Hear From Our Staff for AOK Updates!

Child Tax Credit

For the first time since July, families with children did not receive expanded Child Tax Credit payments last month. Expanded monthly payments were enacted for six months as part of emergency pandemic relief with the expectation that they would be extended through Build Back Better. Families will continue to receive a smaller Child Tax Credit once a year when they file taxes. 

Special Note: Families that did not apply for the expanded Child Tax Credit last summer can still receive it in one lump sum, but they must file taxes to receive it. Ask an All Our Kin staff member at your site where you can obtain free assistance with tax preparation. 

Build Back Better

New York State is reluctant to take bold action on child care without a commitment of new federal funds through Build Back Better. With two Democratic Senators blocking passage of the bill, the Biden Administration and Democratic leaders in Congress are exploring alternate routes to passing the child care and Pre-K sections. Although they don’t know when funding will be approved, they remain optimistic that it will be approved.

New York Child Care Funding

Last week Governor Kathy Hochul released her proposed budget for FY 2023, and it contained some surprises. First, New York State has a large revenue surplus for the first time in more than a decade. The budget proposes to make major new investments in education and health care.  It would also spend $175 million more on child care if new federal funding does not come through. Much less than the $5 billion advocates asked for to support universal child care, $175 million is all the more surprising given the budget surplus. 

Despite this news, the budget includes $2 billion in unallocated funds. In her budget address, the Governor announced that she is open to hearing the legislature’s priorities for this money. With full knowledge that universal child care bills have been introduced, the Governor has issued a direct challenge to every child care advocate in the state: build a broad-based, powerful legislative coalition and she will negotiate with it to fund universal child care. It is now up to us to ensure that every state legislator in New York City is a vocal part of this coalition.

COVID Updates

OCFS issued new guidance about isolation and quarantine last week.

COVID Home Tests Through USPS

Residential households in the U.S. can now order one set of 4 free at-home tests from USPS.com. Here’s what you need to know about your order: Limit of one order per residential address, one order includes 4 individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests, orders will ship free starting in late January.

Deepening Relationships with Parents

This conversation is intended to inspire Family Child Care Educators as they continue to strengthen relationships with parents. Explore how the dreams that parents have about parenting shape their confidence and behaviors in profound ways and brainstorm all the amazing opportunities these dreams create for developing and engaging in rich strategies for deeper relationships.

Certificates will be issued for 2 hours of professional development. 

Tuesday, February 15th

6:00-8:00pm

Offered in English with simultaneous interpretation in Spanish

Share Your Knowledge and Experience at an AOK FCC Educator Panel

Since the start of the pandemic, All Our Kin has shifted much of its support online and has developed new programs as well. While we can’t wait to see you face to face again soon, in the meantime, our FCC Educator Panels have been a great way for educators across our communities to share ideas, knowledge and experience in a virtual space. The AOK Professional Development team is working on a new series of panels, and we’re looking for participants. If you love what you do and want to share your ideas with fellow educators, we invite you to become a panelist!

You'll receive support and compensation through gift cards. The expected time commitment is approximately three hours. If you're interested, please complete the interest form here.

Help us Celebrate The Power of Creative Play

The All Our Kin Communications team wants to recognize the amazing work of our family child care educators and the power of creative play! Help us celebrate across social media by sharing photos of your children participating in these national days:

Friday, January 28th - National Lego Day

Saturday, January 29th - National

Puzzle Day

Monday, January 31st - National Backwards Day

Share your best shots of your children building legos, putting together puzzles or wearing a backwards shirt! Please remember: All photos of children must be accompanied with a signed release form (here is our latest!). Please email photos to communications@allourkin.org with the name of your program on any or all of these days, and we'll post them on the same day!