Childcare can be a significant burden on families. Potentially costing thousands every month, there are ways to find help with funding.

In New York, one way is through the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), which got a $1.23 billion boost for the 2027 state budget.

CCAP helps subsidize childcare for low- and middle-income families. Most have costs capped at $15 per week, but a lot of families were on long wait lists.

This funding means a lot more are going to get a helping hand.

“It’s everything. Stuff that you didn’t even consider […] that you’re going to have to pay for,” said mom Candice Demmons. “It’ll add up over time.”

For Demmons, being able to find reliable and affordable childcare for her daughter, 9-year-old Jordyn, was a bit of a struggle.

“I just expected it to go cheaper the older they got, but that is not the case,” she laughed.

When the income levels were raised, and she got approved for the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), it was a gamechanger.

“She was so happy because she just wanted to be with her friends all summer,” Demmons said.

When Demmons applied this summer for daycare funding, she got put on a waitlist due to lack of funding.

Jordyn dropped down to part-time, with Demmons planning to pay the $180 a week out of her own pocket.

“So it would have restricted our meals. We would have to meal plan really hard,” she explained. “It would have been really tight, honestly.”

But things are looking up with a funding boost to CCAP in the 2027 New York state budget.

“You’re looking at lots of investment, lots of opportunity,” said NYS Office of Children and Family Services Commissioner DaMia Harris-Madden. “We’re really encouraged that more and more families will be able to access the systems.”

Roughly $3 billion will go to this program in 2027, a 40% increase over last year.

Harris-Maddens is on a statewide tour to let people know about the increasing benefits.

“Since the governor has taken office, just in one year’s time span we’ve seen a 34% growth in the number of children in our system,” she said. “The impact of this $3 billion into CCAP this year is just going to be exponential.”

Major counties are seeing multimillion-dollar boosts, including:

Albany County: $20.3M — $13.1M increase (181% more)
Broome County: $14.1M — $2.6M increase (23% more)
Clinton County: $3.8M — $583K increase (27% more)
Erie County: $83.6M — $17.6M increase (27% more)
Monroe County: $108.6M — $18.3M increase (20% more)
Nassau County: $163.4M — $33.4M increase (26% growth)
Niagara County: $14.3M — $3M increase (26% growth)
Onondaga County: $55.9M — $11.3M increase (25% growth)
Suffolk County: $107M — $32.5M increase (44% growth)
Westchester County: $93M — $27.9M increase (43% growth)

There are also a lot of people eligible.

“Four individuals in a household can earn up to $117,000, whereas when I had children, it was about $50,000 for four,” Harris-Maddens explained. “There have been market improvements in various places within the childcare system to include investments in infrastructure.”

It’s good news for Demmons.

“I found out yesterday, actually, the caseworker called and […] he said more funding was provided and you are now off the waitlist,” she said.

Her weekly bill for summer daycare is down $171 to $9 a week.

“Now I’m definitely going to be able to pay off all her trips,” Demmons said. “I’m able to get ready for next [school year], and she does dance, so I’ll be able to fund that as well.”

Her advice to anyone eligible?

“It’s just being totally honest. It’s rough out here. And don’t be ashamed,” she said. “I’m a normal mom, just like anybody else. Just apply. No one’s going to look down on you. And if they do, OK, it’s for your betterment of you and your child. So just apply.”

CCAP funds can also help pay for after-school programs for kids aged 4 to 12, so there’s a wide-range of daycare and childcare that could be covered.