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Delaware Opportunities has adopted a public policy agenda promoting quality, affordable child care that results in education and healthy development of children and supports strong families and communities.

We believe that:

Every family should have access to high quality child care because

  • Research shows that 90% of a child’s critical brain development happens by age 5
  • Children spend an average of 36 hours per week in child care
  • High quality child care helps children prepare for school and sets the foundation for positive relationships and a lifetime of learning; and

Every family in Delaware County should have access to affordable child care

  • The average cost of full time care for a child under two is $8320 a year
  • The average cost of full time care for a child 3-5 is $7940 a year
  • Child care subsidies are only available to those with very limited income
  • Increased funding is needed to help working families afford child care

Delaware Opportunities, through its Child Care Resource and Referral program (CCR&R) is dedicated to helping:

  • families find quality, affordable child care;
  • child care providers offer such care; and
  • the community to develop, support and foster quality, affordable child care

We will do this by:

  • Providing information and resources to child care businesses, community, families, and caregivers
  • Expanding the supply of care by recruiting and training new providers
  • Offering providers training, technical assistance, publicity, and other supports designed to help them stay in the field, run successful operations, and build their expertise
  • Helping families identify quality child care programs
  • Advocating for local funding for child care subsidies

Delaware Opportunities is a member of the Early Care and Learning Council, Child Care Aware of America, and the National Association for the Education of Young Children.  We support the messages of these national and state leaders in early care and education advocacy efforts.

To learn more about child care issues, find facts about child care in Delaware County and New York State, or to join advocacy campaigns to strengthen the quality of child care visit the agency website at https://delawareopportunities.org or contact a day care specialist Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at 607-746-1620 locally or toll free at 1-877-746-2279; or by email at Daycare@delop.org

Press Releases:

10/20 Back up Child Care
10/20 CARES Scholarship
11/20 CARES Scholarship
3/21 Child Care Providers Needed
4/21 Week of Young Child
5/21 Provider Appreciation Day

Public Policy Reports:

Stay informed and connected to initiatives supporting affordable quality early learning by visiting the following:

Visit Child Care Aware of America to learn about campaigns to strengthen the quality of child care, join their Action Network or email your elected officials.
 

  
Join the Early Care & Learning Council in advocating for quality, affordable child care for all New York families.

 

 

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