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Child Care Council News and Events

Grant Funding to Address “Child Care Deserts” in the Finger Lakes Region

February 2nd, 2022

Funding will support new child care programs or expanding child care businesses
that help alleviate care shortages

New and existing child care businesses in the Finger Lakes region will have an opportunity to access grant funding to help address “child care deserts” – areas in the region with child care shortages.

Child Care Council Inc. is working with three other child care resource and referral agencies (CCR&Rs) to partner with New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) to offer federal grant funding to new licensed, registered or permitted child care programs in areas of the state with low supply. OCFS is making $70 million in grant funding available statewide to new licensed, registered or permitted child care programs. These funds are part of a $100 million child care initiative approved in the 2021 Enacted Budget through the American Rescue Plan Act.

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 at https://ocfs.ny.gov/main/contracts/funding/#RFA1.

Grant applications will be accepted beginning April 11, 2022, and the application deadline is May 19, 2022. Interested child care businesses must apply on the OCFS website at https://ocfs.ny.gov/programs/childcare/deserts/. Applicants must request 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 online orientation before applying at https://ocfs.ny.gov/programs/childcare/providers/cdc-orientation.php. Once completing the orientation, applicants can request a licensing application.

Applicants needing assistance with starting child care programs can contact their county’s OCFS Regional Office (https://ocfs.ny.gov/programs/childcare/regional-offices.php) or their local child care resource and referral agency, which can help with the licensing process. Regional CCR&R offices are:

  • Child Care Council Inc., serving Monroe, Livingston and Wayne counties – childcarecouncil.com
  • Chemung County Child Care Council Inc. – chemchildcare.com
  • Child and Family Resources Inc., serving Ontario, Seneca, and Yates counties – cfresources.org
  • Pro Action Child Care Council – proactioninc.org/cca

Jeff Pier, Child Care Council CEO, said, “Child Care Council is pleased to partner with New York state to address child care shortages in Monroe, Livingston and Wayne counties. There was a care shortage in our urban and rural communities before the COVID-19 pandemic, and the pandemic simply made the crisis worse. This funding opportunity will help fill the gap for families that don’t have access to child care, while also helping new child care businesses get up and running and enabling existing providers to expand.”

Ruth A. Harvey, executive director, Chemung County Child Care Council Inc., said, “In Chemung County, we see a continued need for additional quality child care slots for children of working families, especially infant and toddler care. This funding presents the chance for expansion in current programs as well as the opportunity for new programs to help meet the demand. New York state’s vision for the expansion of quality child care slots across the entire state will benefit many children and families.”

Julie Champion, executive director, Child and Family Resources Inc., said, “We have had an ongoing need for additional quality child care slots for children of working families in Ontario, Seneca, and Yates Counties, especially in more rural areas. The need is even greater for infant and toddler care. New Child Care Desert funding provides an opportunity for new child care programs and an expansion of slots in existing child care programs. Working families, children, our communities – and New York –needs this investment.”

Margie Lawlor, director, Pro Action Child Care Council, said, “Parts of our region lack sufficient child care options for all ages, and the entire region lacks sufficient child care options for infants and toddlers. This Child Care Desert funding is a great opportunity for local providers to open or expand. With this investment, we can begin to address the child care shortages that hold parents back from fully participating in the workforce.”

Attention Employers: Introducing Vroom

September 3rd, 2021
  • Vroom is an exciting national program that supports healthy child brain development.
  • It shows parents how they can turn activities like bath time and mealtime into opportunities that build their children’s brains.
  • Child Care Council is offering several ways for you to help, such as participating in virtual lunch-and-learn events, including program information in your internal newsletters, and sharing resources with your employees.

To learn more about this free resource, contact Renee Scholz, Child Care Council, at: 585.654.1286 or email us at [email protected].

Visit the Vroom website or view a sample Vroom tip.

Child Care Council Providing Technical Assistance to Providers Seeking State Child Care Stabilization Grants

August 9th, 2021

Child care providers interested in applying for a stabilization grant from the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) can receive technical support and assistance from Child Care Council.

OCFS is currently accepting applications for the child care stabilization grants made available through the federal American Rescue Plan Act and the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act. The goals of the grants are to provide financial relief to child care providers to help cover unexpected business costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and to help stabilize their operations so they may continue to provide care. New York state is making $1.1 billion available statewide.

Grant funds can be used for such items as personnel costs, rent, facility improvements, personal protective equipment, cleaning and sanitization supplies and services, or training and professional development related to health and safety practices. To be eligible, providers must be licensed or registered day care centers, group family day cares, school-age child care, family day care, small day care centers or enrolled legally exempt group programs.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has been incredibly challenging for everyone, and it has been devastating to child care providers – many who have lost income and some who had to close their doors,” said Jeff Pier, executive director, Child Care Council. “OCFS’ child care stabilization grant is an unprecedented opportunity and investment to help child care providers who have been hurting to bounce back and continue providing quality care to children in our community. Child Care Council is available to help providers navigate through the application process.”

To streamline the application process, OCFS is offering a single online application, and the application deadline is Nov. 30, 2021. Child Care Council can assist providers who need help completing the online application. Providers can contact the Council at [email protected] or 585.654.4794.

New Training Category

February 25th, 2021

The Office of Children & Family Service has added a 10th Training Category about Adverse Childhood Experiences for Child Care Providers! Learn more and register for our currently available courses at: https://childcarecouncil.com/professional-development/courses/

COVID Vaccine

January 15th, 2021

Registered and Licensed child care providers are now eligible to receive the COVID vaccine in phase 1B. You must go to this website to complete the eligibility form and make an appointment. There is detailed information on the site. https://covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/

Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation

January 8th, 2021

Register for this event today!

NYS Child Care Advocacy Tuesdays 2021

December 15th, 2020
    NYS Early Childhood Advocacy   Next year, early childhood advocacy will be more necessary than ever to protect New York’s young children and families from budget cuts to programs they depend on – especially those crucial to Black and Brown communities disproportionately harmed by the ongoing pandemic.   While the State Capitol may not be open to us, this virtual event will be an opportunity for those who would not normally be able to travel to Albany to make their voices heard. Anyone who believes that New York State should invest in its youngest children is invited to join.   Please join us for our 2021 Virtual Early Childhood Advocacy Days!     Kickoff and Virtual Press Conference February 2 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm   Legislative Meetings: February 9 & 16   Agenda and Meeting Information to Come   Register Now!   Español   Space on the kickoff call is limited so register early!   It is very important that each attendee registers by January 20th. This will help us schedule meetings and ensure that everyone has the information they need. For group registrationsemail Katie as soon as possible.     For additional materials, please visit: EmpireStateChildCare.org WinningBeginningNY.org   Join us and Share Your Story!       NYS Early Childhood Advocacy     Registration closes Tuesday, January 20    

Cares 3 Funding Available for Families

October 30th, 2020

Access to affordable and safe child care is a barrier for working parents during the best of times, and even more so during a crisis. The CARES Child Care Scholarship will ensure that the children are protected and cared for as they continue to serve the public.

Parent Application:

English Program Information Profile:  https://forms.gle/RmVMXXcfZK1vVGCL9

Spanish Program Information Profile: https://forms.gle/4S1zcZodQLJSCH7V7

Chinese Program Information Profile: https://forms.gle/jfeuVSbZUtQFRRQGA

COVID-19 Resource Kit

October 16th, 2020

The NYS Department of Health has released their Pre-K-12 COVID-19 toolkit. This will help parents and school staff know how to handle potential illness.

https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2020/10/prek-gr12_toolkit.pdf

CARES 3 Reopening/Restructuring for Remote Learning and Temporary Operating Grant

October 1st, 2020
Application

Twenty million dollars is allocated to provide grants for closed child care programs to reopen or restructure under new guidelines for social distancing. This may cover partitions, technology to support remote learning, broadband access, and cleaning and classroom supplies. An additional $28.6 million will provide grants for child day care providers to pay for half of the cost (up to $6,000) to re-open up to three classrooms in an effort to restore pre-pandemic enrollment. Temporary operating funds are phased out in the second and third months as the program’s enrollment increases.

LICENSED AND REGISTERED CHILD CARE PROGRAMS may apply for a Reopening/Restructuring for Remote Learning Grant.

LEGALLY EXEMPT CHILD CARE PROGRAMS may apply for a Reopening/Restructuring for Remote Learning Grant. These programs are ONLY eligible for cleaning and classroom supplies.

Instruction Video

This instructional video provides a step by step walk through of the process for completing the Reopening/Restructuring for Remote Learning and Temporary Operating Grant Applications. This video is for both licensed and registered and legally exempt programs.

For more information, click here.