UFT announces Launch of
NYC Childcare Navigator

A fast, user-friendly way for NYC families to find and afford child care

UFT announces the citywide launch of NYC Childcare Navigator, a platform that connects New York City families to upwards of 12,000 childcare options across the five boroughs. It offers instant eligibility checks for money-saving programs, step-by-step application support, and the most comprehensive directory of childcare providers in the city — all in one free, easy-to-use platform.

"Finding childcare in New York City is like winning the lottery. It shouldn't be this hard. So, in the summer of 2024, we provided our UFT members with a tool that made it easier to find both childcare and the programs that make it more affordable,” said Michael Mulgrew, president of the United Federation of Teachers.  “The tool we created was so effective that we decided we had to share it. We couldn't gatekeep something that we knew so many New York City families needed."

WHAT: NYC Childcare Navigator, a platform created by the United Federation of Teachers (UFT), connects New York City families to the most extensive directory of childcare in the five boroughs.

• Link to Navigator: www.childcarenavigator.nyc
• With just basic information, families can see if they qualify for programs that provide free or low-cost care.
• For families who qualify for any cost-saving programs, NYC Childcare Navigator has resources to help them with the application.
• Families can explore upwards of 12,000 listings of childcare providers - home-based, school-based, and center-based options -across New York City.
• Childcare providers can update available vacancies in under thirty seconds -- giving families crucial real-time information – and claim/update their full listings in 15 minutes or less.

HOW: NYC Childcare Navigator provides the most comprehensive directory of childcare providers in New York City.

• It combines data from the NYC Department of Education (NYCDOE), the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), and the NYS Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS)
• NYC Childcare Navigator provides families with a single easy-to-use entry point, while other search tools can require visiting three different sites.  

WHO: The UFT teamed up with Mirza, a New York City-based software firm that helps lower-wage workers access public childcare dollars, and Upfront, a New York City-based software firm that builds childcare databases.  Together with these partners, UFT created this platform to help families find and access affordable childcare and give childcare providers (many of whom are UFT members) an easy way to promote their programs in real time.

About Mirza: Founded to address widespread disparities in childcare access, Mirza created the portal for Prenatal-5 benefits in Montgomery County, Ohio, and now works with a range of Fortune 500 companies, state and local governments, and other organizations to streamline and expand access to public benefits, including childcare. Visit heymirza.com to learn more.

About Upfront: Upfront created childcare portals for Maryland, North Carolina, Arizona, and, most recently, Denver, Colorado. Visit allupfront.com/about  to learn more about how Upfront is changing the way families find childcare.

IMPACT:

• During a six-month pilot, 1,600 UFT households were connected to childcare services through the platform. Many were linked to financial support for childcare programs.
• 42% of these UFT households reported increased household income with access to childcare.
• 50% of these households reported that a parent was able to return to work full-time.

"Research shows that access to affordable childcare can have a transformative impact on families' economic mobility," said Siran Cao, Co-Founder and CEO of Mirza. "But too often, complex and paperwork-intensive processes stand in the way of helping parents and kids find the programs that are right for them. This is about ensuring that all New Yorkers have the resources to navigate the city's benefits system and get the support they need."

“Childcare data in New York City has long been fragmented across multiple agencies and websites, forcing parents to spend hours to find a single open spot.  NYC Childcare Navigator finally brings all that information together in one place — every licensed program in the city, when it’s open, how much it costs, and who currently has availability so New York City families can find the care they need," said Dana Levin-Robinson, CEO of Upfront.

VOICES OF SUPPORT:

"NYC Childcare Navigator proves what’s possible when innovation meets parents’ real needs," said Reshma Saujani, Founder and CEO of Moms First, a national nonprofit transforming workplaces, government, and culture to enable moms in America to thrive. She is also an angel investor in Mirza. "Childcare is an economic issue that affects every family and every business in the city. That's why the next mayor must make it a public investment priority—backed by technology and resources that actually help families get the care they need."

"This is a beautiful idea. It allows us to advertise our childcare businesses. It gives us greater exposure. While time has passed since the epidemic, we are still feeling the effects on our businesses. This is a great opportunity," said Melissa Reed, Vice Chair of the UFT Child Care Providers Executive Board and owner of Etteirrah's Day Care in Brooklyn.

“Every family in New York deserves childcare without obstacles — and NYC Childcare Navigator is a welcome step toward cutting red tape and helping parents connect with providers more easily. Families shouldn’t have to struggle just to secure care for their children, and NYC Childcare Navigator shows what’s possible when we put families first," said Allison Lew, community organizer with New Yorkers United for Child Care and parent of a 4-year-old. "Now let’s keep building on this momentum so every child in New York has access to free, high-quality care, and every parent can afford to raise their family in the city they love. Universal childcare will strengthen our entire city — keeping families in the five boroughs, allowing more parents to rejoin the workforce, and bolstering our economy."