Governor Hochul Launches New Programs to Make New York the Best, Most Affordable Place to Start a Family

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced new initiatives to make New York the best, most affordable place to start a family as part of her 2025 State of the State. These initiatives include expanding infertility coverage for people wanting to start a family, providing significant financial support for parents during pregnancy and at birth, an expansion of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), positioning New York as a leader in WIC enrollment nationwide, and the creation of a dedicated parent resource center webpage to improve accessibility to essential resources.

"As New York's first mom Governor, I know firsthand how tough it is to raise a family," Governor Hochul said. "We are prioritizing maternal and infant health, because every family deserves a stress-free start. We have a moral obligation to do everything in our power to support kids, parents and families - making New York the best place on Earth to raise a family."

Giving Babies and Parents A Strong Start

Free Diapers and Other Supplies for 100,000 Babies
Governor Hochul will partner with Baby2Baby - a national nonprofit that provides essential items to one million children living in poverty annually - to provide maternal health and newborn supply boxes to all expectant mothers enrolled in Medicaid and those reached through community-based organizations and hospitals serving lower-income areas. The boxes will provide resources, educational materials, self-care products and diapers. This proposal is estimated to reach the families of approximately 100,000 babies at full implementation.

Additionally, Governor Hochul will provide millions of diapers to low-income families, with the intent to grow that number each year. Governor Hochul will also expand maternal behavioral health services and will build upon previous investments through the co-location of mental health services into OBGYN practices in high-needs communities across New York State.

Baby2Baby Co-CEOs Kelly Sawyer Patricof and Norah Weinstein said, "We are so proud to partner with New York State to provide millions of diapers and critical items to mothers and babies in need. We have been serving New York families for more than a decade and are grateful for Governor Hochul's shared commitment to maternal health, allowing us to increase our support and reach the most vulnerable families with the basic supplies they need and deserve."

Establish the Birth Allowance for Beginning Year (BABY) Benefit
Building on Governor Hochul's record of support for pregnant women, new parents and infants, Governor Hochul will advance another nation-leading legislative proposal to improve maternal and infant health through the provision of a birth allowance - the New York State BABY (Birth Allowance for Beginning Year) Benefit - to low-income parents during pregnancy and at birth. To improve the economic security of some of New York's most under-resourced households, Governor Hochul will provide a $100 per month benefit during pregnancy and a $1,200 benefit at birth for New Yorkers who receive public assistance - increasing household income for thousands of New York families.

Providing additional support for pregnant women and infants is a critical tool to reduce childhood poverty, helping ensure a better foundation for both parent and child, and making New York more affordable for working families. In addition to increasing household costs, the birth of a child simultaneously often produces a temporary reduction in income as parents take time off to care for their infant.

Expanding Access to Infertility Treatments
Over 10 percent of child-bearing individuals in the U.S. face fertility issues and, while new treatments for fertility preservation exist, access to these treatments is often limited and expensive. Unlike New Yorkers with private insurance, Medicaid members in New York undergoing treatment for cancer or other medical conditions lack coverage for fertility preservation services, and so must pay out of pocket or go without care. Since 2002, New York has supported an Infertility Reimbursement Program aimed at helping underinsured patients afford fertility treatments. However, the program's narrow eligibility criteria exclude many patients who could benefit.

Governor Hochul will introduce new legislation to provide coverage for fertility preservation services for Medicaid members undergoing medical treatments that may lead to infertility, as well as to broaden eligibility for the State's Infertility Reimbursement Program, ensuring that more New Yorkers can pursue their dreams of starting a family, regardless of their income or medical background.

Create Parent Partnership Project
Too many families leave the hospital with a new baby and without awareness of the resources and informational support available to them. It takes a village to raise a child, and helping parents better understand the wide range of state support available to them, from child care subsidies to home visiting services, will result in better outcomes for kids. Governor Hochul will launch a parent resource center webpage, provide information on child development and school readiness, partner with OBGYN and pediatrician offices across the state to provide families with information about state resources, and launch an outdoor literacy program in state parks in summer 2025.

Improving Access to Affordable Child Care

Providing Capital Grants for Child Care Providers
To facilitate child care providers opening new seats and serving additional children, Governor Hochul will provide $100 million capital grants for child care providers to renovate and build new child care centers, especially in child care deserts. Further, $10 million will be made available to family child care providers to renovate and repair their home-based child care locations.

Launching a Child Care 'Substitute Pool'
Building on the Governor's actions to support New York families statewide, Governor Hochul proposed the creation of a child care "substitute pool," which will include vetted, trusted professionals who can step in and ensure continuity of care for families when child care staff are unable to come to work.

Creating the New York Coalition for Child Care
The Governor has also previously announced her intention to create the New York Coalition for Child Care - a substantial effort to include New York's business leaders, labor unions, tax and revenue experts, and child care providers to identify a sustainable source of revenue and funding for universal child care.

The Governor's vision is to achieve universal child care in New York. While Governor Hochul has vastly expanded eligibility for child care assistance and enrollment in New York's Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) has increased dramatically over the last year, many families - including those whose incomes exceed eligibility for CCAP - struggle with the cost of care. Accordingly, the Coalition will make recommendations for funding expansions to the existing child care subsidy system while building more options to reduce out-of-pocket child care expenses for middle- and higher-income New Yorkers. Earlier this month, the Child Care Availability Task Force recommended that the State take steps to provide assistance to families beyond the federal income cap of 85 percent of State Median Income, and the work of the Coalition will be to find fiscal solutions to achieve that goal.

Food and Nutrition for New Yorkers in Need

Covering the Cost of All School Meals for Over 2.7 million students
The Governor also previously announced a historic initiative to ensure every single one of New York's over 2.7 million students can receive both breakfast and lunch for free at school. This landmark initiative builds on the Governor's affordability agenda and will help save parents money, address food insecurity among New York kids, and create more opportunities for students to succeed.

Expand Access to Vital Nutrition Programs for Mothers and Children
For more than fifty years, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) has been essential in promoting and safeguarding the health of women and children. Since 2020, the program has grown nearly 25 percent, now serving over 445,000 enrollees. To meet growing needs, Governor Hochul will expand the program to reach 475,000 people, ensuring they receive nutritious foods and essential services. These investments will improve the health and well-being of tens of thousands more New Yorkers and make significant progress towards the State's goal of becoming a nation-leader in WIC enrollment.

New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Barbara C. Guinn said, "Having a baby is a joyous experience but also comes with new expenses for families, which can be particularly difficult for families already experiencing economic hardship. These initiatives announced by Governor Hochul today can greatly expand the resources available to families in need so they are better positioned to provide for their children economically and emotionally and establish a foundation that will improve maternal well-being and child development. We thank the Governor for investing in children and families in a manner that will lead to improved educational, health, and economic outcomes for these children. "

New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) Commissioner Dr. DaMia Harris-Madden said, "Each year, a lack of child care nationwide is responsible for $122 billion in lost earnings, productivity and revenue. Investing in child care infrastructure, supporting the child care workforce, and actively partnering with the public and private sectors will increase positive outcomes for our parents and providers. To have a government that advances the child care agenda of strengthening and enhancing high-quality child care services with the ultimate goal of universal child care is exciting. Governor Hochul's latest proposals to advance innovative actions to address the needs of children and families across New York State underscores her commitment to ensuring safe and nurturing environments and the provision of opportunities that promote positive youth development for children while parents are at work."

New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, "Governor Hochul understands that by expanding our vital nutrition programs, more infants and children have access to the food they need for healthy development. As a pediatrician for more than three decades, I know that when children are fed it benefits all New Yorkers."

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