| Council Connections
| February 2012 |
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Greetings!
Enjoy the February edition of School Age Connections, an e-newsletter from the Child Care Council of Westchester. As the new year moves along, take time to review the School Age Care Regulations on Staff Training. It's a perfect time to send staff to the Council for trainings. Let us know what your staff training needs are. Happy Valentine's Day! Susan M. Edelstein Director, ISACC |
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School Age Child Care Regulation
Review: 414.14 Training |
Review this regulation on training to ensure your staff has their required training hours. Call the Council to register staff for training now!
(a) Each person responsible for developing, directing and supervising the daily activity programs for children (director) and each employee working an average of twenty (20) or more hours a week must complete a minimum of thirty (30) hours of training every two years. Fifteen hours of such training must be received during the first six months of the program's first year of registration or during the person's first six months of employment by the program. This initial fifteen (15) hours applies toward the total thirty (30) hour minimum requirement for each registration period. Employees working an average of fewer than twenty (20) hours a week must complete a pro-rated portion of training pursuant to guidelines issued by the Office. Such training requirements shall also apply to any volunteer in such school-age child care programs who has the potential for regular and substantial contact with children.
Training must address the following topics:
(1) principles of childhood development, including the appropriate supervision of children, meeting the needs of children enrolled in the program with physical or emotional challenges and behavior management and discipline;
(2) nutrition and health needs of children;
(3) child day care program development;
(4) safety and security procedures, including communication between parents and staff;
(5) business record maintenance and management;
(6) child abuse and maltreatment identification and prevention;
(7) statutes and regulations pertaining to child day care; and
(8) statutes and regulations pertaining to child abuse and maltreatment.
(b) Training received after the application has been submitted but before the application has been approved and the registration granted may be counted towards the initial 15 hours required in subdivision (a) above.
(c) For the thirty (30) hours of training that must be received every two years after the first year of registration, any person responsible for developing, directing and supervising the daily activity programs for children who can demonstrate basic competency in a particular topic to the Office may determine in which of the specified topics he or she needs further study. The Office also may exempt any person responsible for developing, directing and supervising the daily activity programs for children from participating in training on a particular topic upon demonstration of substantially equivalent knowledge or experience related to that topic. All persons with such exemptions must still complete a minimum of thirty (30) hours of training during each registration period.
(d) Each person responsible for developing the school-age child care program, employee, and/or assistant must submit verification of completion of the training requirements to their program's designated registration office on forms provided by the Office.
(e) At the time of admission, the director must furnish parents with appropriate instructional materials which will assist them in evaluating the facilities, the program and the staff. Such materials must include information concerning child abuse and maltreatment, and guidance on the steps they may take if they suspect their child has been abused or maltreated.
(e) The program must make a sufficient quantity and variety of materials and play equipment available to the children. Such materials and equipment must be appropriate to the ages of the children and their developmental levels and interests, including children with developmental delays or disabilities, and promote the children's cognitive, educational, social, cultural, physical, emotional, language and recreational development. |
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Spotlight on: CLUSTER | |
CLUSTER Community Services is a private, non-profit, 501 (c) (3) multi-service agency located in Yonkers, New York. Since 1975, CLUSTER has been providing a broad range of programs and services designed to meet the needs of residents of Westchester and most recently Rockland County.
CLUSTER provides services in these four core program areas:
- Mental Health Residential Services
- Westchester and Rockland Mediation Centers
- Housing Resource Center
- Youth & Family Programs
In all of CLUSTER's Youth & Family Programs, we work to improve the lives of children and families by providing academic support, enrichment, and youth development activities. Our goal is to assist youth so they can develop to their full potential and lead happy, healthy, and productive lives.
After-School Programs
CLUSTER Super School After-School Program (Grand Opening Celebration to be held in March!)
- Located at 150 Riverdale Avenue/Jackson Terrace Houses
- Serves children 5-13 years (grades K-8)
- Provides after-school homework assistance and enrichment in a safe, supervised environment.
- Registered with the New York State Office of Children and Family Services for School Age Child Care.
- Department of Social Services Subsidy accepted
- Received national accreditation by the National Afterschool Association
CLUSTER Advantage After-School Program
- Located at The Scholastic Academy/School 18
- Serves children ages 5-11
- An in-school after-school program which provides homework assistance and a wide range of enrichment activities for children who are currently enrolled in grades K-6 at the Scholastic Academy
- Registered with the New York State Office of Children and Family Services for School Age Child Care.
- Funded by a New York State Advantage Grant
CLUSTER'S after school programs daily activity schedule includes: healthy snack options, homework assistance, art, literacy, drama and science. Program enhancement activities include: monthly thematic activities, gardening, Zumba and yoga fitness, news writing, and chess. This year we will have our 2nd annual pajama party. This event includes a parent workshop on literacy that provides parents with tools to assist them in encouraging their children to read and journal their reading activity. With books donated by the Yonkers Federation of Teachers, each family will be able to receive a book to start or add to an at home library. Once again with the assistance of the Pajama Program each of our program participants will receive a new book and set of pajamas. The pajamas may be worn as the students, grouped by grade, are read grade level books by staff, parent volunteers and volunteers from CLUSTER's youth group The Study Buddies while they enjoy milk and cookies. This year the pajama party will take place at both of our after school programs which service over 100 students and their families.
CLUSTER's Youth and Family Programs other services are our Summer Day Program and our youth development program the Study Buddies, for Yonkers teens ages 14 through 17.
For more information regarding Youth & Family Programs contact Tonya Knight Director of Youth and Family Programs, at 914- 963-6440 ext. 234 or via email at us at TKnight@clusterinc.org. We can be found at www.clusterinc.org and for more information at www.pajamaprogram.org and www.ny.aft.org/yft.
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Resources for After School Professionals | |
Transition Tips for Children in After School Programs
Children are constantly on the move, from the start of the day, getting dressed, eating breakfast, going to school, going to classes, eating lunch, going to recess, and back again, then to go to the after school program.
To assist children, transitions should be easy, quick and fun. Here are some ideas to help you make transitions work for both staff and children:
- Avoid waiting. Children should not have to wait in lines to move from one activity to another, to go to the bathroom, to get drinks, etc.
- Adults should be prepared. It isn't fair to expect children to wait because an adult isn't ready. The adult should have all materials or supplies out and ready to use for activities.
- Let kids help. If it isn't possible for the adult to have everything ready, let kids help, especially during the course of the after school program. This adds to the children's sense of worth and responsibility.
- Give five-minute warnings to children before an activity changes so that they can wrap up what they are doing. This also reinforces the concept of 'time'.
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Project Earth announces the 2012 World Environment Day Contest
Open to children ages 4 - 18, individually or in groups, this contest seeks entries of projects that help the environment. Projects can be entered in categories that address air quality, climate change, education and awareness, green buildings and renewable energy. Deadline for entries is June 5, 2012. Registration is required, but free. Go to www.projectearth.net for information and to register.
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Doodle for Goodle
Google has become part of our everyday language and landscape; it's hard to remember what life was life before we were able to 'Google' anything and everything. The annual Doodle for Google competition is now open; entries are accepted through March 23. With this year's theme of "If I could travel in time, I'd visit...", the competition is open to all students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Entries are judged by multiple grade categories; judging criteria are artistic merit, creativity and how well the theme is communicated. Entry forms, information on judging and prizes, rules, design guidelines and info on where to mail submissions can be found at www.google.com/doodle4google/info.html. |
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TA Tip of the Month:
QUALITYstarsNY is Coming! | |
QUALITYstarsNY is New York State's quality rating and improvement system (QRIS). A QRIS is an organized system to assess, improve and communicate the quality of early care and education and school age programs. Within the past 15 years, 25 states have implemented a quality rating and improvement system and currently 80% of the nation is now involved in some form of QRIS from exploring to operating. It is a fast moving trend!
QUALITYstarsNY was field tested in early care and education programs in thirteen communities in New York State during 2010 and 2011. The field test investigated the design of QUALITYstarsNY as it was originally developed. The information gained from the field test is helping to shape how the system will be implemented .
And now school age is starting to get into the act. Draft QUALITYstarsNY School Age Standards have been developed. In the future, a field test for the school age component will be held possibly as soon as fall 2012.
What can you do to get ready? Learn about QUALITYstarsNY by either going to www.qualitystarsny.org or by attending a training on QUALITYstarsNY. Become familiar with the indicators for quality from the School Age Care Environment Rating Scale (SACERS), as it will be one of the tools used to assess your program under QUALITYstarsNY.
A free training on "Introduction to QUALITYstarsNY " will be offered at the Council in March. Check out the Upcoming Events and Workshops below or the Council's new Professional Development Calendar, coming out at the end of February.
The Child Care Council of Westchester 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. |
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Upcoming Events and Workshops |
Pre-registration is required for all workshops and conferences. When registering online at www.ChildCareWestchester.org, you automatically save $3.00 on standard workshops costing $33/$43.
SAVE THE DATE and MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW!
2012 AWARDS BREAKFAST: Friday June 8, 8:30 am Crowne Plaza White Plains
Tuesday February 21, 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Effective Hiring - part of the Employment Law Training Series for Child Care Directors Presented by Leslie Y. Kimball, Attorney
Training Category: 5
Presenter: Leslie Y. Kimball, Attorney
Description: The CPR with AED workshop will cover the basic techniques of adult, child and infant CPR, how to use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and how to respond to a choking victim. The First Aid training will teach how to manage illnesses and injuries in adults, children and infants. Topics include First Aid Basics, Medical Emergencies, Injury Emergencies and Environmental Emergencies. Each participant receives a course completion card for each of the trainings valid for 2 years from the American Heart Association and a training certificate from the Council.
How to Register: Contact Dana Doyle at 914-761-3456 x 113 or danad@cccwny.org
Wednesday February 29, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
How to Prepare Your School Age Program to Have a Successful Renewal or Site Inspection
Training Categories: 5, 7
Trainer: Mary Ann Brendler
Cost: $33 Members/$43 Non Members
Training Code: 12195 Modality: School Age
Description: Being organized with your program documentation is the first step toward having a successful renewal or site inspection at your school age program. Learn what documents are essential to your program and how to organize these documents cohesively so that they are right at your fingertips.
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