The United Federation of Teachers has expanded its free NYC Childcare Navigator, giving New York City families a quicker way to find child care and determine whether they may qualify for financial assistance programs that can help reduce household costs.
The online tool now allows residents to check their potential eligibility for the federal Women, Infants and Children program, known as WIC, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP and the Housing Choice Voucher Program, commonly known as Section 8.
Families can also explore nine free, discounted or subsidized child care programs available throughout the city.
“We continue to invest in NYC Childcare Navigator because living in New York City is expensive, and we all need to be there for each other,” said Michael Mulgrew, president of the United Federation of Teachers. “We built this tool to help our own members find and afford childcare, but we realized it could make a real difference for all families. So we made it available and free to all New York City residents and we keep improving it.”
The eligibility screening process takes less than five minutes and can connect families with benefits that may save them thousands of dollars each year.
Originally developed to help educators navigate New York City's often expensive child care system, the platform was later opened to all residents at no cost. Since becoming available citywide in October, more than 10,000 families have used the service.
The NYC Childcare Navigator includes a searchable directory of more than 10,000 child care providers across the five boroughs, including home-based, center-based and school-based programs.
Families can narrow their searches using dozens of filters, including budget, ZIP code, languages spoken, hours of operation and accommodations for children with special needs. The tool is designed to help parents and caregivers compare options and identify programs that fit their schedules, financial circumstances and household needs.
As child care costs continue to strain many family budgets, the expanded navigator aims to make it easier for New Yorkers to access both care and public benefits through a single online resource.
