Western New York Child Care Action Team

05/30/2026

05/19/2026

Family child care providers are disappearing. And when they disappear — so does child care.

25,000+ children are on waitlists RIGHT NOW. Providers are working 10–12 hours a day and still can't make ends meet. Most are women of color running small businesses and they're being pushed out, not supported.

This is not a coincidence. This is a crisis.

We urge lawmakers to act NOW and provide immediate workforce funding and child care supplemental funds to save family child care.

Our children can't wait. Our businesses can't wait.

Take action. Be the change.
🔊 Share this. Tag your elected officials. Make noise.

05/19/2026

Childcare Crisis - The Urgency
🚨 17,500 children are on a waitlist. Family childcare educators are earning $6.02 an hour. This is not a coincidence — it's a crisis.

Behind every door where children are loved and cared for, there is an educator barely surviving.We cannot afford to look away.

Stand with us. Support us. Save family childcare.

05/15/2026

WNY CCAT & NYS OCFS Workforce Action Day II on Zoom 5/16/26, 9am-12pm

Join WNY CCAT & Nora Yates for
WNY CCAT & NYS OCFS -Workforce Action Day 2!

Date: Saturday, May 16, 2026

Time: 9 am-12pm

Location: Zoom link below...
We will communicate, collaborate, and co-create as we advocate TOGETHER!!! This is not a Town Hall.
**General Agenda (Subject to Change)

I. Welcome/Introduction 9-915am

II. Updates: NYS 2026-27 BUDGET, CCAP, Child Care Pilot Program, Workforce Pay Equity Fund, Changes in Regulations, Quality Survey Results, and any other news and opportunities 915-10am

IV. Q &A/ Discussion 10-1030am

V. Child Care Live (OCFS & WNY CCAT) 1030-1130am

-List most current and pressing issues for Child Care

-Agree on a top four issues WNY

-Break Out into at least 4 groups to discuss, build, and report out together

VI. Q & A/Discussion-Next Steps: State and Local 1130-12pm

VI. Conclude

Zoom Meeting Link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89240705138?pwd=q4QNEDnrXcRSkvtgRb8acHmHXqVkb6.

Meeting ID: 892 4070 5138
Passcode: ACTION26

**One tap mobile
+16465588656,,89240705138 #,,,,*63661816 # US (New York)
+16469313860,,89240705138 #,,,,*63661816 # US

**Join by SIP
• [email protected]

Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise cloud communications.

05/13/2026

WNY CCAT & NYS OCFS -Workforce Action Day 2!
Join WNY CCAT & Nora Yates, Deputy Commissioner of NYS OCFS for a Child Care Workforce Action Day of Power!

Date: Saturday, May 16, 2026
Time: 9 am - 12 pm ACTION WORK!
Location: Zoom link below...

We will communicate, collaborate, and co-create as we advocate TOGETHER!!! This is not a Town Hall. Don't miss out on this chance to make a difference. Action Now!!

General Agenda (Subject to Change)

I. Welcome/Introduction 9-915am

II. Updates: NYS 2026-27 BUDGET, CCAP, Child Care Pilot Program, Workforce Pay Equity Fund, Changes in Regulations, Quality Survey Results, and any other news and opportunities 915-10am

IV. Q &A/ Discussion 10-1030am

V. Child Care Live (OCFS & WNY CCAT) 1030-1130am

-List most current and pressing issues for Child Care

-Agree on a top four issues WNY

-Break Out into at least 4 groups to discuss, build, and report out together

VI. Q & A/Discussion-Next Steps: State and Local 1130-12pm

VI. Conclude

Zoom Meeting Link:
Topic: WNY CCAT & OCFS Workforce Action Day II
Time: May 16, 2026 09:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

**Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89240705138?pwd=q4QNEDnrXcRSkvtgRb8acHmHXqVkb6.1

**Meeting chat link
https://us02web.zoom.us/launch/jc/89240705138

Meeting ID: 892 4070 5138
Passcode: ACTION26

**One tap mobile
+16465588656,,89240705138 #,,,,*63661816 # US (New York)
+16469313860,,89240705138 #,,,,*63661816 # US

**Join by SIP
• [email protected]

Modernize workflows with Zoom's trusted collaboration tools: including video meetings, Zoom Chat, VoIP phone, webinars, whiteboard, contact center, and events.

05/11/2026

Thank you for hosting such a wonderful event Child Care Resource Network!

05/03/2026

Question of The Day - Is Western New York Child Care Action Team encouraging all CDA Holders in Western New York to ask the question, “What Credit Can I get towards my Degree?”

As Western New York Child Care Action Team, I would definitely call that an action item.

For those of you who are seeking your Child Development Associate — your CDA — sky is the beginning, not the limit. If you decide to go on, and we truly pray that you do, and enter a college or university for an associate's degree, a bachelor's degree, even a master's degree and beyond — think about how much credit will be contributed to your academic portfolio for having a CDA.

And it's not just the CDA. It also comes with life experience — because with your CDA comes years of experience in early childhood education programs. So you don't come in starting at the ground level. You are really coming in with so much more than the average student. And we welcome the new, aspiring student who wants to learn about early childhood education — we don't speak against them. But you? You come in with something extra.

Here's the way I want to end this: I'm a part of so many circles, and I see it all the time. People look at someone with a CDA — someone who is a CDA Specialist — and say, "You're not an expert in the field." They point to other people as the experts: childcare champions, politicians, legislators. But you know what?

You are the expert.

VIDEO LINK IN COMMENTS

05/02/2026

Sis. Vonetta T. Rhodes | WNY CCAT
Topic: CDA Credential & Early Childhood Education as a Career

Childcare Alert.

With the ongoing demand for childcare workforce, one thing that is growing — and this is a good thing — is the need for qualified childcare workers. And I don't want to just call them workers. I'm talking about educators — qualified teachers.

One way to achieve that is through the CDA — the Child Development Associate credential. ( CDA Council for Professional Recognition ) The new CEO, Dr. [Calvin E.] Moore, is making a real, concerted effort to get it out there and make the opportunity available for childcare teachers and teacher assistants who want that certification. He's even working with colleges to explore partnerships so that students can potentially graduate with both an associate's degree and a CDA — and be hired as teachers, not just teacher assistants or teacher aides.

Our position at Western New York Child Care Action Team (WNY CCAT) — and what Dr. Moore ultimately affirmed — is that the CDA is the beginning of your journey in building a career in early childhood education.

Now, if that's your calling and you feel comfortable stopping at the CDA, that's perfectly fine too. But remember: the sky is not the limit — the sky is just the beginning. Early childhood education is a career, which means it's long-term. It has a sound investment behind it.

We need to work harder on childcare workforce pay equity — to increase pay and expand benefits and fringes. Yes. But at the end of the day, our children need us. We need more childcare programs open, whether they're residential in-home, center-based, after-school, or before-school.

So please — seek your CDA. And at the same time, don't let that stop you from pursuing a career, not just a job.

Thank you.
~ Vonetta T. Rhodes

05/02/2026

🚨 CHILD CARE ALERT 🚨

Dr. Calvin E. Moore, CEO of the Council for Professional Recognition, said it clearly — the CDA is the beginning of your journey.

Sis. Vonetta T. Rhodes and Western New York Child Care Action Team (WNY CCAT) couldn't agree more. 💯

The Child Development Associate (CDA) credential is one of the most powerful first steps a childcare educator can take. And Dr. Moore is actively working with colleges to make it happen — so you can walk away with your CDA and an associate's degree, and be hired as a teacher, not just an aide.

But hear this loud and clear 👇

🌟 "The sky is not the limit — the sky is just the beginning."

Early childhood education is a career. It's long-term. It's an investment. And our children are counting on us to show up — in homes, centers, after-school programs, and beyond.

✅ Get your CDA.
✅ Don't stop there.
✅ Build a career — not just a job.

We are Western New York Child Care Action Team (WNY CCAT) — and we are advocating, uniting, empowering, and educating every step of the way. 💙💚

Check out what Dr. Calvin E. Moore, Jr of the CDA Council for Professional Recognition had to say on The Council Table Podcast with Dr. Bisa Lewis (Dr. Bisa)

Links In Comments

🔁 Share this with every child care professional you know!

05/02/2026

Meet the leaders helping shape the future for children and families.
Rooted in purpose. Rising with intention.

Stay tuned to meet other members of our Advisory Council. ✊🏾



R. Scott