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Here's the latest news from The Long Island Pre-K Initiative, your source for
expert training and useful resources:
www.nassauboces.org/pre-k
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In this special edition we highlight the resources available to child care providers--and the emergency services being offered by our partner CBOs and others. Please note: the current situation is changing rapidly; this is our best information as of Monday morning, March 30.
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Child Care Councils are working tirelessly to offer guidance and support; providers need supplies
"We are constantly in contact with our County Executives and with the State," says Jenn Rojas, Executive Director of the Child Care Council of Suffolk, Inc., "and we pass the information on as quickly as we can to programs."
The flow of information goes both ways: Nassau and Suffolk Councils have been hearing about shortages in the child care centers that have remained open. "We got two pallets of hand sanitizer from the State, and they were gone in an hour and a half," reports Jan Barbieri, Executive Director of the Child Care Council of Nassau, Inc. Cleaning supplies, masks and gloves for child care centers remain in short supply in both counties, since healthcare has priority. "We're hoping the State will step in and manage distribution," says Rojas.
Both Child Care Councils have hotlines for families in need of emergency care.
Child Care Council of Nassau, Inc. hotline:
516-727-0331
Child Care Council of Suffolk, Inc. hotline:
646-926-3784
If you are a provider with questions, in Nassau call 516-358-9288. In Suffolk, you should call your licensor or registrar, or call the hotline at 646-926-3784.
Are you available to work in a child care program?
T
he Child Care Council of Suffolk, Inc. has also developed a survey of child care professionals who may be considering extra or alternative employment while many centers are closed. "Our primary goal is to help child care programs to operate so that families with on-going child care need can continue to work."
OCFS wants providers to be informed-and wants data, too
The New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) sent out an informational letter on Friday (March 27). While it points out that child care centers have NOT been ordered to close, OCFS notes that they are being asked to prioritize openings for employees of essential businesses, and to limit group size to 10 or fewer children. (If you have questions about who qualifies as an essential worker, OCFS suggests you visit this site from the Empire State Development Corporation.)
The State agency is also collecting information about child care providers, to see if they have any slots available and/or desire to serve more children. And they'd also like to hear from parents and caregivers who are in need of child care. Here are the survey links:
(to be completed every Wednesday)
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Do you have information to share with us--and the wider early education community on Long Island?
Please email
prek@nasboces.org if you have important news or resources to share with early childhood and Pre-K & K educators in Nassau and Suffolk Counties.
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Emergency child care is available in both counties
For school-age children (K-6) SCOPE Education Services is offering child care from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at 10 public school buildings in Nassau County and 13 in Suffolk County.
Click here for a list on the SCOPE website or read
The YMCA of Long Island is working with Northwell to provide child care for employees. As of last week, this was available at two sites: Country Woods School in South Huntington (starting at age 3) and Mary D. Clark in Bay Shore (starting at age 4). They are hoping to expand.
The Y is also offering counseling sessions for children, adults and families in need of support. Click here to learn more.
Big Chief, located in East Meadow, is offering emergency care for children of first responders and health care workers. Meanwhile, Director Luanne Picinich is reporting that her "regular" teachers are keeping up with classes via ZOOM circle time and videos of activities parents can do at home, such as making play dough. Big Chief is also planning blood drives. Visit the school's website for contact information.
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Our nonprofit partners are scrambling to support families in need--from diapers to food to virtual tutoring
Docs for Tots/Help Me Grow--Long Island has been focused on providing families with
child development information and connecting parents with resources for health care and screenings to identify any problems early. Now the calls coming in are pleas for diapers and wipes for families in economic distress because of the COVID-19 crisis. Can you help? Please email
info@HMGLI.org or call 516-548-8924, ext. 3. Click here to learn more about
HMGLI.
Choice for All is working intensely with the communities it serves to make sure, for example, that heat and utilities can stay on and to identify resources for domestic workers, who are not eligible for unemployment and other benefits. One aspect of its work has always been tutoring, and they're working with school districts to provide this needed academic support in a virtual environment.
Learn more about Choice for All.
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Leaders need support, too: Long Island Leadership Institute
The new Long Island Leadership Institute is making the switch to remote networking and support. (It's offered by the New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute in partnership with Nassau BOCES.)
"We understand how difficult and stressful it is right now, and how we need to stay connected and informed," says Coordinator Cristina Medellin. "We'll soon be announcing our first virtual network meeting for early childhood leaders, and we've created a
Facebook group for the Long Island Early Childhood community."
The Initiative will also be reaching out to each member individually in the next few weeks to learn more about member's needs and goals.
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About Us
The Long Island Pre-K Initiative is a collaborating partner in the state-funded Regional Technical Assistance Center, which supports Pre-K and early childhood education on Long Island. The other collaborating partners are the three Long Island BOCES, the Child Care Council of Nassau, Inc., the Child Care Council of Suffolk, Inc. and the Family Leadership Network.
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NASSAU BOCES
71 Clinton Road, Garden City, NY 11530-9195
Phone: (516) 396-2220 Fax: (516)-396-2355
www.nassauboces.org
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