My name is Ajah, and I am a mother to a beautiful one-year-old boy. Today, I write to you not just as a parent, but as one of many families devastated by the recent pause in the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) due to lack of funding here in Sullivan County.

Like many working parents, I rely on CCAP to ensure my son has safe, reliable care while I work full-time to provide for him. Without this program, I am being forced to make an impossible choice: stay home with my child and risk losing my job, or leave him in unsafe, unstable care because I simply cannot afford the skyrocketing cost of childcare on my own.

I work hard—40 hours a week—and yet childcare costs are so high that, without CCAP, it feels like I am working just to survive. With this sudden cut, families like mine are left scrambling. Many of us have no backup, no family nearby who can step in, and no savings to cover this huge financial gap. This isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s a crisis that threatens our livelihoods, our children’s well-being, and our ability to keep a roof over our heads.

Our children deserve better. Working families deserve better. CCAP was created to give parents the chance to work and contribute to our community, but without proper funding, that promise is being broken.

I urge local leaders, state officials, and our neighbors to understand the urgency of this situation. This is not just a number on a budget sheet—these are real families, real children, and real futures at stake.

To my fellow parents who are struggling, know that you are not alone. And to those in our community who may not be directly affected, I ask for your voices and support in demanding that our county and state prioritize childcare funding.

No parent should ever have to choose between earning a living and ensuring their child is safe and cared for. We need action, and we need it now.

Ajah McNeil 

Monticello