The New York state budget process for 2008-2009 was filled with unusual circumstances and upheaval this year. Budget discussions began with an overshadowing of expected state deficits.
Further disruption ensued as David Paterson was sworn in as governor March 17, after the resignation of Eliot Spitzer, just two weeks before the start of the 2008-2009 fiscal year.
The uncertainty of the fiscal climate has not detrimentally affected child-care funding through the (OCFS) Office of Children and Family Services nor the SED (State Education Department) funding for Pre-K and after-school programs.
Details pertaining to children and families from the 2008-2009 New York state budget include:
• A $2 million decrease in the state's share of the Federal Child Care Development Block Grant. The deficit, however, was filled by the rollover of unspent funds from previous years.
• The local district TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) portion of funding for child care was removed from the Flexible Fund for Family Services block grant. This move is seen as positive as the money is now protected and can only be used for child care. The money can not be used to fund other welfare-related services.
• Funding for small CCR&R (Child Care Resource and Referral) programs, which was removed in 2007, was restored by the legislature.
• SUNY/CUNY special programs such as campus-based child care and child care for migrant workers will continue at the present funding levels.
• The legislature added $17 million to the Executive Budget proposal of $79 million, which provided an additional $96 million in SED funding for Pre-K, for a total of $452 million in Universal Prekindergarten funding. The number of 4-year-olds who can now attend New York state Pre-K will increase 29 percent, which will allow for an increase in the number of children served from 93,000 last year to 120,000 next year.
• Nearly $9 million will supplement federal funding for competitively awarded grants for after-school programs.
• The budget recommended increasing school district programmatic responsibility for the evaluation of preschoolers suspected of having disabilities and also recommends allocating a portion of the costs of preschool evaluations and CPSE (Committee on Preschool Special Education) administration to school districts. The state will realize an estimated $46 million in savings from this recommendation in the 2008-2009 state fiscal year. The annual growth in preschool special education costs for counties outside of New York City will be capped at 4 percent, with the state assuming the remainder of the growth. By the 2009-2010 school year, annual growth will be limited to 3 percent. Counties will realize an estimated $20 million in savings in 2008-09, growing to approximately $90 million in 2011-2012.
• The budget proposes measures which enhance the nutritional quality of food sold, served or offered in schools, while improving access and affordability. Reimbursement for school meals will be increased by $9 million for the 2008-2009 school year, so that all children eligible for reduced price meals will receive school meals at no cost. In addition, beginning in 2009-10, state reimbursement for all meals will be increased to assist school districts with any increased costs associated with purchasing healthier food.
The Child Care Council of the Finger Lakes is pleased to announce that funding from New York state through the Office of Children and Family Services has been awarded for the 2008-2009 fiscal year, so the council may continue to help with all of your child care needs.
The Child Care Council of the Finger Lakes, Inc. is committed to improving the quality of child care with a mission to promote, strengthen, coordinate and expand child care options in Cayuga and Seneca counties.
We provide referrals to registered and licensed child care providers, information to individuals interested in becoming a child care provider and information on legally-exempt child care. Legally-exempt providers are non-registered/non-licensed child care providers whose clients (parents or guardians) receive child care subsidies through the county. The Child Care Council of the Finger Lakes has funding available to help eligible families pay for child care.
The Child Care Council of the Finger Lakes offers the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) which is a food subsidy program funded by the New York State Department of Health Division of Nutrition, to help train in-home providers on nutritional needs of children and partially reimburse these providers for food served.
Training is also available to child care providers and to child care center staff to help complete state training requirements. Grants for new and existing in-home child care providers for health and safety items to assure health and safety of children in their care are also available at the council.
If you have any questions or would like more information, in Cayuga County call 255-6994, in Seneca County call 568-0945 or visit www.ccc-fl.org.
- Sources: The New York State Budget for 2008-2009 http://publications.budget.state.ny.us/eBudget0809/ExecutiveBudget.html
Elizabeth Akers Farrell is the child care resource and referral specialist for the Child Care Council of the Finger Lakes office in Auburn.
The uncertainty of the fiscal climate has not detrimentally affected child-care funding through the (OCFS) Office of Children and Family Services nor the SED (State Education Department) funding for Pre-K and after-school programs.
Details pertaining to children and families from the 2008-2009 New York state budget include:
• A $2 million decrease in the state's share of the Federal Child Care Development Block Grant. The deficit, however, was filled by the rollover of unspent funds from previous years.
• The local district TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) portion of funding for child care was removed from the Flexible Fund for Family Services block grant. This move is seen as positive as the money is now protected and can only be used for child care. The money can not be used to fund other welfare-related services.
• Funding for small CCR&R (Child Care Resource and Referral) programs, which was removed in 2007, was restored by the legislature.
• SUNY/CUNY special programs such as campus-based child care and child care for migrant workers will continue at the present funding levels.
• The legislature added $17 million to the Executive Budget proposal of $79 million, which provided an additional $96 million in SED funding for Pre-K, for a total of $452 million in Universal Prekindergarten funding. The number of 4-year-olds who can now attend New York state Pre-K will increase 29 percent, which will allow for an increase in the number of children served from 93,000 last year to 120,000 next year.
• Nearly $9 million will supplement federal funding for competitively awarded grants for after-school programs.
• The budget recommended increasing school district programmatic responsibility for the evaluation of preschoolers suspected of having disabilities and also recommends allocating a portion of the costs of preschool evaluations and CPSE (Committee on Preschool Special Education) administration to school districts. The state will realize an estimated $46 million in savings from this recommendation in the 2008-2009 state fiscal year. The annual growth in preschool special education costs for counties outside of New York City will be capped at 4 percent, with the state assuming the remainder of the growth. By the 2009-2010 school year, annual growth will be limited to 3 percent. Counties will realize an estimated $20 million in savings in 2008-09, growing to approximately $90 million in 2011-2012.
• The budget proposes measures which enhance the nutritional quality of food sold, served or offered in schools, while improving access and affordability. Reimbursement for school meals will be increased by $9 million for the 2008-2009 school year, so that all children eligible for reduced price meals will receive school meals at no cost. In addition, beginning in 2009-10, state reimbursement for all meals will be increased to assist school districts with any increased costs associated with purchasing healthier food.
The Child Care Council of the Finger Lakes is pleased to announce that funding from New York state through the Office of Children and Family Services has been awarded for the 2008-2009 fiscal year, so the council may continue to help with all of your child care needs.
The Child Care Council of the Finger Lakes, Inc. is committed to improving the quality of child care with a mission to promote, strengthen, coordinate and expand child care options in Cayuga and Seneca counties.
We provide referrals to registered and licensed child care providers, information to individuals interested in becoming a child care provider and information on legally-exempt child care. Legally-exempt providers are non-registered/non-licensed child care providers whose clients (parents or guardians) receive child care subsidies through the county. The Child Care Council of the Finger Lakes has funding available to help eligible families pay for child care.
The Child Care Council of the Finger Lakes offers the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) which is a food subsidy program funded by the New York State Department of Health Division of Nutrition, to help train in-home providers on nutritional needs of children and partially reimburse these providers for food served.
Training is also available to child care providers and to child care center staff to help complete state training requirements. Grants for new and existing in-home child care providers for health and safety items to assure health and safety of children in their care are also available at the council.
If you have any questions or would like more information, in Cayuga County call 255-6994, in Seneca County call 568-0945 or visit www.ccc-fl.org.
- Sources: The New York State Budget for 2008-2009 http://publications.budget.state.ny.us/eBudget0809/ExecutiveBudget.html
Elizabeth Akers Farrell is the child care resource and referral specialist for the Child Care Council of the Finger Lakes office in Auburn.
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