On Feb. 9, the Larchmont-Mamaroneck Local Summit met to discuss “After-school Care in Our Community.” The guest speakers were Ann Marie Terrone, former director of KEEPS; Noreen Corcoran, current director of KEEPS; Susan Riley, director of the Mamaroneck Public Library; Laura Eckly, director of the Larchmont Public Library; and Nicole Masucci, director of family and employer services at the Child Care Council of Westchester Inc.
Good, safe, reliable child care outside of the home is an absolute necessity for working families. This need presents itself in families of all economic brackets. Choices and expectations have evolved for both parents and children, and today, first-time home buyers ask realtors which after-school care options are available as they look at towns and school districts. While our elementary schools offer a broad array of after-school programs and activities, they generally end before a parent’s work day does, leaving working parents in need of other options.
There are two “traditional” nonprofit after-school child care options in our community. KEEPS Inc. is a state-registered child care program serving children from Mamaroneck Avenue School and the Rye Neck elementary schools, and Children’s Corner serves children from the Central, Chatsworth Avenue, and Murray Avenue elementary schools.
“Keeping Kids Safe and Parents Working” is the motto for KEEPS. The program is for school-aged children in grades K-6, and aims to provide a wide range of benefits for kids and their families. Since its inception, more than 3,000 children have attended KEEPS and its “graduates” have gone on to be police officers, local politicians, doctors, editors, bankers and even a famous singer-actress.
KEEPS complies with strict regulations overseen by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. Terrone strongly urged parents to ask if a program is registered with the state, because then parent can be sure it is safe and meets state criteria.
Corcoran explained that KEEPS offers a range of options for families: full-time, part-time and drop-in on an as-needed basis.
Children are bussed to the KEEPS location at St. Thomas Episcopal Church on Boston Post Road in Mamaroneck from the Mamaroneck Avenue, Bellows and Daniel Warren schools. Once they arrive, kids can structure their after-school experience as they want. Some eat, some start homework, some run around, and others want quiet time. Tablets and other screens are not allowed.
Parents pay an average of about $8 an hour for their child to attend KEEPS ($520 per month for five days), but this does not cover the entire cost of the program. Having a healthy cash flow is also challenging for KEEPS. About a quarter of KEEPS’ children receive state or county subsidies, but the Department of Social Services does not pay the full price per student; in addition, there is a two-month lag before KEEPS is reimbursed. In order to keep its doors open and keep the cost affordable for its families, KEEPS must undertake serious fundraising each year.
Barbara Miglionico, the director of Children’s Corner, was not able to attend the Local Summit, but Judge Derrico, a Local Summit board member, shared information about the program. Children’s Corner provides a quality after-school care program housed within the schools. Children’s Corner is a before- and after-school care program for children in grades K-6. The morning program, which runs from 7:40 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., is offered at the Central, Chatsworth Avenue and Murray Avenue schools. The afternoon program, housed at Hommocks, runs from 3 p.m. until 6 or 6:30 p.m. Snacks and a wide variety of activities, from arts and crafts to reading and science, are provided. Children also have the opportunity to play outdoors. About 30 children use the program.
Children’s Corner is funded solely through tuition. Families are charged $95 to $310 monthly for the morning program and $155 to $610 for the afternoon program, depending on the number of days and the exact hours. Scholarships are available. Like KEEPS, Children’s Corner faces financial challenges as it struggles to keep its program affordable for its families.
Riley noted that both Mamaroneck and Larchmont libraries provide similar after-school programs and activities, however she emphasized that the library is not intended as after-school care, and require an age appropriate caregiver to supervise minor children. Regrettably, occasionally, the libraries find that parents use their facilities for child care and some children get dropped off for the whole day. Parents, in a pinch, view the library as a safe haven, and both groups of librarians reported that they have found children as young as 5 roaming around the library on their own, with no food, no money and no adult supervision.
Eckley agreed that any child under the age of 9 must be accompanied by a caregiver over the age of 18. The libraries provide a wonderful space, but they are not home and not school.
Masucci said the goal of the Child Care Council of Westchester Inc. is to ensure that every child in Westchester has access to quality education-based early care while parents are working. Her organization helps families find child care and provides extensive training and professional development for the child care community.
Masucci noted that there are 2,300 children between the ages of 5 and 10 in the Larchmont/Mamaroneck area, but only 187 regulated slots. While there are no statistics showing how many children need child care, she suggested that there possibly are children who need a place to go but do not have access. According to a recent study, Masucci cited that location, cost, and quality are the main factors parents consider when selecting a child care option.
Responding to a question from the audience, the discussion turned to serving the neediest children, those from minimum wage-earning families who are often using unsafe options. There are scholarships available, but getting the word out is often difficult. Masucci said that when she comes across needy families, she tries to help them navigate the process with the Department of Social Services and offers scholarships. Corcoran added that she tries to let parents know that KEEPS exists and that there is a safety net available.
Summer presents other challenges for working parents. KEEPS does not operate in the summer months even though it used to, and the future of the local Co-op Camp is unclear, so there are gaps in child care options when school is not in session. Co-op Camp uses the elementary schools and Hommocks for its programs, but its funding has been decreased by the school district. The libraries try to fill some of this need, but must insist that children be accompanied by a caregiver. Masucci said that there are county programs but cost is the biggest factor.
This breakfast forum was hosted by the Larchmont/Mamaroneck Local Summit, an informal community council that seeks to make life better for all in the tri-municipal area. Its monthly public meetings are held at the Nautilus Diner in Mamaroneck at 7:45 a.m., usually on the third Tuesday of the month.
