Brandon, New York

Policy Should Support Families Building a Future

By most measures, we’re doing everything right. We work hard, we plan, and we invest in our kids. But we still can’t access the support we need to build the future we want for our family.

My wife, Sphinx, is a disabled Army veteran and a full-time graduate student. I work full-time in youth development in Harlem. Together, we’re raising two sons, Reign (3) and Phoenix (1).

Belief Comes at a Cost

We recently received Reign’s developmental evaluation. The evaluator explained that these are areas for growth, like fine motor skills and emotional regulation. Still, seeing words like “below average” and “poor” used to describe your child is hard to take. Reign is bright, verbal, and curious. We want to give him every opportunity to thrive.

Last year, we stretched to pay $18,500 for a high-quality early learning program for him, just two days a week. It was a screen-free environment with sign language and a strong, intentional curriculum, and it made a difference. Reign was signing before he could speak. He was engaged and thriving.

On the Cusp of Support

We can’t afford to do the same for Phoenix. He’s with a babysitter we trust, but the environment is different, and we’re concerned about the potential impact on his development at this stage.

We applied for child care assistance, but didn’t qualify. If my wife were working instead of pursuing her degree, or if we weren’t a two-parent household, we would have been eligible.

Because we’re trying to build stability the right way, we fall through the cracks.

Brandon

Early Support Lasts a Lifetime

In my job, I see what happens when children don’t get early support—when families are left to figure it out on their own, and opportunities begin to slip away. I know how much these early years matter.

Families like mine aren’t the exception. We’re working, making responsible choices, and trying to build something better for our kids.

We shouldn’t be shut out because of it.

Believing in babies means building systems that enable all families to thrive.

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