FREE WEBINAR
Queens Childcare Network (QCCN) hosted another FREE WEBINAR on “HOW TO OPEN A LICENSED IN-HOME CHILDCARE BUSINESS IN NYC.”
Our July 27th webinar addressed the essential elements for becoming a licensed “group or family group” provider within NYC. It also included relevant information on QCCN and how we support our growing network of childcare programs.
This included but was not limited to:
- Application Steps & Process
- OCFS Regulations & Requirements
- Supervision & Staffing Ratios
- Required Trainings
- What Parents Look For
- Health & Safety Compliance
- Space Regulations & Sample Layouts
- Nutrition (CACFP): KidKare Management
- NYC Childcare Rates
- Educational Resources
- Networking & Marketing Opportunities
QCCN also provided a Dropbox full of webinar resources to those who registered or attended.
INFO SESSIONS-WORKFORCE RETENTION GRANTS
The New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) opened applications for another round of WORKFORCE RETENTION GRANTS.
Funding from the program will support up to 150,000 childcare workers with bonus payments ranging from $2,300 to $3,000 to staff in caregiving roles, as well as funding to support childcare programs’ efforts to recruit new staff, offer sign-on and referral bonuses, and more.
QCCN hosted three evening Information Sessions for our affiliated providers on August 7th, 8th, and 9th.
More information can be accessed on the OCFS website:
https://ocfs.ny.gov/pro…/childcare/grants/workforce-grant/
Applications opened 7/26/23 and must be submitted by 9/15/23. This is one grant, comprised of two components.
- The first is the staff retention bonus, which must be paid to staff, and;
- The second is staff recruitment expenses and payroll tax assistance.
An informative video is also available online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLFioKxbM1Q
LENA GROW
QCCN was awarded a grant from the Stella and Charles Guttman Foundation in 2022 to utilize LENA’s talk pedometer technology. The LENA device measures critical “interactive talk;” collecting data on the number of “conversational turns,” between a caregiver and child. This information is essential to maximizing learning and language development in young children.
In October of 2022, QCCN launched the first 5-week cycle of this project with seven (7) QCCN providers. We then went on to include 13 providers in our next cohort which began earlier this year. QCCN will now begin another LENA Grow cycle this October.
Additional QCCN providers, who have not participated in both prior cohorts, have been invited to LEARN and EARN a stipend of up to $1,000 along with a LENA Grow Certificate.
Our next LENA Grow Information Session was hosted on Wednesday, August 23rd at 6:30 pm.
To learn more about LENA Grow, visit https://www.lena.org/lena-grow/.
3K ORIENTATION SESSIONS
QCCN annually enrolls over 50 families in the NYC DOE 3K School Day Year program.
This summer, QCCN Family Coordinators launched a new initiative hosting in-person 3K Orientations for each of our affiliated programs. Sessions were held in both English and Spanish. This has been a great opportunity for families to meet childcare providers, learn about the program, and understand the importance of early childhood education.
The QCCN team facilitated each session with an array of resources including required records which were prepared for families to review and complete for the upcoming school year. Families were also informed about QCCN’s role as a NYC DOE partner along with our commitment to parent engagement and quality-based childcare.
ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY
In June of 2022, Bertha Carrion became a licensed family daycare provider. Bertha joined QCCN a few months after her business launch in November 2022. Bertha’s program is called Children’s Play House Family’s Daycare; it is located in Bayside, Queens (School District 26).
This summer, Bertha also applied for her group family license to expand her program. In working closely with QCCN, Bertha has learned the importance of early education and the positive impact childcare professionals can have on a student’s long-term success.
We take great pride and joy in celebrating Bertha’s program’s one-year anniversary.
English 
Spanish 
Korean