Items filtered by date: October 2022

Each year, the Child Care Council's Public Policy Committee drafts an agenda to determine the focus of advocacy efforts. The 2023 agenda, approved by the Board of Directors at our October meeting, sets an ambitious course.

"Children and families need your active support of the Child Care Council's 2023 Public Policy Agenda," said Camille Murphy, Chair of Public Policy Committee. "With your help, the USA will move into a leadership position for children in our nation, state and local communities - where it should be."

Without early and proper identification and management, asthma can be life threatening, limit physical, social and emotional development and result in long-term disabilities.   Repeated visits to the doctor and emergency room could be reduced with better asthma management.  The most common chronic condition among children, asthma  is the third leading cause of hospitalizations for children under age 15 years, and even higher for children under 5. 

Now Westchester parents looking for child care for their children with asthma and allergies  have more options, thanks to the Asthma Educational Initiative, funded by the Thomas & Agnes Carvel Foundation.  Under the direction of Katherine Mancini, Director of Health Care Consultant Services at the Council, 9 programs earned certificates of completion for the American Lung Association’s Asthma Basics Course.  The course covered how to identify the severity of an asthma episode, how to recognize and reduce asthma triggers, how to follow a child’s Asthma Action Plan, and what to do in an emergency.  Participants also received equipment and materials including nebulizer machines and parts (tubing, masks, etc.), HEPA vacuums, air purifiers, children’s books with asthma themes and a resource binder.

A total of 93 staff participated from the following child care programs:

• Baby Cubs (New Rochelle)
• Queens Daughters (Yonkers)
• YMCA (White Plains)
• Gregory (Harrison)
• The Indy Lab (Elmsford)
• Paul’s (Rye Brook)
• Kids Are People (Scarsdale)
• Kids Are People 2 (Scarsdale)
• Happy Caterpillars (Harrison)

These programs are now identified in our comprehensive referral database as having completed the Asthma Basics Course.

We want to congratulate the participating programs for deepening their capacity to care for young children with asthma and of course thank the Carvel Foundation, which made this project possible.

CHILD CARE STABILIZATION 2.0 GRANT DEADLINE APPROACHING!

Child Care Stabilization Grant 2.0 for Workforce Supports Info Session. Please join us on Friday, November 18 from 12:00pm to 1:00pm. Zoom link can be found here. We will answer questions about the Child Care Stabilization 2.0 application process, timeline and review some of the resources on the OCFS Child Care Stabilization Website.

For more information and application assistance, please call 914-761-3456 to speak to our Child Care Business Development Specialists, Jessenia Tejada x161 or Jayselle Trancoso x227.

¡SE APROXIMA LA FECHA LÍMITE DE LA SUBVENCIÓN DE ESTABILIZACIÓN DE CUIDADO INFANTIL 2.0!

Subvención de Estabilización de Cuidado Infantil para Apoyos a la Fuerza Laboral Sesión de Información. Únase a nosotros el Jueves, 17 de Noviembre de 1:00 pm a 2:00 pm. Enlace Zoom Aqui. Responderemos preguntas sobre el proceso de la aplicación de Subvención de Estabilización de Cuidado 2.0, el cronograma y revisaremos algunos de los recursos en el sitio web de OCFS Child Care Stabilization Grant.

Para obtener más información y asistencia con la aplicación, llame al 914-761-3456 para hablar con nuestros especialistas en desarrollo de negocios de cuidado infantil, Jessenia Tejada x.161 (Habla Español) o Jayselle Trancoso x227.

Westchester Needs Child Care

We are so very grateful to County Executive Latimer and his team for including the Westchester Works Child Care Scholarship Program in the proposed budget for 2023. Over 450 children have been approved to date for these scholarships, which averaged just under $700 per month per child.

Westchester County has really stepped up for working families with its funding for child care.

Spaces are limited. Register for FREE Here!

To ensure every child experiences the joy of a new toy this holiday season, we are once again calling on our friends to help make this happen. For the 5th year in a row, the Child Care Council has partnered with Toys for Tots to collect toys for children in need in Westchester County. Now through December 12th, you can drop off or mail a new, unwrapped toy to: Child Care Council of Westchester, 313 Central Park Avenue, Scarsdale, NY 10583. Our office is open Monday-Friday from 9am to 5pm.

Want to be Reimbursed for Your Real Child Care Costs?

Join in the New NYS Cost of Care Study

We are grateful to the Hochul administration, the state legislature and NYS OCFS for raising the child care subsidy market rates this year. However, the increases were based on a market rate survey of child care fees charged, not real costs. And there is often a very big difference!

Camille Murphy, Chair of the Public Policy Committee, thanked the Council's Board of Directors for approving the 2023 Public Policy Agenda, which sets goals at every level of government - county, state and federal.

With the 2023 Westchester County budget process underway, the Board's emphasis is clearly on securing continuation of the Westchester Works Child Care Scholarship Program, which helped over 400 children access safe, regulated care so their parents could work. The Public Policy Agenda also calls for a reduction in the parent share from 10% to 1% of income over the Federal Poverty Level, for parents utilizing Child Care Assistance via DSS, and greater participation in early learning programs for children experiencing homelessness.

"The County is to be applauded for its commitment to child care. Child care is often the biggest bill in the house; Westchester Works scholarships brought much needed relief to hard-working area families for the first time. About a third of the recipients work in healthcare, a key industry for our entire community. We're calling on the County to renew this commitment for 2023," stated Murphy.

The Public Policy Committee expects a very busy season on state and federal child care advocacy as well.

Click here for a copy of the 2023 Public Policy Agenda.

We have exciting news! The first $2,500 of #GivingTuesday donations made to our organization this year will be matched by CClean Commercial Cleaning! All funds will help us increase access to quality child care and after school programs to give more children a fair chance, ensure parents can get to work, and help child care professionals earn a living wage. 

Give today, or on Giving Tuesday: November 29, 2022.

Donate today to help make it happen!