Items filtered by date: July 2022

New Application for Families to Apply for Assistance

OCFS has updated the Application for Child Care Assistance. Effective Sepetmber 1, 2022, changes include:

Section 2

• Added gender identity
• Changed disabled child to child with special needs

Section 3

• Clarity that it includes a parent who is considered temporarily absent from the household, who are required to contribute to the needs of the household

Section 4

• Changed names of children under 19, it used to be under 21

Section 11

• Added permission to share families information with other districts for jurisdictional purposes
• Added no discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation

Letter from OCFS about changes

Child Care Assistance/Subsidy Application - English

Child Care Assistance/Subsidy Application - Spanish

Instructions on how to complete application

Reminder: Applications can be submitted via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) is hosting an Informational Session!

OCFS is holding an informational webinar on Wednesday, August 31st at 11am to step through the application process and answer any questions providers may have with the portal opening for SACC programs and new providers who were licensed before January 1, 2022.

The session is open to only the first 1,000 attendees but will be recorded and posted on the OCFS website. Register here.

CHILD CARE STABILIZATION GRANTS ARE BACK!

August 30th the portal opens for SACC and programs licensed on or before January 1, 2022.

Child Care Stabilization Grant 2.0 for Workforce Supports. OCFS is prioritizing workforce support for child care staff by requiring that at least 75% of the Child Care Stabilization Grant 2.0 for Workforce Supports be spent on workforce support expenses.

Workforce Supports Application Portal

For more information and application assistance, please call 914-761-3456 to speak to our Child Care Business Development Specialists. 

• Jayselle Trancoso x227
• Jessenia Tejada x161

Helping young children realize their full potential is a critically important task.  Those who do it well display an understanding of children, passion for their work, creativity and more.  To encourage on-going efforts to build child care quality, the Council established the Cathryn A. Riley Innovation for Quality Prize in 2016, named after a former member of the Council’s team who made a lasting impact not only on the Council but also the field statewide.   With an unprecedented number of grant applications this year, the Council is delighted to announce 9 awardees including centers, family child care and afterschool programs: 

Amani Public Charter School – Scholar Sensory Awareness Room.  A calm and peaceful space will be created to help students relax and manage their stress.  The room may be used for multiple purposes such as meditation, yoga, massages via a massage chair, etc.

Country Childrens Center - School Age 3D Printing Discovery Club. The new school-age club will bring children and teachers together to experience the evolving world of additive manipulation and computational literacy, not only enhancing the quality of the afterschool experience but also advancing the children’s creativity and imagination. 

Endicotts Kids Zone - Outdoor Learning Space Expansion.  With new equipment, toys, materials and a gardening experience, the children will increase their exploration and enjoyment of the outdoors and also learn more about healthy nutrition.

First Stage Day Care – Enhancing Playground Experience.  With the installation of new playground equipment, the children will increase their enjoyment of the outdoors as a place for physical, social, emotional and cognitive learning.

Jump for Joy Day Care – We Are the World.  In learning about other cultures – their celebrations, foods, dress, language and more - the children will understand and respect differences.

RABY Stem Childcare – Lil Olympics.  Children, staff and parents will come together to learn and practice yoga, stretching, gross motor activities and better nutrition, culminating in a special community event.

RYE YMCA – Expanding After School.  An elementary school offering STEM, recreation, arts and crafts and more will have new materials and supplies to enrich the learning experience for their children.

Y-COP of Mount Vernon – Hummingbirds Group at Summer Camp.  A key summer camp program expands to serve younger children with appropriate materials and activities.

Yosaya’s Day Care - Montessori Arts and Crafts and Outdoor Family Day.   Expansion of art activities to promote children’s development and also foster closer connections between program and families.

We look forward to sharing the results and “lessons learned” from our recipients with you.  For a list of all the Innovation for Quality award winners, from 2016 to 2022, click here.

Help make child care more affordable, please let your families know about...

Child Care Assistance through the Department of Social Services (DSS) have even higher income eligibility levels:

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.

Supporting documents or other documents MAY NOT be submitted via email when they are not being submitted with a new or re-certification application. These documents need to be dropped off, mailed, or faxed to 914-813-4301.

Application for Child Care Subsidy - English

Application for Child Care Subsidy - Spanish

Good News... 

The income levels for the Westchester Works Child Care Scholarship also increased

Westchester Works Child Care Scholarship Application - English

Westchester Works Child Care Scholarship Application - Spanish

Westchester Works Child Care Scholarship Information Sheet

Awards and Payment Sheet

APPLY TODAY!

YOU COULD HAVE YOUR CDA CREDENTIAL IN A YEAR!

2022-2023 Infant Toddler & Family Child Care In-Person CDA Course meeting at the Child Care Council of Westchester. This course is an intensive, exciting learning opportunity that will improve your understanding of young children and your skills for caring for them.

First Class - Tuesday, October 18, 2022

Application Deadline - Friday, September 30, 2022

Supported by a generous grant from the Westchester County Office for Woman, the cost is only $50.

After completing this 120-hour course, you will be eligible to apply to the Council for Professional Recognition to receive a CDA Credential. We will take COVID-19 precautions to meet safely in-person at our office in Scarsdale. COVID-19 protocols can be found in the application packet.

If we feel it is safer not to meet in-person, the class will go to a Zoom format and move back to an in-person class as soon as it can.

This CDA course is open to child care professionals who work in Westchester County with infants and/or toddlers in child care centers OR family/group family programs. People interested in working with infants and toddlers are also welcome. Priority is given to teachers working in programs where some of the children are receiving a child care subsidy and/or from low-income families.

WHY SHOULD I GET A CDA CREDENTIAL?

• Improve your knowledge and skills for working with young children
• Advance your career - in NYS, a CDA can be a group teacher
• Meet job requirements
• Reinforce your commitment to early childhood education
• Provide parents with peace of mind
• Understand developmentally appropriate practive
• Increase your confidence as a teacher

CLICK HERE for the course application

CLICK HERE for more information about the CDA Credential, the steps to receive it, and the Child Care Council's CDA program

Send us your application via:

• Fax - 914-761-1957, Attention: Idie Benjamin
• Email - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Mail - Idie Benjamin, Child Care Council of Westchester, 313 Central Park Avenue, Suite 4, Scarsdale, NY 10583

Subvención Child Care Desert RFA#2 

Sesión Informativa

Si usted es un programa existente y está pensando en aplicar a la subvención Child Care Desert, por favor únase a nosotros el Viernes, 12 de Agosto a las 1-2pm.

Enlace Zoom

Responderemos preguntas sobre el proceso de solicitud de Child Care Desert, el cronograma y revisaremos algunos de los recursos en el sitio web de Child Care Deserts de la OCFS: La fecha límite de solicitud es el 24 de Agosto de 2022.

Child Care Deserts Grant RFA #2 Info Session

If you're an existing program and are thinking about applying for the Child Care Deserts Grant RFA #2, please join us on Wednesday, August 10th from 1-2pm.

Zoom Link

We will answer questions about the Child Care Deserts application process, timeline and review some of the resources on the OCFS Child Care Deserts website. QualityStarsNY will also join us to discuss their role in the the grant process.

Actualización sobre el subsidio de cuidado infantil

Destacar

• Se han incrementado las tasas de mercado
• Eliminación de la tarifa por hora
• Tasas de Pago Diferencial
  • Horas no tradicionales
  • Sin hogar
  • Programas acreditados a nivel nacional

Para actualizar sus tarifas con el Departamento de Servicios Sociales del Condado de Westchester (DSS). complete y envíe un nuevo perfil de datos de proveedor lo antes posible.

Perfil de datos del proveedor para actualizar sus tarifas

Envia a Ms. Naeemah Rucker: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

 Efectivo el 1 de junio de 2022

Nuevas Tarifas de Mercado para guarderías y programas de edad escolar

Nuevas tarifas de mercado para cuidado infantil familiar y cuidado infantil familiar grupal

Definiciones:

semanalmente - los servicios de cuidado infantil se brindan durante 30 horas o más en el transcurso de cinco días o menos en una sola semana.

Diario–los servicios de cuidado infantil se brindan por menos de 30 horas en el transcurso de cinco o menos días en una sola semana y por al menos seis pero menos de 12 horas por día.

Jornada parcial –los servicios de cuidado infantil se brindan por menos de seis horas por día.

Nuevas Tarifas Diferenciales:

Horas No Tradicionales – 15%

• 15 % por encima del costo real de la atención o la tasa de mercado aplicable, la que sea menor.
• Solo para proveedores/programas de cuidado infantil autorizados y registrados
• El horario no tradicional se define como el cuidado de niños proporcionado antes de las 6 a. m. o después de las 7 p. m. de lunes a viernes, a cualquier hora durante los sábados y domingos, y a cualquier hora durante los siguientes días festivos federales: Año Nuevo, Día de los Caídos, Día de la Independencia, Día del Trabajo, Día de Acción de Gracias y Navidad.

Sin hogar – 5%

• 5% por encima del costo real de la atención o la tasa de mercado aplicable, lo que sea menor.
• Solo para proveedores/programas de cuidado infantil autorizados y registrados
• A un niño sin hogar.

Programas Acreditados Nacionalmente – 5%

• 5% por encima del costo real de la atención o la tasa de mercado aplicable, lo que sea menor.
• Solo para proveedores/programas de cuidado infantil autorizados y registrados

Acreditado por organizaciones de cuidado infantil reconocidas a nivel nacional que brindan acreditación a proveedores de cuidado infantil autorizados/registrados incluyen la Asociación Nacional para la Educación de Niños Pequeños (NAEYC), la Asociación Nacional para el Cuidado Infantil Familiar (NAFCC) y la Escuela Nacional