New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Public Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos have opened enrollment for the Birth-to-2 Child Care Initiative, a new city-funded early childhood education program that will bring free infant and toddler care to families across Brooklyn.
The initiative will provide more than 200 no-cost seats citywide for children ages six weeks to two years, with a significant share located in Central and Southeast Brooklyn. First announced in April 2025, the program is part of the Adams administration’s broader $167 million investment in early childhood education and builds on existing infant and toddler programs operated by New York City Public Schools.
“With the launch of the ‘Birth-to-2 Child Care Initiative,’ we are making a powerful statement about what matters in New York City: our children, our families and their future,” said Mayor Adams.
In Brooklyn, participating community-based providers were selected through a data-driven analysis that examined family economic need and gaps in child care access. The goal is to expand high-quality early learning opportunities in neighborhoods that have historically faced barriers to affordable child care, while strengthening the borough’s early childhood education network.
Brooklyn providers participating in the Birth-to-2 Child Care Initiative include BBRU 6th in Sunset Park; Aleph Preschool in Midwood; Colony–South Brooklyn Houses, Incorporated in East New York; DMI Prep in Gravesend; Friends of Crown Heights; SCO Family of Services in Brownsville; United Community Centers Inc. in Cypress Hills; and multiple Wiser Choice Learning Inc. locations in Bedford-Stuyvesant and Ocean Hill.
There are no income eligibility requirements for enrollment. Families with infants and toddlers who live in or near participating Brooklyn communities can apply directly through the providers. Services are scheduled to begin on January 5, 2026.
City officials say the initiative is aimed at easing financial pressure on working families while giving Brooklyn’s youngest residents access to high-quality care and early learning from the very start. The program also supports parents’ ability to remain in or reenter the workforce by eliminating child care costs during a critical stage of a child’s development.
“This initiative marks a new chapter for early childhood education in New York City,” said New York City Public Schools Chancellor Aviles-Ramos.
The Brooklyn rollout aligns with the Adams administration’s broader push to make New York City more affordable for families. Recent city findings show that limited access to child care has forced many parents to leave or scale back work, with long-term financial consequences, particularly for women.
The Birth-to-2 Child Care Initiative adds to other recent investments in early childhood education, including expanded 3-K access, additional seats for children with special needs, and efforts to reduce out-of-pocket child care costs for families receiving subsidies. Together, these programs aim to create a more stable, accessible early childhood system for Brooklyn families and communities.
