Nancy Luciano, Group Family Child Care Educator

I am a parent organizer, what we are seeing right now is frustration, anxiety, and constant uncertainty. Many families spend months, even years on waiting lists without knowing if or when they will have access to child care. In the meantime, parents cannot maintain stable employment, lose job opportunities, or rely on informal arrangements that they did not anticipate. This same crisis is also affecting child care providers, who are experiencing low enrollment even while families remain on waiting lists, creating a contradictory and inefficient system.

We want legislators to understand that this is not just an inconvenience, it is a real crisis impacting both families and providers. Many programs are being forced to close because they do not have enough income to sustain operations or pay their staff, which further reduces available slots. Every closure is a loss for the entire community. We need urgent solutions that connect families to available openings and ensure the financial stability of the child care system.

It has been very difficult for many parents to open up about what they are going through, because this experience has been very stressful and traumatic for them. They are now waiting patiently and hoping that this year’s state and city budgets will provide more support and opportunities for their families.

ECE on the Move members are dynamic, motivated early childhood educators in residential settings who are doing impactful work in the field. Do you know an educator we should spotlight? Nominate them using this form.