Essential Worker Scholarship

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The Office of Children and Family Services has been honored to administer the Essential Worker Scholarship grant opportunity to support the brave working families who've served throughout the pandemic. Due to the enthusiastic response of applications submitted through our portal, we've reached our funding ceiling and will no longer be able to accept new applications. OCFS is grateful for the response to this initiative and is pleased to be providing scholarships to almost 36,000 children over a 12-week period. Thank you, Essential Workers, for your service to our state!

OCFS will provide additional information to awardees regarding the term of the scholarship award.


La Oficina de Servicios para Niños y Familias (OCFS) ha tenido el honor de administrar la subvención de Becas para Trabajadores Esenciales (Essential Worker Scholarship) para apoyar a las familias que con valentía prestaron servicios durante la pandemia. Debido a la entusiasta respuesta a las solicitudes presentadas a través de nuestro portal, hemos alcanzado nuestro límite de financiación y no aceptaremos nuevas solicitudes. OCFS agradece la respuesta a esta iniciativa y está complacida en ofrecer becas a casi 36,000 niños en un período de 12 semanas. ¡Gracias, trabajadores esenciales, por su servicios a nuestro estado!

OCFS is administering $25 million in funds to provide child care support for children of essential workers. The Essential Worker Scholarship is only available to residents of New York State and will be awarded weekly through payments made directly to child care providers on the parents’ behalf. Parents will be responsible for paying any tuition amount that is greater than the market rate.

This is the first in a series of new investments to support the child care industry and working families as provided for by the federal Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act and American Rescue Plan Act.

Child care costs will be covered for essential staff whose income is less than 300 percent of the federal poverty level and will be paid up to market rate for each region statewide for children aged six weeks through 12 years. Families currently receiving child care scholarships under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act are strongly encouraged to also apply for this new funding opportunity.

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