Immigration advocates have applauded the launch of a new childcare assistance programme that will, for the first time in New York City’s history, offer childcare assistance to Caribbean and other low-income families with children whose immigration status prevents them from receiving other federally funded, subsidised childcare.

As part of the “Promise NYC” project, which the mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, unveiled earlier this week, the city will collaborate with four community-based organisations (CBOs), all of which have strong ties to immigrant populations in their respective boroughs.

According to Adams, families in Brooklyn will be served by the Centre for Family Life, families in the Bronx and Manhattan will be served by the Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation (NMIC), families in Staten Island will be served by La Colmena, and families in Queens will be served by the Chinese American Planning Council.

“Promise NYC” will offer free or low-cost child care to Caribbean and other families with children ranging in age from 6 weeks to 13 years old, according to Liza Schwartzwald, Senior Manager of Immigration Policy at New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), an umbrella organisation that represents over 200 immigration advocacy and policy groups in New York State.