Public Employee Press

Child care funds set for Queens union families

By JANE LaTOUR

Like thousands of city workers who do double duty as mothers and civil servants, Clerical Associate Stacey Wright has to juggle a busy schedule and arrive at work on time. Her job at a Human Resources Administration food stamps center puts plenty of pressure on the Local 1549 member, whose husband Stanley Jean-Louis provides vital assistance.

Recently, the hard-working couple received a huge boost from the union when Wright was able to enroll daughter Paris, 2, in a subsidized day care program in Queens. “Before, I was paying $200 a week,” said Wright. “Now, thanks to the voucher program, I pay $57 a week. This program is very helpful to our family financially.”

Wright first read about the Facilitated Enrollment Project in PEP when she was on maternity leave. However, as she returned to work, funds for the project were held up and Paris was placed on a waiting list.

Intense lobbying by the New York Union Child Care Coalition — which DC 37 is a very active member of — finally restored the funding. When the state Legislature made $5 million available for the Queens project, DC 37 wrote 1,400 members in the targeted Queens ZIP codes with salaries in the correct income range and children under 12 years old.

“DC 37 has the highest number of potentially eligible families and a very effective outreach program,” said Moira Dolan of the DC 37 Research and Negotiations Dept. “We made sure our members knew about this.”

“I was so happy when the union coalition called to let me know that we were eligible,” said Wright. “This program means a lot to me.”

High child care costs make up a disproportionate share of the budgets of low-income families. The Facilitated Enrollment Projects in the boroughs provide essential assistance to families who are struggling to stay above water. A bigger bullhorn is needed to raise awareness about the crucial need for more affordable, safe child care programs.

Members can help by sending in the union’s child care survey: Just click Special Programs under Member Services at www.dc37.net. You can also get information about the upcoming site enrollment fairs.

The targeted ZIP codes in Queens are: 11378, 11385, 11412, 11416, 11417, 11418, 11420, 11421, 11423, 11427, 11428, 11429, 11432, 11434. For more information about the Queens Project, call 212-929-4608.