This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Westchester Parents Encouraged to Take Child Care Survey

From the Child Care Council of Westchester--

The Child Care Council of Westchester - a nonprofit resource organization that works to ensure every child in Westchester has access to quality early care and education – is encouraging parents throughout the county to complete its Annual Parent Child Care Survey. The survey asks questions designed to determine child care needs, and whether parents are satisfied with the quality, availability and affordability of child care; the information is then used as part of the Council’s advocacy efforts.

The impact of the survey is clear. Last year, more than 700 parents responded, and the results were presented at the Council’s Child Care Report Card Challenge event in October 2013. The findings substantiated the need for more help for families around 200% of the federal poverty level, and the county subsequently added child care funding for that group for the 2014 budget year. 

“Part of the Child Care Council’s mission is to carry the voices of Westchester’s parents to our community leaders and elected officials, so that they understand the needs and challenges associated with child care in our county,” said Council Executive Director Kathy Halas. “This information we gather is critical to all audiences, as access to quality care affects not only families, but employers and our community at large in so many ways.”

Find out what's happening in Bedford-Katonahwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

More than 3,500 of the county’s working parents, employed by more than 1,100 different organizations including some of Westchester’s largest employers; call the Council each year seeking resources related to child care. The more people the Council hears from in the survey, the more effective advocates they can be.

The survey is available in English and Spanish on the homepage of the Council’s website:www.ChildCareWestchester.org.  Hard copies are also available upon request. Participants who complete the survey by August 31 will be entered into a drawing for a $50 gift card. All responses are anonymous and confidential. For more information, contact Nicole Masucci, Director of Family and Employer Services, at (914) 761-3456 139 or nicolem@cccwny.org.

Find out what's happening in Bedford-Katonahwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

About the Child Care Council of Westchester 
The Child Care Council of Westchester is a private, nonprofit resource organization that champions the healthy development of children, families and communities by promoting quality early care and education. A unique, “one stop” agency for child care, the Council offers parent referrals, training, information, technical assistance, reports on the industry, and public education for parents, child care programs, governmental organizations and the business community. Since its inception in 1968, the Council has grown to become the premier authority on child care services throughout Westchester County.   The Council recently attained Quality Assurance, establishing it as one of the nation’s leading Child Care Resource and Referral agencies (CCR&Rs).  The national recognition was awarded by Child Care Aware® of America. 


We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?