For many, child care is more than support—it’s the foundation of opportunity. Yet here in New York, that foundation is showing cracks. As of early July, 21 counties—including Sullivan and Delaware right here in our region—have paused new enrollment in the Child Care Assistance Program, the state’s biggest voucher initiative for working families. At the same time, New York City alone has over 1,500 families on a waitlist, even amid promises of extra funding.

To help us unpack what’s going on—why availability is shrinking, why counties like Sullivan and Delaware have had to pause, and what this means for families now and in the future—we’re joined by New York Focus reporter Julia Rock, who authored the piece, “21 Counties Have Closed Applications for New York’s Biggest Child Care Affordability Program.”