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The Oswego County Legislature and Integrated Community Planning of Oswego County, Inc. (ICP) join organizations across the country to recognize Friday, May 12 as Child Care Provider Appreciation Day.
It is an opportunity to express gratitude to child care providers for their dedication in providing high quality care to children.
“The COVID-19 pandemic put a tremendous hardship on child care providers and families across the county,” said ICP Executive Director Brandy Koproski. “Working with local and state partners, we’re addressing a number of issues, such as affordability and equitable access, to ensure a coordinated and high-quality system of child care for residents.”
Nationwide, it is estimated that 12.8 million children under the age of 6 spend time each week in a non-parental care arrangement such as a child care center, pre-school program or care from family members, friends or neighbors.
“Child care providers have the essential responsibility of providing children with first-rate care that impacts their health, well-being and safety,” said Oswego County Director of Preventive Health Services Jodi Martin, chairperson of the ICP Board of Directors. “Their lives are built upon the quality of their early childhood experiences, which includes time spent in child care. Having an exceptional organization of care is a worthy commitment to their future.”
There are numerous resources available in Oswego County for child care providers and parents.
Oswego County Department of Social Services (DSS) offers the Oswego County Child Care Assistance Program which provides eligible families with financial assistance for child care. This includes child care expenses related to work or work activities, attending an approved school or training program, teen parents attending high school, physical or mental incapacity of a parent or adult caretaker, adults receiving temporary assistance and participating in work requirements or working families transitioning from temporary assistance.
Eligibility depends on income and family size. For more information, contact the DSS Child Care Assistance Unit at 315-963-5021 or childcare@oswegocounty.com.
The Child Care and Development Council, a division of ICP, provides free services to child care providers, individuals interested in opening a child care program and families seeking child care. ICP offers information and referrals, training courses for child care providers and community members, health care consultancy and technical assistance to regulated child care providers and much more.
For more information on the Child Care and Development Council, visit the ICP website at https://www.icpoc.org/ or call 315-343-2344.
