Empire Justice Center's Legislative Agenda 2009-2011
January 16, 2010
The Summer issue of the Legal Services Journal highlighted many legislative initiatives for 2009-2011 and provided a “Legislative Scorecard” on those initiatives with detailed articles on a broad array of issue areas. This article will review those initiatives and add to the Legislative Scorecard as we move into the New Year. Read More

Empire Justice Center Issues Report On Child Care Disparities
January 16, 2010
Quality subsidized child care benefits both children and working parents. The New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) administers a one billion dollar block grant program, consisting primarily of federal funding, which provides financial assistance to low income families who need child care. However, the availability of quality subsidized child care varies widely throughout the state because New York is one of a handful of states that permit local social services districts wide discretion in administering federally funded child care subsidy benefits. Read More

Food Stamp Eligibility Expanded for Families with Child Care Expenses
November 10, 2009
Higher income guidelines mean that more working families with dependent care expenses are now eligible for food stamps. If you don’t get food stamps now, you may qualify even if you were denied in the past. Read More

Empire Justice Joins Advocates to Decry Mid-Year Cuts
November 5, 2009
Press release announcing the press conference organized by New Yorkers for Fiscal Fairness, the Fiscal Policy Institute, Empire Justice Center and others to talk about alternatives to Governor Paterson's proposed DRP. Read More

Class Action Lawsuit Challenges State Child Care Co-payment Regulation
November 2, 2009
Every year, federal child care funds of nearly one billion dollars provide child care subsidies to low income families in New York State. Read More