Access to Childcare Services Near Long-Term Care Settings

Disclaimer

Throughout the MPA process, more than 100 proposals were developed thanks in particular to thousands of hours of work by external stakeholders and members of the public. These proposals and the MPA Council commentary are being submitted to the Governor and shared with policymakers and the public to inform policymaking. These proposals represent a starting point for discussion. Further discussion is necessary between relevant state agencies and stakeholders to both refine these proposals and assess which may be appropriate to adopt and implement.

Summary

Locate childcare services in the community within close proximity to facility-based long-term care settings. Establish programs to encourage interaction between children and appropriately screened and supervised residents.

Justification

Nursing homes are often challenged in attracting and maintaining sufficient direct care staff to meet patient care needs and state and federal staffing requirements. Lack of childcare is often a barrier that prevents workforce participation by trained caregivers. Closer access to childcare centers at nursing homes will benefit employees who need childcare to be able to work and help reduce nursing home staffing shortages. Childcare services in the community within close proximity to nursing homes has the additional benefit of promoting intergenerational connections and reducing social isolation.

Full Proposal

Locate childcare services in the community within close proximity to facility-based long-term care settings. Establish programs to encourage interaction between children and appropriately screened and supervised residents.

• Identify renovations to facilitate this proposal as a preferred use of capital grant programs (e.g., Statewide Transformation).
• Foster connections between Head Start and Early Head Start programs and facility-based long-term care providers. Head Start and Early Head Start programs are free, federally funded programs designed to promote school readiness for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers from low-income families.
• Where possible, expand childcare hours within proximally located childcare service settings to provide coverage beyond traditional hours.
• Consider capping childcare costs to 7% of the family’s annual income for facility-based childcare programs. that do not yet have this policy in place – childcare programs that use childcare subsidies from NYS already have this in place. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services identifies affordable childcare as a program that costs no more than 7% of a family's income. None of the 50 states meet these criteria.

MPA Council Commentary

Nursing homes are often challenged in attracting and maintaining sufficient direct care staff to meet patient care needs and state and federal staffing requirements. Lack of childcare is often a barrier that prevents workforce participation by trained caregivers. Closer access to childcare centers at nursing homes will benefit employees who need childcare to be able to work and help reduce nursing home staffing shortages. Childcare services in the community within close proximity to nursing homes has the additional benefit of promoting intergenerational connections and reducing social isolation.