It's not about the money, money, money. Ok, it sort of is.

The cost of child care continues to increase while families struggle to afford quality care according to a new report released today by Child Care Aware of America. Parents and the High Cost of Child Care: 2012Report provides results from a survey of Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) State Networks and local agencies, which asked for the average fees charged by child care programs in 2011. New York, as it turns out, is the least affordable state for child care. This piqued the interest of a reporter from CNNMoney and yesterday we spoke to her. Miss Fox did a fine job of laying out the crux of the problem; prices continue to rise for things like rent, groceries and gas. And child care is no exception. As a CNNMoney report should, the article focuses on the money and a few of the reasons why child care costs so much. But there is more to it. 

The reality is that it costs a lot to care for a child. Child care is barely a break even business. It feels like child care programs charge an arm and leg but that goes right back out the door for staff (who often make little more than minimum wage), professional development, insurance, maintenance, food, materials and more. And that’s just for the basics. A program may want to provide professional development for staff above and beyond what is required, enhance the play environment, invest in a quality curriculum, provide parent education or any of the many things that improve the quality of care they provide, but more often than not, they can’t. The cost is prohibitive and it can’t be passed on to the parents whose finances are already stretched thin.

So the real problem is not that child care cost so much, but that it the true cost of quality child care is much more than parents are paying and more than most parents can afford. But there is good news too. Quality child care does exist. Some parents pay dearly for it and some programs are very skilled at stretching a dollar and finding ways to keep skilled staff on board. And there are supports in place. New York’s child care resource network made up of 37 Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (CCR&Rs) provide low cost, high quality professional development, toy lending libraries, curriculum supports and so much more for child care providers. And New York State has QUALITYstarsNY, a quality rating and improvement system that supports early childhood programs through quality improvement and educates parents. Right now QUALITYstarsNY is being implemented in select communities around the state, but every child needs access to quality care. QUALITYstarsNY must be implemented statewide.

Another problem is that there seems to be a perception that education starts at age 5. A 5 year old can attend school full time on the taxpayer’s dime and get their education funded right up through 12^th grade. There is public financing available for college too. Yet 85% of intellect develops in the first five years. The early years set the foundation for person’s life. Multiple longitudinal studies have shown that a child that attends a high quality early education program is less likely to need special education or remediation, be a teen parent or be incarcerated. There is a very high and very real return on investment for investments in early childhood. Why is it ignored? Yes, there are subsidies available, but these only reach a small percentage of the families in need and come with no requirement that the child attend a licensed or registered program, let alone one that has demonstrated its quality. The subsidies come from a federal child care block grant. If states want to invest in quality early learning, they must use state revenue.

So yes, it is about the money. It is time for New York State to dedicate significant funds to the early care and learning system in New York State! For the sake of this state’s future we need our children to be well cared for and ready for school. This state invests in roads, schools, hospitals, colleges, and so much more. Why wouldn’t we invest in something that is good for our current and future economy, and most of all good for our children? The argument that is the parents’ responsibility is stale. We are part of a global economy and if we want our current workforce to show up for work and want our future workforce to be emotionally and cognitively ready for OUR future, than we need to invest. The kind of investment needed to truly affect change cannot be shouldered by parents alone.

CNNMoney: Child care costs exceed rent in most states.

We are Quality Assured!

QUALITY ASSURED

The Early Care & Learning Council, New York’s child care resource network has achieved national quality assurance! The Council recently completed a validation visit, the culmination of a two year review process. Yesterday, the Council was notified by Child Care Aware of America (formerly the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies) that they are Quality Assured, becoming the third state network in the country to do so.

The Child Care Aware of America Quality Assurance program offers CCR&Rs and State Networks the opportunity to demonstrate that they understand Best Practices standards. The Best Practices for CCR&Rs and for State Networks are research-based and were developed in consultation with the field. The standards address all aspects of service delivery and agency functions. Child Care Aware of America Quality Assurance is a voluntary, national certification program for the field of Child Care Resource and Referral, including local CCR&Rs and State Networks. The process for Quality Assurance guides CCR&Rs and State Networks toward continuous quality assurance and excellence in service delivery. New York State’s local CCR&Rs are embarking on the process of Quality Assurance as well.  Three have already achieved the status; the Child Care Councils of Nassau, Suffolk and Steuben.

The Early Care & Learning Council began the process two years ago. Throughout that time the Council demonstrated proficiency in nine elements; services for local CCR&Rs, stakeholder relationships, data analysis and reporting, public policy, child care and early education systems building, public awareness, strengthening and supporting CCR&R through direct services, administration and governance.

Marsha Basloe, Early Care & Learning Council Executive Director: “I started in the early stages of this process. I was immediately amazed at the amount of work that was involved but soon saw the fruits of the labor. With each step our processes improved. I am so proud of the staff and board at the Early Care & Learning Council. We are now the largest Quality Assured state network in the country. I look forward to continuing this level of excellence to ultimately affect the lives of over 2 million children.”

Ollie Smith, Interim Executive Director of Child Care Aware of America: “As a Quality Assured organization, the Early Care & Learning Council has established itself as a leader in the nation.  The achievement of Quality Assurance proves Early Care & Learning is a model state network providing outstanding services to local CCR&R agencies, families, child care providers and policymakers in New York.”

The Early Care & Learning Council and its 37 CCR&R members provide a service to New York State like no other. Providing professional development, connecting families to child care, advising the business community and informing policy makers are just a few of the activities that this network is engaged in on a daily basis. As the state network, the Early Care & Learning Council is not only a leader in the state, but now an example for 47 other states to achieve this level of quality in serving their populations.

A Message From New York Women Vote

Issues of access to, and quality of child care, are important to millions of New York women. We want to make sure that your voice is heard during the upcoming elections. Please see the message below from New York Women Vote: 

POLITICIANS PAY ATTENTION TO VOTERS

You build clout for your work and your mission by encouraging your supporters and clients to register and vote.

Elected officials are human – they respond, like most people, to those people who care about the things that they do, and, of course, those who support them. A community or group of residents who don’t vote, or who vote in low numbers, make it easier for elected officials to de-prioritize their concerns.

Issues that matter to marginalized communities often are the first to fall to the budget axe, if they're addressed at all. If we're going to be sure that these issues get the attention they deserve from elected officials, we've got to build clout by insuring that all eligible New Yorkers are civically engaged and VOTE!

Your Vote Counts

Too many people are under the mistaken impression that their vote doesn’t count. But it is the alarming fact that so few people vote in most elections that getting an additional 200 or 300 hundred people to vote can make a huge difference.

In some contested primary elections, fewer than 2,500 people in total vote. Imagine the impact of just 200 additional votes in these recent close elections:

• AD89 (2010 Westchester) - Robert Castelli won by 112 votes out of 42,414 cast
• AD100 (2010 Mid-Hudson) - Thomas Kirwan defeated the incumbent by 15 votes out of 31,267 cast
• SD27 (2012 South Brooklyn) - David Storobin leads Lew Fidler by 27 votes going into a hand recount

Registration is the First Step to Voting

In the U.S., no one can vote if they don't first register. In order to register to vote in New York State you must:

• Be at least 18 years old by the date of the election
• Be a citizen of the United States
• Be a resident of New York State
• Have lived at your current address for at least 30 days before an election

You can obtain a registration form to print out and mail in at this website: http://www.elections.ny.gov/VotingRegister.html

Because there are three more elections coming up this year, there are three different deadlines to register. Registration forms need to be postmarked or registrations completed in person at the local Board of Elections by the deadline in order to be able to vote for the upcoming elections.

Registration Deadline	June 26: Congressional Primary	September 11: State Legislative Primary	November 6: Presidential General Elections
June 1
August 17
October 12

*Anyone registering before any of these deadlines is eligible to vote in the November election.

Helpful Links:

• Find your polling place
• A good resource for voting information in New York is the League of Women Voters and their "How to Conduct a Successful Voter Registration Drive" booklet.

*Download and share the above information from New York Women Vote Coalition.

National and Local Voter registration Laws to be Aware of:

National Voter Registration Act (Section 7, Agency-based Voter Registration)

Section 7 of the NVRA requires state public assistance agencies to provide voter registration services to applicants and clients. Such offices that must provide services include those administering benefits such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Medicaid, State Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. New York State additionally designated the Department of Social Services, the Department of Health, and “all agencies of local government that provide such assistance.”

Certain state-funded agencies must also provide voter registration services. They are: Department of Labor, Office for the Aging, Division of Veterans’ Affairs, Offices of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities, Commission on Quality of Care for the Mentally Disabled, Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped, Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, Office of the Advocate for the Disabled, and “all offices which administer programs established or funded by such agencies.”

The NVRA requires that voter registration services be provided with each application, recertification or renewal, or change of address related to benefits. With each such application, recertification or renewal, and change of address relating to benefits, a public assistance agency must:

Provide the individual with a voter registration application;

• Provide the individual with a form, commonly called a “Declination Form,” that contains the question, “If you are not registered to vote where you live now, would you like to apply to register to vote here today?” along with several other statutorily-required statements;
• Provide each client choosing to register with the same degree of assistance in completing the voter registration application as would be provided in completing the agency’s own forms; and
• Transmit all completed voter registration applications to the appropriate election official within a prescribed amount of time.

New York City Pro-Voter Law  

New York City passed the Pro-Voter Law in 2003 to help increase voter participation. A wide array of city agencies must now offer voter registration forms to all persons together with: 1) written applications for services, 2) renewal or recertification for services, and 3) changes of address relating to such services. Participating agencies must also include voter registration forms with mailings relating to client application, renewal, or recertification for services, or changes of address. Online communications relating to application for services, renewal or recertification for services, and change of address relating to such services must also incorporate an opportunity for persons to request a voter registration application.

City agencies that must offer voter registration forms:

The Administration for Children's Services, the City Clerk,  the Civilian Complaint Review Board, the  Commission on Human Rights, Community Boards, the Department of Small Business Services, the Department of Citywide Administrative Services, the Department of Consumer Affairs, the Department of Correction, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Finance, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Department of Homeless Services, the Department of Housing Preservation and  Development, the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Department of Probation, the Taxi and Limousine Commission, the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Youth and Community Development.

*Thanks to Susan Lerner, Executive Director of Common Cause New York and a member of the New York Women Vote Coalition, for writing most of the sections of this InfoNet. 

_____________________________________________________

NEW YORK WOMEN VOTE (NYWV)

FPWA has joined a recently formed coalition to increase the engagement of women voters in the city and state called NY Women Vote (NYWV). The Mission and Principles of NYWV are:

Mission

We leverage our collective power to set a bold agenda by and for women, transcending political differences to better the lives of women and families. 

We mobilize and educate women as voters, policy advocates, and community leaders to build a unified movement that will impact elections and advance critical and lasting/enduring change.

Principles

• We stand on the shoulders of New York women who came before us, building on a legacy of equal rights and equal opportunity.
• We believe that all women have the right to determine their own health and well-being.
• We speak our truth, listen to one another, and learn from our diverse opinions.
• We are committed to increasing women's participation in all aspects of our democracy.

There are over 25 organizations participating in the coalition including:

• Common Cause New York
• Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies
• National Council of Jewish Women-New York
• National Organization for Women-New York City

For more information on NYWV, contact Bich Ha Pham at bhpham@fpwa.org or 212-801-1311 or Liz Accles at laccles@fpwa.org or 212-801-1393.

Happy Earth Day and Week of the Young Child!

On Monday night our very own Asil Ali Özdoğru, PhD, Evaluation Specialist here at the Early Care & Learning Council gave the keynote address at the 5th Annual Turkish National Day Reception to celebrate the 92nd National Sovereignty and Children's Day of Turkey. Asil's speech, "Children of the Earth" focused on the earth, her children and what we can do to care for both. Asil is the former president of the Turkish Student Association at SUNY Albany where he received his PhD in educational psychology. Read Asil’s address below:

Yesterday was the 42^nd annual earth day in the United States and the 4^th annual international mother earth day. It is sympathetically called the mother earth as it is the land that we live on, the air that we breathe, the water that we drink and use, the fauna and flora that we eat and use. The planet earth is our home in this vast space that provides the perfect living conditions for us. We don’t know any other planet that can sustain life even in our tiny solar system. However, we are not very kind to our mother.

First of all, as the children of this planet, we keep growing in numbers.

 Just last month, we reached 7 billion people and another 2 billion people are projected to join us in the next 40 years. We all need quality air, water, food, housing, transportation, and more like iPhones J We expect earth to provide it. In just the thirty years between the first earth day in 1970 and the turn of the millennium in 2000, we increased the oil that we drew from the earth by 70%, natural gas extraction by 179%, and global vehicle population by 197%. We also increased our carbon emissions by 64%. Our aggressive demand is deteriorating the planet. For example, whether you call it climate change or global warming, it is taking place.

 Earth's average surface temperature has increased by 1.4 °F since the early 20th century. Last month was the hottest March on record in the United States. Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather events around the world such as heat waves, extreme allergies, winter weather, drought, wildfires, floods, and hurricanes. Remember the Hurricane Irene last fall in our region?

However, it is not our sheer numbers that is the problem. It is the way that we interact with the physical world around us. Our inefficient use and unequal share of our natural resources leading us to a dim future.

Our oceans, lakes, and rivers suffer from our pollution and overfishing. A third of humanity lives in poverty deprived from the many resources that we take granted in this part of the world. Are you feeling guilty? I did, especially after seeing the documentaries like An Inconvenient Truth and the Food, Inc. Do we want to exterminate our own species? Is that the kind of a world that we want to leave for our children and the next generations? I would say no.

Now let’s look at our first issue, the children.

Since today is Turkey’s international children’s day and this week is the Week of Young Child in the United States, it will be appropriate to look at the conditions of children in our planet.

Our designated charity for today’s event UNICEF publishes an annual report called The state of the world’s children. You can read it online for more details, but I would like to give you some highlights from the 2012 report.

Nearly half of the world's children live in urban areas and urban population growth is greater in less developed regions. Urban populations are growing fastest in Asia and Africa. In urban areas, access to improved water and sanitation is not keeping pace with the population growth. HIV is more common in urban areas. There is a great rate of income inequality in urban areas. Poverty is the single greatest threat to children’s well-being. Children of the urban poor are more likely to be undernourished.

Odds of survival for children under the age of 5 in urban areas decreases with poverty. Urban income disparities also mean unequal access to water. School attendance is lower in poor communities.

And don’t think that poverty is an issue in other parts of the world. Here at home in the United States, nearly 15 million children, which is 21% of all children, live in families with incomes below the federal poverty level, which is 22 thousand dollars a year for a family of four. Research shows that, on average, families need an income of about twice that level to cover basic expenses. Using this standard, 42% of children live in low-income families. The percentage of children living in low-income families has been on the rise.

Percentage of children in low-income families is higher in younger ages. And sadly, during those early years we can make the biggest difference.

As this graph shows, most of the brain development related to sensation, language, and cognitive development takes place within the first three years of human life. Research tells us that for every $1 invested in high-quality early care and education, our communities save between $4 and $17 in future costs of remedial and special education, the juvenile crime system, and welfare support.

If these numbers make you dizzy, here is a look at the cold reality of the child poverty

After participating in today’s celebrations in Turkey, 12-year-old Süleyman, as you see in this photograph taken today, pulls his cart that is bigger than himself to collect used paper products to contribute to his family’s income. Süleyman is not alone. Child labor is wide spread in poor communities around the world. Children in developing countries spend more time in paid labor and less time in free play than those in developed countries.

After all these bad news, here is the good one. We can change this all, if we want. As the hope-filled message of President Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign put it, “yes we can.” We can heal the earth and improve the conditions of our children. How? Simple. With our individual and collective actions. By taking small steps in our lives and supporting organizations fighting for the good cause. We can be the change and change the world around us.

You can find better and more creative ways to do so but here are few ways that I can suggest. For example, individually we can do the 3 Rs: Reduce, reuse, and recycle. Reduce the amount and toxicity of trash we throw away. Reuse containers and products. Recycle as much as possible and buy products with recycled content. We can prefer and invest in sustainable and renewable energy sources and technologies designed to improve energy efficiency such as hydroelectricity, solar and wind energy, wave power, and geothermal energy. We can volunteer for causes that help children and the environment. Our support for those initiatives makes a big difference. Don’t even think that one dollar that we donate to a certain charity or one hour we volunteer for an organization will not make a big difference. We, collectively, make a huge difference. And there are plenty of organizations working towards these causes at every level: Locally, statewide, like my agency, nationally, and internationally, like UNICEF. If you can’t find one, let me know and I will direct you to one. :)

That’s all I got to say. You may have not heard anything new or creative from me tonight but I hope I might have ignited even a tiny flare in your conscience at least to make you think about these global as well as local issues that we are facing all.

We, the children of the earth, have the power to solve the problems of our children and our earth.

Thank you. Teşekkürler.

aozdogru@earlycareandlearning.org

New York State’s Workforce Development: Laying the Foundation for our Future Workforce and Educational Success through Quality Child Care

By Marsha Basloe and Fannie Glover, Early Care & Learning Council


Why should businesses worry about child care? There are multiple reasons why child care must become a priority for all employers. First of all, without adequate, safe, and reliable child care many New York State residents simply would not and could not work. Second of all, when employees are supported in finding quality child care for their children, employees are more productive and absenteeism is reduced.


Various research studies have shown that employee absences were reduced by 20-30 percent and turnover by 37-60 percent. 85 percent of employers report that providing child care services improves employee recruitment and  49 percent of employers reported that child care services helped boost employee productivity.


An average business with 250 employees can save $75,000 per year in lost work time by subsidizing care for employees’ sick children. U.S. companies lose $3 billion annually as a consequence of child care-related absences, estimates the Child Care Action Campaign. 


The need for child care is high. In New York State, more than 60 percent of children under the age of six live in homes where two parents or a single head of household are employed. However, quality child care is costly. In New York State, the average cost for child care for a 1-year-old in a high-quality setting totals almost $13,000 a year – more than double the cost of tuition at SUNY.


Extensive evidence from longitudinal studies indicates that the cognitive, social and emotional skills developed during a child’s early years play critical roles in the attainment of key adult competencies and positive life outcomes. Research also tells us that for every $1 invested in high-quality early care and education, our communities save between $4 and $17 in future costs of remedial and special education, the juvenile crime system and welfare support. 


Although most of a child’s brain development is happening by age 3, our society doesn’t invest in children until they begin school. If children are not ready for kindergarten, they typically are not reading by 3rd grade, often fail to graduate, and cannot enter the work force with the skills for job success.


What can employers do to support their employees? Be an advocate to ensure that all employers understand the importance of investing in a more productive workforce by supporting families and quality child care programs. High-quality early care and education is the foundation of a child’s future success and therefore a community’s future success. Ask how you can support QUALITYstarsNY, NYS’s quality rating and improvement system in your area. 
HR leaders understand child development and the crucial role the earliest years play in the development of a future workforce. Local businesses can play an important role in this work here in New York State. 


For more information on early childhood and child care, go to www.earlycareandlearning.org. 


Access SHRM’s paper on Meeting the Workforce Needs of the Future at http://www.readynation.org/uploads/20100616_PAESSHRM.web.pdf.

Marsha Basloe is the executive director of Early Care & Learning Council and a co-convener of Winning BeginningNY, a statewide coalition focused on early education and development. 


Fannie Glover works with Consultant Services and New Initiatives. She is a board member of NYSSHRM.  They can be contacted at MBasloe@earlycareandlearning.org and fglover@earlycareandlearning.org. 

Who is watching your children?

Who is watching your children? Chris Hansen asked this in the first edition of Dateline’s new hidden camera series. Dateline identified several child care providers who have past convictions or otherwise questionable backgrounds. In most cases, these providers did not evade a background check or try to deceive the regulatory body that governs them. The fact is that only 11 states run full background checks on child care providers. A full background check uses fingerprints to check state and federal criminal records, checking the child abuse and neglect registry and checking the sex offender registry. New York does not check fingerprints against the federal criminal records or the sex offender registry.


Parents who enroll their children in registered or licensed child care may assume that all providers are being rigorously checked and that programs are monitored and inspected on a regular basis. This is not always the case. The National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (NACCRRA) recently released its latest report, Leaving Children to Chance, ranking states on their current home-based family child care program standards and oversight policies. The report reveals that most states fail to protect the health, safety and well-being of children being cared for in home-based family child care programs. According to the report, only four states scored 70 percent or higher on the basic requirements needed to ensure that children are safe and in settings that promote healthy development. Only 18 states check the sex offender registry.


The report ranks every state, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense child care system, on 16 basic standards focused on ensuring the health, safety and well-being of children while in family child care homes serving six or fewer children.  According to the report, the average state score (among states scoring points) was 69 (46 percent) of a possible score of 150 points.  Sixteen states received a score of zero. About half the states do not conduct inspections at least annually.  Only 15 states meet each of the 10 basic health and safety requirements needed to keep children safe and healthy in child care. A similar NACCRRA report, We Can Do Better, published last year focused on child care centers. According to that report seven states do not require a check of the child abuse registry as part of their background check for child care providers in the center setting.


“Child care is an important part of many families’ lives.” said Marsha Basloe, Executive Director of the Early Care & Learning Council. “Parents should do their research, but they should also be able to trust that registered and licensed programs are being adequately monitored and that the children in those programs are safe.”  


New York requires inspection of family based and center based care before licensing and regular inspections, 2 to 4 times per year, while in operation. New York ranked in the top ten for Child Care Center Oversight in NACCRRA’s 2011 report on centers.  Not all states, however, are this diligent. California requires an inspection of their registered family care homes, once every five years and in Michigan, it’s once every ten years.


“We feel that all children deserve to be safe,” said Jessica Klos, Policy Associate at the Early Care & Learning Council. “On March 8th, we spent the day in Washington D.C. with advocates from Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies throughout New York State. We had some great visits with U.S. Representatives and folks from Senator Schumer’s and Senator Gillibrand’s offices. The message we are trying to send is ‘keep kids safe’. It’s really that simple.” There are a few bills pending in Congress that would require full background checks for licensed or registered child care providers:

• Child Care Protection Act (S. 581) by Senator Richard Burr (R-NC)
• Child Care Criminal Background Check Act (H.R. 1711) by Andre Carson (D-IN)
• Child Care Accountability and Responsibility (CARE for Kids Act) Act (H.R. 3829) by Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI) 
• Child Care Protection Act (H.R. 1726) by Representative Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD)

“Ultimately we’d like to see high quality care available to all families,” said Basloe, “Until that happens, the least we can do is ensure that the available care is safe.”



To read the full report, Leaving Children to Chance: 2012 Update
NACCRRA's Ranking of State Standards and Oversight of Small Family Child Care Homes click here: http://www.naccrra.org/node/2215



To read the full report, We Can Do Better: 2011 Update
NACCRRA's Ranking of State Child Care Center Regulation and Oversight
click here http://www.naccrra.org/about-child-care/state-child-care-licensing/we-can-do-better-state-child-care-center-licensing

Infant and Toddler Care Improving in New York

The Early Care & Learning Council has released its Annual Impact Report to document improvements in infant and toddler child care quality statewide.  The report covers the activities of the Infant and Toddler Resource Network for the last program year – October 1,2010 – September 30,2011. 

The report findings show that the Infant and Toddler Specialists are improving the quality of care in several ways. There were over 6,000 caregivers trained across the state and evaluations showed an average knowledge gain of 26%. Over 700 on-site technical assistance processes were conducted and resulted in programs improving their child care environments and the practices of caregivers with the children. The work of Infant and Toddler Specialists also increases awareness of the importance of the infancy period as a foundation for success in school and life. 

Infant and Toddler Specialists are housed in the Child Care Resource and Referral agencies in seven regions across the state. Funding for this quality improvement work comes from the NYS Office of Child and Family Services.

To read the full report click here.

To view the Impact-At-A-Glance click here.

To learn more about the NYS Infant and Toddler Resource Network contact  

Evelyn Efinger, Infant Toddler Coordinator eefinger@earlycareandlearning.org  Phone: 518-690-4217 ext 12

New Literacy Resource Available for Providers

Great news from our friends at the New York State Library!   

Acting State Librarian Jeffrey W. Cannell announced a new literacy resource for child care providers,  “2012 Summer Reading at New York Libraries Early Literacy Partner Manual.” The manual may be downloaded from the “Summer Reading at New York Libraries” http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/summer/, click on Downloadable Materials.

This new manual will assist child care providers and teachers of young children in partnering with a public library, or public library system, to help families gain the full advantage of public library resources and programs during the summer months. Developed by the New York State Education Department in partnership with the Collaborative Summer Library Program and public library system youth services consultants, the manual contains information on public library summer programming for the young child along with extensive book lists related to the Summer Reading at New York Libraries 2012 slogan, “Dream Big READ.” 

Public libraries are encouraged to share the manual, in either electronic or paper form, with local child care providers and teachers of young children. It is hoped that this new resource will lead to strengthened relations between libraries and all those who serve and educate the young child. 

For further information contact Karen Balsen “Summer Reading at New York Libraries” coordinator, kbalsen@mail.nysed.gov, 518-486-2194.

'The Hansen Files' returns, investigates daycare

Many of you may know Chris Hansen, from Dateline's hidden camera series of shows that catch child predators and the like. It seems Chris Hansen has been laying low for awhile, that might have something to do with the fact that those he was trying to catch became wary and backed out of meeting their (fictional) prey before Chris Hansen even got a chance to poke his head around the corner and surprise the perpetrator. This wasn't great for the show but was great for potential victims of abuse. So kudos to Chris Hansen and the Dateline crew, perhaps they put enough fear into at least a few people to prevent someone from getting hurt. 

Well they are at it again but this time with a different angle. The show's website says that they will be investigating dishonest lottery dealers and health insurance scammers, among others. But, what we are most interested in is tonight's episode which will investigate day care providers with criminal records. 

Here is the description:

Beginning Friday, March 2nd, at 10pm/9c:

Reliable daycare is a staple requirement of American child rearing. But how much do parents know about just who owns and runs some of the daycare centers around the country? And how much are they allowed to know? “Dateline” did some random sampling of Day Care owners and found a surprising number of Day Care operators actually have criminal records. And, sometimes it ends in a tragedy. Chris Hansen confronts Day Care operators with secrets in their pasts.

A Today Show blogger shared some of Chris Hansen's tips for ensuring that your child is in safe hands and they did mention NACCRRA. NACCRRA keeps close track of what each state does and doesn't do as far as keeping children in child care safe. If you are wondering what protections your state has in place this is a great place to look. 

But…should this really be something we have to look up? Parents probably assume that individuals who are cleared to work in child care have been through a thorough background check; that is not always the case. In New York for example, fingerprints are run through a state database and the background check includes a check against criminal history and child abuse. However the fingerprints are not run through a federal database and there is no check against the sex offender registry. 

So what can you do to ensure that not only your child, but all children are safe in child care? 

Call or write to your Senators and Representatives ask them to 

• Reauthorize Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG) to require comprehensive background checks, including fingerprint checks for all child care providers caring for unrelated children and for all providers receiving federal subsidies.
• Prohibit the use of CCDBG or TANF funds to pay convicted felons to provide child care.
• Require all paid providers (caring for unrelated children on a regular basis) to have a state license or permit.

We are thrilled that this issue will be brought to light on Dateline tonight and hope it inspires parents, advocates and legislatures to take action in support of children's safety. We'll be watching!

Contact your representative: http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml

NACCRRA: www.naccrra.org

Message to Lawmakers: Stick with What Works for Youngest New Yorkers

Story via Public News Service, video added by the Early Care & Learning Council

www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/25074-2

February 28, 2012

ALBANY, N.Y. - Governor Andrew Cuomo has been using competitive grants to spur competition among school districts, but today lawmakers are being urged to not rely on that approach for early education funding. The jury is out on competitive grants, according to Danielle Asher, early childhood education campaign coordinator with the Long Island Progressive Coalition; she says maybe they'll work, maybe not.

That's why Asher says it's dangerous to use that system to fund early education programs, which she says have been proved to save the state money and provide a quality education.

"It is proven to reduce grade repetition and disciplinary referrals, special education costs; it will save the state $22 million to $32 million, so we need to invest in Pre-K programs."

Asher is one of the more than 100 parents, teachers and advocates traveling to Albany to urge lawmakers to restore $53 million in early education funding to the general fund. The Board of Regents also backs that approach, while Governor Cuomo lumped funding for early education into $250 million in competitive grants in his executive budget.

Currently, many of New York's youngest children are on waiting lists to get into early-learning programs, according to Marsha Basloe, executive director of the Early Care and Learning Council. She says that's a shame, because decades worth of studies show these programs work.

"Students that participate in quality early-care and learning programs are far more likely to attend college and get higher-paying jobs; avoid teen pregnancy; avoid welfare dependency; avoid delinquency and/or crime."

Basloe plans to meet with lawmakers to talk about the need to find $20 million to fund a Quality Stars program to rate local early education programs.

A news briefing is planned for 11 a.m. at the Legislative Office Building.

A report is at bit.ly/yqELjA. More on the QUALITYstarsNY program is atqualitystarsny.org

Mike Clifford, Public News Service - NY

SCARED SICK: The Role of Childhood Trauma in Adult Disease

The School of Social Welfare at SUNY and Prevent Child Abuse New York, in cooperation with ACE Tjink Tank and HEARTS Initiative present:

SCARED SICK:

The Role of Childhood Trauma in Adult Disease

Monday, April 2, 2012, 2:00-4:30 pm Page Hall Auditorium

University at Albany Downtown Campus, 135 Western Ave, Albany, NY

Agenda

Welcome: Heather Larkin, Assistant Professor, UAlbany School of Social Welfare

Setting the Stage: Robin Karr Morse, Family Therapist, Writer

Meredith Wiley, State Director, Fight Crime: Invest in Kids

4:00PM Meet the Authors, Book Signing

Pre-registration is encouraged, to ensure your space at the event.

Contact Brittani Hanson at bhanson@preventchildabuseny.org, or 518-445-1273

New York State Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment(LATFOR) Releases New State Assembly and Senate District Lines

After many months of meetings and hearings, new legislative district maps have been announced. The lines must be redrawn every 10 years to conform to the new federal Census.  Tradition dictates that the party that holds the majority in that house draws the lines. While several districts statewide in both houses  have changed shape, perhaps the biggest change is in the New York State Senate.  The Republican Party currently holds the Senate majority by a margin of 32-30.  Under the new plan the Senate will increase from 62 Districts to 63, with a new district stretching from Ulster County to Montgomery County along the Mohawk River, splitting Albany is half.

Critics of the redistricting process include good-government groups, Senate Democrats and Governor Cuomo. Suggestions have been made to scrap the current process in favor of an independent system where a third party draws the lines.  

The Governor’s spokesperson, Josh Vlasto has stated that the Governor will veto this plan and that a better process is need.

Click Here to Find Your Current and New District under the Plan

And for those of you that would like a history and government lesson, click here for an article that appeared in the Albany Times Union a few weeks ago which explains the math used to determine the number of seats New York should have in each house of the legislature based on county population.

We will keep you updated!

Sincerely,       

  

Jessica

                                        

Jessica Klos Shapiro

Policy Associate

(518) 690-4217 ex. 32

jkloss@earlycareandlearning.org

Sheriff Says Invest in Kids to Reduce Crime

Thank you Sheriff Bud York of Warren County! 


Sheriff York testified at a joint hearing on education spending in the 2012-13 Executive Budget in favor of a $20 million investment in QUALITYstarsNY. Sheriff York says that QUALITYstarsNY will, in the long run, lead to fewer criminals in jail. This is because children who attend quality early care and learning programs experience many benefits; they are less likely to repeat grades, less likely to need special education, less likely to be teen parents, more likely to graduate high school, more likely to have a job and less likely to end up in jail. We know that investments in the early years makes sense and saves cents! Spread the word!


Click to read more about his testimony and hear an interview with Sheriff's York. 


Click here to visit Fight Crime: Invest in Kids to learn more about how quality early care and learning reduces crime

Funding to Be Offered to Help Low-Income Parents Move Back Into Workforce

The State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) and the State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) announced today that New York has received $16.5 million in federal funding to help low-income parents pay for child care, allowing them to improve their skills and successfully enter the workforce.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently awarded New York State $16.5 million in funding through the Food Stamp Employment and Training (FSET) Program to help Food Stamp recipients who are participating in an employment and training program pay for child care. FSET provides work-focused education and training and job placement services to low-income New Yorkers receiving Food Stamps.

"At a time when record numbers of households are receiving Food Stamps and the effects of a prolonged recession are being felt by so many, these funds are vital to supporting low-income families as they move back into the workforce," said OTDA Executive Deputy Commissioner Elizabeth Berlin. "We are pleased to be able to partner with OCFS and local social services offices to ensure that parents can have safe and affordable child care as they work to enhance their readiness to successfully compete in the job market."

"We recognize the need for quality child care for parents and caregivers who are being trained to seek gainful employment opportunities, as well as those who are currently employed," said OCFS Commissioner Gladys Carrión, Esq. "We are pleased to work in collaboration with OTDA to secure additional funds for low-income families in tough economic times, and are grateful that additional funding has been made available."

The child care assistance can continue for up to three months after a Food Stamp recipient secures a job. Parents will be able to secure child care for approximately 5,000 children in New York State as a result of this funding.

The funding will be made available to county departments of social services and New York City. They will be notified how to request funding. OTDA, which oversees the State's Food Stamp program, and OCFS, which oversees child care subsidies, will jointly review and approve the funding applications.

As we celebrate this bit of good news, the Early Care & Learning Council and partners will continue to work to increase the quality, affordability and capacity of the early care and learning field.

Sincerely,  

Jessica Klos Shapiro     

Policy Associate

(518) 690-4217 x32