This week on In Focus, Rochester state Assemblymember Sarah Clark discusses the critical importance of child care.
Clark emphasizes child care’s impact on working parents and the economy. She highlights the challenges of affordability and accessibility, noting that many families rely on family members for care.
Clark talks about how during the pandemic, child care costs rose, leading to workforce exits, particularly among women. She details legislative efforts to support child care, including expanding the Child Care Assistance Program to support families earning up to $113,000 annually, offering subsidies that reduce payments from $2,000 to $200 monthly. Clark also addresses the issue of child care deserts and the need to improve wages for child care workers, currently averaging $17 an hour. She mentions the “Mom Squad,” a group of legislators focused on family and child policies, which has significantly influenced legislative priorities…