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These pages contain our:
Legislative Agenda
Our agenda for SFY 2009-2010, including letters sent to elected officials and policymakers, testimony, and memos in support & opposition.
and programs & objectives the coalition supports:
Home Visiting
The 2009-10 Executive Budget proposed cutting the Healthy Families New York (HFNY) program by 25% and eliminating child welfare preventive spending dollars that partially fund the Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) and other home visiting programs. We were successful in our advocacy efforts and the state restored child welfare preventive spending for home visiting and funding for HFNY. It also added $5 million in new funding for NFP.
Child Care
While the cost of care has increased, funding for child care has decreased from a high of $929 million in FY04-05 to $906 million in FY09-10.
As a result, 46,000 fewer children received subsidies in 2007 than just four years ago, declining from 259,386 in FFY 2003-2004 to 213,171 this past year. We anticipate a drastic reduction in federal block grant funding this year, with even fewer children receiving subsidized child care.
Pre-K
New York State has made impressive strides in implementing Pre-K, currently enrolling 106,000 four-year olds. 452 of 677 school districts now provide Pre-K. Unfortunately, funding for Pre-K was stalled at $414 million in FY09-10, a decrease from $452 million in FY08-09. Funding for Pre-K should be reinstated at the FY08-09 level.
QRIS (Quality Rating and Improvement System)
The state must invest in Qualitystars NY—a strategy for a systemic approach to enhancing the quality of services in every early care and learning setting, including Pre-K. Qualitystars NY provides a coherent, systematic way to support program improvement and ensure the best use of public dollars in all early childhood programs.
Paid Family Leave
Winning Beginning NY supports paid family leave legislation that would let working parents spend the time they want, need, and deserve with newborns or newly adopted children. The bill would have workers pay an additional 40 cents per week into a disability insurance plan, allowing them to take up to 12 weeks off at half pay—up to $170 a week.
Afterschool Programs
Quality afterschool programs keep kids safe, support working families and provide children and youth with important learning, personal development, arts and recreational opportunities. They are a key component of a strong system of public education and youth development.
Make YOUR Voice Heard!
Become an E-advocate and promote quality and universal early care and learning. Sign up below to participate:
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