In October we’re traveling en(light)ened to the land of childcare. Check out all the vital childcare resources we provide and then carry on with your day. Thank you for staying informed, news travels fast.

SPOTLIGHT

United Way of Connecticut’s 211 Child Care and Care 4 Kids, programs offered through the Office of Early Childhood, provide support to parents, grandparents, caregivers, providers and communities to help build young minds and shape children’s futures. Contact us at 2-1-1 to learn more.

IN HER OWN WORDS...

Care 4 Kids not only helps low to moderate income families in Connecticut pay for childcare costs, but also provides orientation, training and support that are required for childcare providers like Rachel.  

Metzuyan in Hebrew means “excellent.” And that’s what Rachel Kirsch was aiming for when she called Care 4 Kids for help and guidance setting up Metzuyan, her licensed Jewish youth summer day camp in Waterbury. 

Rachel’s passion is children – she has five! And she has always been involved running youth programs at her synagogue and volunteering at her children’s schools. Her dream is to open a licensed day care, with a hands-on Montessori approach that offers small group settings, lots of staff and even more fun, creative learning activities. Metzuyan Day Care LLC is in the process of receiving its licensure. 

In the meantime, Rachel worked with Shannon Briere, a former Care 4 Kids Provider Liaison and now our Eligibility and Provider Service Supervisor, to receive the help she needed licensing her youth summer camp. “I give Shannon all the credit,” shared Rachel. “She guided me to all the correct resources and helped answer parents’ questions about eligibility to receive financial aid through the Office of Early Childhood’s Care 4 Kids program. Shannon was incredible throughout the entire process.”

Shannon shares that “Rachel is an inspiration. Her outgoing personality and caring nature for the program she was looking to create was inspirational. Her journey was only beginning, and I believe she and her program will have much success.”

If you need help paying for childcare costs, or support as a childcare provider, please call 1-888-214-KIDS (5437).

UPCOMING EVENTS

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Vote November 8

For more information contact: 

• United Way Greater Waterbury,
• Middlesex United Way, 
• United Way of Southeastern Connecticut, or
• United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut.

CONVERSATION WITH STEPHANIE LAND

MEET + GREET

Shannon is poised to celebrate 11 years with United Way of Connecticut! She began working as a Case Manager, and after several promotions she now serves as an Eligibility and Provider Service Supervisor. She loves being able to assist and support the childcare provider community to ensure that all their questions and concerns are addressed. She enjoys, “being a voice for them, whether for a family in need of assistance or to provide guidance and direction on how to become a childcare provider.” 

She shares that the best thing about working with families and providers is her the ability to balance and understand both sides. Like when she was assisting Rachel (see above), Shannon was able to provide assistance to the children’s families in need of subsidy for Metzuyan Camp, as well as assist Rachel with ensuring that all her questions and concerns were answered.  

Shannon shares that “being a parent, I know the importance of quality childcare. Being able to place myself in the shoes of the families and providers that I assist on a daily basis makes me strive to ensure that I do my part every day to help them and guide them.” It gives Shannon great satisfaction knowing that the work she does “provides an opportunity for parents to have the time to further their educations or maintain their employment while knowing their child/children are in a safe and healthy environment and learning the necessary skills for early childhood development.” 

DID YOU KNOW?

• Governor Lamont announced $70 million in appreciation bonus payments for Connecticut childcare workers. Click here for story.

• In 2021, nearly 18,000 families and 6,000 active providers were enrolled in Care 4 Kids.

• In 2021, $133 million in benefits were paid out on behalf of Connecticut families.

• Care 4 Kids developed and launched an online application portal for families. This parent portal was named a finalist for the National Information Technology Award.

VISIT US:

United Way of Connecticut

1344 Silas Deane Highway, Rocky Hill, CT 06067