Child Care in the Now

Online Seminar: 2009 Tax Tips for Child Care Providers

Lisa Thompson — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:00:20 -0500

Online Seminar: 2009 Tax Tips for Child Care Providers
It's Time to File
Come to a free online class on 2009 tax tips.
This online briefing for Child Care Providers will cover:

How to get organized to claim the maximum
What's deductible, what's not
New 2009 tax benefits
Tips for completing tax forms

The 1-hour class will be offered:
March 1st at 9:30 pm EST (8:30 pm CST / 6:30 pm PST)
March 9th 8:30 pm EST (7:30 pm CST / 5:30 pm PST)
To register go to afscme.webex.com and click on the class you'd like to attend.

Check out this page for more Training Resources for Family Child Care Providers:
http://www.afscme.org/20171.cfm

Governor Pawlenty’s Proposed Cuts to Child Care - Be heard!

Lisa Thompson — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 16:03:42 -0500

From Child Care WORKS:

Governor Pawlenty’s supplemental budget proposal, released Monday, includes cuts to child care programs and many other spending reductions in order to bring the state’s budget back into balance from a $1.2 billion deficit. The proposed child care cuts include, among others, reductions in Basic Sliding Fee grants by 5% on July 1, 2010 and a 5% reduction in the maximum Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) rate, effective in March 2011. More detailed information will be presented at the Early Childhood Finance & Policy Division meetingon Thursday, February 18 - attend if you can! We will also keep you updated as we learn more and as the House and Senate release their budget proposals.

The other main agenda item for this legislative session is to pass a bonding bill that funds capital and construction projects across the state. The House and Senate have both passed bonding bills that include $2 million funding for Early Childhood facilities and a House/Senate conference committee will now negotiate a bill to send to Governor Pawlenty, who can sign the bill, veto it, or line-item veto specific projects within the bill. The Governor has previously line-item vetoed funding for early childhood facilities, so stay tuned on this!

Meltdown Management - The Wakanheza Project

Lisa Thompson — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:45:25 -0500

The Wakanheza Project© has been teaching individuals, agencies, businesses, and communities to use principles and strategies that prevent or deescalate stressful situations and to create more welcoming environments.

Child Care Providers Together (CCPT) Peer Mentors have partnered with the Saint Paul-Ramsey County Public Health Department to tailor The Wakanheza Project for family child care parents and child care providers.

Free Saturday Morning Workshops

Family child care providers and parents of children in child care

are invited to learn useful strategies to help prevent meltdowns.

Watch for more Wakanheza Project workshops to be offered in the future!

February 27th - Sorry. Shoreview class is full and No walk-ins can be accommodated at this site.

March 6th - Sorry. Maplewood class is full.

Coffee and refreshments served.

For more information:

CCPT Peer Mentors-Ramsey County

Phone: 651-287-0552

E-mail: lisa.thompson@afscmemn.org

Mail: AFSCME - Council 5

300 Hardman Ave. So.

South St. Paul, MN 55075

Attn: Lisa Thompson

(2 hours training certificates granted)

Come early with your fire extinguisher to get the tag renewed - FREE!Doors open at 9:00 a.m.

St. Paul Child Care Provider, Sandy Morris Get Extreme Home Makeover

Lisa Thompson — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 19:31:40 -0500

When Sandy Morris's daughter was born, Sandy left a high-paid job in the public school system to open a daycare within her home community. But last summer her crumbling home may have forced her to close the child care that has become a center of community life and education.
In steps Extreme Home Makeover...
http://www.extrememakeovertjbhomes.com/712-family.html
Congratulations, Sandy and all the children and families you serve!

Legislation to Reduce Child Obesity, Improve Health, and Enhance Development. AFSCME Commends Rep. Tonko for Nutrition Bill

Lisa Thompson — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 18:38:00 -0500

Washington, DC — Today Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY) introduced the Access to Nutritious Meals for Young Children Act of 2009 in the United States House of Representatives to update the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) by adding additional resources to pay for healthier meals and expanding the program to include more children. Rep. Tonko’s bill is identical to legislation introduced in the Senate in November by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).
“Rep. Tonko’s nutritious meals bill can decrease childhood obesity, improve child nutrition and health, enhance child development and school readiness, and reduce hunger,” said AFSCME International President Gerald W. McEntee. “AFSCME commends Rep. Tonko for working to improve young children’s access to healthy foods.”
Click link for more....

Senate Bill Introduced Will Help to Improve CACFP

Lisa Thompson — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:40:58 -0500

Recently, Sen. Gillibrand of NY introduced The Access to Nutritious Meals Act of 2009. This bill sets important priorities to improve CACFP during reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act, which is likely next year.

Sen. Gillibrand’s bill would:

· increase meal reimbursements served in family child care homes by $.20/meal and $.10 snack;

· add a third meal;

· expand area eligibility (tiering) so that more providers are considered tier I;

· reduce paperwork burdens; and

· provide resources for sponsors.

CACFP FCC Kids

CCPT Toys For Tots Drive - Bigger Every Year!

Lisa Thompson — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:30:48 -0500

3nd Annual

Child Care Providers Together

Local 3400

Toys For Tots campaign!

And Food/Supplies Drive for St. Joesph's Home for Children...

CCPT collected nearly $2000 of new, unwrapped toys, gift cards & cash donations from AFSCME locals and CCPT members.

Early Childhood Advisory Council Web Forum

Lisa Thompson — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 23:22:22 -0400

The Early Childhood Advisory Council (ECAC) was formed in fall of 2008
through Governor Tim Pawlenty's Executive Order. The Council's goal is
that by 2020, all Minnesota children are school-ready as they enter
kindergarten. The Council will provide recommendations to the Governor
and Minnesota Legislature toward this outcome. The Council has 13 state
and federal charges that have been grouped into related themes and are
being addressed by four committees: Accountability, Access and Finance,
Professional Development and Early Learning Standards.
An interactive Web-based forum or bulletin board has been created to
provide an opportunity for public comment on strategies suggested by
ECAC committees that will support children in their readiness to enter
kindergarten. The Council is interested in hearing ideas and strategies
that have worked in various communities throughout Minnesota. The
public comments and suggestions will be taken into consideration as the
committees develop their recommendations to present to the Council.

New Booster Seat Law in Effect in Minnesota

Lisa Thompson — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 18:21:38 -0400

New Booster Seat Law in Effect
Minnesota's new child passenger safety law requires a child who is both under age 8 and shorter than 4 feet 9 inches to be fastened in a child safety seat or booster. Under this law, a child cannot use a seat belt alone until they are age 8 or 4 feet 9 inches tall — whichever comes first. It is recommended to keep a child in a booster based on their height, rather than their age.
Boosters are seat lifts that help raise a child up so a seat belt fits properly.
Kids that are shorter than 4 feet 9 inches aren’t ready to use a seat belt alone. Poor belt fit can contribute to death or serious injury — including ejection, internal decapitation and serious abdominal damage. A sign a belt does not fit properly is if it rubs against a child’s neck, or the child tucks the belt behind their back.

Ready 4 K Holds Its 4th Annual Hmong Summit

Lisa Thompson — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 12:16:01 -0400

Ready 4K is sponsoring its fourth annual Hmong early childhood summit. The targeted audience for this year's Summit is key individuals (a mixture of parents, providers, educators, advocates and community leaders) who will help create an early childhood roadmap to guide Hmong parents, providers and community leaders to help Hmong children get ready for kindergarten.
Date:        Saturday, October 17, 2009
Time:        9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Location: Resources for Child Caring
        10 Yorkton Court NE
        Saint Paul, MN 55117
Theme: "Invest Early: Children are our Future"
Targeted Audience: Hmong early childhood professionals, parents, community leaders and advocates
Number of Expected Participants: 30-50 people
For more information, contact Jesse Kao Lee by email or 651-644-8138 x111