Awareness gaps may limit the reach of existing programs. Although public child care programs help families manage costs, only a small share of parents city- wide are actually enrolled in any of the programs, largely due to limited public funding. And awareness varies considerably across existing government programs and family supports, with awareness of uni- versal programs — those that are open to all families rather than means-tested — generally lower among the lowest-income populations. Overall, NYC parents are most familiar with 3-K and Pre-K, with only roughly one in ten unfamiliar with the latter (Figure 11). Awareness is substantially lower for the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) and Early Head Start and Head Start. Parents are least familiar with subsidies for care provided by family members, friends, or neighbors (FFN), with 59 percent of parents saying they are unfamiliar with or have never heard of it. 23 Familiarity with the Empire State Child Credit, New York State’s supplement to the federal Child Tax Credit, is also limited with 58 percent of parents saying they are unfamiliar or have never heard of it. It is unknown what share of these parents may be aware that New York State has a Child Tax Credit but not recognize its official name. However, this finding suggests there may be substantial gaps in awareness of a program the State recently made significantly more generous for households with children under four. 24
Figure 11: Program Awareness
Parents’ Familiarity with Existing Government Benefits, by Program Figure 11
I’ve applied or tried to use it, but was unable to No response/other
Not familiar or never heard of it
I am aware of it but haven’t used it
I have used it before but not currently
I am currently using it
Early Head Start/Head Start
37%
36%
6% 9% 7%
Early Head Start/Head Start
39%
38%
9%
Child care voucher
31%
38%
9%
10%
7%
Child care voucher
40%
33%
9% 11%
Subsidy for FFN care
4%
59%
21%
6%
4%
Subsidy for FFN care
63%
22%
Early Intervention
39%
32%
6%
11%
8%
Early Intervention
41%
33%
11% 8%
3-K
19%
39%
5%
17%
14%
3-K
20% 41%
18% 15%
Pre-K
11%
5%
17%
18%
44%
Pre-K
12% 46%
18% 19%
Empire State Child Credit
19%
5%5%
8%
58%
Empire State Child Credit
61%
20%
8%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 23% 29% 5% 30% 7% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 24% 31% 32%
amily Le New York State Paid F ave New York State Paid Family Leave
23 In New York City, “FFN care,” care provided by family, friends, or neighbors, can be subsidized through the Child Care Assistance Program. To receive public subsidies, these caregivers must register as license-exempt providers. 24 https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/money-your-pockets-governor-hochul-proposes-sweeping-expansion-child-tax-credit-deliver-1000 Source: Survey of 4,306 parents and caregivers of children ages 0-5 living in New York City; conducted by NORC for New America’s New Practice Lab and Robin Hood, March 31-April 20, 2026. Note: “Child care vouchers” reflects parents who selected the response option “Child care vouchers/Child Care Assistance Program.” “Subsidy for FFN care” reflects parents who selected the response option “Subsidy for friend, family neighbor care/legally exempt child care.” Notes: Source: Robin Hood
THE 2026 NEW YORK CITY PARENT SURVEY : WHAT CHILD CARE PARENTS WANT 25
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