NEWSLETTER
WINTER 2012 NEWSLETTER
Where we are now and where we want to go…
The Child Care Council supports quality early care and learning.
QUALITYstarsNY will be a voluntary quality rating and improvement system designed to increase quality in child care centers, family child care, and schools and support these early care and learning programs. It will empower parents to be knowledgeable in choosing high quality programs and providers for their children; it will enable policymakers to implement policies proven to increase quality; promote accountability so legislators, taxpayers and other funders feel confident investing in quality; give providers a roadmap to quality improvement; and improve the chances of a child attending a high-quality early care and education program. (http://qualitystarsny.org/index.php?pg=FAQ)
Children deserve the best care. From a recent study it was found that “only 55 percent of family child care providers and 57 percent of center assistants have at least some college education.” (http://www.naccrra.org/randd/child-care-workforce/cc_workforce.php ) Child care providers need to pursue professional development. Child care providers are among the lowest paid workers and our state does recognize this; it has set aside limited funding to help providers meet their required training requirements and pursue some professional development. The Council also seeks funding to encourage and ensure child care providers continue to further their education. We need a highly qualified work force to deliver the best care for our children.
At this time, Council has limited state funds to help child care programs with technical assistance & professional development and new programs with startup costs. Contact us at (845)294-4012 x225 or 222 to either schedule a technical assistance visit or to find out more.
The Child Care Council of Orange County Inc. knows that child care can be expensive.
In 36 states, the average annual cost for center-based care for an infant was higher than a year’s tuition and related fees at a four-year public college. (http://www.naccrra.org/publications/naccrra-publications/parents-and-high-cost-of-child-care-2011.php ) As a result, parents struggle to provide care for their child(ren). Some parents have decided to work different shifts or use relatives or friends and not use regulated child care. However, the Council feels that children may do best in regulated child care. Regulated programs meet health and safety standards set by the state in order to open; regulated providers need to meet a required number of training hours and topics; regulated programs are inspected biannually.
Through a grant from United Way the Council has funds available to help working parents who are not income eligible for child care subsidies. Parents should contact their provider or the Council for more information. We are seeking additional funding to assist parents who are in need of financial assistance for child care. Please send your donations to the Council so we can keep this funding going.
