A parent-led movement organizing to win universal child care

We’re New Yorkers building the power to win free universal child care for all.

Child care shouldn’t be this expensive. We’re parents, grandparents, caregivers, and allies who are fed up with the soaring cost of child care — and we’re organizing to make it free for every family in New York. We’ve already won tens of thousands of free seats — and we’re just getting started.

Sign the petition See upcoming events

A parent in a maroon “I want free child care” shirt holds her toddler at a New Yorkers United for Child Care rally, surrounded by members and signs. — New Yorkers United for Child Care members rally for universal child care.

What's Universal Child Care?

Free
No cost to your family.
Full-day
Full workday — not ending at 2:30.
Full-year
All-year-round, including summer.
Ages 0 to 5
From birth to kindergarten.
Easy to apply
One simple application, not a maze.
Near your home
In your neighborhood, not across town.

Get involved.

Sign a petition.
Add your voice and put the pressure on Albany and City Hall to take action.
Sign the petition
Attend an event.
Meet other parents who want to win free child care for all. Free child care and snacks are typically provided.
See upcoming events
Donate money.
Every dollar goes to pay for child care at meetings, signs at rallies, petitioning at playgrounds, and more.
Donate

Active campaigns

A parent holds a child at a New Yorkers United for Child Care rally behind a “2-Care for NYC” banner.

Live now

Full-Day, Full-Year Care (NYC)

A free seat that ends at 2pm doesn’t work for parents who work full-time. We’re going to make every 3-K and Pre-K seat full-day and full-year.

Get involved

Advocates hold “3-K & Pre-K for all” signs on the New York State Capitol steps in Albany.

Live now

Statewide 3-K

96% of 3-year-olds outside NYC can’t get free child care. First we passed a statewide Pre-K guarantee — now we’re pushing for 3-K.

Get involved Read the one-pager

See all campaigns

Our members: the people who power our movement.

A smiling dad in a New Yorkers United for Child Care cap holds a hand-painted “All I want for Father’s Day is free child care” sign on a downtown street.

“All I want for Father’s Day is free child care.”

A dad with a sign · Lower ManhattanRallying for free child care

A parent and child at a New Yorkers United for Child Care street event.

“The parent is in. NYC Mayor — help. Five cents.”

A parent at the action · New York CityRan a “The Parent Is In” booth · placeholder line, confirm before publish

A parent holds a handwritten advice sign at a New Yorkers United for Child Care event.

“DOE should have more options for community child care for children of all ages — including 2-year-olds and younger.”

Aisha L.M. · The BronxWrote her advice for the mayor at an NYUC event

Not sure what your family qualifies for?

Our guide walks you through all the options and shows you how to apply.

Get the complete Universal Child Care Guide.

We ask so we understand who the guide is reaching and what families need. We never sell or share your information.

Want to read up first? a briefer on how universal child care works in New York

A parent holds his baby while speaking at a New Yorkers United for Child Care rally behind a “2-Care for NYC” podium, supporters and press behind him.

What we’ve helped win

We organize parents to win access to child care programs. Here’s what our efforts have delivered so far.

Parents organizing together, from Brooklyn to Buffalo: 12,000+Parents organizing together, from Brooklyn to Buffalo
secured for free universal child care in NYC and NYS: $1B+secured for free universal child care in NYC and NYS
new child care seats won — all free: 15,000+new child care seats won — all free

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