COUNCIL EXPANDS SERVICES TO 6 COUNTY REGION

Child Care Council awarded state contract to serve Albany, Fulton, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga and Schenectady Counties.

The Capital District Child Care Council is pleased to announce that the Council will be providing child care resource and referral services to the families and child care providers in Fulton and Montgomery in addition to Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga and Schenectady counties. These services will be delivered through a contract with the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. Over the next few months, the Council will be working with the Fulmont Community Action Agency on transitional activities.

Although the Council has been serving Fulton and Montgomery in a limited capacity through the Infant/Toddler Regional Technical Assistance Center since 2002, the Council will now have the opportunity to provide a full range of services to these counties. In addition to infant/toddler technical assistance, providers, families and employers will be able to utilize the Council for services such as child care referrals, family education, provider support and family child care start-up. The Council was also awarded a grant on June 1 from the Department of Health to work with Fulton and Montgomery County child care centers in combating childhood obesity through a program called Eat Well, Play Hard in Child Care Settings.

The Capital District Child Care Council is committed to increasing the quality of child care in the area by providing resources to the community. The Council offers numerous supports for child care providers including health care consultant services, social emotional development, the Food Program, registration services, start-up support, a toy lending library, training, conferences, and dietitian services. The Council also helps parents, free of charge, identify and find quality care by providing them with the information they need to make the best choice of care for their child. In addition, the Council provides assistance to all other area individuals and agencies interested in the care and education of children. The mission of the Capital District Child Care Council is to promote quality early care and education in the region and to help others recognize that an investment in the education of our youngest children is an investment in our future.