2010 - Template - standard logo header
Council Connections
 
January 2011

Greetings!  

Enjoy the January edition of School Age Connections, an e-newsletter from the Child Care Council of Westchester. 
 A new year often brings new ideas and a renewed vigor; make that your resolution for your program! Enjoy all the snow!

 
Susan M. Edelstein

Director, ISACC
School Age Newsletter
School Age Child Care Regulation Review
TA Tip of the Month
New Resources for School Age Staff
Upcoming Events and Trainings
School Age Child Care Regulation Review
In reviewing many of the recent 50% inspections completed by the Council's registrars, we've noticed that many programs are still having challenges with their staff files.  Take a moment to the Council's Technical Assistance Paper on Staff Files. 

NYS OCFS Regulation 414.15 (c) 10: The provider must maintain on file at the school age care program, available for inspection by the Office or its designees at any time, the following records in a current and accurate manner:

 

Required Element

Required Documentation

It is the responsibility of the director to ensure that the background has been reviewed of each person who is applying to work or volunteer in your program. This review requires the completion and submission of certain paperwork.

The following documentation must be accessible in each staff member's file in order to be in compliance with the regulation:

1)    Copy of completed Statewide Central Register Clearance Form (LDSS-3370) and Response Form.

2)    Copy of completed Fingerprinting Information Form and Response Form on Background Check.

3)    Resume or statement or summary of each applicants employment history.

4)    Employment Application

5)    References - names, addresses and day time telephone numbers of either:

         (3) three written references, other than relatives, at least one of whom can verify employment history, work record and qualifications, and at least one of whom can attest to the applicant's character, habits and personal qualifications; or

         (3) references with contact information and verification that they were spoken to with comments and name of person making the call with date and time. 

6)    Criminal History Review with Crime Statement - a sworn statement by the applicant indicating whether, to the best of the applicant's knowledge, he/she has ever been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony in NYS or other jurisdiction.

7)    Medical Statement - statement from a health care provider prior to beginning employment and every two years after, including results of a Mantoux tuberculin test which was performed within the 12 months preceding the date of the statement. The Medical Statement requires two different date stamps - one for the medical test (with TB test) and one for the TB results.

 

Note: All staff files need to be kept on site.

The only staff documents needed for the renewal of the program are the crime statement, fingerprint results, SCR results and training documentation.

 

A good way to keep track of staff paperwork is to use a facepage for each staff file.  This lets you see, at a glance, what paperwork is on file, and which documents are still needed.

Requirements for Staff Files for School Age Programs:

  

Employment  Application               Completed    ______

 

Resume                                          Received       ______

 

Criminal History Review Form       Received       ______

    (Crime Statement)

 

SCR Clearance                                Sent _____               Received ______

 

 

Reference #1                                    Sent _____               Received ______

 

Reference # 2                                   Sent _____               Received ______

 

Reference # 3                                   Sent _____               Received ______

 

Fingerprinting Information Form                    Date of fingerprints _____                    

Response Form on Background Check       Received   ______

 

Medical with TB                                Medical date              _____

                                                         TB date                      _____

                                                         Date TB read             _____

 

Training Form                                   Attached to file         _____

                                                          Hours needed          _____

 

TA Tip of the Month - Restock Your Supplies 

The beginning of a new year is a good time to take stock and possibly restock your school age program's materials and supplies for the children.    

Are your program's materials clean, in good condition or in need of being replenished?

Take a look at your arts and crafts materials. As this is one of the more popular centers in a school age program, these materials constantly need to be replenished.  Is it time to throw out the small pieces of crayons? Check to see if the markers are dried up. Is there a good supply of different types and colors of paper for the children to use to "just create"? Is it time to stock this center with different types of arts and crafts materials? If you find that some of your current materials are no longer being used, put them away and replace with materials that are new to the children.

Do game boxes need to be taped or replaced? Do the games have all of their pieces?  A tip: Don't throw out the remaining pieces of a game that you are replacing. Put the pieces in a Zip Lock bag and mark the bag with the name of the game.  Store these "game bags" to use as a resource when you are missing pieces again.

Check your program's books to make sure that each is in good shape.  Is it time to rotate the books? When was the last time that you changed the books in this area?

The Council offers technical assistance and training to maintain compliance with OCFS regulations and to familiarize school age staff with best practices in school age care. Contact Mary Ann Brendler at maryannb@cccwny.org or  914-761-3456 x 172, if you would like additional assistance on this topic or any other topic relating to school age care. 

 

 
New Resources for School Age Staff

If you are a program director, it's very important to keep your staff engaged, happy and enthusiastic, especially during the long, cold days of winter.  To do this, be sure to give staff some responsibility to plan and evaluate activities.  Be sure the staff takes the initiative to do this, with your guidance.  Ask staff what activities they would like to do in the program.  This allows staff to shine and share their passions, and to take ownership of part of the program.  Ask staff what things they don't particularly like to do, and give them techniques and ideas to work on these. Brainstorm at your next staff meeting to find out how the program can be more fun for both staff and children.   Be sure to ask what resources you, as the director, can provide to attain this.  Discuss strategies and goal attainment. If staff members have difficulty proposing solutions to the above questions, role play or present solutions taken by other programs.  At the end of the meeting, have staff members make a commitment to work on proposed strategies. This emphasizes the importance of the ongoing process. Follow up on outcomes by meeting either individually or as a group with staff members to discuss actions taken, how the action was undertaken and next steps.

 

We're all aware that bullying has become too prevalent in today's society and that it can be very hurtful and harmful to children.  Check out the great information from the Anti Bullying Alliance and create your own toolkit to create anti-bullying strategies in your program, and the greater community. What a great project for all kids!

 

Upcoming Events and Workshops
Register for Professional Development workshops via ABC Signup. Click here to register for workshops and events.
 
 
Saturday January 22, 2011 9 am - 1:15 pm at the Council
School Age Child Care Half Day Mini-Conference
Training Codes:  10333A - F      Cost: $43M/$33NM

AM Workshop Topics: It's All About Body Confidence; School Age Regulations: The Foundation of Quality; Take a Deep Breath! Understanding and Managing Challenging Behaviors. PM Workshop Topics:  Make Middle School Programs Cool; Improving your Program Using the SACERS; Understanding Child Abuse and Shaken Baby Syndrome.

Saturday, February 5, 2011 9:00am - 6:00pm at the Council

Medication Administration Training Course

Training Code: 00205                  Cost: $150
The MAT course is a skill-based training to help you administer medication safely in your program and is required for all child care providers who choose to administer medications to children in a child care setting.  

 

Wednesday, February 16, 9:30pm - 12:00pm

NEW! Medication Administration Review Course at the Council

Training Code: 11101                   Cost: $10 per person for programs under the Council's Health Care Consultant Service, $20 for all other programs

  

This workshop is an interactive medication administration (MAT) review, putting policies and procedures into real practice. It also includes information regarding children with Special Health Care Needs. Highly recommended for anyone that is certified to administer medications.

 

Tuesday February 15, 2011 10 am - 12 pm at the Council
School Age Director's Network Meeting 

Saturday, February 19, 1:00pm - 3:30pm

Child Abuse Identification & Prevention, Including Shaken Baby Syndrome

Training Code: 11103                    Cost: $33 Members, $43 Non-Members *(Eligible for $3.00 discount when you register online)

 

Understand your responsibility as a mandated reporter and learn how, when, and why to report.  Shaken Baby Syndrome, a form of child abuse, will also be discussed.

 

 

 

Be sure to 'like' us on Facebook.

Follow us on Twitter.

Visit our website www.childcarewestchester.org