Comforting children with books and stuffed animals

Please help us provide stuffed animals and books for the young children who have come to Westchester seeking asylum. Many of their families are fleeing violence and persecution, and we hope to bring some comfort to these babies and toddlers, who are undoubtedly scared and confused.

Here's how you can help:
Click here for our Amazon wish list to select and donate books and stuffed animals (use "Kathy Halas gift registry" at checkout)

OR

Click here to Donate $25, which we will use to purchase stuffed animals and books.

All donated items will go directly into the hands of children at Hope Plaza/Plaza Esperanza.

Thank you!
Kathy Halas
Executive Director

Lions SEE - Free Vision Screening Program

The Lions Club Kid Site Vision Screening Program is offering FREE vision screenings on the select dates listed below. These screenings can aid in the early detection of vision troubles for children as young as 6 months old. If you are interested please contact either Joanne O’Hanlon or Silvia Estebanez directly and they will be able to assist with scheduling. Please see the available times below:    

Tuesday September 12
Friday September 22
Tuesday September 26
Tuesday October 24
Friday November 3
Tuesday November 7
Friday November 17

Joanne O’Hanlon
914-217-0769
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Silvia Estebanez
914-409-8334
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For more information please visit their website: www.lionsseeny.org

SAVE THE DATE FOR THIS IMPORTANT FREE TRAINING!
Eligible for OCFS training hours

YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID
from NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR MENTAL WELLBEING

If you're working with school age children, you may be very aware of the stress children are experiencing these days.

This training, Youth Mental Health First Aid, teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders in youth. This 6.5 hour training can provide you with the skills you need to reach out and provide initial support to the children in your care who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem and help connect them to the appropriate care.         

When:
Saturday, July 22, 2023
9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Where
Child Care Council of Westchester
313 Central Park Avenue
Scarsdale, NY 10583

Click here to register

Please note: There is also a 2-hour, self-paced component that must be completed before the in-person class. 

Registration limited to 3 participants per program, including the director. Registration details to follow.

The training will be conducted by Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS).Questions/more info, email Carol Diemer at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Here's your turn!

Take your place among Westchester's leaders via Leadership Westchester, a rigorous, 9 month program run by Volunteer NY! that sharpens leadership skills, expands relationships, facilitates a new understanding of your own values, capacities and goals, and deepens your ability to influence others.

For the 8th year, the Council is pleased to fully support the participation of a Westchester early care and education leader in this unique opportunity.  A Council committee will pre-screen all applicants for this scholarship and interview selected candidates. Interviews with the committee will be scheduled for mid July. Final selection will be made by Leadership Westchester. The first Leadership Westchester class will be in late October. 

Application deadline is Thursday, June 29, 2023 at 5 pm. 

To apply for this award through the Council's Cathryn A. Riley Fund, you must submit this application-->Click Here for Application.

For more information about Leadership Westchester go to: https://www.volunteernewyork.org/leadership

About the Cathryn A. Riley Fund
The Leadership Westchester scholarship is made possible by the Cathryn A. Riley Fund of the Child Care Council of Westchester. Cathryn "Cate" Riley was a coordinator at the Council prior to her death. She was involved with the NYS Child Care Coordinating Council, now known as the Early Care and Learning Council, the coordinating vehicle for the statewide CCRR network. She also served on the NYS Department of Education Committee for Teacher Certification, the Board of the Westchester Association for the Education of Young Children and the Advisory Board of Westchester Community College. Cate was herself an intuitive and skilled leader in early care and education. 

Thank you so much to our wonderful Dream Big 2023 honorees, sponsors, journal ad supportrs, guests and donors. Collectively, you certainly help make "the big dream" come true, which is a county where every family has access to great child care - so children can thrive, their parents can work, and the economy can flourish.

Check out our digital event journal here as well as the video we aired at the event, here.