April 2021
914.761.3456
"A teacher takes a hand, opens a mind and touches a heart"
~Unknown
COVID UPDATES & RESOURCES
Dear Provider:
 
On March 2, 2021, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services directed states and territories to get all teachers, school personnel, child care program educators, and other child care program staff members their first coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination by the end of the month. To help monitor progress toward this goal, we are helping the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conduct a survey to learn about your attitudes and behaviors regarding COVID-19 vaccination. The survey should take only 5–10 minutes to complete. Your participation is completely voluntary. No personally identifying information will be collected, and your responses will be kept confidential.
 
If you agree to participate, please complete this National COVID-19 Vaccination Survey. If you receive the link multiple times, please complete the survey just once. The survey closes on March 31.

Starting April 1, domestic travelers will no longer be required to quarantine after entering New York. While no longer required, quarantine after domestic travel is still advised as an added precaution. Mandatory quarantine remains in effect for international travelers as per the NYS March 11th announcement. Click here to read more about the vaccine and travel requirements.

For other COVID-19 related questions/concerns, visit the link below:
BE ON THE LOOKOUT
A lot of people may feel they can get in and out of a store, house, restaurant, gas station market, or any other place within seconds. What they may not realize is a thief can get in a vehicle and take off in that same amount of time.

Lately, there has been an alarming number of cases where cars were stolen with children inside. Kidsandcars.org, reported over 10 cases where a vehicle was stolen with children inside. Thankfully, most of the children were found unharmed, but it doesn't always end that way.

It is extremely important that children never be left alone in a vehicle at any time.

For more information and tips on how to protect your children, click here.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE AMAZING TRAININGS
With spring, comes lots of rainy weather. This training will explore different indoor and outdoor activities for children of all ages.

Why do toddlers say "NO" all the time? It may be because they hear it all the time. Join us for a conversation on ways to create a "YES" environment.

OTHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Great News! The CDA Renewal Amnesty Program has been extended until the end of the year.

Need help getting started? Click the links below.
Need to fulfill more training hours? The Council's got you covered. Click here to find more trainings.
REGULATION REMINDERS: 414.15(b)(11)(ii)(c), 416.15(b)(11)(ii)(c), 417.15(b)(11)(ii)(c), 418-1.15(b)(11)(ii)(c), 418-2.15(b)(11)(ii)(c) FINGERPRINTS

In September 2019, the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) implemented federally required comprehensive background checks under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act (CCDBG). Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, fingerprinting services were suspended from mid-March 2020 through June 2020. This notification serves to reinforce the birthday schedule as outlined above, for existing individuals who were required to complete the CCDBG comprehensive background check process during March - June 2020 but were unable to do so because of fingerprint services being unavailable. We are now aligning the March 2020 - June 2020 timeframe for completion of the comprehensive background check requirements, with this coming March - June 2021. This means that anyone whose birthday falls from March 2021 - June 2021 must schedule a fingerprint appointment to occur within seven days (before or after) their birthday if they have not yet completed this process. Read more here.
THE COUNCIL WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU AS A MEMBER!
Enjoy some AMAZING benefits:

  • Membership Certificate to post at your site
  • Discounted calendar trainings and on-site trainings
  • Listing on our website with a link to yours
  • Free postings on the Council's job bank
  • Free Members Only networking events
  • Lakeshore Learning coupon and discount
  • Printed Council Training Calendars
  • Free promotional gift
  • Refer a friend and receive a voucher for a free training
NYS will have $2.3 billion in child care stimulus funds.

Let's spend it wisely, to help struggling parents and struggling child care programs.


This is unprecedented funding for child care, and it represents a chance to really open up child care access and affordability for so many parents and help child care and after school programs that have really been hurt by the pandemic.

But this funding has to get out strategically and quickly.

The NYS Assembly has crafted a comprehensive plan for these funds, with input from parents, child care providers, unions, organizations like ours, and child advocates.

Take 1 minute to urge the Governor and your state legislators to include the Assembly child care plan is in the final NYS budget.


This could be one of the most important clicks you make.
New OCFS Anaphylaxis Policy for Child Care Programs
On March 15, 2021 OCFS sent a Dear Provider Letter to programs to inform them of the recent requirements regarding Elijah’s Law. The email contained not only the letter but the anaphylaxis policy as well as a new OCFS-6029 Form (The Individual Allergy and Anaphylaxis Emergency Plan).

Elijah's Law requires child care programs to be in compliance with the policy six months from the date of distribution. OCFS strongly encourages child care programs to make the required policy updates as soon as possible, and will begin monitoring for compliance on September 15, 2021.

For more information on the letter and policy, visit the link below.
WHAT'S COOKING WITH CACFP?

The Child and Adult Care Food Program helps to combat hunger and bring healthy foods to tables across the country for children in child care centers, homes, emergency shelters, and afterschool programs through a USDA federal reimbursement program.


Interested in learning more about the CACFP and how you can enroll your program? Contact Latoya Carney-Ramsey at 914-761-3456 ex. 118 or by email latoyar@cccwny.org.
Interested in making these delicious tasty tots? Click the link below for directions.
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
The Westchester Children's Museum offers many programs and activities for children of all ages, including literacy, math, science, art and more. The Westchester Children's Museum has been working diligently to increase their on-site programs, while maintaining safety precautions, for staff, members, and visitors. This summer, they will be introducing their first drop-off program for children ages 3-5. To learn about the summer program and other activities/programs the Westchester Children's Museum offers, click here.
CHILDREN'S CORNER
Need a fun activity to do with the kids?

Use chalk to draw large dots. Make learning fun by combining learning with movement. Doing this can help children better retain what they've learned. Have children jump, hop, and skip from color to color calling out the color names.

This quick, simple and fun twist on hopscotch is sure to keep children engaged. This activity will help children explore sensory skills, such as sight and sound. It also helps with gross motor skills, math, creativity, hand-eye coordination, and balance.

You can take this activity even further, by drawing multiple dots of the same color and having children count them or have children jump on the same color as their shirt.
WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE COUNCIL
2021 Early Education Hall of Heroes
Nominations have come in and we are excited to gather virtually as we celebrate some of Westchester's most dedicated and exceptional child care professionals and after school professionals.

Join us for a night of fun entertainment, giveaways, awards, and more. Mark your calendars:

Friday, June 4, 2021 - 7pm

Registration opens soon. To learn more about the Hall of Heroes event, click here.
Pictured: Juanita Pope, Latoya Carney-Ramsey, Elsa Sanchez - 2019 Hall of Heroes Event
Spring Virtual Early Childhood Conference

"Building Resiliency in Uncertain Times"
Saturday, April 24, 2021
8:30 am - 1:00 pm
Join us as we explore the science and the impact of trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences on an individual's development and learning ability. Discover how we can work to strengthen our relationships during this time while building our children's resilience.

For more information and to register, click here.
WEEK OF THE YOUNG CHILD
Join us as we celebrate Week of the Young Child the entire month of April. The Council has exciting events for all ages lined up throughout the month. We have virtual story & music times, virtual cooking class, tributes to providers, and more.

To register and find a list of all events, click here.
You can stay connected with us and find other events that are happening at the Council by clicking the link below.
WE'RE WELCOMING FOUR NEW BOARD MEMBERS TO THE COUNCIL
The Child Care Council of Westchester’s Board of Directors are dedicated Westchester professionals who understand the vital importance of quality early care and education, and volunteer their time and resources to support our mission. We are always looking for new members to lend their voice for the children and child care professionals by bringing innovative ideas, through advocacy work, and more. If you are interested in becoming a board member, we would love to talk with you. Click the link below to find out how you can help.
If you are passionate about child care and making a positive impact, looking for a great career opportunity, or simply want to volunteer, we would love to work with you. Learn more about open positions, and how to apply, below!
THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS TO SUPPORT THE COUNCIL
Support the Council while you dine! We are excited that two of our community restaurants, Hartsdale Shake Shack and Scarsdale Chipotle, are donating a portion of their sales to the Council. It’s simple, dine or order out at Shake Shack on April 8th or at Chipotle on April 20th to support Council services. View the below flyers to learn more.
April 8th, Shake Shack Donation Day
April 20th, Chipotle Eat for Change
When you support quality early care and education, your donation lasts a lifetime. If you wish to donate monetarily or any other way, you can find out how to do so by clicking the link below.
914.761.3456
313 Central Park Avenue
Scarsdale, NY 10583