Westchester County announces Westchester Works Scholarship to provide families with child care financial assistance

Westchester County Executive George Latimer announced Wednesday a new program that will provide child care financial assistance to resident families. The Westchester Works Scholarship, created through a partnership with the Child Care Council of Westchester, will support families earning up to $103 thousand per year.

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The new program represents an increase in income eligibility for the county’s Child Care Subsidy Program, which provides financial assistance to working families based on family size and gross household annual income. A family of two, for example, can now have a gross annual income of up to $60,674 and be eligible for the Westchester Works Child Care Scholarship Program.

According to the Child Care Council of Westchester, the average monthly cost of child care in Westchester County ranges from $1,000 - $2000 per month. The YMCA of Central Northern Westchester, which operates a day care center in North Salem, charges $1,355 per month in tuition for toddlers attending five full days per week. For a family of two earning $60,674 per year, that figure represents 27% of the household's annual income.

“I know all too well the struggles and hard decisions families face when they have to answer the age old question, ‘who is going to watch the children when we go to work?’” Latimer said Wednesday. “Increasing the eligibility will allow more parents to go to work with peace of mind. Supporting and increasing funding for childcare is the right thing to do for working families – period.”

Westchester County’s 2022 budget allots $38.9 million for childcare subsidies, which represents a 36% increase over 2021 levels.

“Adding this funding to the 2022 budget was a high point of my career,” said Board of Legislators chairwoman Catherine Borgia. “I am overjoyed today to see this program coming to fruition, knowing that it will make a huge difference in the lives of so many families across Westchester.”

Scholarship applications are being accepted as of April 1. To qualify for the scholarship or a child care subsidy, parents/guardians must be working and meet income eligibility. Click here to learn more and apply. Questions? Email scholarships@cccwny.org or call (914) 761-3456 x140.