Items filtered by date: May 2022
Actualización de Subvenciones de Child Care Deserts para Programas Nuevos y Existentes
Actualización de Subvenciones de Child Care Deserts para Programas Nuevos y Existentes
RFA1 - Estado de la Aplicación
Muchos programas han preguntado sobre el estado de sus aplicaciónes de Deserts Grant para nuevos programas. Tenga en cuenta que la OCFS está experimentando retrasos en la revisión de las aplicaciónes. Actualmente, no hay un marco de tiempo que detalle cuándo se enviará la notificación de aprobación de la aplicaciónes.
RFA2 - Portal de Aplicaciones
La OCFS está experimentando retrasos en el lanzamiento del portal de aplicaciones para los programas existentes. La nueva fecha de lanzamiento de la aplicación es 18 de julio de 2022.
El Council es consciente de estos retrasos. Esperamos orientación de la OCFS sobre el cronograma y pondremos a disposición las fechas tan pronto como tengamos conocimiento.
Si tiene más preguntas sobre la subvención Deserts, comuníquese con nuestro especialista en desarrollo comercial de cuidado infantil al 914-761-3456:
Jessenia Tejada ext. 161, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (Habla Español)
Child Care Deserts Grant Update for New and Existing Programs
Child Care Deserts Grant Update for New and Existing Programs
RFA1 - Application Status
Many programs have inquired about the application status of their Desert Grant applications for new programs. Please note that OCFS is experiencing delays in reviewing the applications. Currently, there is no timeframe detailing when notification of application approvals will be sent.
RFA2 - Application Portal
OCFS is experiencing delays in launching the application portal for existing programs. The new application launch date is July 18, 2022.
The Council is aware of these delays. We await guidance from OCFS on timeframes and will make the dates available as soon as we are made aware.
If you have any further questions regarding the Deserts Grant, please contact either of our Child Care Business Development Specialists at 914-761-3456:
Jessenia Tejada ext.161 or by email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (Habla Espanol)
Jayselle Trancoso ext.227 or by email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Recording of the Informational Session on Covid-19 Vaccine for Children 6 Months to 5 Years
COVID-19 Vaccine for Children 6 Months - 5 Years
COVID-19 Vaccines Informational Session for Families and Providers with Dr. Dial Hewlett, Medical Director, Division of Disease Control Deputy to Commissioner of Health at the Westchester County Department of Health
*Please share this recording with the families in your program*
Click HERE for recording
*Recorded on June 29, 2022 - All information accurate as of that date*
Save Federal Funding for Child Care
Child Care $ Threatened
Despite all the attention on the importance of child care to children, families and our very recovery from the pandemic, it has been dropped from the Federal Reconciliation Bill discussion. Once part of President Biden's Build Back Better package at $400 billion, child care is now off the table entirely.
Unbelievable.
Unacceptable.
Making child care truly affordable for working parents; creating universal PreK; paying the child care workforce a level of compensation that reflects their true value to society - none of that happens if the anticipated Federal child care funding goes away.
If child care is not a priority in the Reconciliation Bill, we will have learned nothing from the pandemic. And all our pledges to remake our child care system will ring hollow.
Let the President and your elected officials at every level of government know that child care must be a PRIORITY in the Reconciliation Bill.
Just Click Here! to send your letter insisting that child care must be in the Federal Reconciliation Bill.
To see what the expected Federal funding could do for NYS, Click Here!
Informational Session on COVID-19 Vaccine for Children 6 Months to 5 Years
COVID-19 Vaccine for Children 6 Months - 5 Years
COVID-19 Vaccines Informational Session for Families and Providers with
Dr. Dial Hewlett, Medical Director, Division of Disease Control Deputy to Commissioner of Health at the Westchester County Department of Health
Wednesday, June 29th, 2022 from 1pm-2pm
Submit questions in advance to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
*Please share this link with the families in your program*
Click HERE to register for the Zoom Informational Session. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with the link to join the meeting.
Leadership Westchester Scholarship
Child care has suffered tremendously during the COVID-19 pandemic. Never have child care leaders been more critical.
Take your place among Westchester's leaders via Leadership Westchester, a rigorous, 9 month program run by Volunteer NY! that sharpens leadership skills, expands relationships, facilitates a new understanding of your own values, capacities and goals, and deepens your ability to influence others.
For the 6th year, the Council is pleased to fully support the participation of a Westchester early care and education leader in this unique opportunity.
A Council committee will pre-screen all applicants for this scholarship and interview selected candidates. Interviews with the committee will be scheduled for late July/early August. Final selection will be made by Leadership Westchester. The first Leadership Westchester class will be in late October.
For the Leadership Westchester application, Click Here!
Deadline for appplications is Wednesday, July 27th at 5pm.
Virtual Info Session to be announced shortly!
About the Cathryn A. Riley Fund - The Leadership Westchester scholarship is made possible by the Cathryn A. Riley Fund of the Child Care Council of Westchester. Cathryn "Cate" Riley was a coordinator at the Council prior to her death. She was involved with the NYS Child Care Coordinating Council, now known as the Early Care and Learning Council, the coordinating vehicle for the statewide CCRR network. She also served on the NYS Department of Education Committee for Teacher Certification, the Board of the Westchester Association for the Education of Young Children and the Advisory Board of Westchester Community College. Cate was herself an intuitive and skilled leader in early care and education.
COVID-19 Update: FDA Authorizes Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccines for Children Down to 6 Months of Age
On Friday, June 17th, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized emergency use of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine and the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19 to include use in children down to 6 months of age.
- For the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, the FDA amended the emergency use authorization (EUA) to include use of the vaccine in individuals 6 months through 17 years of age. The vaccine had been authorized for use in adults 18 years of age and older.
- For the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, the FDA amended the EUA to include use of the vaccine in individuals 6 months through 4 years of age. The vaccine had been authorized for use in individuals 5 years of age and older
Read the full press release here.
Save the Date - 2022 Early Ed Hall of Heroes!
Thank you to all of you who educate and care for our children!
Last year we hosted our Early Education Hall of Heroes event virtually, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, we are so excited to come back together in-person to honor some of the world's greatest educators. The last couple of years have been challenging, especially for the early education field, and you deserve to be celebrated.
You may nominate yourself or be nominated by an employer, parent, board member, or a co-worker. If you are a former Joey Award winner, you may still be nominated. You may receive multiple nominations. A selection committee will choose the honorees, and approximately 10 professionals will be inducted this year.
The Early Education Hall of Heroes event will take place on Friday, September 30, 2022 from 7pm to 9pm. Join us for a night of celebration with awards, dinner, entertainment, giveaways, and more. So put September 30th on your calendar, and submit an online nomination form for your hero. They just might become a 2022 Early Education Hall of Heroes Inductee.
We look forward to honoring a new slate of exceptional child care and after school professionals, highlighting the importance and impact of high quality programs.
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..
Check out our previous honorees below:
View the full 2019 event gallery here.
View the full 2021 event gallery here.
Financial Assistance is Available to Help the Families in your Program Pay for Child Care!
Help make child care more affordable by letting your parents know about...
Child Care Subsidy Through the Department of Social Services (DSS)
The eligibility income levels increased June 1st.
Working families making below:
- $50,352 for a family of 2
- $58,726 for a family of 3
- $62,437 for a family of 4
More Good News! These income levels are increasing again on August 1st.
Working families making below:
- $54,930 for a family of 2
- $69,090 for a family of 3
- $83,250 for a family of 4
Child Care Subsidy Applications can now be submitted via email to the Child Care Subsidy Unit at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
ONLY New or Re-certification Applications along with supporting documents are accepted.
Application for Child Care Subsidy
Spanish Application for Child Care Subsidy
Supporting Documents for Child Care Subsidy
There is also assistance for those families above the child care subsidy income levels...
Westchester Works Child Care Scholarship Application in English
Westchester Works Child Care Scholarship Application in Spanish
Test Kits Available for Child Care and After School Programs
Need test kits for your staff? To send home to parents? Please contact Rosie Finizio, Director of Programs and Policy, Child Care and Education for Westchester County to request test kits.
Please email Rosie at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the following information:
- Name of your program
- Contact person name, email and phone
- # of children enrolled
- # of staff
- # of tests requested