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ALBANY---Twenty-six grants totaling more than $1.8 million to expand and improve New York's child care facilities have been announced by Gov. George Pataki. The grants will enhance safety at existing child care facilities, create 620 new child care slots for New York's families, and further improve child care opportunities across the State.
"We've worked hard to provide strong support for safe, high quality child care opportunities, which we know is crucial for New York's working families," Gov. Pataki said. "These grants will help provide more choices for parents, and give New York's children safer and healthier environments in which to learn and grow. Quality child care programs give children the start they need for success in school and beyond."
The grants are being awarded to 26 organizations in four 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; existing day care centers and school-age child care programs to extend their hours of operation; and innovations to promote the quality, accessibility and affordability of child care.
Grants may be used for activities 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). Also, 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.
Of the grants announced today, one program -- the State University of New York (SUNY) at Cortland -- received an award as part of the state's Innovative Program Initiative. Created in 2003, this initiative helps awardees address and implement creative new approaches to emerging needs in child care, with a focus on areas where traditionally, there has been a shortage of quality child care service. These programs also work to research public-private partnerships and assess, analyze, and respond to the emerging needs of unique populations.
UNY Cortland's Innovative Program Initiative project will focus on enhancing the preparation of future early childhood educators by reinforcing the skills of current child day care center teachers that host SUNY Cortland students for field placements or practicum. This will create a greater assurance that the classroom lessons and field lessons provided to these Early Education students match and reinforce each other.
Since 2003, over $1.5 million has been awarded in the Innovative category to 11 child care programs across New York State. The grants are administered by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) and will help to improve the health and safety of children in child care across New York State.
Gov. 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 http://www.ocfs.state.ny.us.
Awards are as follows: Albany County, Campus Children's Center, $15,000; Cayuga County, SUNY Cortland, $148,297; Neighborhood House of Auburn, $10,465; Delaware County, SUCO Children's Center, $7,710; Dutchess County, The Astor Home for Children, $78,600; Erie County, Lakeview Children's World, $7,000; New Creation Fellowship of Buffalo, $14,570; Amherst Community Church Child Care, $15,000; Care-A-Lot Childcare Center, $17,690; Health Association of Niagara County, $110,441; Livingston County, Joyful Beginnings, $250,000; Monroe County, Rush Society of Methodist Episcopal Church, $12,789; Webster Child Car Center, $9,866; Onondaga County, Creative Environment Day School, $15,000; Koala Kare Child Care Center, $250,000; Orange County, Kids Korner, $7,599; Suffolk County, TTOC, $15,000; Sullivan County, Sullivan County Head Start, $50,000; Westchester County, Hebrew Congregation, $15,000; Vernon Heights Day Care Center, $13,950; New York City, Urban Concepts of NY, $199,393; Hermys Kiddy Corner, $238,000; Easy Spirit Inc., $250,000; Friends of Refugees of Eastern Europe, $14,493; Hebrew Academy for Special Children, $28,750. 11-21-05
© 2005 North
Country Gazette
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