% market rate
•  @JeffKleinNY #Fundchildcare in NY Budget:  Restore $7M cut to subsidies + $31M more for subsidies + raise provider payments to 75% market rate
•  @CarlHeastie #Fundchildcare in NY Budget so parents can earn while their children learn. 
• @LeaderFlanagan #Fundchildcare in NY Budget so parents can earn while their children learn. 

These additional posts and tweets from the Empire State Campaign for Child Care can be used at any time.

•  Join the campaign for affordable, quality child care at  https://www.empirestatechildcare.org  #FundChildCare
• The cost of #childcare is driving women out of the workforce: http://ow.ly/tauL308XdWM  Share your story @ https://www.empirestatechildcare.org/share-your-story.html ​

• Stable, affordable, #childcare is a MUST for the economy. #FundChildCare & #FacilitatedEnrollment @NYSA_Majority & @NYSenate. <insert image>
• ​Nearly 60% of people who teach and care for our youngest children are eligible for and participate in  some type of public benefit.  #FundChildCare #FacilitatedEnrollment @NYSA_Majority @NYSenate <insert image>

• Access to affordable #childcare isn’t just good for families, it’s good for business! #FundChildCare & #FacilitatedEnrollment  <insert image & tag individual legislators from the list>
• Across #NYS affordable #childcare is a critical work support for families. Please #FundChildCare! @NYSA_Majority & @NYSenate <insert image>
• 65% of American kids under 6 have both parents in the workforce . Tell our leaders quality #childcare is a necessity. #FacilitatedEnrollment #FundChildCare <tag individual legislators from the list>​
• Affording #childcare is a catch-22: either spend the majority of your income or leave the workforce -> reducing your lifetime earnings by 20% #FundChildCare & #FacilitatedEnrollment
• U.S. businesses have lost $4.4B to employee absences resulting from breakdowns in #childcare. #FundChildCare #FacilitatedEnrollmen
• New York has the resources to help make quality #childcare affordable. Investment in child care pays for itself AND helps reverse income inequality. Make Child Care a Priority! #FundChildCare #FacilitatedEnrollment

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