The Council received a first-time grant of $2,500 from People's United Community Foundation to support its Early Literacy Family Book Bag Program, which provides child care centers and family child care providers with bags of books to lend to children in their programs, to encourage family reading time and promote early literacy.  The Council was recognized, along with 17 other local grant recipients, at a breakfast event hosted by the Foundation.  

"Our Book Bag Program plays a critical role in early literacy for Westchester's children - giving them the opportunity to develop and share a love of reading and storytelling with their parents and siblings outside of school," said Child Care Council Executive Director Kathy Halas.  "We are so appreciative for People's recognition and support of this early learning initiative."

Participating child care programs also receive training and technical assistance from Council specialists to build and enrich the early literacy experiences they provide to the children in their care.  The Council has distributed approximately 2,000 books to child care programs and providers since the Family Book Bag Program was established in 2012.  

Openings for Babies Step Forward Available Throughout Westchester

Infants and toddlers from low income working families in Westchester have new opportunities to participate in Early Head Start child care programs thanks to a federal grant designed to improve early childhood development. Babies Step Forward openings – for children ages 6 weeks to 2 years, 9 months, including those with special needs – are available at child care centers and group family care providers countywide. Parents must be working and either receiving, or eligible to receive, a child care subsidy through Westchester County.
Babies Step Forward offers responsive, relationship-based care and developmentally-appropriate curriculum. Participating families also receive additional benefits, including access to a disability specialist, social worker and nurse, free diapers and wipes, and other ongoing support.
Full day care is available at the following child care centers; parents should contact the centers directly if interested:

Greyston Learning Center, 68 Warburton Avenue, Yonkers NY 10701
(914) 376-7200

Tot’s Place, 8 Bent Avenue, Port Chester NY 10573
(914) 939-1617

Mt. Kisco Child Care Center, 95 Radio Circle, Mt. Kisco NY 10549
(914) 241-2135

Lanza Learning Center, 150 Woodworth Avenue, Yonkers NY 10701
(914) 378-1473

Group family child care for days, nights and weekends is also available through Babies Step Forward, in the following locations: Elmsford, Mt. Vernon, New Rochelle, Ossining, Peekskill, Port Chester, White Plains and Yonkers. For more information about these options, contact Laura Cleare at the Child Care Council of Westchester: (914) 761-3456 x169 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Your "Core Body of Knowledge" begins with training at the Child Care Council of Westchester! 

The Council's new Fall Training Calendar offers a variety of trainings for early care and education professionals. We can help you expand your skills, improve the quality of care you provide to children, and meet NYS licensing requirements.

Check out a sneak peek of topic areas in store this fall:

• Core Body of Knowledge: New York State's Core Competencies for Early Childhood Educators (for Directors)
• We Are All in This Together: Professionalism in Early Care & Education
• Building Social-Emotional & Positive Behavioral Skills in Early Childhood Settings
• The 3 “R’s” of Infant Toddler Learning
• Meeting Preschool Learning Standards Through Creative Art Experiences

See the 2015 Fall Professional Development Calendar

Click the link below to view the Council's Spring 2015 Newsletter.

Included in this issue:

• Early Opportunity Fund
• Spanish Quality Improvement Program Fosters Collaboration
• Children's Legislative Breakfast Recap
• and more!

The Council’s new Summer Training Calendar offers a variety of trainings for early care and education professionals. We can help you expand your skills, improve the quality of care you provide to children, and meet NYS licensing requirements.