NY Essential Worker Childcare Scholarship

[cgr]

Covers childcare costs for essential worker's children aged six weeks through 12 years.
Payments will be made directly to child care providers on the parents’ behalf.

Announcement: https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-announces-25-million-child-care-scholarships-essential-workers

Application and details: https://ocfs.ny.gov/main/contracts/funding/COVID-relief/essential-workers.php

List of essential workers (it's a lot broader than you'd think): https://esd.ny.gov/guidance-executive-order-2026

[AsherO]

$25m? Sounds tiny considering the inclusive definition of essential

[cgr]

$25m? Sounds tiny considering the inclusive definition of essential

Announcement: https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-announces-25-million-child-care-scholarships-essential-workers

Additional funding announcements will be made throughout the coming weeks.

[cgr]

Is anyone here familiar with OCFS terms "licensed/registered/permitted or enrolled legally exempt"?
Are all DOE registered NY schools compliant?
Are all babysitters with less than 3 children covered by this definition?

[Ver hut gazugt]

Is anyone here familiar with OCFS terms "licensed/registered/permitted or enrolled legally exempt"?
Are all DOE registered NY schools compliant?
Are all babysitters with less than 3 children covered by this definition?

Not sure, but I just got a reply saying the school my daughter goes to is not eligible for the grant.
This is a fully licensed mainstream school.
It could be they are limiting the number of grants Given to a specific school.     

[Ver hut gazugt]

The administration of the school says they are not giving the grant to school based providers.

[cgr]

The administration of the school says they are not giving the grant to school based providers.

Thanks- I got in touch with OCFS and hope to have clarity on exactly what is and isn't covered soon.

[cgr]

Thanks- I got in touch with OCFS and hope to have clarity on exactly what is and isn't covered soon.

Per OCFS only registered providers are eligible. Some schools are, and some aren't.
NYS: https://ocfs.ny.gov/programs/childcare/looking/ccfs-search.php
NYC: https://a816-healthpsi.nyc.gov/ChildCare/SearchAction2.do

[gozalim]

List of essential workers (it's a lot broader than you'd think): https://esd.ny.gov/guidance-executive-order-2026

is there a currently accessible list of business by business to check on a specific employer?

[gozalim]

The administration of the school says they are not giving the grant to school based providers.

how about day camps?

[mushkovits]

Per OCFS only registered providers are eligible. Some schools are, and some aren't.
NYC: https://a816-healthpsi.nyc.gov/ChildCare/SearchAction2.do

When selecting for program type "School Based Child Care" the results that come up still say Age Range(Years) 2-5..

[cgr]

is there a currently accessible list of business by business to check on a specific employer?

Employers are not registered as essential- it's based on industry.

[cgr]

When selecting for program type "School Based Child Care" the results that come up still say Age Range(Years) 2-5..

Don't select the program type- I'm seeing many local schools eligible as "School Based Child Care".
Some are "Child Care - Pre School" and some are "Child Care - Infants/Toddlers", but not all.

[mushkovits]

Don't select the program type- I'm seeing many local schools eligible as "School Based Child Care".
Some are "Child Care - Pre School" and some are "Child Care - Infants/Toddlers", but not all.

even those that show up as "School Based Child Care" if you go into the details it says ages 2-5. Is the 2-5 incorrect?

[cgr]

even those that show up as "School Based Child Care" if you go into the details it says ages 2-5. Is the 2-5 incorrect?

Not for all- many don't have a specific age.

[gozalim]

even those that show up as "School Based Child Care" if you go into the details it says ages 2-5. Is the 2-5 incorrect?

my guess is those are places that are part of Headstart program (and not otherwise authorized)

[stooges44]

It says "Essential workers will also be required to attest that there is not another adult available to care for the children"

Does that mean it's only applicable to single parents?

And, what does this mean? "Determine your Family Size by including yourself and the total of how many people are residing in your household. Do not include adults age 21 and over that are not responsible for the children.'

So if you have 2 kids is the family size 4 including both parents or 3?

[cgr]

It says "Essential workers will also be required to attest that there is not another adult available to care for the children"

Does that mean it's only applicable to single parents?

No. If both spouses work or one is a student then they're also eligible- as long as one parent is an essential worker.

[gozalim]

So a teacher is an essential worker, but teaching from home is not eligble. But if one parent is essential and not home, and second parent working from home is not available to watch kids at that time, they are eligble?

[cgr]

So a teacher is an essential worker, but teaching from home is not eligble. But if one parent is essential and not home, and second parent working from home is not available to watch kids at that time, they are eligble?

Yes.