Items filtered by date: April 2024

Online bidding for our Dream Big silent auction opens today!

Can't attend Dream Big? No worries! You don't have to be an event attendee to participate in the silent auction.

Have you ever helped create a mural?
Counted how long you keep a hula hoop going?
Been the person who toppled the giant Jenga tower?

You'll have the chance at Dream Big - the ultimate "party with a purpose."
But, don't worry. If your cocktail attire isn't  hopscotch-ready, there are plenty of less intense activities.
Or, you are welcome to just mingle and enjoy the wonderful food and drink at Captain Lawrence!

Join us on May 9th to have fun, support our work to make quality early care and learning more accessible, applaud our honorees, and hear from people whose lives improved remarkably once child care was no longer a barrier.

Click here to RSVP

The NYS Child Care and Pre-Kindergarten Vaccination Survey is open and due by April 26, 2023. It is required by Public Health Law § 2164 to complete this Survey.

The immunization requirements apply to children enrolling in and attending day care and prekindergarten. PHL 2164 includes any public, private, or parochial child-caring center, day nursery, day care agency, nursery school, kindergarten, elementary, intermediate, or secondary school.

Helpful links:

NYS vaccination survey page link: Click Here. The survey is due by April 26th.

Information regarding accessing and completing the Immunization Survey for Child Care and Pre-Kindergarten:

Instructions for Accessing and Completing the Day Care and Pre-K Survey (PDF)

Survey Instructions:

• Pre-K less than 1 year of age (PDF)
• Pre Kindergarten (PDF)

The following worksheet may assist in calculating immunizations: Click Here

Questions may be directed here:

 Immunization's School Assessment and Compliance Unit: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by phone at 518-474-1944.

Dream Big 2023 is less than a month away and we are happy to announce our Online Silent Auction will open on Monday, May 1st!

This year's event is experiential - designed to remind us of the joys of childhood, and what we want childhood to be like for every child. Not only do you have the chance to celebrate our honorees, Westchester's dedicated early education and after school providers, child care advocacy victories, and you: our supporters - you may also place your bid on a variety of items such as; vacation packages, golf outings, jewelry, wine bundles and more!

Stay tuned for more details!

Click Here to RSVP

Council Executive Director Kathy Halas was appointed by Governor Kathy Hochul to a three-year term on the New York State Child Care Availability Task Force. New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins recommended her for the role. The task force, comprised of representatives from state and local offices, SUNY, CUNY, advocacy groups, nonprofits and others, will evaluate child care needs throughout the state, advise the state on implementation of universal child care, and seek to address the child care workforce crisis, among other things. "The child care crisis is not something any one community or entity can solve on its own; we must work together to develop sustainable policies and practices that will ensure every child and every family has access to safe, affordable, quality care," said Kathy. "I am grateful to Governor Hochul and Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins for including me on this task force and look forward to working with all members to create a child care system that provides a strong foundation for children, families and our economy."

Our staff are making a difference far beyond Westchester, helping caregivers statewide care for children and themselves! Infant Toddler Regional Coordinator Jami Flynn and Infant Toddler Mental Health Consultant Susan Panarella, LMSW, spoke at the recent New York Association for the Education of Young Children (NYAEYC) Annual Conference, a sold-out event with 500+ educators and early childhood professionals in attendance. Together, Jami and Susan presented "Caregiver Wellness: You Can't Pour from an Empty Cup," to encourage caregivers to incorporate self-care into their daily routines. (Did you know that research shows that the well-being of early childhood providers and the social emotional development of the children in their care are interconnected?) Jami also presented "Inclusion of Infant and Toddlers with Disabilities: Coordination and Collaboration for Comprehensive Services, "teaching participants about their legal obligations, the importance of connecting with families and early intervention service providers, and how to make easy, inexpensive changes to materials in their spaces. The session also featured a productive conversation about the best ways to approach parents when a child care provider believes a child may be experiencing a developmental delay.

Can you believe this is a phot taken in our conference room? Earlier this month, Good for You Productions transformed it into a film studio for the day. Nearly 20 people - mostly parents and child care professionals - talked on camera about how the Child Care Council, and especially the Westchester Works Child Care Scholarship, has changed their lives. Parents shared what life was like before and after: the joy and pride they feel seeing their children progress in a quality child care setting, the relief now that they can afford basic needs and even have a bit left over for a treat, like a slice of pizza on the way home from school. But we don't want to gie away too much here! To hear more about how these scholarships are uplifting kids and families, be sure to attend Dream Big on May 9th, where the video will air! And p.s., we still need everyone's help to promote the scholarship, which covers 50-60% of the cost of care for families well above the typical income limits for financial assistance. (For instance, a family of three can earn up to $92,120 and qualify!) Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for details and promotional material.

Join us at Dream Big on May 9th to give thanks and celebrate, and to hear the stories that fuel our passion for this work.

Click here to RSVP

Upcoming Child Care Business Events

M&T Bank - How to Open a Business Checking Account

(IN-PERSON)

Thursday, April 20, 2023

6:00pm - 7:00pm

Meet with an M&T Business Banking Specialist to learn how to open a simple checking account for your child care business. M&T's Simple Checking for Business is an easy-to-use, low-cost alternative to standard business checking accounts. Register here.

Employee Retention Credits (ERC) Information Session 

(Virtual)

Tuesday, April 25, 2023

1:00pm - 2:00pm

The Employee Retention Credit (ERC) is a new tax credit authorized by the CARES Act that provides tax credit to employers who were affected by COVID-19. It is not a loan and does not need to be paid back. Nearly all U.S based businesses may be eligible to receive an ERC credit of up to $26,000 per employee. Join us in this informational session to find out if your child care business is eligible! Register here.

Let's do something great for Westchester's children!

• Do you have an amazing idea for your child care/after school program that needs some resources?
• Something you've always wanted to try?
• A promising approach that will make great things possible for Westchester children?

Then we encourage you to apply for a Cate Riley Innovation for Quality Prize. Three (3) grants up to $2,000 each will be awarded.