CHILD CARE SERVICES
Providing Support to Families and Child Care Providers
CHILD CARE NEWS
Essential Worker Scholarships
ESSENTIAL WORKER SCHOLARSHIP UPDATE
July 27,2021
From our friends at OCFS:
“The Office of Children and Family Services has been honored to administer the Essential Worker Scholarships to support the brave working families who have gotten our state through the pandemic and into rebuilding and economic recovery. Due to a spectacular response to the grant program, we must now suspend acceptance of additional applications. This will not impact applicants who have already received notice of approval; they will receive their scholarships. OCFS will provide additional information to awardees regarding the term of the scholarship award. Thank you.”
For Families
Start your search for child care! There are a number of different ways families can connect with our team to get the information you need.
Call Us
Start your search by calling and talking to a referral counselor!
They will happily answer all your questions and walk you through finding high quality child care and give you a FREE referral list of regulated child care options near your home or work, customized for you and your family.
Toll Free: (800) 498-2277
Submit Form
Families searching for care in in Allegany, Cattaraugus and Wyoming counties can also take advantage of our FREE referral service by completing the online referral request form. Use the form to tell us about your family’s child care needs, including the specific zip code(s) of where you’re looking for care, and within 24-48 hours an expert on the Parent Services team will use our extensive database to get you a list of regulated child care options specific to your referral request.
On Your Own
If you are looking for a list of child care referrals outside of normal business hours, use the search tool below to access our database of regulated child care providers to create a referral list on your own. Remember; the experts on our Parent Services team are here to help you find the care you need! If you’re unable to find child care options that meet your needs through this search, please give us a call at (800) 498-2277 or email bnorton@accordcorp.org for further assistance.
Visit Us
Please feel free to call us for a one on one personal meeting to get a child care referral and discuss your personal needs and we will offer options for your family.
Give us a call at (800) 498-2277 or email bnorton@accordcorp.org
19 South Street
Belmont, NY 14813
Search for care on your own
Attention Parents and Legal Guardians
If during your search for child care, you notice conditions or practices that concern you, I urge you to call 1-800-732-5207 (New York State Child Care Complaint Line) to report it.
Help paying for child care
If you have already started your search, you know that quality child care can be expensive. Fortunately there are a variety of resources available to help with the cost with of child care. Child care assistance can come in many different forms. Some programs, like child care subsidies, pay for a portion of your child care each month, other options may help you save money or provide discounts on your monthly or weekly fees. If you don’t qualify for child care subsidy, there are other programs, credits, or discounts available that may be able to assist you with paying for child care. This short video from the Office of Children & Family Services explains some of these assistance options, or call (800) 498-2277 to speak with our experts!
This income eligibility chart is a helpful tool in determining if you may qualify.
Child Care Subsidy For Allegany, Cattaraugus and Wyoming County
Click the county of choice, Feel free to download and print.
Legally Exempt Forms
A Legally Exempt provider is an unlicensed, informal child care provider who cares for up to 2 children and receives payment from the Department of Social Services. LE provider forms are available here. Choose (LDSS 4699 for LE provider application and LDSS 4699a for instructions). If you are a Group LE provider (example: summer camp) your organization will need to complete LDSS 4700 and the instructional guide is LDSS 4700a. Both parent/guardian and provider need to complete an application for approval. The parent application is available at your local Department of Social Services. For payment information, please contact the Department of Social Services. Contact information is listed above - click on the county in which you reside.
Need help completing your Legally exempt Provider Application? Click on the link below for helpful guidelines.
https://www.chautauquaopportunities.com/legally-exempt-provider-application-help/
For Providers
Become a provider
High quality child care options are needed in Allegany, Cattaraugus and Wyoming Counties. Help us build a strong community of high quality child care by opening your own home child care business!
As a general rule in NY, any child day care program planning to serve three or more children for more than three hours a day on a regular basis must obtain a license or registration. Child Care Services is here to help guide you through the process of becoming licensed or registered! We have put together the information below to give you a general overview and how to get started Click here to learn more. Give us a call at (800) 498-2277, we are happy to help and our support services are always free of charge.
Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS)
Very important links for quick guidance and information
Training Calendar
If you would like more information or to register for any of the following trainings, please contact Amy Lehman, Training and Technical Assistance Specialist at alehman@accordcorp.org or call (585)268-7605 x 1252.
ALL registration fees must be paid by check or money order made out to ACCORD Corporation.
No cash will be accepted. Thank you.
Announcing New Services
Infant and early childhood mental health consultation (IECMHC) is an intervention that teams a mental health professional with early care and education staff and families. This team works on ways to help promote the social and emotional development of the young children in their care.
For more information click on the boxes above and feel free to contact Josie at 585.268.7605 x 1226 or email jvirkus@accordcorp.org
Josie Virkus
CACFP
Child and Adult Care Food Program
The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a nutrition education and meal reimbursement program. The program helps providers serve nutritious and safely prepared meals and snacks in day care settings.
Click here to be taken directly to the CACFP website.
The goal of CACFP is improved nutritional quality of meals served to children in child care settings. Providers may claim reimbursement for 2 meals and 1 snack per day OR 2 snacks and 1 meal per day. Providers who participate in CACFP have the following available:
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Technical Assistance: Sponsor will help provider build a CACFP-approved menu.
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Money is reimbursed for creditable meals served.
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Free attendance to CACFP-approved nutrition trainings.
For eligibility to join CACFP, call (585) 268-7605 extension 1224 or email kmetlak@accordcorp.org
Family, group family, and legally exempt providers must sign up with ACCORD's Child Care Services, one of the state-approved sponsors for Allegany, Cattaraugus and Wyoming County.
Centers may also participate through a sponsor that meets the same requirements. Contact your state agency for details on program participation.
How can the program help the child care provider?
The program will:
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Help pay for the meals you serve to children in your care.
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Teach you how to plan and serve meals that meet child care standards for nutrition.
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Provide you with free training that will help you do a good job and run your home-based business or child care center as a professional.
How can the program help the parents?
Parents who leave children in your care want to feel confident that their child receives the best care, the care of a professional. Parents are not charged an extra fee for the meals served.
CACFP Sites, links and downloads
Very important links for quick guidance and information
Staff Directory
Toll Free: (800) 498-2277
Fax: (585) 268-5413
Amy Lehman- Training/ TA Specialist
alehman@accordcorp.org
(585) 268-7605 ext. 1252
Josie Virkus- Infant Toddler Specialist
Infant Toddler Mental Health Consultant
(585) 268-7605, ext.1226
Vacant – Registration Coordinator
Christine Cole - Temporary
(585) 268-7605 ext. 1231
Brittany Fowler- Legally Exempt Counselor
bfowler@accordcorp.org
(585) 268-7605 ext. 1250
Partners In Care
Newsletter
Partners In Care Newsletter is an informational newsletter created and distributed quarterly to child care programs, parents and the community.
19 South Street
Belmont, NY 14813
Fall 2021
Federal/State and
County Directory
Easy access local and federal government with contact information
Resources
The New York State Office of Children and Family Services also provides support for people and organizations that are interested in starting day care programs in their communities. www.ocfs.state.ny.us/main/childcare/becomeaprovider.asp
The Office of Child Care (OCC) supports low-income working families by providing access to affordable, high-quality early care and afterschool programs. OCC administers the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) and works with state, territory and tribal governments to provide support for children and their families juggling work schedules and struggling to find child care programs that will fit their needs and that will prepare children to succeed in school. https://www.acf.hhs.gov/occ
Child Care Aware of America offers a comprehensive website of materials for people thinking about opening a child care business. http://childcareaware.org/child-care-providers
The National Association for Family Child Care is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting quality child care by strengthening the profession of family child care. www.nafcc.org
The Family Child Care Association of New York State is a non-profit, professional statewide organization dedicated to supporting family child care providers and associations. http://www.fccanys.org/
National Association for the Education of Young Children Promoting high-quality learning by connecting practice, policy, and research. https://www.naeyc.org
The National Child Care Association (NCCA) supports providers, educators and child care centers of all sizes through education, support and lobbying. https://nationalchildcare.org
Redleaf Press is a wonderful child care business resource catalog, including Calendar Keepers www.redleafpress.org
Early Childhood Educational Training Program: Early Childhood Education and Training Program; EIP (training grant), Webcast registration, MAT certification information- SUNY www.ecetp.pdp.albany.edu/
VOICE CSEA a union made up of and working for family childcare providers from across New York State http://www.voicecsea.org
Tom Copeland’s Blog-- “Taking Care of Business” http://www.tomcopelandblog.com/ A blog about running a family child care business; focusing on the business side, including record keeping, taxes, contract, legal, insurance, money management and retirement planning.
Aspire is New York State's registry and statewide training calendar for early childhood and school age professionals. Teachers, providers, directors, trainers and anyone who works with children can use Aspire to keep track of important information about their career, including education, employment history and other professional development or contributions. Aspire can also help early childhood and school age professionals plan and find professional development that will enrich their practice. http://nyworksforchildren.org/aspire.aspx
Starbridge Partnering with individuals who have disabilities and their families to achieve success in education, employment, and healthy living. https://www.starbridgeinc.org/