How do I find a day care facility for my child?
The Child Care Council of Westchester, 470 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, has a computerized database of all day care centers and private home day care, as well as nannies, nursery schools, summer camps, school age programs and support groups in Westchester County. On its Web site, www.childcarewestchester.org, the council also lists the most common types of childcare situations and details like the maximum number of children allowed and the child-to-staff ratio. Call 761-3456, or e-mail childcare@cccwny.org.
All day care centers should be licensed by the state and you should ask to see this license.
What kind of permits do day care centers need?
Day care centers fall into four categories: Family Day Care in home and Day Care Centers, which are licensed; and Group Family Day Care and School-Age Program, which are registered. Licensed facilities must meet state Department of Social Services requirements as well as local zoning, building, fire, and health laws. If the center plans to serve food, it must apply for a permit from the county health department. Call the Child Services Division of the state Department of Social Services in the Yonkers regional office, 376-8810, for specifics.
Are day care centers accredited?
Accreditation, which is different from licensing, says a facility meets certain standards above and beyond the required criteria to be licensed. Childcare centers are not required to be accredited unless they’ve been granted corporate or other money that mandates it. The National Association for the Education of Young Children runs a voluntary accreditation system to set professional standards for early childhood programs. For details or to search for an accredited program, visit www.naeyc.org.
Can I run a background check on a potential nanny?
Yes. Kieran’s Law allows parents, with the consent of the caregiver, to investigate a potential caregiver’s background. This applies only to those working in the home a minimum of 15 hours per week.
The New York State Division of Criminal Justice will search its records and notify parents of any criminal convictions in New York State. For details, call 518-485-7675 or visit online at www.ocfs.state.ny.us/main/becs/kieran-eng.asp.
Other background information that is available and may assist in making a decision about a prospective caregiver includes motor vehicle records, education records, and credit history information. For details on how to do this, see the above Web site.
Is there a sex offender registry?
Yes. For details on how to search the registry, go online to www.criminaljustice.state.ny.us and click on Sex Offender Registry. You may also call 1-800-262-3257.
Is there a clearinghouse for high school or college students who want summer jobs?
Summer jobs for teens are listed in John Jay High School’s weekly bulletin, available at the school (763-3126). For a summer job with the town, apply at the parks and recreation department (232-6162) at the Goldens Bridge Community House on Old Bedford Road.
Lewisboro Youth Employment Services matches young people looking for a job - babysitting, doing yard work, etc. - with people needing that service. Registration forms are in the recreation brochure. Call 232-6162 for more information.
Is there a program for families at risk?
Family Services of Westchester offers a parent-child mediation program and crisis intervention for troubled families. Call 666-8075 or visit www.fsw.org.
What programs are there for young children?
Lewisboro’s Parks and Recreation Department offers a number of programs for preschoolers including music, arts and crafts, cooking, and playgroups. There are also special events including an Easter egg hunt and family fishing derby.
The South Salem Library offers story hours for children up to six years old. There are summer reading programs for elementary school children. For information, call the library at 763-3857.
The Katonah Village Library offers story hours, crafts, and reading programs. Call 232-3508.
What is there for teenagers to do in town?
The recreation department (232-6162) offers activities like tennis, swimming, and basketball at parks. The recreation department’s program brochure also lists a number of special activities throughout the year including ski trips, a teen summer basketball league, summer splash parties, a barbecue splash party, and day trips.
John Jay High School (763-3126) also periodically offers coffeehouse-type programs.
What youth sports programs are there here?
All major sports are offered, including baseball, soccer, softball, lacrosse, hockey, wrestling, basketball, field hockey, and karate. For a complete list of athletics and those who must be contacted for sign-up, visit the recreation office. Announcements for programs also appear in The Ledger.
Throughout the spring and summer there are sports development clinics in tennis, lacrosse, basketball, volleyball, field hockey, baseball, soccer, track and field, and golf. For information, call 232-6162.
The Lewisboro Baseball Association offers league play for boys and girls 8 to 16. The program fields teams in several divisions as part of Little League Baseball District 20. There are also in-town leagues and travel teams. Program flyers are sent home through school. For more information, call the hotline at 765-8522 or visit online at www.lewisborobaseball.org.
Lewisboro Girls Softball offers opportunities for girls in grades 1 to 8. There are clinics offered through the Lewisboro Baseball and Softball Association. For either, call parks and recreation at 232-6162.
The Lewisboro Soccer Club provides league play for boys and girls ages 5 to 19 in spring and fall. Visit www.lewisborosoccerclub.org.
The Lewisboro Basketball Federation runs a travel basketball league for boys and girls entering grades 5 to 8. Practice and play is at a facility in Brewster. Registration and tryouts are in September. Check the parks and recreation brochure or The Ledger for dates. You may also write to P.O. Box 424, Cross River, N.Y. 10518.
The John Jay Wrestling Club is an instructional program with a travel opportunity for those who wish to compete in tournaments and matches. Call Adam Kern at 232-8100.
For information on John Jay Youth Lacrosse, visit www.jjyl.org.
The Shooting Stars Lacrosse Camp is open to boys, 7 to 17, and girls, 10 to 17. For information, call Pat McCabe at 516-823-1121 or visit www.shootingstarlacrosse.com.
John Jay Youth Football offers in-town and travel programs for boys in grades 4 to 6 and cheerleading for girls in grades 4 to 6. For information, visit online at www.eteamz.com/jjyf or e-mail jjyf@optonline.net.
Are there summer camps here and how early do I have to sign up my child?
The Lewisboro Summer Day Camp program is open to all Lewisboro residents and Katonah-Lewisboro School District children. It offers Li’l Tykes (age 3-1/2 to 4-1/2 years old by June 30), Little Explorers (entering kindergarten and first grade in the fall), Main Event Camp (entering grades two through six in the fall), and Teen Treks Camp, for youngsters entering seventh through ninth grade in the fall. Registration dates vary. For information, call 232-6162.
The Future Stars Sports Camp for boys and girls entering grades five through nine offers instruction and coaching in tennis, soccer, softball, baseball and lacrosse. Call 232-6162.
Is there a program for disabled youth?
North East Westchester Special Recreation offers year-round recreational programs for children and adults with developmental disabilities. The focus is on teaching skills, fostering fun and friendships, and teaching and correcting social or behavioral deficiencies. The North East Consortium oversees the program and includes Lewisboro among its members. Call 347-4409.
What playgrounds are good for small children?
Public playgrounds are at all elementary schools (see centerfold map). A wonderful public playground is at the Town Park on Route 35, South Salem, as well as at Onatru Farm Park on Elmwood Road in South Salem. There is also playground equipment at Vista Field on Route 123.
How can my child find a scout troop to join?
Usually, letters are sent home through the schools. To join the Katonah-Lewisboro Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts, call Eileen Gleba, 763-5233. You may also call the Westchester Putnam Council of the Boy Scouts of America in Hawthorne at 773-1135 or visit www.wpcbsa.org. More information about Girl Scouts is available from the Westchester Putnam Council in Pleasantville, 747-3080 or online at www.girlscoutswp.org.
Is there a Safe Rides program?
Students at John Jay High School provide a free and confidential safe ride home to any registered student or recent graduate. The program is available September through June on Fridays from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Call 763-7393. For more information, e-mail Dr. Linda Burke, crew adviser, at lburke@klschools.org.
