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Creating Economic Opportunity for Families through Tax Credits and Cash Benefits

Creating Economic Opportunity for Families through Tax Credits and Cash Benefits

by | Feb 18, 2026 | Child Poverty, Data, Family Economic Security, News

The Promise

All children should grow up free from the stress of poverty. Robust tax relief for New York’s families is among the most effective and equitable ways for the State to fulfill its commitment to reduce child poverty and build economic opportunity for all families. Cash benefits for families—particularly for those welcoming a new child—provide flexible support when their need is greatest.

The Challenge

For far too long, too many families across New York State have faced economic hardship. New York’s child poverty rates have been among the highest in the nation for nearly a decade; families across the state struggle to afford essentials like housing and food. 

What We Know

Research shows that cash and near-cash benefits (such as refundable tax credits) improve families’ economic stability, child development, and parent and child health.1

In fact, when the Federal Child Tax Credit was temporarily expanded in 2021 in response to the Covid-19 crisis, child poverty rates dropped dramatically, both nationally and in New York State.2 Congress allowed the expanded Federal Child Tax Credit to expire, ending that relief for families. One year later, child poverty rates nationally and in New York State surpassed pre-pandemic levels; two years later, they remained essentially unchanged.

The U.S. Census Bureau measures poverty two ways. The Supplemental Poverty Measure is
considered by many experts to be more accurate and comprehensive because it takes into account family resources and expenses not included in the official measure, geographic variation, and the value of in-kind benefits like food assistance, subsidized housing, and tax credits. In contrast, the official poverty measure looks solely at income, without regard to other incoming resources, or varied costs.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau. (2022)

Additional, reliable income helps families meet household needs. Surveys conducted during the pandemic-era expansion of the Federal Child Tax Credit found that the most common ways families used the additional funds were for food, child care, school-related expenses, and to pay down debt.3

Progress Made

New York State expanded its Empire State Child Credit in the State 2025-26 Budget, increasing the amount and eliminating the income phase-in that had previously excluded New Yorkers with very low incomes from receiving the full credit. This expansion was recommended by the Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council, the body convened in 2021 to guide the state to achieve its statutory commitment to cut child poverty in half by 2031, and built upon an expansion implemented in tax year (TY) 2023 to include children under age 4 in the credit. In tax year (TY) 2023, 1,451,132 Empire State Child Credit claims were filed; 2,429,901 children received the credit; the average credit amount for a family with two children was $572. 4

The increase in my family’s child tax credit will help me afford the things my children need throughout the year: child care during a school break, winter coats, or helping put food on the table without sacrificing the mortgage payment.

- Parent, Schenectady

State Policy Solutions

 

To continue making progress toward its child poverty reduction goal, New York can and must strengthen tax relief and expand cash benefits for families by:

  • Increasing the maximum Empire State Child Credit amount to $1,500 per child per year for children under 18, as recommended by the Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council, to meaningfully impact family budgets and reduce child poverty;
  • Indexing the credit to inflation so families receive the full value of the credit over time;
  • Investing in free tax preparation assistance and public awareness campaigns to ensure families receive all tax credits to which they are entitled; and
  • Exploring expansions of the new BABY Benefit and other cash benefits to provide more support to families facing affordability challenges
More Data on the State of New York's Children
  1. Early Learning Nation. (2025). Cash Transfers: A Proven Strategy to Improve Outcomes for Children and Families
  2. Wilson, D., Collyer, S., Hardy, B., & Wimer, C. (2023). State-Level Poverty Impacts of the Child Tax Credit in 2021.
  3. Educational Alliance and United Neighborhood Houses. (2022). Settlement House American Rescue Plan Impact Study: Wave 1 Report
  4. New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. (2025). Empire State Child Credit Study by Filing Status: Beginning 2017.
  5. New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. (2023). Instructions for Form IT-213 Claim for Empire State Child Credit.
  6. The Children’s Agenda. (2025). Explaining Governor Hochul’s Proposal to Expand the Empire State Child Credit.
  7. Governor Kathy Hochul. (2024). Governor Hochul Announces Checks are on the Way to New Yorkers Receiving Child Tax Credit Payments.
  8. New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. (2025). Empire State child credit.
  9. New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. (2025). Empire State child credit.
  10. Governor Kathy Hochul. (2025). Money In Your Pockets: Governor Hochul Proposes Sweeping Expansion of the Child Tax Credit to Deliver Up to $1,000 Per Child.

*For all sources and computations, go to: https://scaany.org/sonyc-sources-2026

Moving from Analysis to Action: New Report Charts Path for Oral Health Workforce Reform  

Moving from Analysis to Action: New Report Charts Path for Oral Health Workforce Reform  

by | Feb 11, 2026 | Data, News, Oral Health

After a year of statewide convenings and workgroup discussions, the Schuyler Center has released Moving Oral Health Workforce Reform into Practice, a roadmap for translating policy into accessible care across New York State. 

More than 5 million New Yorkers live in dental shortage areas. 43% face major barriers to dental care. But here’s the critical point: New York already has many necessary policy tools in place. The challenge is implementation, not authorization. Too many reforms remain on paper while people navigate pain, missed school and work, and worsening health. 

From Vision to Action 

Following the release of our 2025 Barriers to Bridges report, more than 100 providers, consumers, advocates, policymakers, and researchers spent five months in workgroups identifying concrete steps to strengthen the workforce. They focused on areas where needs are high, policy authority already exists or is within reach, and there’s clear potential to expand access. 

 

Read the Report

What’s in the Report 

The report presents ready-now strategies sequenced by implementation feasibility: 

  • Teledentistry can be deployed immediately using existing providers and infrastructure. Recommendations focus on establishing a practice and innovation center and developing comprehensive state standards. 
  • Early Childhood prevention offers the highest return on investment. Recommendations include building a coordinated training pathway through existing systems families already trust—WIC, Head Start, pediatric care. 
  • Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities recommendations address some of the deepest access barriers by making existing Medicaid codes functional, creating care coordination tools, and strengthening provider training. 
  • Care Capacity outlines the structural workforce reforms required to sustain these approaches, including authorizing dental therapy (one of the only recommendations requiring legislation and the only strategy that adds new treatment capacity), implementing the 2025 collaborative practice dental hygiene law, and expanding community-based workforce roles. 
  • Cross-cutting recommendations align Medicaid policy, expand fluoride varnish access, and embedding oral health into non-dental systems to scale prevention statewide. 

What’s Required 

Most recommendations can be implemented without legislative action. Many require only coordination, clear guidance, and modest starter funding. The report outlines specific roles for state agencies and philanthropy to accelerate progress. 

Waiting is not a strategy. These recommendations focus on what can be done now. 

Ensuring Oral Health Care for All Children

Ensuring Oral Health Care for All Children

by | Feb 9, 2026 | Data, News, Oral Health

The Promise

All children should have the opportunity to grow up free from the pain and long-term consequences of dental disease, regardless of income, race, or country of origin. Families require accessible and affordable preventive care and treatment to support optimal oral health throughout childhood. Expanding access to oral health care will improve childhood health and wellbeing overall and set New York children on a path to be healthier as adults.

The Challenge

Although children’s oral health care has improved over recent decades, cavities remain the most common chronic condition of childhood.1 One key reason the prevalence of dental caries persists is a persistent shortage of dental providers. When families cannot find a dentist that accepts their insurance or is located in their area, they often postpone preventive and surgical dental care, which can result in the need to eventually seek care in an emergency room.2

Insurance coverage is also crucial for accessing oral health care. Looking ahead, impending cuts to Medicaid funding and imposition of work reporting and other requirements for adults, are expected to result in thousands of children losing coverage. Studies have shown that parental health insurance continuity is integral to maintaining children’s insurance coverage.3

What We Know

Disparities in dental disease are significant, stemming from the same social and economic determinants that drive broader health inequities, including poverty, racism, education, access to nutritious food, cultural norms, and environmental conditions.4

A persistent shortage of dental providers—particularly those who accept public coverage—contributes to poor oral health outcomes for children.

One significant barrier to ensuring broad access to oral health care—including to those groups traditionally underserved— is the shortage of dental providers who accept public insurance and the limited availability of providers in low-income and rural areas.5 In addition, gaps in language access and cultural competence restrict care for immigrant and refugee populations.6

Most oral health conditions in children are preventable, and preventive services for children are covered by both Medicaid and commercial insurance. However, insurance coverage does not guarantee access when local provider capacity is insufficient or when providers decline to accept public coverage.7 For example, in most years over the last decade, less than half of New York children enrolled in Medicaid received a dental service annually.

Pregnant individuals experience unique risks but limited access.

Physiological changes during pregnancy increase vulnerability to oral disease, and inadequate care during this period can adversely affect both maternal and infant health.8 Yet, many pregnant people encounter difficulty obtaining timely and appropriate oral health services. In 2022, 18.8% of pregnant women reported needing dental care for a problem and just 14.4% reported going to a dentist or dental clinic for a problem during pregnancy.9

State Policy Solutions

 

  •  Permit parents/caregivers and medical assistants in primary care, clinic, and other settings to apply fluoride varnish under the guidance of a licenses provider.
  • Create a teledental task force to promote services and expand care in underserved areas.
  • Sustain and strengthen community water fluoridation.
  • Establish pilot programs in pediatric and obstetric/gynecologic settings to integrate oral health screening, preventive care, and referral to dental providers.
  • Authorize dental therapists, a mid-level provider, to practice in New York.
  • Create an oral health training program for community health workers so they may become members of oral health teams.

[I would like to see] more providers that reflect the communities that they work in or that they are living in. We need a lot more representation and we need to also break those barriers that make it very, very hard for diverse communities to enter those fields because of financial reasons or just…systemic biases.

Medicaid Beneficiary and Advocate

More Data on the State of New York's Children

1 Crall. J.J., & Vujicic, M. (2020). Children’s Oral Health: Progress, Policy Development, And Priorities For Continued Improvement.
2 Chalmers, N.I., Wislar, J.S., Hall, M., Thurm, C., Ng, M.W. (2018). Trends in Pediatric Dental Care Use.
3 Yamauchi, M., Carlson, M.J., Wright, B.J. et al. (2013). Does Health Insurance Continuity Among Low-income Adults Impact Their Children’s Insurance Coverage?. Maternal Child Health J 17, 248–255.
4 Krol, D.M., & Whelan, K. (2023). Maintaining and Improving the Oral Health of Young Children. American Academy of Pediatrics.
5 National Institute of Health. (2021). Oral Health in America: Advances and Challenges.
6 Le, H., Hirota, S., Liou, J., Sitlin, T., Le, C., & Quach, T. (2017). Oral Health Disparities and Inequities in Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
7 National Institute of Health. (2021). Oral Health in America: Advances and Challenges.
8 Hartnett, E., Haber, J., Krainovich-Miller, B., Bella, A., Vasilyeva, A., & Kessler, J. L. (2016). Oral Health in Pregnancy.
9 New York State Department of Health. (2022). Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System.

*For all sources and computations, go to: https://scaany.org/sonyc-sources-2026

Schuyler Center’s First Look: Executive Budget Analysis

Schuyler Center’s First Look: Executive Budget Analysis

by | Jan 29, 2026 | News, NYS Budget

Schuyler Center’s First Look is an initial assessment of New York State’s 2026-27 Executive Budget proposal and how it advances priorities that improve the health and wellbeing of all New Yorkers, especially children impacted by poverty.

In 2026, New York State faces significant headwinds from federal actions pushing against New York’s movement to end child poverty. That makes New York’s commitment to children all the more important. When New York enacted the Child Poverty Reduction Act in 2021, our state leaders committed to cutting child poverty in half by 2032; to prioritize the State’s children in good times and in times of challenge. To stay true to this promise, we urge state leaders to act with intention to pass a final 2026-27 NYS Budget that protects children and families from harm inflicted through cuts to federal funding, while continuing to advance a poverty-fighting agenda.

Read First Look Here

The First Look analysis breaks down the 2026-27 NYS Executive Budget proposal to consider investments in:

  • Child Welfare Services
  • Child Poverty Reduction and Affordability for Families
  • Early Childhood Education and Afterschool
  • Public Health, Health Coverage, Access and Care

Read the full First Look here.

Child Care Advocacy Day 2026

Child Care Advocacy Day 2026

by | Jan 28, 2026 | Child Care, Events, News

Despite the winter storm, 400+ members of the Empire State Campaign for Child Care (ESCCC) came out from across the state to rally for funding for universal child care and for a permanent workforce compensation fund.

Members of the campaign from all regions of the state traveled to Albany to meet with lawmakers and attend the campaign’s afternoon rally. Attendees spoke of the excitement around the Governor’s executive budget proposals that provide robust funding for the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), as well as universal pilot programs in three counties, all of which are part of the campaign’s New York State Child Care for All plan. Attendees stressed that there must be funding included to stabilize the child care workforce. Currently, child care educators earn less than 96% of all jobs in the state. 

ESCCC is a statewide coalition of parents, child care educators, and advocates who believe that every family in New York State deserves high quality, universal child care and that every child care educator deserves to earn a thriving wage. The Campaign was founded in 2017 and has played a key role in advancing the state’s child care investments. 

Media Coverage:

Quotes:

“Hundreds have come to the state capitol from across New York because they’ve endured too many years of half-measures and empty promises on child care. We cannot let up until child care is free and available for every kid across the state, and child care workers are paid fairly as educators,” said Senator Jabari Brisport, chair, Senate Committee on Children & Families.

“Paying our child care workforce must be our top priority this year. Every recent victory — and every plan to expand toward universal care — hinges on whether we pay the people doing this work. That’s how we make the system sustainable, retain experienced educators, bring new workers into the field — and most importantly, it’s how we recognize the people who have been the backbone of our state, despite being severely underpaid. Thank you ESCCC, our partners, the Governor, and Mayor for getting us to this point — now let’s get this done the right way, by making sure our workforce is included.” said Assemblymember Andrew Hevesi, Chair, Assembly Committee on Children & Families.

“New York families cannot wait any longer. Universal child care is not optional—it is the backbone of a strong, affordable New York. I appreciate Governor Hochul’s continued commitment to universal child care, which she reaffirmed in her recent State of the State, and now that commitment must be fully realized in the 2026 budget. The Governor must fully fund universal child care so every family, no matter where they live or how much they earn, has access to affordable, reliable care for children up to age 13. Universal child care is an investment in our children, our workforce, and our economy, and it must include fair wages and real support for the child care providers and educators who make this system work. New Yorkers have waited long enough for free, high-quality child care, and it is time to make 2026 the year we make universal child care a reality,” said Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas.

“Thanks to the tireless work of advocates across our state and the Governor’s historic investments, the momentum behind universal child care for all in New York has never been stronger. This progress reflects years of dedication from parents, providers, educators, and community leaders who have continued to speak out, share their stories, and demand a system that truly meets the needs of working families. I am so grateful to everyone who shows up every day to push this issue forward. As we build on this momentum, I am committed to working alongside my partners in government to strengthen access, affordability, and quality so that every child has the opportunity to learn and thrive and every family can participate fully in our economy. Together, we can create a child care system that supports children, families, and providers across our state,” said Assemblymember Sarah Clark.

“Child care is where family stability begins. As a parent providing for my family on a single income, I know that before we talk about jobs, education, or opportunity, we have to talk about who is caring for our most precious, treasured assets – our babies. Because my son had access to a full-day, high-quality Head Start program through Say Yes Buffalo, he is thriving today as a kindergarten student. And I was able to work to provide for my family and serve my community as a legislator. If our children do not have safe, high-quality places to be cared for, families cannot be stable. That’s why New York must invest in child care that meets the needs of all families across the state,” said Senator April N.M. Baskin. 

“As a mother of four, wife, advocate, educator and public servant who founded and operated a 24/7 child care center, I have lived the reality of compromising basic needs when it comes to child care. As a Member of the New York State Assembly Children and Families Committee, we fought hard alongside advocates for this year’s budget to invest $2.2 billion in child care aimed at stabilizing existing programs and expanding subsidies for NYC families. But we know more is needed to secure the future for families and caregivers across this state 

With a universal system we can remove weight from families, keep programs financially viable, and create high-quality, diverse learning environments where all children benefit. I urge my colleagues to increase the minimum pay scale for child care workers so there is fair compensation for services. We need to extend care needs beyond weekdays and the traditional school calendar, providing an inclusive service to all children regardless of disabilities or family immigration status. Investing in universal child care and the Child Care Assistance Program means keeping families in New York, bringing caregivers back into the workforce, and building a future where no family has to leave their home just to afford quality care,” said Assemblymember Monique Chandler-Waterman.

“To think that nine years ago, the Empire State Campaign for Child Care was born after a bruising fight to fend off a proposed cut to child care assistance!  This year, the Governor’s Executive Budget proposes a $1.2 billion recurring increased investment in the child care assistance program along with significant, thoughtful expansions to pre-K, 2-Care in New York City, and universal child care pilot programs in communities outside of New York City.  The groundwork for this historic proposal was laid by the unflagging efforts of Empire State for Child Care members –  parents and child care providers, grassroots organizations, and community, union and business leaders.  Today, our members came together and celebrated the strong movement we have created.  We also called upon lawmakers to adopt and build from the Governor’s strong proposal, starting by creating a permanent compensation fund for the child care workforce.  Let’s harness the momentum of this moment to keep New York moving quickly toward the ultimate goal: statewide universal child care for all children, no exceptions”, said Dede Hill, Vice President of Policy, Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy.

“New York cannot achieve universal child care without a permanent investment in the educators who make it possible. Expanding access while failing to pay child care workers a thriving wage is not a question of sustainability, it is an immediate crisis that leaves classrooms understaffed, educators pushed out of the field, and families without care. If we don’t act now, we are setting universal child care up to fail and undermining our state’s families and economy,” said Marina Marcou-O’Malley and Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari, Co-Executive Directors, Alliance for Quality Education.

“We have a moment of opportunity. People can’t afford to stay here. If you want to keep young families here, you have to address child care. We must reiterate that permanent compensation for the child care workforce is essential to scale up to meet the demand of families in New York State. A well-compensated workforce is non-negotiable to the success of rolling out universal child care, and we look forward to working with both city and state government to deliver a system that serves every family, and provides early childhood educators with the thriving wages they deserve.”, said Shoshana Hershkowitz, Campaign Manager for the Empire State Campaign for Child Care

“Prevent Child Abuse New York strongly supports enacting universal childcare in New York State with flexible care options for working families and funding for a well-trained workforce.  Families need affordable options, including for non-traditional work schedules.  Providers need to earn income that allows them to continue to provide care and support their own families.  Without the flexibility and the workforce, universal childcare doesn’t work.  By making high-quality childcare accessible and affordable for all families, we remove a significant barrier to stable employment and economic security for parents.  As a result, we reduce stress on families.  We urge policymakers to prioritize universal childcare. New York State families need and deserve universal childcare”, said Tamaé Memole, Co-Executive Director Prevent Child Abuse New York.

“PowHer NY is strongly supportive of the ESCCC budget priorities and anticipates mobilizing our broad statewide network of Partner organizations to promote these very important next steps in the path to achieving universal access to quality, affordable, child care. The challenges of accessing and affording child care, on the one hand; and the longstanding inadequacy of wages and benefits for the child care workforce, combine to reinforce and perpetuate pay inequity based on gender and race. New York needs to prepare and fund a smooth and rapid path to universal child care that includes a wide choice of care providers and is accessible to all children regardless of age, ability, zip code or immigration status. Children are the future. And child care providers provide the foundation that can make that future bright”, said Blue Carreker, PowHer Network Coordinator.

“The Day Care Council of New York is excited to join colleagues and allies at Empire State Campaign for Child Care’s advocacy day at a time when Governor Hochul, Mayor Mamdani, and leaders throughout the State are working to expand access to child care. The success of any expansion depends on the strength of the child care workforce, and New York State must take action in this budget to invest in fair compensation for the child care workforce”, said Tara N. Gardner, Executive Director of the Day Care Council of New York. 

“Western New York Child Care Action Team continues to uplift and take action for Universal Child Care and the children, families, and professional workforce at its’ core.  We will not stop until there is child care freedom and justice for all!’, said Vonetta Rhodes, Founder, Western NY Child Care Action Team.

“New York needs universal child care so parents can hold jobs and provide for our families, every child can get a strong start to their education, and businesses can recruit and retain the employees they need. We can’t make that vision a reality unless all of our child care workers and early educators are paid the family-sustaining wages they deserve, Thanks to tireless advocacy from parents, caregivers, child care providers, and business leaders, our state is on the cusp of enormous progress on this issue. We will continue to mobilize moms across the state until we end the child care crisis that has harmed our communities for far too long.”, said Diana Limongi, Early Learning Campaign Director at MomsRising.

“The state’s move toward a multi-year investment in child care and Pre-K is cause for celebration. Full implementation will make a meaningful difference for families across New York who are currently paying thousands of dollars each year for care. We look forward to working with electeds to ensure a high-quality continuum that includes not only early childhood education, but also developmentally appropriate afterschool and expanded learning opportunities as children grow, so families continue to have support beyond the traditional school day.”, said Alli Lidie, CEO, New York State Network for Youth Success.

“As a single mom, I thought I was finally overcoming the hurdles of childcare after years of struggle. Just when I felt secure, I welcomed a newborn into my life, only to find myself facing the daunting reality of paused enrollments and the NYC childcare waitlist of over 60,000 families. The system is overwhelming, and it feels like I’m back where I started 7 years ago fighting for the support I need to care for my children. Every parent deserves access to reliable childcare, and it’s time for us to advocate for a solution that truly supports families like mine”, said Mansie Meikle, parent advocate. 

Building a New York in Which No Child Experiences Hunger

Building a New York in Which No Child Experiences Hunger

by | Jan 28, 2026 | Children, Data, Early Childhood Health, Family Economic Security, Food Security, News

The Promise

All children and families in New York—no matter their income, race, immigration status, or the community in which they live—should have access to nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and cultural traditions, fortifying them to lead healthy, active lives.

The Challenge

Too many New York families struggle to put food on the table. In 2023, roughly 1 in 5 New York children (19%) experienced food insecurity—meaning they sometimes or often didn’t have enough to eat.1 Experiencing hunger as a child can have lasting impacts, including an increased risk of obesity and developmental and mental health challenges.2 The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)— the nation’s largest and most effective anti-hunger program—was subject to federal funding cuts and administrative changes beginning at the end of 2025. The changes are expected to cause more New Yorkers, including children, to endure hunger.

What We Know

Child hunger in New York is common and widespread

Lack of access to adequate food affects children across the state, in urban, rural, and suburban communities. Some counties face disproportionate rates of food insecurity—particularly Bronx and Kings counties, which have some of the highest populations of Black and Latino residents. Across the state, food insecurity occurs disproportionately along racial lines: 26% of Hispanic New Yorkers, 25% of Black New Yorkers, and 9% of white New Yorkers reported food insecurity.3

SNAP benefits are being reduced or eliminated for many.

In New York, SNAP provides nearly 3 million people— about 1 in 7 New Yorkers—with nutritional assistance, totaling $7.35 billion in benefits in 2024. More than 52% of SNAP participants are in families with children.4 Despite a large body of evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of SNAP in increasing food security and improving health outcomes, the federal government recently imposed federal funding cuts and policy changes expected to cause hundreds of thousands of New York families to experience a reduction or elimination of their benefits.

A growing number of immigrant families are barred from SNAP.

Federal law has long excluded many immigrant families from participating in SNAP due to their immigration status, including roughly 64,600 New York families with children in 2024 who were income-eligible but excluded from SNAP due to their immigration status.6 With the passage of the July 2025 federal tax and budget reconciliation bill—H.R. 1—an additional 41,000 lawfully present refugees, asylees, and other immigrant New Yorkers are expected to be newly excluded from SNAP.

Demand for WIC consistently outpaces funding.

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is a federal program designed to ensure expecting parents, infants, and young children have access to sufficient food and other supports. WIC has been shown to improve health outcomes and alleviate food insecurity at critical moments in a child’s development.10 While a growing percentage of eligible residents are enrolled in WIC, nearly 40% of eligible New Yorkers are still not participating due to a lack of awareness, administrative barriers, and limited funded capacity.11

To increase participation, New York strategically implemented a federal waiver that allows participants to attend WIC appointments virtually, including regular health and nutrition check-ins, dramatically improving accessibility. However, due in part to the success of this approach, many WIC sites across the state now operate beyond their funded capacity. This leaves local programs struggling to meet demand, see clients in a timely manner, and retain necessary staff

State Policy Solutions

 

  •  Invest state funds to make food benefits available to all income-eligible residents regardless of immigration status or ability to meet work reporting requirements.
  • Provide resources to transition SNAP benefits to a secure chip card to prevent the theft of SNAP benefits.
  • Engage in outreach and support to ensure young people formerly in foster care and others newly subject to SNAP work reporting requirements can meet them.
  • Increase state funding for WIC to help local programs serve more children and families.
  • Address the underlying causes of food insecurity among New York’s children by undertaking systemic changes that put more money in families’ pockets, such as raising the minimum wage, strengthening the state child tax credit, and implementing universal child care
More Data on the State of New York's Children

1 Feeding America. (2025). Map the Meal Gap.
2 Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (n.d.). Food insecurity: Literature summary. Healthy People 2030. U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Svs.
3 Feeding America. (2025). Map the Meal Gap.
4 Nchako, C. (2025). A Closer Look at Who Benefits from SNAP: State-by-State Fact Sheets. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
5 Carlson, S., & Llobrera, J. (2022). SNAP is linked with improved health outcomes and lower health care costs. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
6 New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. (2024). Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council 2024 recommendations and progress report.
7 NYS Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council. (2025). Meeting 15 – October 14, 2025. Presentation.
8 NYS Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council. (2025). Meeting 15 – October 14, 2025. Presentation.
9 Hunger Solutions New York. (2025). SNAP Changes Under the Federal Budget Reconciliation Law.
10 Food Research and Action Center. (2019). WIC is a Critical Economic, Nutrition, and Health Support for Children and Families.
11 USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service. (2025). WIC Eligibility and Participation by State Over Time.
*For all sources and computations, go to: https://scaany.org/sonyc-sources-2026