The Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy is pleased the Assembly one-house budget proposal supports initiatives that strengthen families.

Child welfare prevention services help families with supports and services before there is a crisis.  We applaud the Assembly for recognizing this and increasing the State match for prevention services and increasing funding for critical child welfare programs.  We also appreciate the Assembly’s support of the Nurse-Family Partnership program, an evidence- based maternal and infant home visiting program.  New York needs to build better access to maternal and infant home visiting programs which improve health and well-being and save money.  

State leaders recognize the importance of expanding Pre-Kindergarten. We applaud the Assembly’s leadership to support New York City Mayor de Blasio’s plan to expand access to Pre-K and afterschool in NYC in addition to the Governor’s plan. By combining both Mayor de Blasio’s plan and the Governor’s statewide investment we will be able to serve more children sooner.  It is also important for the State to strengthen the early childhood system leading into Pre-K.  The Assembly’s budget supports increasing money for child care subsidies and capping the percent of family contribution for families that receive child care subsidies-both initiatives are a good start to expand support for working families.  

The Assembly’s one-house budget furthers New York’s commitment to quality, affordable health coverage.  The Assembly accepted Governor Cuomo’s plan to create a Basic Health Program for low-and moderate-income New Yorkers who do not qualify for Medicaid, but who may find health insurance on the Exchange too expensive. We also were pleased that ‘out-of-network’ protections are supported by the Assembly.  Surprise medical bills hurt the economic security of families and payment negotiations should be left between providers and insurance companies; consumers should be held harmless.   

We urge the Senate to support these important provisions as part of their budget priorities. We have confidence that the Governor and Legislature will resolve the differences that remain, and finalize another on-time budget that makes critical investments to support all New York families.  

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Download March 13, 2014 press release