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Community Corner

County Executive Bellone Announces Child Care Subsidy Increase at CCCS Annual Meeting.


County Executive Steve Bellone recently announced at the Child Care Council of Suffolk’s 2014 Annual Meeting that Suffolk County will increase its child care subsidy to 165 percent (up from 150 percent) of the State Income Standard (SIS), effective July 1, 2014. “I’m proud to announce that Suffolk County is increasing its child care subsidy again this year,” stated Suffolk County Executive Bellone. “I thank our federal and state representatives for increasing the funding received by Suffolk County under the Child Care Block Grant. I applaud the steadfast advocacy of labor, child care agencies and social services organizations. They continue to work collaboratively with the County to ensure we serve those who are in need.”

This increase is made possible through the county’s Child Care Block Grant. The Grant is a sum of monies, totaling $34.4 million with projected rollovers, given to the county by New York State. The Department of Social Services carefully monitors and efficiently uses the funds to provide services to eligible county residents for the life of the grant. Currently, Suffolk County provides subsidies that assist, on average, 4,657 children. “This increase will allow 400 more children in Suffolk County to be served and ease the burden of families,” stated Child Care Council of Suffolk (CCCS) Executive Director Janet Walerstein.

In other Annual Meeting news, the Child Care Council of Suffolk presented its 2014 Outstanding Supporter Awards to Samuel Chu, Deputy County Executive and Suffolk County Commissioner of Labor, Licensing and Consumer Affairs, and to Brenda Simmons, Assistant to Mayor Mark Epley in the Village of Southampton and Advocate for Children and Families. In his acceptance speech, Deputy County Executive Chu stated, “it’s not about what we can afford to do for children and families in Suffolk County, it’s about what we cannot afford not to do without safe and affordable child care.”

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Grace Reef, Founder of the Early Learning and Policy Group, provided an “Update from Washington” in her Keynote Address. The Early Learning Policy Group focuses on strengthening the quality of child care at the federal and state level through policy and analysis, strategic thinking and partnership building, effective communication and advocacy approaches and pursuing alternative financing approaches to support early childhood initiatives. Reef described the 2014 increases for child care programs on the federal level as “just short of amazing” compared to previous years’ massive budgetary cuts. Child care is more than an $800 million industry on Long Island. Reef stressed the importance of child care as an economic development issue – key messaging that resonates with those in power. She urged the Annual Meeting attendees, “to get involved, because every voice matters. There are huge opportunities now, but you must keep up the chatter and visibility whether it is in a Parent Leadership Program or working for a child care advocacy group.”

About Child Care Council of Suffolk, Inc.

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The Child Care Council of Suffolk, Inc. is the not-for-profit planning and coordinating agency dedicated to making child care work for all Suffolk County’s diverse communities.  Through advocacy, education, and resource and referral, the Council takes a leadership role in supporting children, families, providers, employers, and the public to ensure that quality child care takes its place as an integral part of society.

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