Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Trusted Child Care Referrals in Dutchess and Putnam Counties
Established in 1970, we serve as the New York State-designated Child Care Resource and Referral agency for Dutchess and Putnam Counties. Our mission focuses on connecting families with quality child care options while supporting providers through training and resources. With over 290 programs in our database, we offer free referral services for day care centers, nursery schools, pre-k programs, and summer recreation opportunities. Our team administers the Child and Adult Care Food Program, ensuring nutritional standards in home-based care, and provides ongoing technical assistance to providers. We maintain strict confidentiality for all client information and operate as part of a statewide network of 35 similar agencies.Our services include provider registration, program monitoring, and professional development opportunities for early childhood educators. We collaborate with the New York State Office of Children and Family Services to ensure regulatory compliance while maintaining local expertise. Our staff includes specialists in infant/toddler care, mental health consultation, and business services to comprehensively support families and providers. We emphasize parental involvement in selecting care options through facility visits and comprehensive program evaluations. Our organization remains committed to promoting affordable, high-quality child care that strengthens the early childhood workforce in our service area.
Services
Child care referrals
Provider registration
Professional training
Nutrition programs
Parent education resources
Details
- Year established: 1970
Highlights and features
- We have served Dutchess and Putnam Counties since 1970 with specialized child care expertise
- Our free referral service connects families with over 290 licensed providers
- We offer ongoing professional development and technical support for child care providers
- Our team includes infant/toddler specialists and mental health consultants
- We maintain strict confidentiality while providing comprehensive program information
Services
Child Care Referrals
Our free referral service connects families with licensed child care providers across Dutchess and Putnam Counties. We maintain a database of over 290 programs including day care centers, family child care homes, and school age programs. Our specialists help parents find options matching their specific needs including location, hours, and school district requirements.
Provider Registration
We register and monitor family day care and school age programs throughout the region. Our team provides technical assistance and required training to ensure providers meet state regulations. This includes initial licensing, renewal processes, and ongoing compliance monitoring to maintain quality standards in child care services.
Professional Development
We offer ongoing professional development opportunities for child care providers through workshops and specialized programs. Our training covers early childhood education best practices, nutrition guidelines, and regulatory compliance. This helps providers enhance their skills and maintain high-quality care standards for children in their programs.
Nutrition Programs
Our Child and Adult Care Food Program provides nutritional guidance and meal reimbursement for home-based child care providers. We help providers plan balanced menus that meet federal dietary guidelines while offering administrative support for program participation requirements.
Parent Education
We provide comprehensive resources to help parents evaluate child care options through our handbook and online materials. Our educational content covers quality indicators in child care programs, age-appropriate activities, and questions to ask during facility visits to ensure the best match for each family's needs.
People
Jeanne Wagner
Executive Director
Jeanne Wagner leads our organization with over 25 years of experience in early childhood education and nonprofit management. She oversees strategic operations and community partnerships.
Karen Walsh
Assistant Director
Karen Walsh supports program implementation with 20+ years in child care administration. She manages daily operations and staff development initiatives across both counties.
Lorraine Scuccimarra
CACFP Coordinator
Lorraine Scuccimarra administers our nutrition program with expertise in dietary guidelines and federal meal reimbursement requirements for child care providers.
Wendy Cooper
Director of Professional Development
Wendy Cooper designs training programs for child care professionals with specialization in early childhood curriculum development and staff mentoring strategies.
Rebecca Shaffer
Director of Registration Services
Rebecca Shaffer oversees provider registration processes with extensive knowledge of New York State child care licensing regulations and compliance standards.
Questions
How do I begin my search for day care?
Contact our free referral service by phone or online to start your child care search in Dutchess and Putnam Counties.
What types of child care options exist?
We offer referrals to day care centers, family child care homes, group family providers, school age programs, and nursery schools.
How can I evaluate child care quality?
Visit facilities during operating hours, check staff-child interactions, verify cleanliness, and confirm providers meet your specific program requirements.
Are there financial assistance options?
Call our referral specialists at 845-473-4141 x221 to learn about available child care subsidies in our service area.
What if I have concerns about a provider?
Contact our office immediately or reach New York State's child care hotline at 1-800-732-5207 for urgent safety concerns.
