Parishioners in Catholic churches throughout the Diocese of Rochester on February 6-7 will be asked to show support for working families who need help providing quality child care for their children.
New York state’s 2016-17 budget includes some funding for child-care subsidies for low-income working parents, but during this year’s Public Policy Weekend, parishioners will be asked to sign petitions urging Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the state Legislature to add $190 million to that allotment. These petitions are the continuation of a letter-writing campaign held in parishes last October, and they will be delivered to legislators later this month.
Access to quality child care from a very young age is important because 75 percent of brain growth occurs before a child turns 5, according to information provided by the diocesan Public Policy Committee. If children do not receive nurturing care from caring adults, their brains will not reach their full potential. A Cornell study also found that parents who received child-care subsidies performed better at their jobs, while those who lost subsidies were less productive and more likely to be tardy.
For more information about the importance of child-care subsidies and the Public Policy Committee’s efforts, visit www.dor.org/index.cfm/catholic-charities/public-policy.
