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#1 Do you know how important it is to have a shelter in place plan?
Did you know that as part of your shelter in place plan each program must have on site a variety of supplies including food, water, first aid and other safety equipment to allow for the protection of the health and safety of children in the event parents are unable to pick up children due to a local disaster? The plan must take into account a child's needs for an overnight stay. Food supplies must be non-perishable and of sufficient quantity for all children. Each program is encouraged to have a minimum supply of 3 days' worth of food and water.
#2 The Office of Children and Family Services has new forms to help you develop plans for training your staff.
Under the new regulations that are in effect as of June 1, 2015, all centers must develop a plan for training for the staff in their program.
418-1.2 Procedures For Applying For And Renewing A License
(a) Applicants for a license must submit to the Office:
(24) an outline of a plan for training as required in section 418-1.14 of this Subpart, including use of both in-service training and outside training resources;
Click below for the new OCFS form:
Outline for a Plan for Training Requirements
#3 How is technology impacting children?
Learn how technology can benefit children as well as some of the important safeguards that parents should put in place. Children and Technology: Keeping Children Safe and Healthy in the Age of Media at the White Plains Public Library on Thursday, April 30th 6:00 to 8:45 pm features three panelists: Dr. Martin Bertin, Developmental Behavioral Pediatrician; Michael Delohery, Chief of the High Technology Crimes Bureau/District Attorney's Office and Superintendent James Kaishian, Briarcliff Manor Union Free School District. Free but please register at:
#4 Could Westchester County Be More Family-Friendly - the Task Force on Families Wants to Know!
Share your ideas about creating a new Westchester Families Bill of Rights that could make life easier for our families at a public forum on Thursday, April 9 at 6:30 pm at the White Plains Public Library. Westchester County legislators Catherine Borgia, Ben Boykin and Alfreda Williams will be there to hear what's important to you and your family. No registration necessary. For more information, email Kathy Halas, Child Care Council at [email protected].
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YOUR BUSINESS IS OUR BUSINESS
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Professional Development Opportunities
Trainings!
Don't miss our great trainings scheduled for 2015.
To see what we have in store for you and your staff,
click here:
Family/Group Family Provider Conference
Saturday, April 26, 2015
8:30am - 12:45pm
Burke Rehab Ctr, White Plains
Owners, on-site providers, family and group family program staff - earn 3.5 OCFS training hours
Keynote Address by Cindy Bess
Setting the Tone - Building Relationships With Children of All Ages
Followed by a choice of break-out sessions.
For information, contact Leah Bratton at [email protected] or 914-761-3456 ext. 134 or ext. 169
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Congratulations to the Newest Child Development Associates - Olivia Myles and Hedy Moore!
We are very proud of CDA course students who have completed the application process and are now Child Development Associates, a credential given by the Council for Professional Recognition.
These early childhood educators have worked hard to improve their skills and knowledge of working with young children. The children in their care, their parents, and their programs are very fortunate to have such dedicated caregivers working with them.
To find out more about the CDA credential or for information about the Council's CDA classes, please contact Idie Benjamin, Director, Professional Development, at [email protected].
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Regulation Reminder: 417.5 (b)(4) & 417.5(b)(5)
Each program must hold two shelter-in-place drills annually during which procedures and supplies are reviewed. Parents must be made aware of this drill in advance. In addition the program must maintain on file a record of each shelter-in-place drill conducted, using forms provided by the Office or approved equivalents. Please be aware that as 10 months have passed since the FDC and GFDC regulatory changes went into effect on 5/1/2014 as such every FDC and GFDC program must have at least one shelter in place drill recorded.
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WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE COUNCIL
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Countdown to Kindergarten:
Collaborating for Success From the Start
2015 Westchester Transition Forum
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Thank you to all who attended the Countdown to Kindergarten: 2015 Westchester Transition Forum. Preparing children well for Kindergarten is critical, requires all of us working together and is associated with children doing better academically later on. School district teachers and administrators, child care professionals, nursery school directors, early intervention specialists and others who attended the Transition Forum hosted by the Council learned how to make the process easier for children and families. Participants enjoyed networking with others from their own communities.
The event was funded by the NYS Head Start Collaboration Office and the Council. For information about the presentations, speakers or resources, please email Kathy Halas at [email protected]. Materials from the Forum will be posted shortly on the Council website. A big thanks to our Council staff for lending a helping hand.
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| | From left to right. Janine Benvenuti, Alexandra Santana, Monica Soto, Jennifer Sorby, Kayla Rodriguez and Juliana Leshi. |
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2015 Annual Awards Breakfast!
June 5th
8:30am-10:00am
Don't Miss Westchester's Biggest Child Care Celebration
Champions for Children
Congresswoman Nita Lowey
Family Services of Westchester
Sarah Lawrence College
Joey Award Winners
Dawn Meyerski,
Mount Kisco Child Care Center
Elizabeth Spano, Oak Lane Child Care Center
Patrice Cuddy, Parent Child Home Program, WJCS
Bettina Langsam, Morning Star Day Care
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Bringing Books to Westchester Children:
The Council's 2015 Book Drive
Many Westchester children do not have ready access to books. Hard-working parents may find relaxed family reading time tough to come by. Because of our belief that positive early literacy experiences are critical to children's development and later academic success, we launched an annual book drive several years ago to put more books into the hands of children and youth.
We ask you to help us this year by:
- Donating books
- Helping sort and organize books for delivery
- Reading books to children at a center or after school program
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Publicize the book drive by posting this flyer:
If your program needs books, please let us know. Call Juliana Leshi for more info at 914-761-3456 ext. 111. |
MAY 1st IS
MOTHER GOOSE DAY!
CELEBRATE RHYMING WITH CHILDREN
Hey diddle, diddle,
The cat and the fiddle,
The cow jumped over the moon;
The little dog laughed to see
such sport
And the dish ran away with the spoon.
Rhyme with children because:
- Rhyming is silly and fun.
- Rhyming creates readers - Rhyming in early childhood positively impacts the later development of literacy skills.
- Rhyming teaches children the sounds of language.
- Rhyming teaches vocabulary.
- Rhyming is rhythm and beat.
- Rhyming teaches thinking skills.
- Rhyming is silly and fun.
This little piggy went to market,
This little piggy stayed home,
This little piggy had roast beef,
This little piggy had none,
And this little piggy cried
wee, wee, wee all the way home.
Rhyme with Children
- Read Mother Goose rhymes together.
- Sing Mother Goose rhymes together.
- Read Dr. Seuss books and other books that rhyme.
- Emphasize the rhyming syllable when you say or sing it.
- Use rhymes you know or make up rhyming songs for transition times - clean up, etc.
- Sing rhymes to gently speak about behavior - "Oh, dear, what can the matter be?"
- Once children are familiar with the rhyme or song, stop reading/singing and let them say the rhyme.
- Get silly and change the rhyme. What is the piggy had pizza instead of roast beef?
- Get silly and create nonsense rhymes.
To market, to market to buy a fat pig - home, again, home again, jiggity jig.
To market, to market to buy a big chair - home again, home again, jiggity jair.
Resources:
All Mother Goose Books
Click below for more rhymes:
Click below to learn about early learning literacy:
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INSIDE THE COMMUNITY FUN:
"Art Experiences"
FREE EVENTS
Saturday, April 11th, 1pm-4pm
A free event for the entire family. Visit the Neuberger Museum of Art to learn about the people from Kuba Kingdom and how they used plants and minerals from the environment to make clothes.
Family Second Saturdays: Tukula: Kuba Tie Dya
Neuberger Museum of Art
735 Anderson Hill Road
Purchase, NY
(914)251-6110
Visit the website below to learn more
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Wine Tasting with the Council
April 9, 2015
6:00pm- 8:00pm
Vino 100
White Plains, NY
Family/Group Family Conference
April 25, 2015
8:30am-12:30pm
Burke Rehab Ctr
White Plains, NY
DREAM BIG!
Annual Awards
Breakfast
June 6, 2015
8:30am- 10:00am
Hilton DoubleTree
Tarrytown, NY
School Age Conference
September 26, 2015
8:30am- 12:45pm
Burke Rehab Ctr
White Plains, NY |
Welcome D'Andra Ferretti our new Health Care Consultant Service, Asst. & Resource and Referral Counselor. D'Andra is available for child care search assistance. Call her at 914-761-3456 ext. 121
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Welcome Emily Hartwell,
our new Subsidy Coordinator. Emily is available for any of your subsidy questions or needs. Call her at 914-761-3456 ext. 144
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2015 MEMBERSHIP CAMPAIGN IS HERE- Join Today!
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Providers:
Join the Council in 2015!
Benefits include:
- Valuable discounts on workshops, on-site training and conferences
- Listing on our website, including a link to your website
- Free postings on the Council's job bank
- Membership certificate for your site
- Printed Council Training Calendar
- Free access to the Council's Children's Resource Corner
- Early announcements of special programs and opportunities
- Free Notary Public Services
- Invitation to attend free member only networking meetings
- Complimentary Council 2015 Calendar
- Participation in our membership referral program
- Invitation to attend exclusive member only annual events
Call (914) 761-3456 or visit
www.childcarewestchester.org
to become a member today
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MEMBER ONLY EVENTS
Quarterly networking meetings in your community.
Click below to learn more:
Do you want to attend a FREE workshop of your choice?
Participate in the membership referral program and sign up for a FREE workshop.
Click below to learn more:
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HOW IMPORTANT IS CHILDCARE FOR WESTCHESTER BUSINESSES?
An article published by 914INComing discusses the importance of child care for businesses of Westchester.
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CELEBRATING THE CAREGIVERS!!
It is time to say
"thank you"
In May, there are 2 special days to celebrate the wonderful, caring individuals who care for young children. They are days to say a special thank you to family and group family child care providers, teachers and directors in child care centers, and school age staff for the love they bring to their jobs every day. Children thrive under their care and teaching.
May 5, 2015 - National Teacher Appreciation Day
May 8, 2015 - National Provider Appreciation Day
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 Need free help to prepare your taxes, Westchester has many resources for you. Click Below to learn more:
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THE CENTER FOR
LITERACY ENRICHMENT
Do you know a child struggling with reading?
For over 40 years, the Center for Literacy Enrichment at Pace University has helped hundreds of Westchester children gain skills and confidence. Click below for more information:
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NEW YORK
ZERO-TO-THREE NETWORK
This organization promotes the optimal development of young children, their families and their communities in the New York region.
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PRO BONO PARTNERSHIP
Pro Bono provides free business and transnational legal services to non-profit organizations serving the disadvantaged or enhancing the quality of life in neighborhoods in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Their workshops are invaluable for staff and boards.
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WHAT'S COOKING?
Are you enrolled in CACFP, a nutrition education and meal reimbursement program that will help you serve nutritious and safely prepared meals and snacks to children in your care?
Child Friendly Recipe shared by family day care provider, Shari Lewis, Nana's Place Family Childcare Inc.
Grilled Apple and Swiss Cheese
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Ingredients:
2 slices of whole wheat or multi-grain bread
1/2 Granny Smith apple (peeled, cored & thinly sliced)
1/3 cup shredded (Lacey) Swiss Cheese
1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil
Directions:
Preheat your indoor grill or skillet over medium heat. Lightly brush one side of each slice of bread with the olive oil. Place slice of bread, olive oil side down on to the grill/skillet, and arrange the apple slices evenly over the top. Sprinkle the Swiss cheese over the apples, then top with the remaining bread, olive oil-side up. Cook on grill until both side of the bread is golden brown, (flip if cooked in a skillet until cheese has melted, 1-2 more minutes.)
Serve and Enjoy!
For more info, call Noreen Delacy at 914-761-2345 ext. 110 or email her at [email protected].
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