submitted by the Child Care Resource Network
The Child Care Business Navigator Toolkit is officially launched here in WNY! The Business Navigator is a free guide designed to help employers understand their employees’ child care needs and connect them with relevant tax credits, employee benefits, HR services, and other child care resources.
The Business Navigator includes essential resources, case studies, and regional contacts to begin the process or augment a plan already in place.
Employer-sponsored child care is an investment in the workforce that yields significant returns. There are an array of options for employers.
Now what are the next steps to help put this resource into action?
- Here is the link to the online version of the Business Navigator: https://eclcemployerchildcaretoolkit.com/. Please feel free to share this Toolkit and request digital copies online. We also have additional hard copies here at CCRN.
- The Business Services & Child Care Supply Team here at CCRN are ready to help you and your employees. Please contact us at 716-877-6666 x3082 to set up a personalized meeting.
- Schedule a “Lunch & Learn” for your staff on choosing child care. We can set up customized referral forms as well! See attached brochure for our referral services 😊
- Child Care Assistance payment options can be included in any information sessions that are scheduled.
Investing in family-friendly policies and child care can:
- boost employee morale and job satisfaction
- reduce turnover, and
- increase productivity
Child Care is an Economic Issue
140,236
NY children under age 6 in families where a parent left a job, took a leave of absence, or cut back hours due to problems with child care in the past year.
Source: 2022 National Survey of Children’s Health, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau.
45%
Of NYC parents had to leave work early due to child care challenges.
Source: The Education Trust-New York, Investing in Our Future: Addressing New York City’s Child Care Crisis, August 2021
91,800
New York parents working part-time due to child care problems in 2022, 86% were women.
Source: New York Department of Labor, 2023 Child Care in New York State
- Investing in family-friendly policies and child care can:
- boost employee morale and job satisfaction
- reduce turnover, and
- increase productivity
About the Guide
- The Business Navigator is funded by the Office of Children and Family Services, created by Early Care & Learning Council, and supported by 10 leading Child Care Resource Centers. This child care guide supports Governor Kathy Hochul’s initiative to make New York State’s child care system fairer, more affordable, and easier to access. Resources in the guide will help employers:
- expand the availability of child care,
- promote ways to make child care more affordable, and
- promote family-friendly workplace policies to help balance the stress between work and family.