March/April 2019 Caring Matters

Be aware of a possible telephone scam targeting child care providers. The caller claims to be from a local Rite Aid and wants to advertise the day care business on kiosks. This number (585.805.5107) is not associated with Rite Aid in any way.

Child Care Council Inc. recently honored child care providers with its annual Start Bright Impact Awards and recognized Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren for her advocacy on child care issues.

The Impact Awards are presented to providers who exemplify the critical roles that high-quality child care and early education play in the lives of young people. Provider honorees were:
• Joyce Jackson-Hill from Sistah’s Advantage Daycare in Newark, Wayne County. Her daughter and assistant, Anne Marie Brown, accepted the award on her mother’s behalf.
• Cecilia Jackson from Ms C’s Playcare Daycare in Rochester.
• Crystal Learn, who provides care in Nunda, Livingston County. Her award was accepted by her daughter, Latisha Learn.
• Tiffany Walters from Hankie’s Child Care in Rochester.

The Council recognized Mayor Warren as its Distinguished Civic Leader of the Year for being a champion of child care issues on the local, state and national levels. Mayor Warren has advocated for improved salaries for child-care providers, increased availability of child-care services for all sectors of the city and for funding to support low-income working families.

Honorees received their awards at Child Care Council’s Start Bright Gala, held at Locust Hill Country Club. The event celebrates the critical importance of early education and high-quality child care in ensuring children get a bright start to the future.

In addition to Mayor Warren, other attendees included State Assembly Majority Leader Joe Morelle; State Senator Joe Robach; Corinda Crossdale, Monroe County’s Commissioner of Human Services; and Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter.

Thank you to everyone who attended or made possible Child Care Council’s Start Bright Gala on Oct. 17, 2018.

Held at Locust Hill Country Club, the event celebrated the importance of high-quality child care and early education in ensuring children get a bright start to the future. The Council also recognized Rochester Mayor Lovely A. Warren as its Distinguished Civic Leader of the Year for being a champion of child care issues on the local, state and national levels.

Gala proceeds benefit the Council’s Start Bright scholarship program, which supports the Council’s early childhood quality enhancement programs for providers and staff.

A special thank-you to the event sponsors:

Start Bright Sponsor
– Lavoro Group

Quality Care Sponsors
– Barbara-Ann Mattle and Ed Maier

Quality Early Childhood Education Sponsors:
– Accu Tax – Michael Kramer
– Cook Communications
– Five Star Bank
– Eric Haselbauer, Board President
– Innovative Solutions
– MGM Associates
– Usherwood Office Technology

This sample ballot tool can help you prepare for Election Day. Enter your address or zip code and see which candidates will be on your ballot along with information on their key votes and issues.

Sample ballot

Child Care Council is now offering craft classes for adults at its Repurpose & More Store. The store is located at 595 Blossom Road in Rochester.

Learn more about the classes and sign up today: Craft Classes Aug – Dec 2018

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning that over-the-counter (OTC) oral drug products containing benzocaine should not be used to treat infants and children younger than 2 years. The risk of a serious and potentially fatal blood disorder prompted FDA action on OTC oral benzocaine products used for teething and mouth pain and prescription local anesthetics.

Visit the FDA website for more information.

Every 10 days, across the United States, a child dies from being unattended in a hot car. As summer temperatures rise, more kids are at risk. Help stop these tragedies from happening by preventing heatstroke.

View this PDF file to see helpful tips from Safe Kids Worldwide:

heatstroke_infographic_2018

New York State Office of Children and Family Services again is conducting a Market Rate Survey of the price of child care with a sample of licensed and registered providers from across New York state. This information is used to make sure that the rates that the county department of social services pays for child care on behalf of low-income families are consistent with the child care market in that county. The most recent Market Rate Survey was conducted by telephone from September 2017 to March 2018.

Now, OCFS is inviting all licensed and registered child care providers to take an online survey about the rates they charge and their experiences with the telephone Market Rate Survey, if they participated in it.

See the letter from OCFS for more information (MRS2018-Provider Letter-FollowUpSurvey) or take the online survey:

English version

Spanish version