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New York State Impact Project: Quality Child Care
The Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) promotes quality child care through regulations, policy and QUALITYstarsNY; however, currently there is no statewide definition of quality child care. Through an Impact Project, with the support of staff from the Child Care State Capacity Building Center, which is part of the federal technical assistance system, OCFS is embarking on an exploration of the definition of quality child care. The Impact Project helps the state plan and carry out projects that meet specific goals. This type of project helps the state develop and expand capacity for planning, investing in, and implementing quality in Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) supported early childhood and after-school systems, policies and practices.
As the state of New York explores the definition of quality child care in all settings, including both formal and informal child care programs, the goal is to create a statewide definition of quality child care that can be used throughout the programs and services that are provided and funded by OCFS.
OCFS is continuing this project by seeking input from all New Yorkers. Throughout this project, OCFS will work with families, stakeholders, partners, providers and the general public to gather information and determine how quality child care may be defined for New York. From March 2024 to May 31, 2024, OCFS conducted a survey to gather input from all New Yorkers. We appreciate all of those who participated in the survey!
Now that the survey has closed, OCFS will review the data and information to explore and continue to create a definition of quality and will discuss program and service impacts within the early childhood and school-age communities.
Resources from EmbraceRace.org
EmbraceRace was founded in early 2016 by two parents who set out to create a community and gather the resources needed to meet the challenges faced by those raising children in a world where race matters.
Below are some resources from EmbraceRace that may be useful to child care providers, parents and other caregivers.
- Addressing Racial Injustice with Young Children
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In this conversation, authors Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins and Ann Hazzard present excerpts from their book, Something Happened in Our Town: A Child's Story About Racial Injustice, and discuss how parents and caregivers can spark conversations about racial injustice and child empowerment with young children. In the article linked to below, you'll find an edited transcript of the conversation - the community Q&A starts halfway through - followed by a list of resources shared and then by our special guest bios.
- “I [STILL] can’t breathe”: Supporting Kids of Color Amid Racialized Violence
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In this recorded resource, EmbraceRace talks with child psychologist Dr. Allison Briscoe-Smith. With COVID-19 as backdrop, some predict a “long, hot summer.” Others see a promising new determination by many whites to become a vigorous part of the solution. In this complicated context, what conversations about policing, violence, safety, justice and race should we be having with our children of color?
- Managing Racial Stress and Teaching Kids to Do the Same
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We live in deeply stressful times. COVID. Racial tension and violence. Political polarization. Dire economic straits. The physical and emotional costs of stress crosses all demographic lines, but we know that the burden of chronic stress falls disproportionately on frequently targeted, racialized communities – Black, brown, Indigenous, Asian, Latinx and multiracial among them. Chronic stress of any kind takes a toll on the mind and body; racial stress experienced by targeted groups has measurable and negative impacts on marginalized communities, including children.
Happily, there are strategies and practices we can use to lessen the effects of racial stress on our bodies and minds and on our parenting.
- Moving “The Talk” to “The Walk” for Black Children
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In many homes across the country, “The Talk” is less often about the “birds and the bees” and more often about how we can help our Black, brown and Indigenous children, in particular, be relatively safe from racial aggression, especially by police officers.
Sesame Workshop
Throughout your daily life, and especially during times of adversity and stress, taking small moments to practice self-care can improve your health and happiness. When you‘re at your best, you‘re better able to support the children in your care. Modeling self-care — like focusing on the positives and practicing healthy habits — can help children learn to manage tough times, too. Every month, Sesame Street in Communities (SSIC) shares resources about the importance of caring for ourselves in ways that support the emotional well-being of children, families, and Head Start staff.
- Healthy Minds and Bodies – Help children build healthy habits to last a lifetime.