We are CSEA/VOICE: a union made up of and working for family child care providers from across New York State, organizing for power to take on challenges facing us and the children and families we serve.
UNION NEWS
- *DSS/DHS SUBSIDY PAYMENTS WILL BE DELAYED STATEWIDE*
Update for Saturday 10/28 from OCFS:“Districts were advised yesterday to go ahead and make payments with the exception of specific cases (1200 statewide). They were provided those case numbers. Our team will be continuously working on a resolution to the issues as it is not fully resolved.“
**CSEA/VOICE will continue to update until this is resolved for the remaining 1200 providers. **
(Posted October 28, 2023; 9:30 a.m.)
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MARKET RATE SURVEY ENDS 11-13!
How to Fill out the Market Rate Survey and Calculate True Cost of Care
WATCH ONLINE TRAINING HERE: http://csealearningcenter.org/view.cfm?v=230914
Do you want to make more money? This is your opportunity!
CSEA/VOICE invites you to watch this recent training session with Denise Dowell, Ph.D, who has remarkable accomplishments in early childhood education policy and advocacy as well as experience working every aspect of childhood education for more than 25 years. You will learn how to accurately fill out the new Market Rate Survey expected to be emailed by OCFS in September 2023. After you receive an email from OCFS with information about the Market Rate Survey, you will then receive a separate email with a provider specific link to the survey. It is extremely important that you are aware of how to fill out this survey. The responses affect how the Market Rates are determined and is based on our responses.
- Tax Trainings Available by Zoom
There are two tax trainings available by zoom for viewing.
ERTC & FFCRA on Zoom from July 25, 2023:
- ***NEW BENEFIT***
FREE TELE-HEALTH COVERAGE IS HERE!!
ACTIVATE YOUR ACCOUNT NOW!
CSEA has negotiated this telemedicine benefit exclusively for all CSEA/VOICE bargaining unit members, but your accounts must be activated. There is NO COST to you at all, and the benefits can be used by your household family members too.Our union is asking all providers regardless of health insurance status to activate their accounts so we can ensure this benefit will be there for all who need it. If we don’t activate enough accounts, this will be seen as a lack of interest and the benefit could be terminated.
VOICE MEMBER KIM BANNISTER RECENTLY USED THIS BENEFIT
THIS BENEFIT INCLUDES:
> Speak with a U.S. Board Certified Physician 24/7/365
> $0 consultation cost to speak to a doctor (no co-pay)
> Avoid wait times at doctors’ offices, urgent care, and ER
> Save paying unnecessary co-pays, deductibles, and co-insurance
> Avoid leaving work to go to the doctor
> Ability to speak to a doctor any time, day or night, by phone or video chat
> Prescription called into your local pharmacy
> Covers your entire household
> Unlimited consultationsTelemedicine: $0 Copay
Our network of doctors and pediatricians can diagnose, treat, and prescribe for you and your family, 24/7 on your schedule. Anytime. Anywhere. With no consult fees!Medical Bill Saver: FREE
Medical Bill Saver is your expert source to review and negotiate out-of-pocket health care costs.Prescription Savings: FREE
The Prescription Discount Program saves you money on prescription medications. Simply present your savings card at a participating pharmacy to instantly receive substantial discounts on prescription medications.NEXT STEPS?
Simply click on the orange button below or go to https://www.allyhealth.net/voice/ to activate your account.
You will need your CSEA ID number. If you need assistance or do not know your CSEA ID number, click here to look up your CSEA ID number or call the CSEA VOICE Call Center at 1-877-483-2732.Please do this now. After you activate your account, you will receive email instructions on how to access your free CSEA/VOICE-provided benefit.
Haga clic aquí para leer/ver en español
Non-members have access to the Basic Plan. Click here for more information or JOIN VOICE NOW.
- “LIFTING OUR VOICE” REGIONAL CONFERENCES
Photo taken at the first Regional Conference Melville, Long Island.
CSEA/VOICE TRAININGS ARE NOW ASPIRE APPROVED!
CSEA/VOICE held 3 successful Regional one-day Conferences across the state. Members attended at no cost and earned
5-6 OCFS approved Training Hours! We are Union Strong!
- Happy Provider Appreciation Week
NYS PROCLAMATION CEREMONY
Click on image to read captions and see photos.
JOIN IN THIS WEEK!
Join in our celebration of each other! Download and print a sign. Take a photo of yourself and assistants holding the sign and post to social media with a supportive message for fellow providers.Don’t forget to write our CSEA/VOICE hashtag in your message: #CSEAVOICEProviderAppreciation
DOWNLOAD/PRINT 8.5″ x 11″ (Letter)
DOWNLOAD/PRINT 12″x 18″ (Poster)
DOWNLOAD/PRINT 11″x 17″ (Tabloid)
![LetterProvider Appreciation Day -lettersize[8]](https://voicecsea.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/LetterProvider-Appreciation-Day-lettersize8-300x232.jpg)
Our 2023 SIGN
- OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ACTION AS A UNION (3/18-3/19)
As you know all too well, New York’s childcare system is in crisis. We need the State Legislature to make critical investments in the childcare workforce in this year’s state budget. CSEA has put forward several budget proposals that address these issues: Click here for our info flyer.
– at (518) 455-2585On Sunday, Call Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie – at (518) 455-3791
Feel free to leave your own brief message, or simply TELL THEM:“I am a CSEA/VOICE represented childcare provider. Include additional funding for the childcare workforce in this year’s budget so we can keep our programs open for working families throughout New York.”
We know from previous actions that when we TAKE ACTION TOGETHER, we can make a BIG impact toward NYS investment in our programs.
- PRESIDENT BRANDT TESTIFIES AT SENATE HEARING
CSEA/VOICE President Heidi-Jo Brandt testified in front of the NYS Senate Children and Families Committee communicating our 2023 Child Care Legislative Priorities:1) Paying providers for the true cost of care, and not as a percentile of the market rate
2) Shifting from pay for attendance to pay for enrollment
3) Increasing and standardizing county plan options
4) Increasing Differential Rate for homeless and non-traditional hours care
Please look out for an email invite to join us and our coalition partners, The Empire State Campaign for Child Care (ECCC), for a Virtual Lobby Day via Zoom on February 7. Information will be available here very soon.
Be Counted.
Be Heard.
LET’S SUCCEED AGAIN for child care!
- Payment for Retroactive Absences
If you served at least one child who received child care assistance through your Local Department of Social Services during either of the following time periods April 1, 2020 through March 31, 2021 and/or April 1, 2021 through November 30, 2021 either in your home or in the parents home you may be eligible for this grant.
To receive this grant you must meet the following criteria:
> Have an active license, registration, permit, or enrollment to provide child care
> Be currently open and “in good standing”
> Can attest to serving at least one child in receipt of child care assistance from the New York Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) (formerly child care subsidy program) during one or both time periods stated above.Visit https://ocfs.ny.gov/programs/childcare/retroactive-absences/ to apply.
Deadline to apply for this funding is Friday, December 16, 2022.
Don’t know where to begin? Stuck in the middle? Questions?
Call the Bilingual CSEA/VOICE Child Care Resource Center at (877) 483-2732 for assistance with this process.
- Expert Assistance Available – Help With Applying for Grants
Desert Grant RFA 1 & 2
Stabilization 1 & 2If you need assistance and have received approval for any of the above-mentioned grants, our qualified team of providers and staff are available and have helped many providers through questions regarding these grants, the processes involved and expenses that have been approved. One-on-one, individual sessions will be scheduled at a time that is convenient for both you and your qualified child care team member.
Call the Bilingual CSEA/VOICE Child Care Resource Center at (877) 483-2732.
Please note: The Child Care Stabilization Grant 2.0 for Workforce Supports Application Portal deadline has been extended! You have until December 14, 2022 at 11:59pm. To apply go to: https://ocfs.ny.gov/main/contracts/funding/COVID-relief/childcare-stabilization/
![LetterProvider Appreciation Day -lettersize[8]](https://voicecsea.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/LetterProvider-Appreciation-Day-lettersize8.jpg)
