Early Ed Hall of Heroes is Back!
Mark your calendars for the 2024 Early Education Hall of Heroes event taking place on Friday, September 27th, from 7pm to 9pm. We are excited to celebrate and induct a new slate of child care and afterschool professionals. It will be a fun-filled night of entertainment, dinner, awards, networking, and more. So be sure to mark September 27th on your calendar and be on the lookout for when nomination submissions open.
For questions or more information, contact Juanita Pope at 914-761-3456 x106 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Here's a quick flashback to last year's event:
View the full 2023 event gallery here.
A New Chapter: Kathy Halas Stepping Down
Celebrating 21 years of leadership and achievement
After more than two decades of dedicated service and exceptional leadership, our esteemed Executive Director, Kathy Halas, has decided to step down later this year. Kathy’s impact on the Child Care Council and our community has been nothing short of transformative.
One of her most remarkable contributions has been her relentless advocacy for policy change and increased investment in child care. Kathy spearheaded successful efforts to reduce parents’ share of financial assistance (subsidy) – once as high as 27% of income over the federal poverty level and now just 1% - and increased income eligibility to families, making assistance more widely available. Most recently, she helped secure the continuation of the Westchester Works Child Care Scholarship, the most widely-available child care scholarship in our county’s history. Through her strategic vision and tireless efforts, and in partnership with supportive government leaders, early child care and education has become much more accessible and affordable for countless families.
During Kathy’s tenure, the Child Care Council tripled in size and launched many new critical initiatives to help improve the quality of early care and education available to families. These include the Quality In Action program, which supports home-based and Spanish-speaking providers, mental health support services for infant/toddler care providers throughout Westchester and the region, and an early literacy/family home library project that engages 20 child care programs annually, among others.
Recognizing that a strong child care system could be a compelling community asset, Kathy engaged and worked closely with other organizations, including the Business Council of Westchester, the Westchester County Association, Nonprofit Westchester, the United Way of Westchester and Putnam, as well as with elected leaders and the business community.
Appointed by Governor Kathy Hochul following a nomination by NYS Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Kathy serves on the NYS Child Care Availability Task Force and on the Workforce Committee of the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council, in addition to many past and present leadership positions within local organizations, including the Westchester Women’s Agenda and Nonprofit Westchester. She is a former board president of the NYS Early Care and Learning Council (ECLC), the coordinating agency for the state network of child care resource and referral agencies. She serves as co-chair of the Westchester Families Task Force, along with County Legislator Nancy Barr.
“The Board of Directors of the Child Care Council of Westchester is forever grateful to Kathy Halas for her incomparable and tireless dedication to advocating for all families, children and providers, to increase access to quality early childhood education and care across Westchester County,” said Board Co-Chair Christie Noelle Krase.
“This has been a remarkable time to work in early care and education, and there is no better place than Westchester County, with such commitment from government, business and community leaders,” said Kathy. “I have such admiration for Westchester’s child care and after school educators and am rewarded to see that the field is finally beginning to enjoy the respect it deserves. I have been blessed to work with such a wonderful team of Council colleagues and to feel the support of a wonderful Board of Directors. I look forward to the next chapter for the Council.”
Please join us in expressing our deepest appreciation to Kathy. While we will miss her in her current role, we are excited to see the ways in which her influence will continue to positively shape our community and look forward to continuing the important work she has inspired us to carry forward.
Low Cost Business Training - Four-Part Training Series!
ALL TRAININGS ARE IN ENGLISH AND IN-PERSON
February 13, 2024, 6:30pm-8:30pm - Business Basics
This training will review and discuss personal and business needs, goals, and taxes. REGISTER HERE
February 28, 2024, 6:30pm-8:30pm - Company Assessment
This training will cover conducting a business analysis by reviewing basic business practices, improving employee onboarding, and more. REGISTER HERE
March 13, 2024, 6:30pm-8:30pm - Financial Management
This training will cover how to organize financial statements and cash flow management. REGISTER HERE
March 27, 2024 - Marketing
This training will cover branding your child care business, learning the difference between marketing and advertising, and using social media to promote your program. REGISTER HERE
SACC Educators: New training: "Red Flags - When to Worry if School Age Behaviors are Caused by Special Needs"
Red Flags - When to Worry if School Age Behaviors are Caused by Special Needs
VIRTUAL TRAINING
Tuesday, February 13, 2024 from 6:30-8:30pm
There are many reasons that school age children have challenging behaviors. One of them is having a learning difference. Learning differences can affect all areas of a child’s development. Let’s explore behaviors that are Red Flags that a learning difference could be the cause. We will assess what is going on and strategies for helping children to be more successful in your program.
Modality - Age: SACC
Training Categories: OCFS (1, 3) CBK (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
Trainer: Idie Benjamin
Cost: $20 CCCW members/$25 non-members
FREE Vision Screenings, Booking Available
Lions SEE - Free Vision Screening Program
The Lions Club Kid Site Vision Screening Program is offering FREE vision screenings, available for booking. These screenings can aid in the early detection of vision troubles for children as young as 6 months old. If you are interested, please contact Joanne O’Hanlon directly and she will be able to assist with scheduling or if you have questions. Please see the business card above. Her contact info below:
Joanne O’Hanlon, 914-217-0769, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
For more information please visit their website: www.lionsseeny.org
Will you have to return the Stabilization Grant funds?
Programs that fail to submit the expense reports from the Stabilization Grants will be required to return all unreported funds to OCFS. Failure to return funds will result in being ineligible for future New York State financial grant programs.
Don't let that be you!
Register for our final in-person group session where we will review the expense report, step-by-step.
When: Tuesday, January 23, 2024
Time: 1:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Available Time Slots
- 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
- 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
- 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
- 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
- 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Can't make it to the in-person session?
Join us in our final virtual walkthrough session as we review the expense report step-by-step.
When: Tuesday, January 30, 2024
Time: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
The due date for outstanding expense reports is January 31, 2024.
For information about outstanding expense reports for the Stabilization Grants, please contact Jayselle Trancoso at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or ext. 227 or Jessenia Tejada at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or ext. 161.
Ease frustration and avoid mistakes by joining us!
The Workforce Retention Grant application was tricky, but completing your expense report doesn't have to be! Ease frustration and avoid mistakes by joining us as we review the expense report process step-by-step. Register Here
When - January 18, 2023
Time: 1:00 pm - 12:00 pm
Can't remember what the eligible expenses are?
Click on the Statement of Grant Opportunity (SOI) below to review Section V. ELIGIBLE EXPENSES FOR STAFF RETENTION FUNDS and Section VI. ELIGIBLE EXPENSES FOR STAFF RECRUITMENT FUNDS. Statment of Grant Opprotunity (SOI)
Will you have to return stabilization grant funds?
Programs that fail to submit the expense reports from the Stabilization Grants will be required to return all unreported funds to OCFS. Failure to return funds will result in being ineligible for future New York State financial grant programs.
Don't let that be you!
Join us tomorrow for an in-person group session where we will review the expense report, step-by-step.
When
Tuesday, January 9, 2024
Time
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Can't make it to the in-person session? Join us in a virtual walkthrough session as we review the expense report step-by-step.
When
Wednesday, January 17, 2024
Time
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
The due date for outstanding expense reports is January 31, 2024.
For information about outstanding expense reports for the Stabilization Grants, please contact Jayselle Trancoso at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or ext. 227 or Jessenia Tejada at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or ext. 161.
Video: Careers in child care are joyful and rewarding!
Westchester’s early educational professionals have fun, take pride in their important work, and recognize what a tremendous impact they have on the children in their care. Considering a career in child care? This just might convince you to go for it!
And are there are opportunities for growth and advancement? YES! But don’t take our word for it:
¿Tendrá que devolver los fondos de la subvención de estabilización?
Los programas que no envían los reportes de gastos de las Subvenciones de Estabilización deberán devolver todos los fondos no reportados a la OCFS. Si no se devuelven los fondos, no será elegible para futuros programas de subvenciones financieras del estado de Nueva York.
¡No dejes que seas tú!
Regístrate para la sesión grupal en persona donde revisaremos el informe de gastos, paso a paso.
Cuando
Martes, el 9 de Enero de 2024
Hora
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
¿No puedes ir a la sesión en-persona?
Únase a nosotros en una sesión virtual mientras revisamos el reporte de gastos paso a paso.
Cuando
Miércoles, el 17 de Enero, 2024
Hora
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
La fecha de vencimiento para los informes de gastos pendientes es el 31 de enero de 2024.
Para obtener información sobre los informes de gastos pendientes de las Subvenciones de Estabilización, comuníquese con Jayselle Trancoso en This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. o ext. 227 o Jessenia Tejada en This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. o ext. 161.
