FPWA applauds Governor Hochul and Mayor Mamdani’s meaningful step toward ensuring affordable, high-quality childcare for all New York families. With this proposed plan, New York is once again leading the nation in meeting the needs of working families and caregivers. At the very same time that the federal government is withholding billions in childcare and family assistance funds from our state as political retribution, our leaders have chosen to act with purpose and commitment, prioritizing children, families, and economic security.
To be truly transformational, universal childcare must be designed with equity at its core. As implementation moves forward, FPWA remains committed to ensuring that policy solutions are first focused on those that need it most, including targeting families furthest away from economic security, fair wages for childcare workers, and equitable access across neighborhoods.
We again applaud the Governor and Mayor for their leadership and the true progress represented by this plan. We look forward to working together to ensure that universal childcare in New York not only alleviates immediate cost burdens on working families but also advances a more inclusive, economically secure, and just future for all New York children and caregivers.
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The Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies (FPWA) is a leading anti-poverty, social policy and advocacy organization dedicated to strengthening human services organizations and faith institutions and advancing economic opportunity and justice for New Yorkers with low incomes. Since 1922, FPWA has driven groundbreaking policy reforms to better serve those in need. We work to dismantle the structural and systemic barriers that impede economic security and well-being, and we strengthen the capacity of human services agencies and faith organizations so New Yorkers with lower incomes can thrive and live with dignity.
