Warren County Employment & Training Administration recently partnered with Southern Adirondack Child Care Network (SACCN) to deliver some holiday surprises to about 100 local child care providers.
As an often overlooked but essential part of the workforce, child care providers have faced many challenges these past 10 months in maintaining operations under many restrictions while also protecting children and families from COVID-19.
Gift bags were put together to show that their efforts are greatly appreciated by Warren County, the local business community, and community-based organizations during such a challenging time. Several businesses donated or purchased items for the gift bags that were delivered this week by Warren County Employment & Training and SACCN staff to show their gratitude to the child care providers. Providers in Warren, Washington, Hamilton and northern Saratoga counties received surprises.
“Child Care Providers are not just baby sitters, they are early childhood educators and they are the backbone of our economy because their existence allows more parents to participate in the workforce," said Liza Ochsendorf, Director of the Warren County Employment & Training Administration. "We know how much more challenging the pandemic has made the work of child care providers and we wanted them to know that we appreciate their operations now more than ever. We must continue to support them and also help families gain access to affordable child care.”
The bags included decorative face masks, hand sanitizers, root beer, coffee, cookies, chocolate, and more! Two providers, both of whom have been in business for over 15 years, won a two-night stay at Sun Castle Resort in Lake George through a random drawing. (The stays were graciously donated by the staff at Sun Castle.)
With the goal of continuing to support families with child care needs and to help address the many gaps that exist in finding affordable and quality child care, two surveys for our region were developed in recent weeks by a consortium that includes Warren County Employment & Training Administration, Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership, Saratoga County Employment & Training Administration, Brightside Up, and the Southern Adirondack Child Care Network. One survey is for families and one is for employers.
Your input on child care issues is greatly appreciated, and you can find the surveys here: https://warrencountyny.gov/news/survey-warren-county-child-care-needs.