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GCSD’s KidsCare Becomes First School-Based Child Care Program in the State to Implement Social-Emotional Development Model

February 12 2024

For the first time, Child Care Council Inc. is collaborating with a school-based child care program in New York to implement the Pyramid Model of social-emotional development. The Pyramid Model is an evidence-based framework proven effective in building social and emotional competence in early care and education programs by promoting positive behavior and well-being in […]

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    Federal CARES Act Funding Available for Child Care Providers

    Federal CARES Act Funding Available for Child Care Providers

    June 26, 2020

    Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that $65 million in federal CARES Act funding is available for child care providers statewide through the New York Forward Child Care Expansion Incentive program.

    The funding available includes:
    • $20 million to assist childcare program with reopening and expansion of capacity by providing materials to support a more socially distant model, and for supplies and activities associated with reopening and expansion. This may include partitions, short term rental of space, etc.

    • $45 million in childcare Reopening and Expansion Incentive funds to pay for 50% of the cost of a newly opened classroom (maximum grant amount of $6,000) as an incentivize to open the classroom. The temporary funds will phase out over the second and third months as more parents bring their children back into childcare.

    New York Forward Child Care Expansion Incentive and Temporary Operating Assistance Applications

    • The first attachment (OCFS 5450) is the application for licensed/registered child care programs
    • The second attachment (OCFS 5451) is the application for legally exempt programs
    • Both of these documents are posted on the OCFS website

    Applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. on July 15, 2020.

    Guidance Documents for Child Care

    June 10, 2020

    The Child Care Council, Inc. would like to share these important guidance documents created and circulated by the Department of Health and the Center for Disease Control.  If we all do our part and follow these guidelines and safety requirements we will help mitigate the spread of COVID19 and other illnesses and communicable diseases.

    “INTERIM GUIDANCE FOR CHILD CARE AND DAY CAMP PROGRAMS DURING THE COVID-19 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY”:  Lists recommendations and requirements based on DOH & CDC guidelines.  Also includes an AFFIRMATION page you need to sign off on stating you have read and understand the NYS guidance. https://www.governor.ny.gov/sites/governor.ny.gov/files/atoms/files/Child_Care_Daycamps_Detailed_Guidelines.pdf

    “Reopening New York, Child Care and Day Camp Program Guidelines” – This is a summary page of all of the CDC and DOH guidelines that are Mandatory VS Best Practice.  Very easy to read and understand. https://ocfs.ny.gov/main/news/2020/COVID-2020Jun08-Day-Camp-Summary.pdf

    “NY FORWARD SAFETY PLAN TEMPLATE” – All programs of every modality are required to complete and fill out a SAFETY PLAN for their program.  This does not need to be approved by your local or state registration or licensing agency.  However, it needs to be posted in your program. https://ocfs.ny.gov/main/news/2020/COVID-2020Jun08-Guidance-Reopening-Plan-Template.pdf

    All programs are also required to post DOH/CDC COVID19 signage around their program space as per the guidance below:

    • Responsible Parties must post signs throughout the site, consistent with DOH COVID-19 signage. Responsible Parties can develop their own customized signage specific to their workplace or setting, provided that such signage is consistent with the Department’s signage. Signage should be used to remind individuals to:

    o Cover their nose and mouth with a mask or cloth face-covering.

    o Properly store and, when necessary, discard PPE.

    o Adhere to physical distancing instructions.

    o Report symptoms of or exposure to COVID-19, and how they should do so.

    o Follow hand hygiene and cleaning and disinfection guidelines.

    o Follow appropriate respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette.

    Here is a link to the CDC website where you can find and print appropriate signage to place around your program space:

    https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/communication/print-resources.html?Sort=Date%3A%3Adesc

    Also reminding you that you must keep a “DEEP CLEANING” log to document and record how you are cleaning and disinfecting effectively throughout the course of the day.  This should include sanitizing and disinfecting frequently used surfaces and areas such as doorknobs, countertops, play areas, and the bathroom.

    OCFS did not come up with these rules, these are EXECUTIVE ORDERS from the GOVERNOR of NY and they must be followed.  All providers are required to wear face coverings at all times they are caring for children.  Refusal to follow these rules would be placing others at risk and your program out of compliance. 

    Thank you for your continued efforts and support throughout this challenging time

    Society Can Learn Much from Child Care Environments When it Comes to Racial Harmony

    June 3, 2020

    Child care is a place of innocence, learning and development – as well as racial harmony. Children of all colors and backgrounds play together, learn together and make friendships. They don’t pay attention to skin color.

    Unfortunately, somehow that racial harmony and innocence too often gets lost among adults. The murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis is the latest in a long line of horrific examples of the racism and dehumanization of people of color that exist in our country.

    Child Care Council stands against racism and racial inequality, and we very much believe that Black Lives Matter. Among our core values is the statement that, “We celebrate diversity.” We remain committed to this value, and, during this tragic time, we want to express our strong support for black children and black families in our community.

    In his “I Have a Dream Speech,” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”

    Nearly 60 years later, we still are far from making Dr. King’s dream a reality. However, perhaps our nation can get there someday by looking at the world through a child’s eyes and by learning from the child care environment. We hope that the day will come soon when our society as a whole can be like the child care classroom, where people of all colors live, work and play together, equally and in harmony.

    – Barbara-Ann Mattle, CEO
    Child Care Council Inc.

    Resources:
    • Learn about Black Lives Matter at
    • Donate to the George Floyd Memorial Fund

    Child Care Council Names Jeffrey Pier Executive Director

    May 22, 2020

    Pier succeeds CEO Barbara-Ann Mattle, who is retiring

    ROCHESTER, N.Y., May 22, 2020 – Jeffrey Pier has been named Child Care Council Inc.’s new executive director. He starts his new role on June 26.

    Pier comes to Child Care Council after serving as executive director of The Healing Connection, an eating-disorder treatment program for adolescents and adults. He takes over leadership of the nonprofit agency from CEO Barbara-Ann Mattle, who is retiring effective June 30. Mattle worked to support child care development and to enhance the quality of child care, both locally and nationally, for more than 35 years.

    “I look forward to the wonderful opportunity to build on the success of Barbara-Ann Mattle and the Council staff in their efforts to improve access to quality child care,” Jeffrey Pier said. “I firmly believe we can be successful through team-building and collaboration, and I will bring my passion for program development, staff collaboration and client-centered services to help meet the child care needs of our community.”

    “I am extremely proud of my more than three decades of work to improve and support the development of high-quality child care programs in New York state,” Barbara-Ann Mattle said. “I want to thank the Council board of directors, leadership team and staff for their amazing work and support over the years to connect families with quality child care. I know that I am leaving the Council in great hands with Jeff Pier.”

    Jeffrey Pier has years of experience working with people who have suffered through trauma, and he has seen firsthand trauma’s impact on their health and on their feelings of self-worth. Prior to leading The Healing Connection, Pier served as director of programs and services at Willow Domestic Violence Center, as regional director for the Rape Crisis Program at Planned Parenthood of Western New York – RESTORE and as program manager at St. Joseph’s Villa. A resident of Chili, Pier earned a master’s degree in public administration from Walden University and a bachelor’s degree in human service from Empire State College.

    Child Care Council has an annual budget of more than $7 million, and it employs more than 50 people. The nonprofit has three offices in Rochester, Lakeville and Newark.

    Council CEO Barbara-Ann Mattle Retiring After More Than Three Decades

    May 19, 2020

    Child Care Council Inc. CEO Barbara-Ann Mattle announced today that she is retiring after 37 years in the role, effective June 30, 2020. The Council will soon announce her successor.

    During her tenure directing the Council’s operations, Barbara-Ann Mattle achieved great success in supporting child care development and in enhancing the quality of child care, both locally and nationally. She helped build Child Care Council from an agency with a $20,000 budget and a staff of 1.5 people into the largest Child Care Resource and Referral agency in New York state, with a $7 million budget, 60 employees and offices in Monroe, Livingston and Wayne counties.

    Programs and services greatly expanded under Mattle’s leadership, including New York State Family and School-Sage Child Care Program Registration and Inspection services, New York State Legally Exempt Child Care Enrollment and Inspection, an early childhood professional library, and a Repurpose and More Store. Mattle also facilitated the Region II New York State Regional Infant/Toddler Resource Center in nine counties; the New York State Pyramid Model program; the USDA Child and Adult Food Programs sponsorship, and the Eat Well/Play Hard nutrition program in eight counties.

    Other program accomplishments included launching a Special Needs service, multilingual interpretation and support services (Spanish, Swahili, Arabic and Urdu), and a nine-county Infant/Toddler Childhood Mental Health Consultation service. Child Care Council also became one of only 10 sites across the country selected to participate in the Vroom project, a partnership with the Bezos Family Foundation and Child Care Aware of America designed to strengthen the relationship between child care providers and families by focusing on brain-building language and tools

    “I am extremely proud of my more than three decades of work to improve and support the development of high-quality child care programs in New York state,” Barbara-Ann Mattle said. “We accomplished a great deal on behalf of area children and families, child care providers and early educators, working with the Council board of directors, leadership team and staff. I want to thank each of them for their amazing work and support over the years to improve access to child care and to connect families with quality child care.”

    A nationally recognized expert in the child care field, Mattle has earned numerous awards, including the Notable Women in Human Services Hall of Fame and The Human Services Council of New York’s 2020 Strong Nonprofits Leader Award; the Rochester Business Journal’s 2019 Icon Honors award; 2018 National Family Child Care Organization Family Child Care Accreditation Project of the Year; the Family Child Care Association of New York State’s 2018 Friend of Family Child Care Award; and 2017 RIT Alumnus of the Year. She has also made national presentations on topics, from how to operate a child care center, to career options and child care center financial management.

    Mattle is a certified accredited facilitator and an accredited observer trainer from the National Family Child Care Association, a certified trainer in eco-friendly child care, a SUNY-certified New York State Health and Safety trainer. She earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration and finance from Rochester Institute of Technology, her child care certificate from St. John Fisher College, and her certificate in child care center facility design from Harvard and Tufts University.

    Child Care Council Launches New Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Service

    May 8, 2020

    Child Care Council Inc. is launching a new prevention-based, consultative service to help ensure long-term improvement in infant and children’s mental health.

    The Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) service is designed to equip caregivers with strategies and supports to strengthen children’s social, emotional, and behavioral health development – early and before intervention is needed. Based on relationship-based practices, it also employs skill- and relationship-building efforts with the adults in a child’s life.

    Child Care Council’s team of mental health professionals will work with child care programs to provide a caring, compassionate, responsive and effective experience to meet their programs’ individual needs. The Council’s program is part of a statewide model of quality infant toddler mental health consultation.

    “IECMHC will have a positive impact on the long-term mental health of infants and toddlers,” said Barbara-Ann Mattle, CEO, Child Care Council Inc. “Through consultations between our mental health professionals and child care providers, we aim to strengthen and support children’s social and emotional development, which are vital for school readiness and for success later in life.”

    The service is available in Monroe, Wayne, Livingston, Seneca, Ontario, Chemung, Steuben, Schuyler and Yates counties. Child care providers interested in learning more about this consultative service can contact Rose Shufelt, director of the Council’s Health and Social Emotional Wellness department, at 585.654.4740 or [email protected].

    CDA Gold Standard Awarded to Child Care Council Inc.

    May 6, 2020

    Child Care Council Inc. is the newest recipient of the prestigious CDA Gold Standard following a quality review of their training and student services by the Council for Professional Recognition (the Council). The CDA Gold Standard is part of the Council’s early childhood education effort to help CDA students find the high-quality training and student services they need in preparation for the CDA exam and a career as an early childhood educator.

    “Child Care Council is honored to earn the CDA Gold Standard,” said Kristin Perrone, director of professional development and Region II Infant Toddler Resource Center, Child Care Council Inc. “This recognition demonstrates the quality of our in-person and online training programs to give child care providers the tools and information they need to succeed in early childhood education. We share the online program honor with our valuable partner, Cypherworx.”

    Earning the CDA Gold Standard is recognition that Child Care Council Inc. successfully demonstrated that its early childhood education training is based on the Council’s three industry-leading principles of:

    1. Alignment with the CDA formal education coursework found in the CDA’s Eight Subject Areas.
    2. Sound business policies and practices.
    3. Quality student services that meet their educational and professional needs.

    “We believe that the Council’s CDA Gold Standard award adds value and integrity to the early childhood profession by verifying connections between the Council’s proven teacher competencies and the quality of training resources available to CDA students,” said Valora Washington, chief executive officer, Council for Professional Recognition.

    In addition to offering high-quality training, CDA Gold Standard applicants must provide evidence that they serve the CDA student community with excellence, which includes professional development that prepares students for successful completion of their training program.

    “It’s exciting to think about the many young children, families, and communities that will benefit from the high-quality education and training students will receive from Child Care Council Inc., a CDA Gold Standard organization,” Washington added.

    About The Council for Professional Recognition
    For more than 30 years, the Council for Professional Recognition has been the leader in promoting improved performance and recognition of professionals in the early childhood education of children ages zero to 5 years old. The Council recognizes and credentials professionals who work in all types of early care and education settings – Head Start, pre-k, infant-toddler, family child care, and home visitor programs. As a non-profit agency, the Council sets policies and procedures for assessment and credentialing, including the CDA® and the new CDA Gold Standard; publishes the industry leading training books and workbooks, including its CDA Competency Standards and Essentials textbook and workbook (2nd edition). Visit: http://www.hcdacouncil.org

    Live Webinar on April 8: “Child Care Providers and Federal Assistance”

    April 4, 2020

    New York State Office of Children and Family Services, in conjunction with the Civil Service Employees Association, will be hosting a live webinar on “Child Care Providers and Federal Assistance: Small Business Administration Loans and Loan Forgiveness” on Wednesday, April 8, 2020 at 7 p.m. The webinar features Tom Copeland, a leading expert on the business of child care.

    This is a great opportunity for child care providers to gain valuable information regarding financial assistance available to them.

    Register here

    CDA Renewal Amnesty Extended

    March 31, 2020

    The Council for Professional Recognition understands that the past few weeks have been challenging in the ECE community. You are on the frontline for executing best practices for safe and healthy learning environments during this recent health challenge. We thank you for your commitment to the community and want to provide you with ample time to renew your credential.

    The Council is extending the Renewal Amnesty program to June 30th. Take time to join the thousands of Child Development Associates® who have taken advantage of this cost-effective method of recommitting to the field they love. If you are a CDA® credential holder with an expired credential as far back as January 1, 2010 you are eligible to participate.

    Why Take Advantage of the CDA® Renewal Amnesty Program?

    • Opportunity for career advancement
    • Continued professional development
    • Reinforce your commitment to the early childhood profession
    • National recognition as a holder of the only competency-based early childhood credential
    • Cost effective renewal method: Renewal candidates pay only $125, a cost savings of $300 compared to the new candidate assessment fee of $425*.

    *Note: Participants in the CDA Renewal Amnesty Program are required to apply online. No paper applications will be accepted for this program. In addition, if you have already mailed a new initial application because your credential expired, you must proceed with the initial application process.

    Unemployment Compensation: The CARES Act

    March 30, 2020

    The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) and the Committee for Economic Development (CED) of The Conference Board worked together to produce a summary of the unemployment compensation provisions included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the CARES Act) specifically for child care providers.

    Unemployment Compensation Support for Child Care Providers

    Federal law provides broad guidelines for states to administer unemployment compensation programs. This means that states individually determine eligibility, minimum and maximum benefits, and the duration of benefits. Most states pay benefits for up to 26 weeks, however, some states offer less.

    View the full summary.

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