Please join Child Care Solutions on February 6th, 2018 for a joint Advocacy Day in Albany with Winning Beginning NY and the new Empire State Campaign for Child Care. Advocates across the state are working together to call on Governor Cuomo and our state legislators to increase their investment in child care in the 2018 budget. Your voice matters! Our state legislators want to hear from parents, child care providers, management staff, teachers, and business leaders about the full range of child care funding concerns. To join us in advocating for more child care funding on February 6th, please call Child Care Solutions at (315) 446-1220. We will coordinate transportation and schedule the appointments with our state legislators. We will depart from Syracuse at 7:45 AM and return by 5:30 PM. Advocates will gather in Albany for a rally at 10:00 AM, followed by meetings with our local state legislators. Lunch will be on your own. We hope that you will join us! Download a flyer with all of the details by clicking here.

When planning for daily outdoor play, it’s important to keep an eye on the weather to ensure the health & safety of the children in your care, especially during the winter in Upstate New York. We recommend bookmarking or printing out a copy of this Child Care Weather Watch Chart to help you decide if bringing the children outside might pose a health risk. This year-round tool includes a wind-chill factor chart, heat index chart, and highlights times when outdoor play might be dangerous. It also includes useful tips for all ages regarding clothing, beverages, and other protections. If you have questions regarding outdoor play, please contact your registrar or licensor – they are here to help!

Do you know of a family who is struggling to afford child care? Financial assistance for Onondaga County families is available through the Community Child Care Scholarship, which is funded through the United Way and distributed by Child Care Solutions. The scholarship can be used at any registered or licensed child care program and is a great option for families in which a parent is in school or those who don’t qualify for assistance through DSS. Income eligibility guidelines and scholarship amounts are available on our website. Help us spread the word about this valuable program- download and print out a flyer to hang in your program to let families know this funding is available!

Getting bored of serving the same old snacks? Check out this tip sheet full of healthy snack ideas, it's a useful handout to share with parents as well. A great way to get children interested in eating healthier snacks is to involve them in the preparation – why not try making these tasty Carrot Muffins? Older children can work on their measuring skills while younger ones can practice following directions. Download the full recipe here! Remember, registered and licensed providers can get reimbursed for serving healthy snacks and meals by joining the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Learn more about the program on our website or get started on the program today by giving us a call at (315) 446-1220.

Our spring training conference is quickly approaching! This year’s Seanna M. Donley Growing Together Conference will take place on Sunday, March 4th, 2018 from 8:00 AM – 2:15 PM at Cayuga Community College in Auburn. The conference’s workshops will be centered around the theme of “Focusing on Families.” More information and registration form to come at the end of January – we hope to see you there!

Earn your CDA at Child Care Solutions! The Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ is a nationally recognized credential in the early childhood education field and is a stepping stone on the path of career advancement for family child care providers, center-based or school setting staff. Whether you’re just beginning your career or an established provider looking to grow your program, we offer a six-month CDA course that will give you the confidence and motivation to advance your career as an early childhood educator. The next course begins January 30th – visit our website for more information and to download the registration form.

We have some great workshops coming up in January! By popular demand we have brought back our special Tax Prep Workshop (1/27), bring your spouse along for an extra $10! Don’t forget, financial assistance for ANY of our workshops is now available through CSEA/Voice – learn more here. Complete workshop descriptions (including fees) and online registration are available through our training calendar.

If you own or rent a property in Onondaga County built before 1978 you may be eligible for a grant to remove lead. For specific program requirements and application packet visit http://www.ongov.net/cd/leadReduction.html for more information or call the Onondaga County Community Development Dept. at (315) 435-3558.