Originally Posted - June 27, 2006

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ALBANY---Grants totaling more than $2 million to expand and improve New York's child care facilities have been announced by Gov. George Pataki. The 74 grants will enhance safety at existing child care facilities and create 404 new child care slots for New York's families.

The grants are being awarded to 74 organizations in three categories: Start-Up and Expansion of Day Care and School-Age Child Care; Health & Safety for day care centers and school-age child care programs; and extension of operating hours at existing day care centers and school-age child care programs.

Administered by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), these grants will help to improve the health and safety of children in child care across New York State.

Start-Up and Expansion grants assist for-profit and not-for-profit organizations by defraying some of the costs associated with creating new regulated child care slots. While New York State is proud of the high standards it sets for day care centers and school-age child care programs, the Governor also recognizes that many organizations that would be excellent day care providers may not have the investment capital to open a program that meets state and local building standards and staffing requirements. With these grants, New York State partners with organizations to increase capacity, particularly in low-income and other high-need areas.

Health and Safety grants may be used to correct newly identified fire, health or safety problems. Examples include: the removal of hazards, such as lead paint; improvements to play areas and equipment; consultation, training and program development activities that substantially increase the capacity of a program to provide for the health and safety of a specific sub-population of children (such as children with a particular health need). In addition, child care providers may use these funds to conduct minor remodeling that makes the child care program more accessible to children with disabilities, or to bring the program into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. This allows programs to continue to invest revenue into the staffing, professional development and other operational needs of providing high quality child care.

Choosing the most appropriate child care is an important decision to families. Governor Pataki recognizes that the more information parents and families have about child care, the more informed decisions they are able to make. To help parents with child care selection, OCFS recently launched the new "As you think about child care..." parent education campaign that features a general information brochure and three checklists designed to help parents and other caregivers better understand what to look for when selecting safe, positive child care. The very practical and easy-to-read materials provide parents and other caregivers with suggestions and tips for evaluating child care providers when visiting and comparing programs. The three different checklists are geared toward infants/toddlers, 3- to 5-year-olds, and school-age children.

Also included in the campaign is a companion video featuring a public service announcement for broadcast media, which refers parents to the many available resources. The general information brochure and checklists are available from OCFS by calling 1-800-345-KIDS, or by visiting www.ocfs.state.ny.us/main/publications and scrolling down to Child Day Care Services. The campaign materials will also be available through local child care resource and referral agencies and local social services districts. This crucial information has been translated into Spanish, Chinese, Russian and Arabic. The general information brochure is available on the OCFS website in Spanish, Chinese, Russian and Arabic; the day care checklists are available in Chinese, Russian and Arabic, and will soon be posted in Spanish. Governor Pataki's Quality Child Care and Protection Act significantly improved the quality and safety of child care by requiring criminal background checks and training requirements for all child care providers. The act also increased oversight of child care centers and strengthened enforcement actions against providers who fail to comply with health and safety regulations.

For more information on how to find child care in New York State, visit the OCFS website at www.ocfs.state.ny.us.

Awardees are listed below by county:

Albany County
Carol A. Dunigan Day Care Center $6,592 Health & Safety
Community Reformed Church of Colonie $12,500 Health & Safety
Early Childhood Education Center $6,872 Health & Safety
Trinity Institution-Homer Perkins Center $14,955 Health & Safety

Allegany County
Wellsville Montessori School $13,520 Health & Safety

Broome County
Family Enrichment Network $81,000 Expansion 18

Chautauqua County
Chautauqua Lake Child Care Center $181,400 Start-Up 76
YWCA Child Development Center $14,634 Health & Safety

Chemung County
Economic Opportunity Program $14,370 Health & Safety

Chenango County
Catholic Charities of Chenango County $20,442 Expansion 8

Clinton County
Keeseville's Kids' Cove $174,300 Start-Up 63

Dutchess County
Neighborhood Daycare Services $40,000 Health & Safety
The Small World Child Care Center $15,000 Health & Safety

Erie County
Airport Child Care Center $33,540 Health & Safety
Tender Loving Childcare $11,446 Health & Safety
Rattles to Reading Child Care $84,935 Health & Safety

Genesee County
YWCA Adventure Program $7,152 Health & Safety

Jefferson County
The Church of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart $14,973 Health & Safety

Livingston County
Annie's Ark $15,000 Health & Safety

Madison County
Celebration Children's Center of Canastota $15,000 Health & Safety
Patty Cakes Child Care Center $10,377 Health & Safety

Monroe County
Care-a-lot Child Care of Henrietta $11,347 Health & Safety
Childtime Childcare $6,564 Health & Safety
Childtime Childcare $7,841 Health & Safety
Generations Child Care $9,865 Health & Safety
Generations Child Care $13,683 Health & Safety
Teddy Bear Child Care $12,500 Health & Safety
Teddy Bear Child Care $41,500 Health & Safety
Rainbow Kids Christian Daycare Center $3,590 Health & Safety

Montgomery County
YMCA of Amsterdam $13,797 Health & Safety

Nassau County
Hi-Hello Child Care Center $15,000 Health & Safety
Sid Jacobson JCC $15,000 Health & Safety
Sure Foundation Child Care $11,250 Health & Safety
Tutor Time Learning Center $15,238 Health & Safety

New York City
Bnos Yakov Educational Center $50,000 Health & Safety
Grand Street Settlement $26,400 Expansion
8 Hermy's Day Care $15,000 Health & Safety
Kiddy Korner Prep $15,000 Health & Safety
Little Grown Up's Place $223,500 Start-Up 46
Palladia $18,734 Health & Safety
Yeled V'Yalda Early Childhood Center $200,000 Start-Up 92

Niagara County
C&J's Latchkey Learning Center $4,885 Health & Safety

Onondaga County
Marcellus Presbyterian Community Center $14,980 Health & Safety
PEACE - Baldwinsville $1,635 Health & Safety
PEACE - Merrick $5,450 Health & Safety
PEACE - Rockwell Elementary $1,853 Health & Safety
PEACE - Summer School $4,905 Health & Safety
PEACE - North Area $3,924 Health & Safety
PEACE - La fayette $3,270 Health & Safety
PEACE - St. Brigid's School $3,270 Health & Safety
PEACE - James Street $3,270 Health & Safety
PEACE - Cicero $2,180 Health & Safety
The Salvation Army $4,835 Health & Safety

Orange County
Blooming Grove Day Care Center $5,022 Health & Safety

Oswego County
The Children's Center of Oswego $14,680 Health & Safety

Putnam County
Mt. Tremper Outdoor Ministries $11,540 Health & Safety

Rensselaer County
POPS Christian Day Care Center $7,682 Health & Safety
Salem United Methodist Church $1,658 Health & Safety

Rockland County
Playgarten $9,100 Health & Safety

Schenectady County
Wee Care Playcare $7,064 Health & Safety

Schoharie County
Cobleskill-Richmondville High School $10,234 Health & Safety

Seneca County
First United Methodist Church $87,000 Start-Up 39

Suffolk County
Alternatives for Children $15,000 Health & Safety
Economic Opportunity Council of Suffolk $7,000 Health & Safety
Tutor Time Learning Center $17,949 Health & Safety
Tutor Time Learning Center $19,574 Health & Safety

Tioga County
Play Yard Concepts $8,000 Health & Safety

Ulster County
Alphabet Tree II $140,413 Start-Up
44 Stepping Stones Early Learning Center $33,231 Health & Safety
Stepping Stones Early Learning Center $15,000 Health & Safety

Wayne County
Totco $27,745 Expansion 10

Westchester County
Center for Montessori Education NY $15,000 Health & Safety
Family & Community Services $13,181 Health & Safety
Tots & Toddlers Childcare $14,950 Health & Safety

Totals $2,049,298,404
6-27-06

© 2006 North Country Gazette