In recent years, New York has been a national leader in addressing child poverty. In 2021, New York State enacted the Child Poverty Reduction Act and committed to cutting child poverty rates in half in a decade, with attention to significant racial and ethnic disparities in poverty rates. And progress has been made toward the goal, including through a significant expansion and increase in the state’s child tax credit that restructures it to direct the largest credit to the lowest income families.
Now, in the second half of 2025, federal actions have brought significant headwinds against New York’s movement to reduce child poverty and pose serious harm to children and families across the state. New York can—and must — continue to enact policy and budget decisions that prioritize and protect children and families. Our children are relying upon our leaders to protect them and continue the momentum toward a state free of poverty.
Schuyler Center has released a new brief examining the impacts of federal policy and funding changes on New York’s children and families, and many of the programs they rely on. It also lays out policy and budget recommendations for a New York State response to recent federal action. Download the report.
For more on this topic: On Thursday, October 30, Schuyler Center hosted a panel on the topic, with analysis and conversation from Barbara Guinn, Commissioner at the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance; Maria Doulis, New York State Deputy Comptroller for Budget and Policy Analysis; Sophie Collyer, Research Director at the Center on Poverty & Social Policy at Columbia University ; and Kate Breslin, CEO at Schuyler Center. View the recording here.
During the 2026 New York State Legislative Session, Schuyler Center will prioritize policies and investments that improve health, wellbeing, and economic security of New York’s families, children, and communities, with a focus on New Yorkers who are working hard to make ends meet. While New York has made a statutory commitment to cut child poverty in half by 2032, the rate of children experiencing poverty across New York State remains high, with over 18% of all New York children experiencing poverty. Further, recent and pending federal actions have eliminated or weakened services that New York families rely on in times of need. This means it is more important than ever for New York leaders to act boldly and with urgency to advance policies and investments proven to reduce child poverty, strengthen families, and set up New York children to thrive.
(View the details on policies that will achieve each goalhere.)
Goal 1: Family Economic Security — Effectively implement and expand existing policies and adopt new approaches to reduce child poverty and racial inequity statewide
Goal 2: Child Care — Take substantial strides toward achieving statewide universal child care.
Goal 3: Children’s Health — Expand and increase investment in child and family health.
Goal 4: Child Welfare — Transform child welfare by supporting families and communities.
Schuyler Center is continuing to monitor the impact that federal changes will have on children and families across New York State.
With the recent passing of the HR.1 bill, our efforts remain steadfast to ensure that New York’s families can access resources and are protected in these challenging times.
Kate Breslin, President and CEO of the Schuyler Center for Analysis & Advocacy, released the following statement in response to Governor Hochul’s announcement today proposingto improve the Child Tax Credit by making the full credit available to children in very low-income families and increasing the value of the credit.
Through the Child Poverty Reduction Act, Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature have committed to cutting child poverty in half by 2031. Last month, the Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council (CPRAC) presented the Governor and Legislative Leadership with comprehensive recommendations outlining key steps to achieve this critical goal.
“Governor Hochul’s plan to increase the Child Tax Credit is a welcome first step in reaching New York’s child poverty reduction goals and has the potential to make a meaningful difference for families across the state. By providing additional financial support, this increase can help lift children out of poverty and give hundreds of thousands of families the resources they need to succeed.
“Tax credits are among the most powerful poverty-fighting tools, and Schuyler Center has long advocated for expanding and strengthening New York State’s tax credits for families with children. A way to transfer cash directly to families, a child tax credit designed with intention can drastically reduce child poverty and provide meaningful assistance. Governor Hochul’s proposal to make the Empire State Child Credit more inclusive and meaningful will make a difference for New York’s children.
“Allowing child poverty to exist is a policy choice, as is investing in child poverty solutions. We applaud Governor Hochul for making a policy choice that will begin to reduce child poverty and uplift other New York families struggling to make ends meet.
“This proposal brings New York closer to implementing the recommendations of the Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council, which include a robust child tax credit alongside housing and nutritional supports.
“The New York Can End Child Poverty campaign, composed of advocates, parents, educators, pediatricians, youth, faith leaders, and others, believes that New York can end child poverty and make New York the best place to raise a family.”
CPRAC’s recommendations to Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature are built on proven strategies to combat child poverty, including:
Expanding refundablechildtax credits to provide direct and sustained economic support for families.
Establishing a statewide rental assistance program to ensure stable and affordable housing.
Increasing public assistance benefits to meet families’ basic needs and indexing them to inflation.
Reintroducing state food assistance programs to fill gaps in federal SNAP coverage for children.
About Schuyler Center
Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy is a statewide, nonprofit, policy analysis and advocacy organization working to shape New York State policies to improve health, welfare and human services for all New Yorkers, especially children and families experiencing poverty. Schuyler Center has been a leader in advocating for robust, permanent, and inclusive Child Tax Credit expansions as a tool to uplift New York’s children and families experiencing poverty.
For more than 150 years, Schuyler Center has led advocacy rooted in compassion, evidence, and the belief that government should work for the greater good. Schuyler Center’s work acknowledges the historic racism woven throughout shared systems, and advocates for public policies that seek to address inequities while improving health, welfare, and human services for all New Yorkers.
Schuyler Center achieves its goals through creative and detailed policy analysis, coalition-building, and advocacy with elected officials, agency executives, policymakers, and stakeholders. Learn more at scaany.org.
President Biden visits Syracuse today to celebrate the deal that will bring Micron Technologies to town; a deal facilitated in part through the federal CHIPS Act – a law that invests in U.S. semiconductor manufacturing, research and development, and workforce through direct federal investment and robust tax credits. Senator Schumer has touted this deal with Micron as one that should put “a smile on everyone’s face in Central New York.”
It is, indeed, an important investment in the economy of City of Syracuse and the region, promising to create thousands of jobs in the region, and to invigorate the local economy.
We also know there are additional ways federal funding and tax credits can boost local and regional economies, strengthen communities, and support hard-working families.One proven strategy is expanding refundable tax credits, like the child tax credit. These credits put money directly into the pockets of low and middle-income families, who in turn, bolster local economies when they spend those dollars at local stores, eateries, and businesses. When the federal government expanded the federal child tax credit during the pandemic, and distributed the credit in monthly payments, local economies across the nation saw a $19.3 billion boost in spending per month.
The child tax credit is among the most effective ways to quickly reduce rates of child poverty. The pandemic-era child tax credit expansion resulted in a nearly 50% drop in child poverty nationally, and here in New York State. Unfortunately, when the expanded credit was allowed to lapse, poverty rates rebounded to previous levels. Federal leaders, including President Biden and Senator Schumer, have backed recent proposals to expand the child tax credit, but to date, those efforts have been unsuccessful.
This failure is particularly devastating in Syracuse, which leads the state as the city with the highest child poverty rate; 46% of children in Syracuse live in poverty. Every child deserves a fair opportunity to get off to the best start possible. The city or ZIP code where a child grows up should not determine his or her chances of achieving success.
We urge President Biden and Senator Schumer to renew their efforts to pass an expanded child tax credit, and put money directly into the pockets of Syracuse families – and families across the nation – who are struggling to make ends meet. We hope that, while they are here in Syracuse, President Biden and Senator Schumer will take a look at the city and communities and understand that economic development means investing in jobs AND in the families and communities that make up New York State. An expanded child tax credit would be the boost to families we need!
This series of virtual and in-person policy discussions kicked off in June 2023, and examines the intersections of child poverty reduction and other policy areas, including health, early childhood policy, and immigration. Panelists have included policy experts, pediatricians, parent advocates, NYS agency leaders, youth partners, and others invested in ending child poverty in New York State.
Centering Children in the New York State Budget– January 2024 webinar
January 12, 2024 at noon
As Albany gears up for the 2024 New York State legislative session, this insider conversation looks at what we expect (and hope!) to see in this year’s state budget and the investments needed to make New York State a place where families can afford to live, grow, and thrive.
In this webinar, Schuyler Center’s Kate Breslin and Dede Hill discuss budget priorities for New York’s children and families, answer questions, and share resources as we kick off 2024.
The Power of Guaranteed Income Programs– December 2023 webinar
There are several guaranteed income pilot programs across the state and country. These programs provide a basic income to participants, with no work requirement. During this webinar, panelists discussed lessons learned from these pilot programs, the experience as a participant, and how this type of policy can combat child poverty. View the webinar recording.
Panelists:
Steph Silkowski, Director of Policy & Strategic Initiatives, The Bridge Project
Children in Immigrant Families – October 2023 webinar
For children in immigrant families, there can be many barriers to services that support well-being. This discussion with immigration and policy experts examined how New York can best support all children, why those investments matter, and opportunities to support the newest New Yorkers. View the webinar recording.
Panelists:
Lillie Hinkle, Associate Policy Analyst, National Center on Immigrant Integration Policy, Migration Policy Institute
Early Childhood Foundations – September 2023, in-person event
This discussion with early childhood experts focused on the intersections of early childhood development and the experience of poverty, as well as the policy interventions that have proven to be effective for families. Held in Albany at The Bull Moose Club, the event brought together advocates, policymakers, community leaders, and state agency leadership. View the recording here.
The discussion was moderated by David Lombardo, host of The Capitol Pressroom, with panelists:
For families experiencing poverty, there are many barriers to consistent, quality health care. This discussion with leading child health and policy experts focused on how New York supports health for all children, opportunities for improvement, and recommendations for action that addresses health goals within child poverty reduction efforts. View the recording here.
Panelists:
Dr. Benard Dreyer, Pediatrician, NYU Grossman School of Medicine and Bellevue Hospital Center
Progress Update on the Child Poverty Reduction Act – June 2023 webinar
The first in our discussion series included the co-chair and members of the NYS Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council. The conversation focused on the work the Council has done so far, goals for the coming months, and what lies ahead in pursuit of the Child Poverty Reduction Act goal to reduce the State’s child poverty rate by 50% by 2033. View the recording here.
Panelists:
Advisory Council co-chair Daniel Tietz, Commissioner of the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance;
Alyson Tarek, Assistant Secretary for Human Services and Mental Hygiene, NYS Executive Chamber; and
Advisory Council member Candace Cabral, Parent Advocate.
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