Tag: long island childcare

The Child Care Council of Suffolk honored Billy Haugland II, CEO of Haugland Group, at its recent Breakfast of Champions for his leadership in expanding childcare support for working families and advocating for employers to address Long Island’s childcare challenges. The recognition coincides with upcoming changes to dependent care benefits that could provide families with some financial relief.

“Childcare is not a perk or a luxury – it is infrastructure,” Haugland said in a news release about the recognition. “It’s the system that allows every other system to function.

“When families are forced to choose between opportunity and affordability, our workforce and our economy lose,” he said. “Employers have a responsibility, and an opportunity, to help close that gap. At Haugland Group, supporting childcare isn’t just the right thing to do for families – it strengthens our workforce, reduces turnover and creates long-term stability for the entire region.”

The recognition comes at a time when families are facing increasing economic pressures, including childcare, whose costs can exceed $24,000 a year.

The breakfast also aimed to highlight what the Child Care Council described as a “critical upcoming change.”

Starting Jan. 1, 2026, the federal dependent care flexible spending account (FSA) limit will rise from $5,000 to $7,500, potentially saving families up to $1,000 a year. Yet, according to the council, many employers and employees are unaware of the change or have not yet updated benefits, making timely human resources guidance key to ensuring families receive the relief.

“The increase in the dependent care FSA limit is a rare opportunity for families to see meaningful financial relief, but that relief only happens if employers take action,” Jennifer Rojas, executive director of the Child Care Council of Suffolk, said in the news release.

“We want to ensure all employers are aware of this increase and can promote it as well as the other tools available to their employees,” Rojas said.

“Our goal is to ensure every Long Island family can take full advantage of this change, especially as infant care costs continue to average more than $24,000 a year,” she added. “We’re grateful to leaders like Billy Haugland for setting an example and showing how employers can make a real difference.”

Haugland Group’s decision to adopt the enhanced dependent care FSA benefit earlier this year was guided by the Child Care Council’s employer toolkit, which simplifies implementation and helps businesses communicate with employees.