As we take a pause during this last week of the year, this week’s blog post rounds up some links to news you may have missed, upcoming events, and resources to fuel your advocacy for New York’s families in the new year.  Thank you for your support and partnership, and best wishes for a restful end of 2023 and a recharged 2024!  

In 2023, we held five panel discussions on Addressing Child Poverty – four on Zoom and one in person. 
Watch the recordings here (and register to attend the virtual January 12 panel with Kate Breslin and Dede Hill, on Centering Children in the New York State Budget).   

On December 22, Governor Hochul vetoed legislation that would have allowed more New York families to access full-time child care. The bill passed the legislature twice with major, bipartisan support. In a statement, the Empire State Campaign for Child Care urges Governor Hochul “to demonstrate that she truly believes in the transformative change necessary to break down barriers to child care assistance by including this legislation in her upcoming Executive Budget alongside permanent, meaningful investment in the child care workforce and significant progress towards care infrastructure that truly meets the needs of New York’s children and families.” 

Schuyler Center’s annual State of New York’s Children Data Book was released last week. The 2024 report provides a data snapshot of the well-being of New York’s children and families and the challenges New York families are facing. The book includes data and policy recommendations around child poverty, child welfare, child care, oral health, and Medicaid.

Join us! The State of New York’s Children in-person data briefing will be held on January 17 in Albany. Registration is free but space is limited.  

The Resources section of our website includes Schuyler Center reports, testimony, data analysis, policy priorities, fact sheets, and more – all searchable by type, issue category, and keyword. Access Schuyler Center Resources here.  

Crystal Charles, Senior Policy Analyst, will participate in a United Way Advocacy Roundtable on Family & Wellbeing on January 19. Find details and registration here.

In 2024, Schuyler Center urges leaders to champion policies that improve health, well-being, and economic security of New York’s families, children, and communities, with a focus on New Yorkers who are working hard to make ends meet. Read our full 2024 Policy Priorities for Child and Family Well-Being.  

Recently, on the Schuyler Insider blog: 

The New York State Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council met earlier this month. Schuyler Center President and CEO Kate Breslin is an appointed member of the Council. At the December 6 meeting, the group approved and released its 2023 Progress Report.  

Looking Back: Key Wins for Families in 2023

– Budget funding to strengthen New York’s Empire State Child Credit so that it now, finally, includes children ages 0-3 for the first time. As a result, this tax credit will reach an additional 600,000 to 900,000 children statewide. 

– A long-fought win for a historic update to the child welfare housing subsidy in the state budget. The subsidy will increase from $300 a month to $725 a month for youth exiting foster care and families involved in the child welfare system—the first increase since 1988.  

– The passionate advocacy of the Empire State Campaign for Child Care (ESCCC), the statewide coalition led by Schuyler Center, resulted in significant strides in child care funding and policy. 

– A commitment to ensuring that people with lived experience have a voice at policy tables on child care, economic security, and the child welfare system, and that they are supported in that work.