Items filtered by date: April 2024
Increases 4 Child Care and Head Start Critical
Let's Remember What We Learned
During the Pandemic-
Access to Child Care is Essential!
Safe, quality, affordable child care gets people to work, helps them provide for their families, enables a workforce employers can draw from, prepares children for success in school and life. It's essential for a thriving economy.
And it's not cheap. Often the biggest bill in the household, Westchester center-based care for infants averages over $24,000! Almost every family struggles with their child care bills.
The U.S. "system" of child care comes up short compared to virtually every other developed nation. It shouldn't be this way - and it doesn't have to be.
The House Labor HHS Appropriations Subcommittee has proposed cutting Head Start by $750 million for the next fiscal year, potentially dropping 80,000 children from services. And the Child Care Development Block Grant, the largest federal source of funding for child care, could be level-funded at a time when more help is needed by parents and child care programs.
Urge your federal representatives to vigorously support and pass the FY24 appropriations bill with significant increases for early childhood education programs. Take 2 minutes and send your message today - Click Here!
Kathy Halas
Executive Director
Reminder: WE NEED YOUR INPUT TO PREPARE YOUR REPORT1
NATIONALLY, CHILD CARE WORKERS MAKE LESS THAN 98% OF ALL OCCUPATIONS!
HOW ARE YOU AND YOUR STAFF DOING?
We get calls all the time asking about child care wages and benefits. Please take 5 minutes for this confidential survey, so we can answer those questions.
THE RESULTS WILL BE ANONYMOUSLY SHARED WITH YOU & HELP US FIGHT FOR BETTER CHILD CARE COMPENSATION FOR YOU!
HELP US TO HELP YOU!
Thank you as always for all you do for our children, families and entire community!
Provider Friends Network
Come and join other caregivers on August 19th at the Provider Friends’ & Infant Toddler Teacher Network meeting from
10am- 12pm at the Child Care Council of Westchester.
You will have a chance to meet and network with other caregivers in the county, and share your experiences with each other. At this meeting, we will also be offering a free hour of training that can be used towards your OCFS training hours. The topic is Summer Cooking: Easy Recipes for Little Hands. We will talk about why you should & how you can add cooking experiences to your planning. You will learn some easy recipes to make, including “no-cook” recipes.
We hope to see you on August 19th!
Are you a parent with something to say about child care?
PARENT VOICES COMING TOGETHER ON NEW PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL
Should child care be more affordable?
Easier to find?
Should child care professionals be paid a living wage?
If you believe, as we do, that all families should have equitable access to affordable, quality child care that meets their needs, and that child care professionals should be fairly compensated, the Council's new Parent Advisory Council may be for you!
- Starting this fall, participate in one virtual meeting per month, conveniently scheduled, to discuss your child care challenges and ideas for improving child care
- Share what you know and learn with other parents
- Volunteer for opportunities to educate others
Meeting stipends will be provided
To learn more, email Kathy Halas, Executive Director, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Special Training for SACC Directors
VIRTUAL - FOR SACC DIRECTORS – Navigating OCFS Regulations and Paperwork to Stay in Compliance
Tuesdays - August 1, 8, & 15
10:30am - 12:00pm
4.5 hours of training!
This extensive 3-part training will give directors a thorough understanding of the NYS OCFS Regulations for SACC programs as well as the many forms and documentation needed to stay in compliance in all 15 sections. OCFS record keeping and documentation can be overwhelming. This is your opportunity to fully understand what the regulations are telling you to do. At the end of this series, you will better understand how to meet each regulation and operate a program that is always in compliance. Don’t miss this opportunity to get answers for all of your regulations questions!
Training will take place virtually on August 1, 8, & 15 from 10:30am-12pm. Attendance at all 3 sessions is required.
We will be reviewing and discussing ways to organize all those forms and files. Digital copies of forms will be sent before the training. Or register early enough and you can pick up a packet of OCFS forms and other helpful materials from CCCW!
Modality - Age: Center - SACC only
Training Categories: OCFS (2,4,5,7) CBK (7)
Not eligible for CDA renewal
Trainer: Idie Benjamin, Program Specialist/Career Advisor
Cost: $30 CCCW members & non-members
Code: 20813
To register for these virtual trainings, please click the "Register Here" button or contact Gabriella at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 914-761-3456 x111.
Need to fulfill more training hours? Looking for some new ideas? Check out some great trainings here.
Thank You – Hope Plaza
Thanks to your incredible generosity, the babies and toddlers at Hope Plaza/Plaza Esperanza received 200+ bags of books and stuffed animals. These are young children who have come to Westchester seeking asylum, and many of their families are fleeing violence and persecution. We believe these items will help bring them comfort during this undoubtedly scary and confusing time.
We learned during our visit that there is a need for toys for children 4 and under. To help, please consider a donation of $25, which we will use to purchase toys: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/hopeplaza/ or, select items to donate from our Amazon wish list, which will be shipped directly to the Council, here: https://a.co/82Xmf3y
Workforce Retention Grant Program
Reminder: Free July training to help school age staff support children today
SAVE THE DATE FOR THIS IMPORTANT FREE TRAINING!
Eligible for OCFS training hours
Stipend of $100. payable to each participant's program
YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID from NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR MENTAL WELLBEING
Here are just a few of the positive comments we received from our recent June session:
- "I will respond to kids differently!"
- "Very informative, I learned a lot of information I can use to support youth pertaining to mental health."
- "Informative, interesting."
- "Just perfect."
- "Provided a helpful outline on how to help & approach someone."
- "Very informative; would like to take adult course and the assist class as well."
If you're working with school age children, you may be very aware of the stress children are experiencing these days.
This training, Youth Mental Health First Aid, teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders in youth. This 6.5 hour training can provide you with the skills you need to reach out and provide initial support to the children in your care who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem and help connect them to the appropriate care.
When: Saturday, July 22, 2023, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Where: Child Care Council of Westchester, 313 Central Park Avenue, Scarsdale, NY 10583
Please note: There is also a 2-hour, self-paced component that must be completed before the in-person class.
Registration limited to 3 participants per program, including the director. Registration details to follow.
The training will be conducted by Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS).Questions/more info, email Carol Diemer at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
