April 27 Update: CARES Child Care Scholarship Opportunity

April 27 Update

New York State is using a portion of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) funds to provide child care to income eligible essential workers at no cost. Essential workers who must work outside of the home and who are using a regulated child care provider will receive a scholarship for the cost of care as long as the funds to support it are available. All licensed and regulated providers who are caring for essential workers are able to participate in this new program.

In order to qualify for the scholarship, families must have an adjusted gross income at or below 300% of the federal poverty level. For a family of four that equals an annual income of $78,600.

Parents are asked to complete the following application for the CARES Child Care Scholarship via the link below. It informs parents that the application will be considered complete once the online application is finished AND the required supplemental documentation is submitted to Brightside Up, the Childcare Resource and Referral Agency (CCRA) for Albany, Fulton, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady counties. For parents that currently receive a subsidy from their local DSS to pay for child care, this scholarship can cover the parent co-pay. Parents should apply for the CARES Act Scholarship, and then contact their local Department of Social Services to get a letter stating their current co-pay. Please address any questions to Tricia Howland at thowland@brightsideup.org.

Click here for the COVID-19 CARES Child Care Scholarship Application


Updated March 31

The Capital District YMCA is providing childcare for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers at its four Early Learning Centers:

  • Clifton Park: KidzLodge Early Learning Center  |  47 Clifton Country Road, Clifton Park, NY 12065  |  518-881-0055
  • Duanesburg: Early Learning Center  |  185 Mott Rd, Duanesburg, NY 12056 | 518-356-6400
  • Glenville: Learning Ladder Early Learning Center  |  547 Saratoga Road, Glenville, NY 12302  |  518-360-8090
  • Scotia: Thelma P. Lally Early Learning Center  |  204 S. Ten Broeck Street, Scotia, NY 12302  |  518-374-4914

UPDATED March 25

If you are a parent or caregiver who needs child care, please complete this parent need for child care survey. Based on the information you provide about your job, employer, number of children, and financial need, OCFS may be able to help you find the child program you need. It may be a challenge to find child care due to COVID-19 related program closures, however the staff at OCFS are trying their best to support families to find the high quality child care that they need. In addition, the OCFS website has several resources available https://ocfs.ny.gov/programs/childcare/

If you are looking for child care, the Child Care Resource and Referral Agency (CCRR) is a great place to start. They will ask you about the kind of care you are looking for, the ages of your children, the hours of care you need and other specifics such as any special needs your child might have. Based on that information, they will be able to give you a list of providers that most closely meet your needs. Please contact Ms. Abbe Kovacik, Executive Director of Brightside Up (formally Capital District Child Care Coordinating Council, Inc.) at (518) 426-7181, ext. 323 or akovacik@cdcccc.org


UPDATED ON MARCH 23: Capital District YMCA School-Age Childcare Now Covers “Essential” Workers, New Locations, a Daily Rate — Financial Assistance Offered!

Per NYS Governor Cuomo’s executive order, the Capital District YMCA has extended care to cover “essential” workers. In addition to licensed health professionals such as physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, registered nurses, LPNs, there are many other “essential” workers. For the complete list, please check here: https://esd.ny.gov/guidance-executive-order-2026

The Y has also partnered with several other organizations, such as the Victory Church, and is providing food for children in Albany, Greenbush, Schenectady and Troy.

Locations Providing Care

  • Arbor Hill Elementary — 1 Arbor Drive, Albany, NY 12207
  • Eagle Point Elementary — 1044 Western Avenue, Albany, NY 12203
  • Giffen Elementary — 274 South Pearl Street, Albany, NY 12202
  • Hoosick Falls Central School — 21187 NY RT 22, Hoosick Falls, NY 12090
  • New Scotland Elementary — 369 New Scotland Avenue, Albany, NY 12208
  • Philip Schuyler Achievement — 676 Clinton Avenue, Albany, NY 12206
  • Sheridan Preparatory Academy — 400 Sheridan Avenue, Albany, NY 12206

YMCA Branches Providing Care

  • Bethlehem — 900 Delaware Ave, Delmar, NY 12054
  • Duanesburg — 221 Victoria Drive, Delanson, NY 12053
  • Glenville — 127 Droms Road, Glenville, NY 12302
  • Greenbush — 20 Community Way, East Greenbush, NY 12061
  • Greene County — 35 Rt. 81, Hope Plaza, West Coxsackie, NY 12192
  • Guilderland — 250 Winding Brook Drive, Guilderland, NY 12084
  • Schenectady — 433 State Street, Schenectady, NY 12305
  • Southern Saratoga — 1 Wall Street, Clifton Park, NY 12065
  • Troy — 2500 21st Street, Troy, NY 12180

Online registration can be found at: www.CDYMCA.org/EmergencyChildcare You’re also welcome to call the Capital District YMCA at 518.869.3500. [PRINT-FRIENDLY FLYER]


March 20: Childcare Provided to Healthcare Workers

As part of the COVID-19 response effort, the superintendents and school districts of the Capital Region BOCES are working with the Capital District YMCA to bring childcare resources to the families of emergency personnel in local communities. Starting Monday, March 23, 2020, YMCA branch locations throughout the Capital Region will be offering school-age childcare for emergency personnel (physicians, nurses, EMTs, etc.).

Local school leaders are also working with the YMCA and other childcare providers to bring additional childcare options for emergency personnel to their school communities. If there are other childcare providers in the BH-BL area that would like to be included on this list, please contact Dacey Bonney at dbonney@bhbl.org

  • For enrollment information in the YMCA school-age programs | Phone:  518-869-3500
  • Families needing childcare resources for non-school-age children (birth to age five) can contact A Child’s Place at Unity House  | Phone: 518-271-6777
  • Additional childcare resources in the Capital Region can also be found by contacting BrightsideUp (formerly the Capital District Child Care Council) | Phone: 518-426-7181.