The Child Care Council of Westchester, Inc. is pleased to announce the winners of the inaugural Cathryn A. Riley Innovation for Quality Prize: the Early Care and Learning Council, the Adirondack Community Action Program, the Capital District Child Care Council and Child Care Council, Inc.   The awards were made at the Early Care and Learning Council’s 2016 Annual Meeting & Luncheon “United to Promote Quality” in Albany, New York on June 8, 2016.  The honorees were selected by a special committee including Lottie Harris, former Child Care Council of Westchester executive director, Dr. Pat Amanna, director of Children’s Center at SUNY Purchase, Mary Lou Sgro, Early Childhood Department, Westchester Community College, and Kathy Halas, executive director of the Child Care Council of Westchester:    

The Adirondack Community Action Program was recognized for their creativity in educating their rural community about the importance of quality in child care through a video created in collaboration with their local PBS station and use of lawn signs “Quality Child Care Being Offered Here” at child care programs.

The Capital District Child Care Council was selected for their inventive use of video and social media in promoting their professional development and referral services and for their new Farm to Preschool Farm Stands, which connects young children and their parents to healthy fresh local produce.

Child Care Council, Inc. was chosen for their comprehensive suite of services and highly successful outreach and marketing plan for Spanish-speaking providers with the leadership of Hector Santiago. 

The Early Care and Learning Council was recognized for the creation and development of the Quality Investments for Kids initiative, in partnership with participating child care resource and referral member programs and agencies.  QIK “seeks to expand the market for Quality”, by educating families, providers, employers and communities that substantial investments of all types are necessary for our children and communities to thrive.

The Council established this special fund in 1998 to honor Cathryn A. Riley and all her contributions to the field of early care and education.   Cate was a program coordinator at the Council.  She was also involved with the New York State Child Care Coordinating Council, now known as the Early Care and Learning Council.   Cate served on the New York State 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 had many colleagues and friends in the audience during the presentation of the Prizes – she is very much missed.

In photo:  Cindy Veazey, ECLC Board, Kathy Halas, Child Care Council of Westchester, David Voegele, ECLC Executive Director, Lynn Sickles, ECLC Board President, and Howard Milbert, Ossining Children’s Center Executive Director and Co-President of the Westchester Early Childhood Directors Association

Record-breaking event!
We welcomed nearly 300 guests at our Annual Awards Breakfast on Friday June 3rd, sponsored in part by Polaris Properties.

In addition to hearing about the accomplishments and inspirations of our Champions for Children and Joey Award winners, highlights included a special “interruption” of our Board president’s speech by 10-year-old Isaiah, who posed some tough questions about the importance of quality early care; a moving story about a mom and two young children who were helped through a crisis as part of our Babies Step forward program; our first-ever silent auction; and a very generous $10,000 matching gift donation from an anonymous Board member.

A tremendous “thank you” to all of the attendees, sponsors, award winners and supporters who helped make the event so special – for recognizing the importance of creating a better future for Westchester's children through quality early care and education.

Click here to see photos!

We’re excited to announce the 2016 Joey Award Winners

Iris Rivera – Westchester County Department of Social Services

Lynda Merchant – New York State Association for the Education of Young Children

Suzanne Newcomb – St. Paul’s Child Care Center

Raquel Burton – Busy B’s Child Daycare, Inc.

Shannon Shields – Westchester Community Opportunity Program, Inc.

Brent Morton – Country Children’s Center

Honorees will be recognized at the Annual Awards Breakfast, sponsored by Polaris Properties, on Friday, June 3, 2016 from 8:00 to 10:00 am at the Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown, NY. Tara Rosenblum of News 12 Westchester will be Master of Ceremonies.

Event tickets are available for purchase online at www.bit.ly/2016cccwawards. For more information about the Annual Awards Breakfast, contact Dana Lawless at (914) 761-3456 x127 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The Child Care Council of Westchester has child care scholarships available. Full-time working parents who live in Westchester with children up to 13 years of age may be eligible for scholarships covering July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017.

2016-2017 Applications : 2016-2017 Early Opportunity Scholarship (EOS), July 1, 2016 - June 30, 2017, Deadline for APPLICATIONS: May 25, 2016

Explore and Discover with trainings at the Child Care Council of Westchester!

The Council’s new Summer Training Calendar offers a variety of trainings for early care and education professionals.  We can help you expand your skills, improve the quality of care you provide to children, and meet NYS licensing requirements.