Carmelita Bota, Infant Toddler Quality Specialist, announced that Dr. Walter Gilliam, whose research on early childhood expulsions and suspensions, especially among young children of color, sparked a national conversation, will deliver the keynote at the Council’s 2022 Virtual Spring Early Childhood Conference on Saturday, April 30, 2022.

Dr. Gilliam, Professor of Child Psychiatry and Psychology and Director of the Edward Zigler Center at Yale University Child Study Center also serves as Vice President of ZERO TO THREE and a past president of Child Care Aware of America.  Often quoted in the national media, Dr. Gilliam actively provides consultation to state and federal decision-makers in the U.S. and frequently presents U.S. Congressional testimony and briefings on issues related to early care and education.

Entitled Working Together: Supporting Children and Responding to Challenging Behaviors, our conference is relevant not only for those working in early childhood, but for everyone working with young children and families.  Dr. Gilliam will not only speak to the issue of early childhood expulsion and suspension, he will address strategies for staff to help children succeed, in partnership with their parents.

The line-up of presenters is still in formation, but is expected to include other voices addressing alternatives to expulsion/suspension, its impact on families and what can be done on a policy level to better protect our young children.

Registration to open soon!

REGISTER TODAY for the Mid-Hudson Regional NYS Child Care Briefing on Feb 18th at 12 noon. Over 150 people registered already!

Representatives from 6 child care resource and referral agencies, along with parents, child care providers and nonprofit and community leaders from the Mid-Hudson Region - anyone who cares about kids, equitable access to child care, and our economic recovery - is invited to join us.

We'll share our concerns and ideas with our elected leaders, and ask them to #fundchildcare. You can speak up, or just listen and lend your support. The state of child care is dire right now.

With your help we can make New York THE state for child care!

Register here to receive the Zoom link: https://midhudregionchildcare.eventbrite.com/

The New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) recently announced that $70 million in grant funding is available to new licensed, registered or permitted child care programs in areas of the state with the least supply, known as child care deserts. The funds, which are part of a $100 million child care initiative approved in the 2021 Enacted Budget, are being made available through the American Rescue Plan Act and will be administered by OCFS.

The application portal will open in April, but providers should familiarize themselves with the process now, as some requirements must be met beforehand. Keep reading for important details.

The grants will support new child care providers in creating their child care program and in recruiting, retaining and training staff to meet workforce demands. Grant recipients can also use the funding to support start-up expenses, personnel costs, general child care business expenses and staff expenses in accessing COVID-19 vaccines. Additional details on eligibility and requirements of the grant can be found in the Request for Applications.

Applicants must have submitted their request for an application for license before grant application submission. All applicants must complete the OCFS or the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYCDOHMH) online orientation before applying at https://ocfs.ny.gov/programs/childcare/providers/cdc-orientation.php. Once the orientation is completed, applicants can request a licensing application. Please visit the OCFS website here for more information and to apply for the grant.

Programs applying to become a NYCDOHMH Article 47 day care center must attend a pre-permit orientation before applying for a new permit (check the box next to “Group Child Care and Summer Camp Orientation Sessions,” then click “Continue” at the bottom of the page).

Applicants needing assistance with starting child care programs can contact the Westchester Regional Officer of OCFS at 845-708-2400, or call the Child Care Council at 914-761-3456.

Child Care Deserts Funding Opportunity Info Session With OCFS

Monday, February 7th at 2pm

Last Friday, Governor Kathy Hochul announced the exciting new Invest in NY-Child Care Deserts initiative, designed to create new child care slots all across the state. Join the NYS Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) next Monday to learn the following about this funding for new child care programs:

• eligibility criteria
• available funding
• award calculation
• allowable expenses
• scoring
• deliverables

You will also have an opportunity to submit questions for review and public response by OCFS at a future date. This session will be recorded and later available but attendance on Feb. 7th is encouraged:

To register for this session, please click here.

Visit the OCFS website to review the RFA (Request for Applications) materials in advance. 

Need help with registering or licensing a new program? There are info sessions all over NYS. Click here to find one in your area.

Schedule for test kits distribution:

• Friday, January 21st, from 9am to 7pm
• Monday, January 24th, from 9am to 5pm
• Tuesday, January 25th, from 9am to 5 pm

Keep in mind:

• No pre-registration necessary. Just come at the above times.
• You must be a Westchester-based, OCFS-regulated child care/after school program.
• You must bring a copy or photo of your valid child care license/registration along with photo identification.
• You will be asked to sign for your test kits.

The number of test kits by modality is as follows:

• Day care center - 22
• School age program - 22
• Group family child care provider - 12
• Family child care provider - 6
• Small day care center - 12

A reminder that the test kits are to be used for the providers, staff and families enrolled in your program. Given the limited quantity, we encourage you to reserve them for individuals experiencing symptoms or those with a known exposure to a COVID positive individual. Child care providers must not test children enrolled in their programs. If an enrolled child has symptoms of COVID, you may provide a test kit to the child's parent or guardian.

We will schedule additional pick-up times if needed.