Rockland Child Care News
July - September 2020
A message from the Executive Director
Moving to a New Normal This past quarter has been something of an ordeal as we’ve all dealt with the many impacts of the COVID-19 health crisis. Through it all, CCRR’s focus has been on our families and our providers. During the height of the crisis, anywhere from 30% to 50% of Rockland’s child care providers remained open. Staff reached out to providers regularly, not only to check on whether programs were open, but to check on how owners, assistants, and teachers were feeling. When families contacted us, in addition to providing them basic information, we talked with them about their apprehensions and fears. When employers inquired about child care options for their employees, we spoke about meeting the needs of their workers while struggling with their own anxieties.

We collaborated with all eight school districts, Rockland BOCES, and the Rockland YMCA to arrange care for 18 children in school buildings. We administered the CARES Act scholarship, placing 101 children in child care with 28 providers, processing over $78k in tuition scholarship and over $30k in necessary supplies such as masks, hand sanitizer, gloves, thermometers, and more. And our Programs Standards and Support Staff, our nurse in particular, spent over 900 hours reviewing, synthesizing, clarifying and discussing with programs CDC, Health Department, and OCFS guidance.

Personal connections. CCRR has always had strong relationships with families, providers, and many businesses in Rockland. The COVID-19 health crisis has reinforced and deepened those ties by bringing us together.

The COVID-19 health crisis has been transformative. We do not know what the future holds. However, as we move to a new normal, CCRR will continue to robustly support children, families, and child care providers. Together, we will help child care providers access guidance and training to provide the best possible care. Together, we will help families access safe, affordable, quality child care. Together, we will move forward.

Vicki Caramante
A message from the Board President
When I accepted the nomination to serve as president of Child Care Resources of Rockland, I never thought that all of us would be living under the cloud of a pandemic for such an extended period of time. Certainly, none of us could have imagined the situation in which we now find ourselves today as the result of a major public health crisis. Every aspect of our personal and professional lives has been significantly upended. Undeniably, Rockland’s child care community has been dealt a particularly harsh blow, the adverse impact of which will require us to redouble our efforts as Rockland’s child care leader.
 
Yet, despite the many challenges that assuredly will remain before us, our spirits will not be dampened. CCRR has a well-deserved, distinguished legacy of longstanding duration in our community and I am optimistic about our future. While we must expect and prepare for the inevitable hurdles that we will encounter on our path forward, we can all be certain that CCRR will remain steadfast in its commitment to its mission and vision. A bedrock principle of CCRR is that our staff and our board working cooperatively together has been a prescription for success over many years. As president, I ask that we remain true to that principle. 
 
In the year ahead, I submit that we should be guided by the words of Dr. Martin Luther King who famously asked:  " Life's most persistent and urgent question, 'What are you doing for others?'"

Stephen M. Fromson
President, CCRR Board of Directors 
Thank You to Phyllis Tucker
Our sincere gratitude to our outgoing President, Phyllis Tucker, for her commitment and contributions to our work. We look forward to her continued service as Immediate Past President.
A Warm Welcome to Our New Board Member
Chris Figluizzi
Compliance Manager, Jawonio

I am honored and humbled to have been nominated for the role as a board member for Child Care Resources of Rockland. I am excited to lend my experience to the organization, and to learn and grow from the expertise of my peers.
Infant Toddler Development
Mindfulness with Infants and Toddlers
by Jenny Spampinato, Infant/Toddler Quality Enhancement Specialist
Mindfulness is the practice of living in the present moment, the process of bringing attention to what is happening in the here and now. Using mindfulness techniques with young children and has been shown to be effective for calming and centering. Read more in Mindfulness with Infants and Toddlers by CCRR's Jenny Spampinato, Infant/Toddler Quality Enhancement Specialist.
Nurse's Notes
Helping Children Cope With Changes During the COVID-19 Pandemic by CCRR's Kristin G. Saunders, RN, BSN
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world we live in, how we live our lives, our social interactions, how we think, how we feel, and how we define “normal.” As we all are trying to adapt to this “new world,” it is important to recognize that if we are struggling, the children may be as well. Children look to adults for guidance on how to react to situations, and they often mirror our reactions and emotions. As adults, we are role models for children and children learn from our example. It is important for all of us to make it a priority to be a calm and positive role model for children during these uncertain, stressful, and often overwhelming times.

The resources below explain how to talk to children using age appropriate techniques; the AACAP link also includes some fun activities to do with children.


Q&A for Child Care Providers
Q uestion
How are you all really doing out there? Are you feeling stressed, depressed, concerned, thankful, and too many other feelings to put on paper? What about the children? How do we keep our youngest children safe from physical harm while meeting their constantly evolving social and emotional needs? What about their feelings of concern, safety, sadness, fear, anxiety, depression, and stress not only for themselves but for their family members and friends? How do we talk to the children about this awful thing we call COVID-19?

A nswer
Providers of child care have been trained in so many areas. Along with child program development we have learned to be experts in sanitation, nutrition, business, child care regulations, plumbing, and so much more. We have been washing our hands to “Happy Birthday” multiple times a day forever. Keeping children safe and strong is what we do, but talking about COVID-19 can be daunting. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) suggests the following:

  • Remain calm. Remember children will react both to want you say and how you say it. And they pick up on conversations you have with others.

  • Reassure children they are safe. Let them know it is okay if they feel upset. Share with them how you deal with your own stress.

  • Make yourself available to listen and talk to. Let children know they can come to you when they have questions.

  • Avoid language that blames others and leads to stigma.

  • Pay attention to what children may hear or see in the media.

  • Provide information that is both truthful and appropriate for the age of the child. Too much information can lead to anxiety.

  • Teach children everyday actions they can do to reduce the spread of germs and keep themselves safe, like washing hands.

  • Spend time teaching children about the new things you have put in place that will help keep them and their friends safe.

2020 Children's Champions
We would like to give another shout out to the
2020 Children's Champions!
We do not yet have a date for the 28th Annual Children's Champions Awards Ceremony and Dinner Dance, but we can say with certainty that we sure are looking forward to honoring the 2020 Children's Champions and to celebrating all those who work on behalf children.
Phyllis Helbraun Award
Gail Golden ,  Volunteer , Rockland Immigration Coalition
It Takes a Community Award
Patricia Soriano Guzman , IBCLC, PMH-C, BSBA, Montefiore Nyack Hospital Prenatal Center
Champion in the Trenches Award
Denise Forsberg , Owner/Provider, Time In Child Care, Inc.
Rookie of the Year Award
Noelia O’Leary , Owner/Provider, Nelly's Nest
Dynamic Group Award
Peace Through Play Nursery School Staff
Learn more about the honorees here.
Our Annual Meeting
Thank you to all who joined us for our virtual Annual Meeting on June 5, 2020.
We we pleased to have over 60 guests in attendance!

At the meeting we presented our 2019 Annual Report. If have not yet had a look at it, we invite you to navigate through this online report to learn more about our services, to gain some insight into our successes, and to see our plan for the future.  
Congratulations New/Renewed Licensed/Registered Programs
Family Child Care
Home Away from Home Child Care 
Sandriena Walder

Group Family Child Care
Baby Sitting Service, Inc.
Birchwood Childcare Center
Clara Unger
Dragonfly Child Care, Inc.
Kids Paradise
Little Stars Childcare
Meline Merjanian
Playdate Nursery
Sofia Moore
Striving 4 Success ll Inc.
Teacher Guly Inc.
Time in Child Care, Inc.
Tiny Tots Inc.
White House Family Day Care
Child Care Center
Building Blocks Daycare and Learning Center
Children’s Funland
Head Start of Rockland
Head Start of Rockland, Inc. Haverstraw Site ll
Kidsnett Child Care Program
Kindercare Learning Center
Lil Genies Learning Center
Peace Through Play Nursery School
Riverview Nursery School

School Age Child Care
Festaville LLC
JCC at Link Elementary School
JCC at New City Elementary School
YMCA at Connor Elementary School
YMCA at Stony Point Elementary School 
New and Renewed CCRR Memberships
Thank you to...
Veronica Armas, Regina Barone, Dina Einhorn,
Geraldine Maguire, and Lynda Valery
Community
While shopping on Amazon, please go to Amazon Smile and select Child Care Resources of Rockland, Inc. as your charity. Amazon will donate a percentage of your purchases. Thank you for supporting access to safe, quality child care for all children.
YOU COUNT! CHILDREN COUNT!
Help shape the future of your communty. CENSUS 2020 is here! The federal funding we receive impacts education, healthcare, housing, food assistance, roads, and more. To support our communities EVERYONE must counted.
Take the census; learn how here.
For the CCRR staff directory please click here . Board of Directors list can be found here .

OFFICE CLOSINGS: July 4th holiday: Friday, July 3, and Labor Day: Monday, September 7.