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!

05/04/2026

In this last video of our series, Western New York Child Care Action Team (WNY CCAT) Executive Director Vonetta T. Rhodes answers the question — and doesn't hold back.

Is WNY CCAT committed to supporting the child care workforce at every stage of their professional journey?

The answer is yes. And she's living proof.

From student to teacher. From Head Start to child care director to adjunct professor. Sis. Vonetta knows the struggle firsthand. She knows what it means to leave a job you love because the pay can't sustain your life.

That's exactly why WNY CCAT shows up — locally, statewide, nationally, and globally, to fight for pay equity, respect equity, and longevity for every child care professional.

💬 "Child care is a human right. Child care is a civil right. How is it only considered that starting at kindergarten? Don't our younger children deserve the same?"

Watch the full video and share it with someone in the child care community who needs to hear this. 👇

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

05/03/2026

🎓 Your CDA is worth MORE than you think.

Sis. Vonetta T. Rhodes is dropping real knowledge — if you're holding a Child Development Associate credential and thinking about going back to school, you are NOT starting from zero.

Your CDA + your years of experience in early childhood education = college credit and a head start that most students simply don't have.

And when people try to tell you that you're not the expert? Think again.You've been in the rooms. You've done the work. You ARE the expert.

💡 Watch the full video and share it with every provider, educator, and caregiver in your circle.