The press release says:   “Child care costs will be covered for essential staff whose income is less than 300 percent of the federal poverty level (or $79,500 for a family of four) and will be paid up to market rate for each region statewide for children aged six weeks through 12 years. Families currently receiving child care scholarships under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act are strongly encouraged to also apply for this new funding opportunity. It is important to note that the CARES child care scholarships will end on June 28; those currently receiving CARES scholarships will need to reapply.”

READ THE GOVERNOR’S PRESS RELEASE.

Essential workers can use the funding to pay for their existing care arrangement, or for a new child care provider.

“We have been saying, we cannot have a successful re-opening without child care. This is a good step toward ensuring access to quality child care as our state opens and people get back to work. Providers, please let your essential workers families who may be struggling, know about this program.” said CSEA/VOICE Local President, Pam Wells.

For more information and where parents can apply for the funding, please click here.

THE GRANT APPLICATION PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED!

President’s WelcomeCSEA is pleased to invite you to apply for the CSEA Child Care Quality Grant program for Child Care Providers. CSEA and WORK Institute staff are here to assist you. If you have any questions about our agreement with OCFS, call our toll-free Child Care Resource Center at (877) 483-CSEA (2732). If you have a grant or program question, contact CSEA WORK Institute by email at grant4u@cseainc.org. The work you do each and every day keeps New York parents earning and children learning. I wish you the best in the coming year. Mary E. Sullivan CSEA President       NEW GRANT BENEFITS ADDED! The 2021 CSEA Child Care Quality Grant, negotiated in our VOICE contract has significantly enhanced benefits! The Grant amount (previously up to $500) has increased to up to $1000; AND The Grant now offers FREE online training from The Care Courses School, Inc.; AND You can now get a FREE Chromebook 3 laptop computer by Lenovo! The Grant funding of up to $1,000 can be used for the following: — Program materials (Books, curriculum, toys, arts/crafts, etc) — CPR/1st aid training — General supplies (Diapers, batteries, napkins, etc) —  Children’s furnishings (no adult furniture) —  Anything necessary to stay in compliance —  Computer hardware and software —  Childcare Payroll —  Food for the children in care —  COVID-19 related cleaning and medical supplies — Legal and professional services related to childcare     (accounting/bookkeeping) — Advertising to promote the childcare business to remain open/boost enrollment You may take advantage of this funding in one of three ways: 1. $1000 Kaplan Credit (order materials and supplies with no money out-of-pocket); or 2. $1000 Reimbursement (for eligible expenses already incurred); or 3. $500 Kaplan Credit AND $500 Reimbursement.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: You can apply if: You live outside NYC and are active as a New York State Registered Family OR a Licensed Group Family OR an eligible Enrolled Legally-Exempt child care provider. Eligible Legally-Exempt child care providers must have 12 months of continuous enrollment and 10 hours of child care training in the last year. WHAT YOU’LL NEED: To apply, you’ll need: Your OCFS license, registration, or enrollment number and your CSEA ID.  If you don’t have your CSEA ID, click “Look up your CSEA ID!” in the upper right corner of this page.  If that doesn’t work, send an email to grant4u@cseainc.org.       KAPLAN CREDIT – No out of pocket expenses!   $1000 credit grants can be only be used with Kaplan Early Learning Company. You can place your order online or by phone starting two hours after your application is complete. All products listed on https://voicecsea.kaplanco.com/ are approved. NOTE: Kaplan has PPE related products in stock! REIMBURSEMENT If you prefer, you may pay directly and request reimbursement. Please allow time for your Social Security number to be verified with IRS. You will then receive an approval email updating your status and requesting a one-time upload to our grant site of up to 5 allowable receipts for purchases made between October 1, 2020 and June 1, 2021. Your receipts may total more than $1000 but you will only be reimbursed up to a maximum of $1000.  You will not be able to upload receipts until we send your approval email. CSEA Child Care Quality Grant Reimbursements are taxable and you may be sent a 1099 form to file with your income taxes prior to January 31st for the prior calendar year. CARE COURSES SCHOOL ONLINE TRAINING You may select an online training provided by The Care Courses School Inc.  You will be given a password for an account that ‘The Care Courses School Inc.’ will create for you. After the account is created, The Care Courses School Inc. will email you when your online training is ready for your use. CARE Course online subscriptions and accompanying completion certificates can only be issued to the on-site provider and are only offered in English. DEADLINE* To be eligible, all grants must be approved, orders placed, and receipts uploaded (for purchases no later than June 1, 2021) on or by June *30, 2021. Please keep in mind that opportunities are first come, first served.

WE KNOW FROM PAST EXPERIENCE, OUR UNION HAS THE POWER TO MAKE CHANGE! Let’s make DIRECT DEPOSIT HAPPEN in New York State!!!

NYS Senator Jabari Brisport and Assembly-member Sarah Clark heard our Union calling for direct deposit. They introduced legislation that will require all counties to offer providers the opportunity to be paid by direct deposit! They are asking for co-sponsors and support to pass direct deposit for child care and need our help.

WE MUST TAKE ACTION NOW!
THEY STARTED THE PROCESS BUT WE MUST HELP FINISH IT.

https://actionnetwork.org/letters/payment-options-for-child-care-proividers/

Click on the link above and fill out the form. This info is only used to identify your elected representatives. You will then see a pre-drafted letter. This is just a recommendation – feel free to edit it, add your own story and experiences, and insight. The more personal the letter, the better they are received!

Please share the TAKE ACTION LINK above with all Providers you know.

Dear Providers,

There is new information about the Paycheck Protection Program, which is a forgivable loan. Tom Copeland has identified in our recent workshops the PPP as an attractive program for family child care providers to take under consideration. 

The next two weeks ending March 10 applications are  limited to businesses with 20 employees or less. This certainly applies to family, group family and legally exempt providers even if you have no employees.

If you believe PPP is right for you submit your application as soon as possible. There is a link in the message below that will identify banks and credit unions participating in your zip code.

In solidarity,

Pam Wells, President
CSEA/Local 100A

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE NEW PPP LOAN INFORMATION

Dear Providers, Family child care providers can now apply to receive a new round of forgivable loans from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The loans do not have to be paid back. To apply for the PPP, contact your local bank or an online service that accepts PPP applications. Note: If your bank won’t accept your application, try another local bank or credit union. Money you received from the PPP is not taxable income and can be used for a variety of business expenses. The deadline to apply is March 31, 2021. Last spring some CSEA/VOICE members accepted the loans and then had them forgiven by meeting the guidelines. They did not have to pay the loan back.

Take a look and decide whether to apply or not.
This link will take you to Tom Copeland’s blog page: http://tomcopelandblog.com
This is a direct link to the article that includes directions to apply: https://bit.ly/3nKt0L9

In Solidarity,
Pam Wells, President
CSEA/VOICE Local 100A

Watch CSEA/VOICE President Pam Wells graciously accept the Danny Donohue Leadership Award at the recent CSEA 110th Annual Delegates Meeting (held virtually). Formerly known as the Mission Achievement Award, it is the union’s highest honor, established to honor member activists who go above and beyond exemplifying the virtues of CSEA’s Mission Statement: Honesty, Inclusiveness, Full Participation, Respect, Diversity, Open Communications, Accountability and Fiscal Responsibility.

Congratulations to President Wells for this well-deserved honor! 

This month’s Grassroots Movement for Child Care and Early Education ECE Organizing Network Quarterly Newsletter features our very own Armett Barnes, a provider in Monroe County. Read about her here!

An emergency regulation is defined by OCFS as “a regulation that has been adopted on an expedited, temporary basis because the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) has determined that it is necessary for the preservation of the public health, safety or general welfare and that it would be contrary to the public interest to delay the adoption to comply with the ordinary process for adopting regulatory proposals.”

OCFS has adopted new emergency regulations in an effort to adjust to the pandemic environment we currently are working in.

READ EMERGENCY REGULATIONS HERE: https://ocfs.ny.gov/main/legal/regulatory/er/

There are three entries pertaining to family, group family and legally exempt child care providers.

—Notice of Emergency Adoption and Proposed Rulemaking – Amendments of Sections 413 & 415 of Title 18

—Notice of Emergency Adoption – Amendment of Part 415 of Title 18 of the NYCRR

—Notice of Emergency Adoption and Proposed Rule Making – Amendment to Parts 414, 415, 416, 417, and Sub-parts 418-1 and 418-2 of Title 18

Questions? Send an email to voice@cseainc.org

You can listen to this free webinar titled “How Your Family Child Care Program Can Survive This Financial Crisis” presented by Tom Copeland, the recognized national expert in the business of family child care.  Go to the webinar online!

CSEA/VOICE is excited to bring you FREE Blended Online Learning CPR/First Aid & AED trainings with funds negotiated in our latest contract with OCFS and New York State.  The training is a flexible option that can be completed in the comfort of your home with a follow up in-person skills assessment with up to 90 days to complete. It is open to licensed, registered and enrolled child care providers, their staff, substitutes and volunteers requiring certification and/or renewal within 90 days.

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