CM James Comments On Mayor Bloomberg's Budget Cuts To Childcare

**For Immediate Release**
February 17, 2011

Contact: Amyre Loomis (718) 260-9191, (646) 201-8183

Statement by NYC Council Member Letitia James about Mayor Bloomberg’s Budget Cuts to Child Care

“The Administration of Children’s Services plans to eliminate 16, 624 child care slots, apparently due to a loss of federal funds, which will hurt low and moderate income families. Children may be put in unregulated care, and/or parents may have to stay at home to care for them. Also, thousands of child care workers will lose their jobs, and the majority of these employees are women.

The hypocrisy of this administration is baffling; Mayor Bloomberg talks about importance of early education, yet eliminates these crucial childcare slots for children. The New York City Council was able to restore $6,682,247 in the Fiscal Year 2011 budget, which gave a 3-month reprieve for six child care centers, and 12 months for seven other centers. At this time, additional funding is needed in FY12 to save these centers from closing.

My office has also become aware that District Council 1707, the union representing public center-based employees, was not officially informed of the possibility of New York City’s day care centers being hit with these deep cuts. And, at this time, still only 27% of eligible children are able to attend public center-based day care. Thousands more of the city’s youngest residents, toddlers, and infants will lose funding for learning opportunities within daycare centers, if the Mayor has his way. Again, these budget cuts specifically hurt the developmental progress of the least among us- working and poor families.

On the back of these cuts is the recent elimination of Priority 7 vouchers that serviced 2,200 children, (and most of these families heavily relied on the subsidy for their after-school care). Due to this cut, hundreds of eligible children may be added to Priority 5, which may be cut in the near future as well. Why does it seem that when it’s not an election year, the Administration takes funds away from those New Yorkers who depend the most on the services provided by the City?

Public and children’s advocates are adamant: the Bloomberg Administration’s plan to eliminate child care slots is illogical, and the money saved (ironically) will be at a huge expense for our children, and the future of New York City. The impact of eliminations of public center child care slots and day care centers will devastate our communities. Every Parent deserves quality day care that’s affordable. Let’s remember that these New Yorkers contribute greatly to the City’s overall economy as well.”

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CM James Urges Parents to Enroll 4YOs Before October 30th

**For Immediate Release**

October 19, 2009

CONTACT: Amyre Loomis– (718) 260-9191

Hundreds of Free Pre-K Seats Still Available at Brooklyn Locations

Council Member James Urges Parents to Enroll Four-Year-Olds before October 30th Deadline

Brooklyn, October 19, 2009– During a recent visit to Young Minds Day Care Center in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, Council Member Letitia James learned that the center still has several Universal pre-Kindergarten seats available. She urges parents to enroll their four-year-olds in free Universal pre-Kindergarten (UPK) classes this month. Many full day and half day UPK seats remain available at 265 locations within the borough of Brooklyn, and parents only have until October 30, 2009 to enroll their children.

“Low enrollment in day care centers is a high priority issue for me. Unfortunately, Brooklyn day care centers have the lowest enrollment rates of all five boroughs,” she said. “In this time of growing budget reductions, we must make sure that our funding and valuable resources are not cut by the Administration of Children’s Services, or returned to the State due to underuse especially when there is a clear need for day care, as we know exists in Brooklyn.”

All New York City children who turn four years of age by December 31, 2009 are eligible for free UPK seats. Available half-day and full day UPK seats are located at public schools and community-based childcare centers contracted by the Department of Education. UPK offers flexibility in that families can enroll their children in available seats located where they live, where they work, where they go to school, or wherever it is convenient for them.

Carolie Mills-Skeete, Director of Young Minds Day Care Center encourages parents to visit. “What makes Young Minds special is our hands-on approach, plus our dance and art classes,” she said.

Since 2002, the number of four-year-olds enrolled in UPK has increased by over 14,000, with more than 59,000 available seats this year. The City Council and the Bloomberg administration have worked collaboratively with childcare advocates to increase access to pre-kindergarten programs and to ensure their quality over the past six years. However, the majority of funding for UPK comes from state funds, and every year the City is forced to return millions of dollars to the state because UPK seats went unused.

For a full list of programs in your neighborhood that still have seats available, parents can go to City Map on www.nyc.gov, http://schools.nyc.gov/ChoicesEnrollment/PreK or call 311.


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"Young Minds Child Care" Now Accepting 2-Year-Olds!!!

Young Minds Child Care, located at 972 Fulton Street at Washington Avenue, and has just opened their doors to children aged 2-years and older (from 2.6 years :). If you or someone you know is interested in getting your child enrolled at the day care, or after-school care program, please contact the center at 718-622-8622.

Young Minds Child Care is full of warm, wonderful, and committed professionals in an easy-to-access location. ACS vouchers,as well as private applicants, are encouraged to apply and welcome.

Are You STILL Looking for the Right Day Care For You?

Thank you again Team Tish parents, advocates, and day care institutions for making our Day Care Fair a success!

For anyone who is still searching for day care options, and is looking for private, public-private, and non-ACS-funded day cares, please see this helpful list in the surrounding areas of Brooklyn: http://achildgrowsinbrooklyn.com/childcare/daycare. A great site to search for through the larger pool of day cares is The Savvy Source Additionally, Child Care Inc. can help you find a day care that is right for your individual needs.

thanks,
teamtish

The Brooklyn Day Care Fair!!!

Thank you to all the Child Care Centers, various referrence and referral groups, and other Early Childhood Services that came out to greet and inform parents. Parents from all over Brooklyn were able to walk through the gorgeous Luntze Commons (thanks to LIU's Brooklyn Campus, that lent us the space for the event) gathering information about Child Care.

Even with all the work the centers put into setting up their tables and disseminating information to the parents of young children, ACS still informed at least one day care that we know of that they would be affected by ACS' most recent budget cuts. It is important that we continue to work together to provide for parents and children in our community!!!

Council Members James, de Blasio, Vann Host Day Care Fair on SAT. NOV. 22ND, 10AM-4PM at LIU

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 21, 2008

Council Member Letitia James, Council Member Bill de Blasio, and Council Member Al Vann invite you to a Day Care Fair for parents, families and the community on saturday, Nov. 22nd, from 10 am – 4 pm at Long Island University, Brooklyn

The Brooklyn Day Care Fair answers parent questions, and addresses low enrollment in centers.

Brooklyn child care centers have the lowest enrollment rates of all five boroughs. In this time of budget reductions we must make sure that valuable resources are not cut due to under use, especially when there is a clear need. The day care fair offers residents valuable information about affordable and subsidized day care centers in local neighborhoods.

The Brooklyn Day Care Fair came about several months ago, when on a Saturday, parents from a large child care center in the 35th Council District were informed that the center would be closed, effective the following week. Many parents learned about the closing when they arrived on Monday to drop off their children only to find the doors were closed, without explanation.

“This closing forced me to take a good hard look at the ACS subsidized child cares. Just this week ACS announced plans to reduce the capacity of its subsidized day care centers for low-income families by 18%. Our centers are under siege, and unless we work together to demonstrate the need for these centers by keeping the enrollment rates up, we keep giving the city the excuse to cut them,” said Council Member James.

Bedford-Stuyvesant, for example has the 3rd highest number of low-income children in Brooklyn. In the Bed-Stuy area, the low income rate is 63%, but the service-to-need ratio is 46% and only 81% of the slots are utilized: this means that many child care slots are vacant.

It seems the Administration of Children’s Services is in the process of implementing Project Full Enrollment, effective this Wednesday, to twenty-one of our most vulnerable Child Care Centers. Initially they reported the project would not be implemented until late Spring. Under PFE, Child Care Centers will only receive funding for the number of students enrolled. This will mean budget cuts for all day cares that are under-enrolled. Enrolling our children in day care centers is important because they improve the social and educational development of children; centers help to keep young people safe when parents are working, and many centers also provide after school care for older children.

“I encourage everyone to take advantage of the resource and referral agencies located near the entrance of the fair. These professionals can help you figure out specific questions such as newborn and infant care, special immigrant needs, as well as care during non-traditional hours,” said Council Member James.

The Administration for Children’s Services will also be on hand Saturday to help families walk through the eligibility process, and will provide information about ACS in several languages. The Brooklyn Day Care Fair allows attendees to take their time, ask questions, walk around the room and get to know day care options, as well as meet directors, teachers and parents present to help. It is also possible to set up appointments to visit day cares, and health care organizations will be on-site to offer information and assistance to families.

Councilmember Bill de Blasio, 39th District said: “Despite the large number of Brooklyn families in need of affordable childcare, many day care seats go unfilled. Connecting families directly with providers is key to informing parents about the day care options in their area, and ensuring that center vacancies get filled. I am glad that Council Members James, Vann and I were able to provide these much needed resources to the communities we serve.”

Council Member Albert Vann, 36th District said: “The parents in my district will be most heavily affected by the Administration’s cuts. The closing of any of these centers would be a blow to many economically vulnerable families. Cutting child care services during these tough times only puts working parents at greater risk of losing their jobs, and threatens their overall way of life.”

On-site enrollment for child care centers through the Administration for Children’s services will be available at the day care fair for parents who are prepared with proof of residence; proof of reason for needing child care; legal residency for non citizen children; proof of income; and/or family members.

What: Brooklyn Day Care Fair

Who: Council Members Bill de Blasio, Letitia James, and Albert Vann

When: Sat, Nov. 22nd, 10am - 2pm

Where: Brooklyn Campus of Long Island University 1 University Plaza, Brooklyn (on the corner of Flatbush and DeKalb Avenues) Subway Services: B, M, Q, R to DeKalb Av or the 2, 3, 4, 5 to Nevins Street

Contacts: Eva Ruiz - Council Member James / (212) 788-7081; Dottie Conway - Council Member Vann / (212) 788-7354; and Freya Riel - Council Member de Blasio / (212) 788-6969


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Council Members Letitia James and Bill de Blasio Host a Brooklyn Day Care Fair on Saturday, November 22nd, from 10AM at LIU

Brooklyn Day Care Fair hosted by Council Member Letitia James and Council Member Bill de Blasio

WHEN: Saturday, November 22, 2008, 10 A.M. – 2 P.M.

WHERE: Long Island University- Brooklyn Campus
1 University Plaza
(on the corner of Flatbush and DeKalb Avenues)


Subway Services: B, M, Q, R to DeKalb Av or the 2, 3, 4, 5 to Nevins Street.

A, C, G to Hoyt-Schermerhorn

Bus Services: B25, B26, B37, B38, B41, B45, B52, B54, B67, B103


Do you need Day Care for your child? Want to learn about affordable and subsidized day care centers in and near your neighborhood?

COME TO THE BROOKLYN DAY CARE FAIR TO LEARN ABOUT LOCAL CHILD CARE OPTIONS FOR YOU CHILD!


At the Brooklyn Day Care Fair you can:

-Meet local Day Care Centers Director

-Enroll your child in Day Care

-Learn about eligibility for subsidized Day Cares

-Obtain information about immigrant needs

-Learn about options for newborn and infant care, as well as special needs

-Find out about care during non-traditional hours

ON-SITE enrollment for the child care centers through the Administration for Children’s Services [ACS] - in order to enroll you will need:

• Proof of Residence

• Proof Reason for Needing Child Care

• Legal Residency for Non Citizen Children

• Proof of Income

• Family Members

Door Prizes!!! Door Prizes!!! Door Prizes!!!

BROOKLYN DAY CARE FAIR Sat., Nov 22 Save the date!

Hosted by Council Member Letitia James and Bill DeBlasio

Saturday, November 22, 2008
10 AM – 2 PM
LOCATION TO BE ANNOUNCED

• Exhibits and information about day care choices in the Brooklyn area (a great opportunity to meet the directors & teachers)

• ON-SITE enrollment for the child care centers through the Administrations for Children’s Services [ACS]

• A chance to get informed and to ask ACS and various Child Care Advocates about: -Admissions Process/Eligibility -Non-Traditional Hours -Immigrant Needs -Children with Special Needs -Newborn and Infant Care