Slide 1

Welcome
to the Capital District Child Care Council’s

2011 Annual Meeting


Slide 2

LEADING THE WAY TO QUALITY CARE


Slide 3

Our Mission
The Capital District Child Care Council is a resource and
referral agency dedicated to promoting quality, accessible
child care for all of the Capital Region’s diverse
communities. The Council assumes a leadership role in
supporting children, parents, child care professionals,
and employers through referral counseling, education,
training, and advocacy.

Our Vision
The Capital District Child Care Council is a resource and
referral agency dedicated to promoting quality, accessible
child care for all of the Capital Region’s diverse
communities. The Council assumes a leadership role in
supporting children, parents, child care professionals,
and employers through referral counseling, education,
training, and advocacy.


Slide 4

Board of Directors
Officers
Elizabeth Roberts Laura, President
Jane Schwerd, Vice-President
Kim Siciliano, Secretary
Robert Topolski, Treasurer
Members
Andrea Adrian
Merle Baker
Ann Day
Peggy Grot
Catherine Halayko
Nancy Johnson
Bernard Jones
Kelly Landrio
Susan Megna
Michael Ruzza
Retiring in 2011
Elizabeth Roberts-Laura
Bernard Jones

Retiring
Members
Officers
in 2010
Andrea Adrian
Elizabeth
Elizabeth
Roberts
MerleRoberts-Laura
Baker
Laura, President
Bernard
Ann DayJones
Jane Schwerd,
Peggy Vice-President
Grot
Catherine Halayko
Kim Nancy
Siciliano,
Johnson
Secretary
Bernard Jones
RobertKelly
Topolski,
Landrio
Treasurer
Susan Megna
Michael Ruzza

Thank you for your
dedication and service
to the Capital District
Child Care Council.


Slide 5

Where
We
Work
Infant Toddler Regional Services
The Council provides Infant Toddler services
to the following 17 counties

Clinton
Franklin

Essex

Hamilton

Fulton

Warren

Saratoga

Montgomery
Schenectady

Otsego

Delaware

Albany

Greene


Slide 6

Where
We
Work
Eat Well Play Hard in Child Care Settings

Clinton

The Council provides the Eat Well Play hard program to the
following 13 counties
Essex
HamiltonHamilton

Fulton

Warren

Saratoga

Montgomery
Schenectady
Albany
Greene

Columbia


Slide 7

Where
We
Work
Child Care Resource and Referral Services

Clinton

The Council provides Child Care Resource and Referral
services to the following 6 counties

Hamilton

Fulton

Saratoga

Montgomery
Schenectady
Albany


Slide 8

Education Services
Quality Improvement System: QUALITYstarsNY

“

Training opportunities are
designed to lead to improvements
in the knowledge, skills, and
practices of child care providers.”

In response to research linking high quality child care to positive outcomes, a number of state and
local organizations are involved in piloting and implementing a quality improvement system. This
year, the Council’s Education Department participated in state and local initiatives to support
improvements in the quality of early care and education and school-age care through the
engagement of a unified approach. The Education Department has developed a multi-faceted
program to support the work of the state’s quality improvement system. This comprehensive
program gives child care and school-age providers a road-map to and supports for quality related to
the goals set forth by Quality Stars NY.

Accreditation
As a way to help systematically improve early childhood and school-age education settings, the
Council offers training and support for individuals and programs interested in accreditation. Program
accreditation is a powerful tool for improving the quality of education and services provided by
programs through the attainment of national standards of excellence. Accreditation defines
standards of quality for the field, helps families and policy makers recognize high-quality programs,
recognizes teachers as professionals, while supporting ongoing training and professional
development.

Credential Preparatory Programs
The Council offers Credential Preparation courses for infant, toddler and preschool teachers, family
and group family child care providers and for school-age caregivers. Preparatory programs are
designed for those who want to improve program skills and confidence in working with children in
order to advance professionally. Preparatory classes are available in all 6 counties served by the
Council.


Slide 9

Education Services
Environmental Assessments & Technical Assistance
Environment Rating Scale Training & Technical Assistance: A Council Educator partners with an early childhood or
school-age provider to assess the program and design an individualized training plan to enhance caregiving practices.

Classroom Assessment Scoring System: Positive early childhood teacher-student interactions are the primary
component in creating quality educational experiences that support the child’s future success. The CLASS is an
observational tool designed to assess classroom quality in pre-kindergarten through grade 3 based on teacher-student
interactions in the classroom.
Program Administration Scale and Business Administration Scale: Designed for child care center and family child care
administrators, the PAS/BAS measures the quality of leadership and management practices of center-based early
childhood programs or family child care homes. Conducted by a trained and certified Evaluator, this service aids program
administrators in implementing quality practices that go beyond the classroom door.
Social Emotional Development Services: The mission of the Social Emotional Development Program is to create a
working partnership among early childhood teachers, mental health consultants, and families to promote young
children’s social and emotional development, foster emotional strength, and support skill development for life-long
success.
Playground Safety Inspection: Inspection Playgrounds and outdoor play equipment provide fun, fresh air, and exercise,
but can pose some safety hazards. The Council offers playground safety inspections for the purposes of accident
evaluation and safety assessment. The certified playground safety inspector visits the program, conducts an evaluation,
and submits a detailed report regarding safety issues and compliance recommendations.


Slide 10

Education Services
Curriculum Consultation
Activity Curriculum Bags: Activity Curriculum Bags are devoted to one unit of study which supports standards
for developmentally appropriate practice. Bags contain a simple-to-follow activity guide with hands-on materials
that extend common curriculum goals. They are delivered to rural child care and school-age programs.
Building Emotional Learning and Literacy: The focus of the BELL project is to offer training and support for
early childhood teachers, family child care providers, family support workers, parents, and home visitors
regarding emergent writing, linguistic awareness, and print knowledge.
Community Foundation Project: In the past, the partnership between the Council and the Community
Foundation for the Greater Capital Region has made increased quality school-age care possible in four Albany
based programs. The success of this initiative has inspired an expansion of services to include school-age
programs in Fulton and Montgomery Counties. The goal of this new intensive training program is to move
programs in Fulton and Montgomery Counties toward best practice standards as defined by the industry. The
project includes community workshops, School-Age Child Care Credential Preparation classes, and
individualized consultation.
Regional Infant Toddler Services: One of seven Regional Infant/Toddler Technical Assistance Centers serving
17 counties in New York, the Center is staffed by Infant/Toddler Specialists who provide a valuable resource for
parents and child care providers.
Curriculum Planning: This goal-based approach supports teachers and providers in the development and use
of curricula that supports individualized learning, assessment, and reflection.


Slide 11

Education Services
Training Seminars and Workshops
Conferences: Over 340 school-age, child care and family child care providers were able to select from an all day
workshop Rock, Rhyme, Write, and Read with Dr. Jean, a School-Age Track, Infant/Toddler Track, Family Child
Care Track or a Leadership Track.
Compass Training: The Council publishes the Compass, which is a training calendar designed to publicize preservice and in-service educational opportunities for family child care providers, school-age providers, center and
school-based providers and parents. The Compass covers all regulated training topics and announces training
opportunities in all Regions the Council serves.
First Aid/CPR: The Council employs two trained Educators to provide first aid and CPR courses across the
Region, at child care programs and workplaces. This program partners with the American Red Cross to offer free
CPR and first aid courses to new and existing child care providers.


Slide 12

Education Services
Community Outreach
Early Head Start Mentor Project: The Mentor Project is designed to improve the quality of teaching and to
assist Early Head Start staff members to promote, demonstrate, and sustain positive outcomes for children in
Schenectady, Warren and Dutchess Counties. This collaborative venture with Parsons Early Head Start includes
two full time mentors and a part-time mentor trainer. A Council Educator trains the Mentors so that they can
support Early Head Start teachers in DECA, Creative Curriculum, the Child Development Associate Credential
(CDA), and in the use of the Infant/Toddler Environment Rating Scale (ITERS-R).
GE Options: For almost two decades, the General Electric Global Research Center (GRC) and the Council have
partnered to bring training and assistance to child care facilities in the Region. The Options Program allows GRC
employees to select from a menu of training and support services.

Bigelow Corners: Bigelow Corners is a partnership between Schenectady Community Action Program, Parsons,
Schenectady City School District, The Schenectady Foundation, and the Capital District Child Care Council.
Bigelow Corners integrates the resources and talents of these organizations to provide a continuum of services
supporting families in meeting their needs and empowering them to be self-reliant.


Slide 13

Provider Services
Child and Adult Care Food Program
The Child Care Council is a sponsor of the Child and Adult Care Food Program
(CACFP) for registered/licensed family or group family, and legally exempt child care
providers in Albany, Fulton, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, and Schenectady
counties. This federal nutrition program reimburses child care providers for serving
USDA approved meals and snacks to the children in their care. Child care providers
are in a unique position to help shape a lifetime of healthy eating. CACFP supports
providers who want to improve the quality of nutrition offered at a critical time in
young children’s development. In 2011, the Council had up to 257 child care
providers participate in the CACFP each month. This year, a total of 62 new providers
joined the CACFP under the Council’s sponsorship.

Child Care Health Consultant Services
The Child Care Council employs two Registered Nurses as Child Care Health
Consultants through funding from the New York State Office of Children and Family
Services (OCFS). They bring years of experience to their role as Health Consultants.
Over the last year the Nurses have assisted providers in meeting OCFS licensing
requirements for administering medication through Medication Administration
Training (MAT) and through development or renewal of their Health Care Plans. The
Nurses have also continued to assist providers and parents to develop individualized
care plans for children with special health care needs. The Child Care Health
Consultants are involved with a large number of child care programs in the six
counties the Council serves through Child Care Resource and Referral.

Child Care Development
In order to help meet the demand for child care in the Capital Region, the Child Care
Council works to develop quality child care programs. In 2011, over 327 prospective
family child care providers attended family child care start-up information sessions.


Slide 14

Provider Services
Eat Well Play Hard in Child Care Settings
Eat Well Play Hard in Child Care Settings (EWPHCCS) is a childhood obesity prevention program funded through a grant from
the New York State Department of Health. Each grant year EWPHCCS is implemented by three Registered Dietitians in thirty
eligible low-income child care centers across nine counties including Albany, Rensselaer, Schenectady, Saratoga, Fulton,
Montgomery, Schoharie, Warren and Washington counties. The program consists of a series of six child sessions, six parent
sessions and two staff trainings. The goals of EWPHCCS are to increase consumption of fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy
products, as well as increase physical activity in preschool children. In the calendar year 2011, EWPH sessions were offered in
28 centers to more than 3,000 children, 192 parents, and 383 child care professionals. These numbers represent the number
of individuals reached. Most children and parents have numerous contacts with the EWPH Dietitians.

Eat Well Play Hard in Day Care Homes
Eat Well Play Hard in Day Care Homes (EWPHDCH) is a 2 year grant that is available for family child care providers participating
in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). It encourages young children and their caregivers to adopt healthy and
active lifestyles. It focuses on increasing the consumption of fruits, vegetables, and low-fat milk and diary products, along with
decreasing the amount of time spent at computer screens or watching TV. The program is a three month interactive learning
experience serving Albany, Fulton, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, and Schenectady counties. It involves five provider
workshops and five in-home children’s lessons, all led by a registered dietitian. The program will end with an optional family
event, where families can see and learn what the children have been doing. Group, family, and legally exempt child care homes
can participate in EWPHDCH. Participation in the program will count towards continuing education units (CEU) and annual
CACFP training.


Slide 15

Parent Services
Child Care Referrals
In 2011, Parent Educators assisted 3,388 families in finding child care for 4,598
children. Of this number, 1,065 requests were from families who identified themselves
as low income and eligible for child care subsidies. The Child Care Council conducted
significant outreach activities to assist low income families in finding child care, raising
the number of referrals for low income families from 295 in 1997 to 1,065 in 2011. Of
the total referrals given in 2011, 1,304 were web-based.

Community Outreach
The Parent Services Department of the Council is also responsible for community
outreach. The Council participated in over 20 community events this year. As a result,
over 10,000 palm cards 20,000 summer camp catalog flyers, and over 14,000
before/after school care postcards were distributed to agencies, school districts, and
businesses to educate parents and caregivers about quality child care options.


Slide 16

Number of Child Care Programs in the Capital Region
1600
1400
1200
1000
800
600

Child Care
Center

400

School-Age
Child Care

200
0

Group/Family
Child Care

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

Legally Exempt
Child Care


Slide 17

Regulatory Services
Child Care Registration
The Child Care Council contracts with the Department of Social Services in Albany, Rensselaer, and Schenectady counties to
provide registration services for family child care providers and school-age programs. The Council currently employs eight
Registrars, one Coordinator, and a Director of Regulatory Services. The contract requires the Registrars to conduct inspections,
investigate complaints of illegal child care and process initial and renewal applications.

Legally Exempt Enrollment
Since July 2006, the Capital District Child Care Council became the Legally Exempt Enrollment Agency for Albany, Fulton,
Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, and Schenectady counties. Legally exempt providers deliver informal, non-registered child
care for relatives and a limited number of non-relative children who receive subsidy from the parents’ local Department of
Social Services. As the Enrollment Agency, the Council is responsible for reviewing and approving enrollment applications, as
well as visiting a percentage of the legally exempt homes to inspect basic health and safety compliance. During the Council’s
four years as the Legally Exempt Enrollment Agency, Enrollment Specialists have processed approximately 8,000 applications.
As of October 2011, the number of approved legally exempt providers per county are: Albany: 400, Fulton: 100, Montgomery:
140, Rensselaer: 280, Saratoga: 120, Schenectady: 275.


Slide 18

Funding


Slide 19

Child Care Council Staff
Kathy Arduini, Schenectady County Registrar

Pam Leganczuk, Schenectady County Registrar

Amanda Scarcelli, Legally Exempt Enrollment Educator

Jessica Lynch, Food Program Home Visitor

Erin Broderick, School-age Educator

Lea Maggiulli, School-Age Child Care Educator

Paulann Beardsley, Office Assistant

Mary Miranda, Parent Educator

Jean Bottillo-Fausili, MS, RD, Registered Dietitian

Patti Mueller, Legally Exempt Enrollment Coordinator

Fernanda Carranza, Bi-Lingual Registrar

Maricelis Plata, Legally Exempt Enrollment Educator

Doris Castro, Food Program Home Visitor

Kristy Rivera, LCSW, Social Emotional Development Educator

Heather Cookingham, Legally Exempt Enrollment Educator

Stephanie Ross, Registered Dietitian

Carol Cornell, Legally Exempt Enrollment Educator

Cheryl Samborin, Director of Regulatory Services

Tanya Dean, Albany County Registrar

Patti Schardt, Registered Dietitian

Alexis DeLaTorre, Albany County Registrar

Arlene Schmidt, Family Child Care Educator

Jenna Depew, Registered Dietitian

Cherri Shultes, Rensselaer County Registrar

Sheri Dushane, Child Care Center Coordinator

Lynn Siebert, School-Age Child Care Coordinator

Colleen Faragon, Early Childhood Educator

Patricia Skinner, Ms.Ed., Executive Director

Amy File, Legally Exempt Enrollment Educator

Kate Smith, Director of Marketing and Technology

Anne Gresco, Family Child Care Development Coordinator

Darlene Snyder, Legally Exempt Enrollment Educator

LaToya Grimes, Albany County Registrar

Wendy Sullivan, Ms.Ed., Regional Infant/Toddler Educator

MaryEllen Gugie, Director of Provider Services

Heather Sweet, Early Childhood Educator

Michelle Hall, Schenectady County Registrar

Eileen Tuohy, Registration Coordinator

Jill Hodge, MSW, Social Emotional Development Educator

Barbara Vickery, RN, Child Care Health Consultant

Tricia Howland, CIRS, Director of Parent Services

Keely Weise, Fiscal Director

Donna Jennings, Food Program Coordinator

Lynda Weismantel, Director of Operations

Abbe Kovacik, Ms.Ed., Director of Education

Gail Williams, Administrative Support Specialist
Jean Wiseman, RN, Child Care Health Consultant Coordinator


Slide 20

Thank You!