Items filtered by date: July 2022

Child Care Subsidy Update

 Highlights:

• Market Rates have been increased
• Removal of hourly rate
• Differential Payment Rates
  • Non Traditional Hours
  • Homeless
  • Nationally Accredited Programs

To update your rates with Westchester County Department of Social Services (DSS), complete and submit a new Vendor Data Profile ASAP.

Vendor Data Profile to update your rates

Submit toMs. Naeemah Rucker: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Effective June 1, 2022

Information Sheet

Child Care Center and School-Age Programs new Market Rates

Family Child Care & Group Family Child Care new Market Rates

Definitions:

Weekly - child care services are provided for 30 or more hours over the course of five or fewer days in a single week.

Daily - child care services are provided for less than 30 hours over the course of five or fewer days in a single week and for at least six but less than 12 hours per day.

Part-day - child care services are provided for less than six hours per day.

Non-Traditional Hours - 15%

• 15% above the actual cost or the applicable market rate, whichever is less
• Only for licensed and registered child care providers/programs
• Non-traditional hours are defined as child care provided before 6am or after 7pm during Monday through Friday, any hour during Saturday and Sunday, and any hour during the following federal holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.

Homeless - 5%

• 5% above the actual cost of care or the applicable market rate, whichever is lss
• Only for licensed and registered child care providers/programs
• To a child experiencing homelessness

Nationally Accredited Programs - 5%

• 5% above the actual cost of care or the applicable market rate, whichever is less
• Only for licensed and registered child care providers/programs
• Accredited by a nationally recognized child care organization that provides accreditation to licensed/registered child care providers including the National Association for Education of Young Children (NAEYC), National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC), and National School

Financial Assistance is Available to Help More Families Pay for Child Care!

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 submittted with a new or re-certification application. These documents need to be dropped off, mailed, or faxed (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

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. 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. Get Zoom link HERE.

All during August, National Wellness Month focuses on self-care, managing stress and promoting healthy routines. Create wholesome habits in your lifestyle all month long and see how much better you feel!

Research has shown self-care helps manage stress and promotes happiness. Whether you challenge yourself to a new yoga pose or try a different spa treament, make a small change and impact your health in positive ways.

There are numerous ways to make those small changes, too.

• Increase your water intake
• Add more fruits and veggies to your meals
• Monitor your sleep and make adjustments for better sleep habits
• Join a yoga, walking, or aerobics class
• Learn to meditate

These small steps can lead to many more healthy habits in your lifestyle.

Proclaim "I choose wellness" with a photo and post on social media.

Every August, let's amplify the message of healthy living, celebrate those providing amazing self-care solutions, and inspire others to create new healthy habits.

Visit www.wellnessmonth.com for a calendar of daily challenges for small ways you can choose to be well each day because we believe that small, daily acts of self-care lead to a lifetime of wellness.

For more ways to add wellness to your daily life, follow National Wellness Month: #wellnessmonth #welllife #Ichoosewellness

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

Thank you to all of you who educate and care for our children! 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. Register HERE.