Working parents often face a challenging balancing act: career advancement versus ensuring quality child care for their children. Recognizing this critical dilemma, New York State has launched a groundbreaking initiative to bridge this gap, directly benefiting both employees and employers. The Child Care Tool Kit, officially named the Business Navigator Child Care toolkit, is designed to equip businesses with the necessary resources to support their working parents in securing reliable and affordable child care. This proactive approach not only aids families but also strengthens the workforce and bolsters the state’s economy.
Spearheaded by Governor Kathy Hochul, this initiative is backed by a significant $1 million investment and forms part of a larger, historic $7 billion commitment to expand child care access and affordability across New York. The development of this comprehensive resource was entrusted to the Early Care & Learning Council, ensuring its relevance and effectiveness for businesses of all sizes. The toolkit’s primary aim is to serve as a centralized hub of current information, guiding employers to connect their workforce with crucial child care support systems. By doing so, it aims to alleviate the immense pressure on working families who often struggle to make difficult choices between their professional lives and their children’s well-being.
With over 800,000 children under six in New York having working parents, the need for dependable child care is undeniable. The Child Care Tool Kit directly addresses this need, acknowledging that safe and nurturing child care environments are not just essential for a child’s development but are also fundamental for parents to participate fully and productively in the workforce.
To ensure widespread accessibility and localized support, a Business Navigator toolkit has been established in each of New York State’s ten Regional Economic Development Council regions. This strategic distribution guarantees that resources are readily available to businesses throughout the state, catering to the unique needs of diverse communities. The core component of this initiative is “The Business Navigator: Employer’s Guide to Child Care Solutions in New York State,” a comprehensive 56-page guidebook. This guide offers concrete, actionable steps that business leaders, owners, and HR teams can implement to create effective child care strategies tailored to their employees’ needs.
“As New York’s first mom governor, I understand firsthand the challenges of being a working professional with young children,” stated Governor Hochul. “For too long, businesses and workforce leaders have overlooked this daily struggle faced by countless New Yorkers. Today, we are investing in expanding access to child care and improving affordability for families by providing the right tools for our employers and businesses to utilize.”
The Child Care Tool Kit is being introduced through a series of workshops across the ten economic development regions, facilitated by local Child Care Resource Centers. These workshops provide businesses with hands-on guidance on utilizing the toolkit and developing effective child care support strategies. The inaugural workshop took place in the Capital Region, marking the beginning of a statewide rollout throughout January and February. These workshops are invaluable opportunities for businesses to engage directly with experts, learn best practices, and network with other organizations committed to supporting working families.
The Business Navigator initiative stems from recommendations put forth by the New York State Child Care Availability Task Force (CCATF). This task force, previously overseen by Governor Hochul during her tenure as lieutenant governor, identified the critical need to engage employers in addressing the child care crisis. Governor Hochul’s commitment to this issue is evident in her 2023 State of the State address, where she proposed the Business Navigator program and allocated the initial $1 million in funding. This program is further strengthened by the state’s unprecedented $7 billion investment in child care, alongside a historic $1.8 billion state and federal investment in the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), secured under Governor Hochul’s leadership. These substantial financial commitments underscore the state’s dedication to making quality child care accessible and affordable for all New York families.
Dr. DaMia Harris-Madden, OCFS Commissioner and Co-Chair of the Child Care Availability Task Force, emphasized the broader economic impact of child care, stating, “Safe, high-quality, and equitable early education and child care is vital to the well-being and healthy development of young children, as well as strengthening families and communities. There is a critical need for safe and nurturing environments for children while parents are at work. Each year, a lack of child care nationwide is responsible for $122 billion in lost earnings, productivity and revenue. We are grateful for Governor Hochul’s continued investments in child care, including the Business Navigator program. Supporting workers in their search for appropriate child care not only helps individual families and promotes healthy development of children, but also aids in building a thriving economy across this great State of New York.”
The 2021 report from the New York State Child Care Availability Task Force revealed a significant concern among business leaders: the lack of accessible and high-quality child care negatively impacts their businesses. A staggering 75% of business leaders believed that investing in child care for children aged birth to three years would positively impact their bottom line. These findings were reinforced in a subsequent 2024 report, further solidifying the Task Force’s support for the Business Navigator program and advocating for greater employer involvement in addressing employee child care needs. Governor Hochul’s $1 million commitment to the Business Navigator program directly responds to these recommendations, fostering a collaborative approach between the state and businesses to tackle the child care challenge.
The Child Care Tool Kit is designed to be a practical and user-friendly resource for businesses. It includes essential information and tools to help employers:
- Assess Employee Child Care Needs: Understand the specific child care challenges and requirements of their workforce through surveys and direct feedback mechanisms.
- Provide Child Care Resources: Offer employees readily accessible information on local child care providers, programs, and support services.
- Leverage Tax Incentives: Inform businesses about federal and state tax credits and incentives available for employers who offer child care benefits.
- Implement Child Care Benefits: Showcase diverse examples of child care benefits that businesses can offer, ranging from on-site child care facilities to partnerships with local child care centers and subsidized care options.
For businesses eager to access this valuable resource, the digital Child Care Tool Kit is readily available on the Early Care & Learning Council website. This online portal also provides additional resources and supplementary materials to further assist employers in developing and implementing effective child care support strategies. Furthermore, for those seeking direct assistance and information on child care services within New York State, the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) website offers a dedicated Child Care Services page. Employers interested in attending upcoming in-person toolkit workshops can register through the Business Navigator Toolkit Regional Live Launch portal.
Roberta Reardon, New York State Department of Labor Commissioner and Co-Chair of the Child Care Availability Task Force, highlighted the investment in the workforce aspect, stating, “Affordable child care is one of the most important investments we can make in New York’s workforce. The Business Navigator Childcare toolkit will help to ensure working parents have access to the resources they need to support and care for their young children while also providing for their families and advancing their careers. I applaud Governor Hochul for her leadership in supporting parents across New York State.”
Assemblyman John McDonald emphasized the dual benefit for families and businesses, noting, “The Business Navigator Child Care Toolkit is an important effort to address child care issues that our families face. Cost of living is a main concern for many, and childcare is a major driver. As an employer of over 40 years, I know firsthand how investments in child care pay great dividends for children, families, businesses, and the economy. It is in the best interest of business owners to explore this toolkit because it helps employers meet their needs. Child care is critical for economic development and we need to ensure that businesses have what they need to support their employees so they can come to work and know that their child is being taken care of. Thank you to OCFS and the Governor for providing this toolkit that will be available statewide.”
Heather Mulligan, President and CEO of the Business Council of New York State, underscored the toolkit’s practical value for employers, stating, “The Business Navigator guide is a valuable resource for employers throughout New York State. It offers business leaders actionable strategies and resources to effectively address the child care needs of their employees. This guide is not just about supporting working parents – it’s about supporting New York’s workforce and sustainable growth.”
Mark Eagan, President and CEO of the Capital Region Chamber of Commerce, emphasized the transformative potential of the toolkit for workplace culture, remarking, “One of the most pressing challenges facing businesses today is how to support working parents and caregivers in a way that strengthens both families and workplaces. This toolkit is a game-changer. It provides employers with actionable strategies, practical tools and valuable resources to address child care needs in their organizations. By implementing solutions like these, businesses not only help their employees achieve a better work-life balance but also boost productivity, enhance recruitment and retention, and build a reputation as family-friendly workplaces.”
Keely Weise, Deputy Executive Director of Brightside Up, celebrated the local impact, stating, “We are proud to host the launch of the Business Navigator Child Care Toolkit here in the Capital Region, where businesses and families alike are striving for innovative solutions to workforce challenges. This toolkit is a vital resource for our local employers, offering practical strategies to support working parents and create family-friendly workplaces that strengthen our community.”
Meredith Chimento, Executive Director of the Early Care & Learning Council, highlighted the broader significance of the initiative, saying, “The launch of the Business Navigator Child Care Toolkit marks an important milestone in our work to support employers and families across New York State. We’re thrilled to see this initiative kick off in the Capital Region and look forward to additional regional launches in the coming weeks as we continue this vital work statewide.”
John Ravitz, Executive Vice President and COO of the Business Council of Westchester, emphasized the advocacy efforts behind the initiative, stating, “One of the Business Council of Westchester’s top legislative priorities has been to increase state funding and awareness regarding New York State’s child care system. All employers must take an active role in helping their employees find safe and sustainable child care for their family. The Business Navigator will be an important program to achieve this.”
In conclusion, the Child Care Tool Kit represents a significant step forward in New York State’s commitment to supporting working families and strengthening its economy. By providing businesses with accessible resources and actionable strategies, this initiative empowers employers to become key partners in solving the child care challenge. Ultimately, this collaborative approach promises to create a more supportive and productive environment for both businesses and working parents across the state.
