This summer, the union launched Childcare Connection, a benefit to help UFT members find out if they qualify for free or reduced-cost child care as well as to find home-based child care providers near their home or work.

UFT members now have access to an online tool that streamlines the often frustrating process of finding and applying for programs that can help offset the cost of child care. After you share information such as family size, residential neighborhood, marital status and household income, the tool generates a custom list of links to government programs and subsidies for which you are eligible.

Members can also search a database of home-based child care providers to find up-to-date information on more than 6,000 child care providers near their home or school. You can filter the results based on location, availability, hours, pricing, language and special needs. You can also view program specifics, such as special diets offered, operating hours and certifications held by the operators. Members can send a message to the program through the platform.

Home-based child care programs run by members of the UFT Family Child Care Providers Chapter have a blue sticker that says “UFT Program.”

“It’s a win-win arrangement in which our members are helping fellow members,” said UFT President Michael Mulgrew. “UFT Childcare Connection provides a platform to connect UFT members who are seeking quality child care with UFT members who provide it.”

The UFT introduced Childcare Connection to paraprofessionals in an email in June and extended the benefit to all members in August.

Paraprofessional Amanda Bryant, who had her first child in February, took advantage of Childcare Connection when it first launched. She was happy to learn that she qualifies for a child care voucher. “I didn’t know I was eligible,” she said. “It means the transition back to work won’t be so hard on our financial life.”

Child care costs are prohibitively high for many families: In New York City, families can expect to spend about $16,250 a year for children under the age of 2 and $11,648 a year for children ages 3 to 5, according to experts. Many parents don’t realize that they qualify for benefits or subsidies.

In the program’s first month, scores of paraprofessionals took advantage of the new tool to find programs to reduce child care expenses. Every UFT paraprofessional applicant who completed the five-minute questionnaire qualified for at least one benefit.

There are six benefits that are possible matches for applicants: New York State Child Care Assistance Program, child care vouchers, New York Head Start, EarlyLearn NYC, 3-K for All and Pre-K for All.

To take one example, a single parent earning $3,400 monthly with two children ages 1 and 3 would qualify for five of the six benefits and could pay as little as $130 per child per year as a result.

Priscilla Castro, the chairperson of the UFT Paraprofessionals Chapter, said these new benefits could be life-changing for her members because paraprofessionals with children often leave the profession temporarily or permanently due to the high cost of child care. “They don’t want to leave, but they have no choice,” she said. “With affordable child care, they can continue in their profession with no disruption to the students in their classroom.”

To access the new benefits, visit the UFT Member Hub and choose UFT Childcare Connection.