Latest news with #ChildCare
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Former Mass. preschool teacher charged in connection with 'slamming children into tables'
A Hull woman is facing 16 criminal charges in connection with physically abusing five students at the Scituate preschool she taught at until recently, the Plymouth County District Attorney's Office announced Wednesday. Lilly Garofola, 29, has been charged with four counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and 12 counts of assault and battery, according to court records and the district attorney's office. The alleged offenses took place at Little Steps Learning Center & Child Care on several different days between the dates of April 15 and May 12. Garofola pleaded not guilty to the charges during her arraignment in Hingham District Court on Wednesday, according to court records. Neither the preschool nor Garofola's lawyer immediately responded to a request for comment on the allegations Wednesday afternoon. Scituate police, the district attorney's office and the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families began a joint investigation into Garofola after Scituate police received reports from concerned parents and Little Steps staff that she may have engaged in 'inappropriate physical conduct,' the district attorney's office said in a press release. The investigation revealed that, in the last two months, Garofola assaulted five of the preschool's students during school hours, the district attorney's office said. The alleged abuse includes instances where she pushed children to the ground and slammed them into walls, tables and chairs. Most of the abuse was caught on security camera footage, the district attorney's office said. Garofola has also been accused of verbally abusing students on multiple occasions. The former teacher was suspended from her job at the preschool, but later resigned, the district attorney's office said. Scituate police arrested her Wednesday morning without incident. Garofola was ordered held on $1,000 bail with release conditions that she not interact with children under the age of 16 or have any contact with witnesses in the case, the district attorney's office said. A judge denied the prosecution's motion that she be held pending a dangerousness hearing, as well as its recommendation that she be held on $50,000 bail. 'At this time, there is no indication of further immediate risk to students or the community,' the press release reads. 'The preschool is cooperating fully with investigators and has taken internal measures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of its students.' Families with children enrolled at the preschool have been notified of the allegations against Garofola, the district attorney's office said. Anyone who believes their child may have had inappropriate contact with Garofola or has additional information relevant to the case is asked to call the Scituate Police Department at 781-545-1212. Mass. couple to plead guilty to Ponzi scheme that netted more than $3.2 million Agreement reached in lawsuit over Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center assault Ex-Harvard Medical School morgue manager pleads guilty in stolen body parts case Mass. man faces slew of charges after multiple hit-and-run crashes Heavy police presence in Canton amid search for person who could be armed Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
MDHS chooses Deloitte to upgrade key case management systems
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – The Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) awarded a contract to Deloitte Consulting LLP to enhance critical case management systems software that supports both internal and external facing eligibility systems. According to MDHS, the upgrade is designed to significantly improve the flow of information across state agencies' programmatic and support functions, creating a fully integrated solution that enhances operational efficiency and strengthens client service. Deloitte is a market leader when it comes to implementing, maintaining and modernizing systems that support state and federal benefit programs, including SNAP, TANF, Child Care and Child Support. Mississippi creating new OB System of Care to save mothers, babies Deloitte will play a role in the agency's system advancement, focusing on interoperability and collaboration across various programs. Officials said the new system will streamline and consolidate eligibility and case management processes, benefiting both the agency and the clients it serves with more modern interfaces. 'This collaboration signifies our commitment to serving Mississippians more effectively,' said Bob Anderson, Executive Director of MDHS. 'By working with Deloitte, we are taking important steps towards improving our operational efficiency while ensuring that our clients have timely and transparent access to the services they need.' The upcoming upgrade will feature the following enhancements: Seamless service delivery: Support for public assistance programs and social services will be delivered in a more timely, effective, and transparent manner. Improved Efficiency: Workflow and process automation will facilitate single sign-on access tailored to individual roles, enhancing employee productivity. Self-Service Portal: A new self-service portal will enable clients to access their account information, reducing requests for simple information and freeing up staff to concentrate on more critical work. Data Analysis and Program Integrity: Enhanced accessibility to dashboards will improve case tracking and data repository capabilities, ensuring robust program integrity. Enhanced Security: The upgrade will prioritize the confidentiality and integrity of client data, safeguarding sensitive information. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Texas, Fort Worth officials warn of dire impacts from proposed cut to Head Start
National and local Head Start providers in Texas are calling on community members to reach out to elected officials in light of reports that the federal government is proposing to slash the program that provides child care and creates job opportunities for low-income families. Head Start, a federally funded child care and preschool program for children ages 0-5, is among the latest programs being eyed for budget cuts by the Trump administration, according to a leaked proposal for fiscal year 2026 that allocates no money toward it. Any budget decisions would have to be approved by Congress. In a virtual press conference on Monday, April 28, program providers and advocates said dismantling Head Start would have far-reaching consequences for the Texas economy and workforce by taking away services that help children thrive and allow parents to go to work. The proposal also comes on the heels of recent cuts to the federal offices of Head Start and Child Care. Kriston Jackson-Jones, of the Dallas-based Child Care Group, said other services beyond child care such as health screenings, mental health supports and disability services are also at risk with the defunding proposal. 'That's the real power of Head Start. It builds strong children, strong families and most importantly, strong communities,' she said, noting that 19,000 jobs in Texas' early childhood sector are also on the line. More than 65,000 children and 50,000 parents in Texas rely on Head Start and Early Head Start, which focuses on infants and toddlers, according to child advocacy nonprofit Children at Risk. Texas' economy is estimated to be losing out on $9.4 billion a year due to affordability and accessibility issues in the child care system, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. The return on investment, officials said on Monday, ranges from $7-9 for every $1 spent on Head Start. Henry Jones of the Texas Head Start Association said he's encouraging community members and organizations to contact local legislators to make sure they understand the value of keeping Head Start in place. 'People say that all politics is local. Well, we've got to actually get in touch with our local legislators and make sure that they understand that Head Start should exist and continue to do great things,' he said. The CEO of Center for Transforming Lives, a Head Start provider in Tarrant County, said defunding the program would negatively impact children's readiness for kindergarten during a time when local officials are attempting to tackle a literacy crisis. Only 35% of public school students in the area are reading on grade level, according to an analysis of 2024 test results from the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR. 'We cannot afford to turn our backs on early education. Head Start is not just a program; it is a lifeline that lays the foundation for future success. Eliminating it would be a step backward for Fort Worth's children, families and our community as a whole,' said CEO Carol Klocek. 'Children who benefit from early intervention — receiving the support they need to thrive academically and socially — would be left behind. Instead of entering school prepared to learn, many would require intensive special education services throughout their academic careers, creating long-term impacts for both the children and the broader educational system.' 'Moreover, cutting Head Start would worsen family instability and homelessness. This program increases family financial self-sufficiency by providing critical support services that help families learn new skills, improve their own education and/or employment, and become financially secure. Without access to early education, child care and wraparound support, more families would face housing instability, compounding the challenges for children and their parents,' Klocek added. Officials with Fort Worth-based Child Care Associates said they are 'currently monitoring the situation.' The nonprofit is among the largest child development organizations in North Texas.
New Indian Express
25-04-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Delhi govt to survey beggars under SMILE scheme, focus on rehab and resettlement
NEW DELHI: The Delhi government has invited Expressions of Interest (EoI) to conduct a survey aimed at identifying individuals involved in begging across the city. The goal is to rehabilitate, educate, and train them for employment, thereby enabling them to lead a life of dignity. Officials from the Social Welfare Department said special attention will be given to rescuing children forced into begging, as well as women, differently-abled individuals, senior citizens, and those struggling with substance abuse. This initiative is part of the Centre's SMILE (Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) scheme, managed by the Ministry of Justice and Social Welfare. The government has invited organisations experienced in addressing the issue of begging to conduct the survey. According to a document accessed by this newspaper, a standardised survey format will be used to collect comprehensive data, which will then be entered into a national database accessible to various stakeholders, including state agencies, district authorities, and shelter homes. All data will be stored on a central online portal to facilitate easy access and coordination. As part of the effort, the government plans to offer support through outreach programs, encouraging individuals involved in begging to avail themselves of services at shelter homes. Special focus will be placed on children, women, senior citizens, differently-abled individuals, and those addicted to drugs, with authorities aiming to rescue and rehabilitate them. Children forced into begging will be referred to Child Care Institutions (CCIs), while women and other vulnerable individuals will be accommodated in separate shelter homes. The government also plans to connect young children (aged 0-6) with Anganwadi centers, which provide early childhood education and care. Once individuals are placed in shelter homes, the focus will shift to their resettlement and long-term well-being. Children will be enrolled in government schools and adults will receive counseling and skill development training tailored to their capabilities and interests. The shelter homes will also assist in connecting individuals with vocational training centers, helping them gain skills for employment or to start income-generating activities on their own. 'It is suggested to motivate and counsel persons to seek help, and assess the actual reasons they got involved in begging through personal interviews—with the individuals and their family members—and through the use of standardized surveys. Information about the shelter home, including duration of stay, facilities, and future prospects, should also be shared,' the document stated. As per officials, the program aims to empower people living in difficult circumstances, offering them the opportunity to improve their lives and become self-sufficient.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Providers, parents bring the call for child care support to the Capitol
Child care providers, parents and advocates arrive at the state Capitol Wednesday, April 16, 2025, for a rally in support of child care funding. (Photo by Erik Gunn/Wisconsin Examiner) Hundreds of child care providers and parents rallied outside the state Capitol Wednesday, then headed inside to buttonhole lawmakers of both parties, urging support for a $480 million provision in the next state budget for Wisconsin's child care providers. 'Child care is not a luxury, it's not a nice-to-have,' said Claire Lindstrom, an Eau Claire parent who addressed the rally. 'It is infrastructure.' 'We're here today because the people who are doing this very important work can no longer afford to hold up a broken system,' said Toshiba Adams, an instructor and instructional chair in early childhood education at Milwaukee Area Technical College. The rally and afternoon visit with legislators followed a morning gathering of the participants at the nearby Concourse Hotel that included talks by lawmakers, parents and providers. At noon 350 or more people — the largest action by child care advocates in recent memory — marched from the hotel to the rally, with chants of 'Kids first, families first, invest in child care now.' The crowd massed on the Capitol building's west steps for a half hour of speeches. Lindstrom broke down the average cost for child care. A single parent paid the minimum wage, $7.25 an hour, 'would have to work 43 full-time weeks just to cover one year of infant care,' she said. A family making the median income in Wisconsin — about $75,000 a year — will probably spend 20% of their earnings on care for a single child. 'If they have two kids, an infant and a 4-year-old, they're spending over a third of their income just to go to work,' Lindstrom said. 'This is not a personal budgeting issue. That's a broken system.' Gov. Tony Evers has proposed $480 million in the state's 2025-27 budget that would go to licensed child care providers, replenishing the state's Child Care Counts program funded from federal pandemic relief. Without that, Child Care Counts will expire for good in June. At its height between 2021 and 2023, Child Care Counts was credited with stabilizing Wisconsin's providers, who shared in payments totaling $20 million a month. Providers reported that with the money they were able to raise wages for child care workers while holding down increases in the fees that parents paid. 'Our early childhood educators are trained in how to support brain development, emotional regulation, and school readiness,' Lindstrom said. 'We expect them to do this important work and yet we pay them less than workers at Kwik Trip and Culver's.' Evers, a Democrat, was unable to persuade the Legislature's Republican majority to extend the program in the state's 2023-25 budget. He repurposed other federal funds, and the total payment was reduced to $10 million a month. That will run out in June. Providers, advocates and early childhood education experts have argued that only with an ongoing investment like Child Care Counts can providers pay child care workers adequately without pricing care out of reach for the average family. 'We need child care for our communities to function,' Lindstrom said. 'We can no longer afford to treat this like a personal problem. It's a public domain. And the solution is clear. We need to fund child care.' A survey report released April 10 found that up to 25% of Wisconsin providers said they might close without continued support along the lines of Child Care Counts. More than one-third said they might have to reduce the number of children then could serve for lack of staff. Large majorities said they might have to cut pay and that they expect to have more difficulty recruiting workers. More than half said they expect some employees to quit and that providing high quality care would become more difficult. 'We will see dramatically less care available in virtually every single county in the state,' Ruth Schmidt, executive director of the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association, told the crowd. 'Is that acceptable?' 'No!' the crowd roared back in reply. 'Is it acceptable that moms will have to consider leaving the workforce in record numbers because you cannot work if you cannot afford or find child care? Is it acceptable that stressed out parents doing the best they can will have no support from the state to ensure that they can work and contribute to our tax base?' With each question the rallygoers responded with resounding shouts of 'No!' Sachin Shivaram, CEO of Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry in Manitowoc, told the crowd that businesses should support state funding for child care. His company pays employees with young children $400 a month toward their child care costs, he said. When the crowd applauded, he thanked them, then added, 'but I also feel very embarrassed. … That's so little, and the cost of child care is, you know, several thousand dollars a month, and this is just barely scratching the surface.' Shivaram pointed out the state manufacturing tax credit that his company receives, along with all Wisconsin manufacturers. 'And guess what? We have to do absolutely nothing to get that tax credit,' he said. 'We don't have to invest in any capital equipment, we don't have to train any workers, we don't have to give back to the community, nothing. You know, how about we make that tax credit contingent on helping the child care situation?' In an interview after the legislative visits Schmidt of WECA said the hundreds who took part went to almost every state Senate office and about 90% of the Assembly members' offices as well. WECA organized the event along with Wisconsin Head Start Association and Raising Wisconsin — an advocacy campaign that WECA and allied groups launched in 2022. 'We really wanted this to be nonpartisan,' Schmidt said — 'just an opportunity to tell stories and share, from a real perspective, from the heart what's going on with this industry.' Some of those conversations — with leaders in the Legislature who advocates have already spoken to about the budget request — were 'not necessarily a surprise,' she acknowledged. With other lawmakers, she added, including some of the 30 first-term Assembly members elected in November as well as others who have not served on committees where child care has been an agenda item, 'there was a lot of interest in just learning,' The visits were an opportunity for personal testimony to reach lawmakers and their staff, Schmidt said. 'The power of having parents tell their stories, and the power of having educators tell their stories about how they've been using the public funding when it's available — it was very compelling.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
