"Teachers encourage minds to think, hands to create, and hearts to love."
~Unknown
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MARKET RATES TELEPHONE SURVEY OF 2021
Every few years, the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) conducts a survey of the price of child care across the state of New York. This information is very important. It helps OCFS update child care subsidy payment rates so they reflect local prices. You may be called and asked to participate in this year's Child Care Market Rate Survey.
The Market Rate Survey Team will be conducting the survey from September to December 2021. If you are called, the number on your caller ID will be 844-863-9318. If you choose to participate, you will be asked what you charge for child care and how many children are in your care. Please base your answers using the rates you charge to your "private pay clients," not the rates you charge for children whose care is paid for by the county department of social services (or in New York City by the Administration of Children's Services or Human Resource Administration). The survey takes about 15 minutes.
Here is the survey form so that you will be familiar with the questions and be able to answer them more easily during the phone interview, if you are called. Please do not mail back the enclosed form. Wait for the Market Rate Survey Team to call you. If your telephone number has changed, please be sure that your licensor or registrar has your current telephone number so that you can be reached. Please tell people who may answer your telephone (staff, volunteers, household members in family day care) about this survey.
The information you provide the Survey Team will be used only to update the child care subsidy rates for your county. Your individual responses will not be shared with anyone other than the staff who will be data entering and processing the survey results. To meet federal requirements, the Survey Team may call a few randomly selected providers to verify the information included in the survey. If you have any questions, please call (518) 474-9454.
The Child Care Council believes, as do many others, that OCFS needs to alter its approach to the market rate survey, so that they collect data on actual costs, not on prices. We will continue to advocate for that important change in policy and practice.
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TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE GREAT TRAININGS! |
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Inclusion of Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities |
Wednesday, November 10, 2021
6:30-8:30pm
How do you help a young child and their family through the process of Early Intervention? Learn strategies to include young children with delays and challenges in your program.
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Bring On The Holiday! Create Art Experiences for Preschoolers |
Tuesday, November 16, 2021
6:30-8:30pm
Explore unique art experiences that tap into the creative process of preschoolers.
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To register for the above or other trainings, click here.
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MAT TRAININGS ARE BACK AT THE COUNCIL! |
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Child care providers who choose to administer medication to children in a child care setting must take the MAT course. The MAT Course is highly recommended for all child care programs and will cover all regulations for programs that administer medication and programs that only administer emergency medications. Visit our website here for upcoming classes.
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Regulations Reminder: State Central Register (SCR)
414.5(m)(1)
The school age child care program must have immediate access to a minimum of one working landline telephone for general use and emergencies. A working mobile phone(s) is permitted for the purpose of promoting children's safety and ensuring the orderly operation of the program, but its use does not remove the requirement for a designated on-site landline telephone.
416.5(m)(1), and 417.5(m)(1)
A working telephone must be available for use by all caregivers at all times children are in care.
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Webinar for tax preparers on "The Child Care Stabilization Grants and The Unique Tax Issues Affecting Family Child Care Providers"
Tuesday, November 2, 2021 ~ 11am
Webinar on "The Tax Changes for 2021 Affecting Family Child Care Providers"
Saturday, December 4, 2021 ~ 10am
Thursday, December 9, 2021 ~ 7pm
Tuesday, December 14, 2021 ~ 7pm
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ARE YOU LOOKING FOR STAFF? |
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We know that there has been a great challenge with securing staff and we are here to help. We are working on a variety of projects to help fill the gap. Stay tuned for more details.
We welcome you to post open positions on our website for free! Qualified candidates search to find careers in child care daily on our website. Take advantage of our website and post your job opening for free TODAY. Just visit Post A Job Listing to submit your profile. In addition, you may search for qualified candidates here on our website. Feel free to reach Juanita Pope at (914) 761-3456 ext. 106 or email her at [email protected] for more information.
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HELP PREVENT RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS |
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In the past several months there has been a surge in the reported cases of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). Typically, RSV runs from late fall into the early spring. This year cases increased during the summer and into early fall. Children attending child care are more likely to develop RSV.
RSV is a virus causing respiratory illness. It is the most common disease of early childhood (generally seen in children under 4 years old).
Some common symptoms could include: Fever, Cough, Congestion, Fast Breathing, Wheezing, Runny Nose, Sneezing, Poor Feeding, Flaring of the Nostrils, and more.
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COUNTY EXEC LATIMER PROPOSES $5.6mil CHILD CARE ADD |
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Many hard-working Westchester families previously over-income for child care financial assistance, will have help paying what is often the biggest household bill! Just after our Westchester Child Care Advocacy Hour on October 28th, attended by hundreds, the County Executive announced this tremendous investment in child care. His proposed budget will be released on November 9th.
"Both the administration and the Board of Legislators have shown tremendous support for child care and Westchester was a leader in the state when it came to maximizing all the opportunities during COVID to assist parents and child care programs, but this investment is a game-changer, " stated Executive Director Kathy Halas. "We are grateful to the County Executive, to Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins and their entire team for opening up child care for so many Westchester families."
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WE NEED SAFE PRODUCTS FOR OUR CHILDREN! |
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Over the years, there have been so many toys and other children products that have been recalled due to serious injuries or unfortunate deaths.
Button batteries are found in many toys and common household items, like some electronic toothbrushes. These batteries are extremely dangerous if ingested. Once the battery is ingested, it starts to erode and burn. The death of a young child who died after swallowing a button battery last year has sparked a national conversation to raise awareness about the dangers of button batteries. June 12, 2021 was designated as Button Battery Awareness Day. Read this heartbreaking story here.
Recently, the Boppy Company has had a recall on their newborn loungers due to eight reported infant deaths. Infants can suffocate if they roll, move, or are placed on the lounger in a position that obstructs breathing, or roll off the lounger onto an external surface, such as an adult pillow or soft bedding that obstructs breathing. For more information on this recall, click here.
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WHAT'S COOKING WITH CACFP?
Are you enrolled in CACFP, the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program? The Child Care Council of Westchester is a contracted sponsor of CACFP and works directly with home-based childcare programs to provide children with nutritious meals and snacks.
Interested in learning more about the CACFP? Contact Latoya Carney-Ramsey at 914-761-3456 ex. 118 or by email [email protected].
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Want a delicious recipe? Click the link below. |
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In Westchester and Putnam counties, 4-out-of-10 households are living paycheck-to-paycheck or in poverty. They are considered the ALICE population. ALICE is an acronym for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed – households that earn more than the Federal Poverty Level, but less than the basic cost of living for the county (the ALICE Threshold).
The United Way of Westchester and Putnam is dedicated to improving the lives of 40% of our neighbors who live in poverty or paycheck to paycheck. These are often hardworking families struggling to make ends meet and provide a better life for their children.
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Homemade wild bird feeders are wonderful ways to feed backyard birds. Great activity if you love bird watching and are looking for a fun way for the kids to get to know which birds are native to your area.
Cut the apples in half lengthwise and hollow out the insides with a spoon or knife. After the center is hollowed out, fill each apple with peanut butter or sun butter and birdseed. Attach a screw or other fastener into the apple and hang with twine from a nearby tree.
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WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE COUNCIL |
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We welcome Analidia Flores to the CCCW family. She will be working in the Provider Services department as a Bi-lingual Legally Exempt Enroller. She will help enroll and re-enroll legally exempt caregivers and conduct inspections to ensure health and safety requirements are being met. |
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We welcome back Jessica Cardenas, who stepped back into her role as a Bi-lingual CACFP Case Manager. She will continue to work with providers to ensure sound nutritional services and help the providers achieve financial savings. |
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SAVE THE DATE:
- Meet Santa, December 2, 2021
- Dream Big 2022, April 7, 2022
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For more events, click the button below. |
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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. |
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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! |
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THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS TO SUPPORT THE COUNCIL |
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AmazonSmile is a simple way for you to support your favorite charitable organization every time you shop, at no cost to you. AmazonSmile is available at smile.amazon.com on your web browser and can be activated in the Amazon Shopping app for iOs and Android phones. When you shop at AmazonSmile, you'll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added benefit that AmazonSmile will donate 0.5% of your eligible purchases to the charitable organization of your choice.
When you shop AmazonSmile and select The Child Care Council of Westchester, we receive a smile too! A portion of your purchase will be donated to the Council!
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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. |
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Any concerns about Council services, service delivery, communications or interactions can be reported by completing the complaint form here on our website or by contacting the Council’s executive director at [email protected] or (914) 761-3456 ext. 102.
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914.761.3456
313 Central Park Avenue
Scarsdale, NY 10583
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