Child Care Council of Nassau, Inc. and Jericho-Syosset-Woodbury Child Care Partnership have both taken a very active role in the local community. With meetings once a month and activities planned regularly there is always something new in child care.

Most recently, members of the two organizations have been working diligently to start an Emergency Care Card system. This idea, which was mentioned at one of the Grandparents as Caregivers meetings, makes it easier for grandparents and other caregivers to obtain medical attention for the children.

"When grandparents are caring for children and they need to be taken to the emergency room, they need consent," explained Lenore Sylvan, Partnership Chair and CCC Board vice president. This card gives them that consent.

A form must be filled out including information such as parents work numbers, cell phone numbers, and allergies a child may have and the insurance information. The form must then be notarized. This is a major breakthrough for the childcare industry, according to Sylvan, and it was accomplished because of many members of the partnership, council and local doctors. Two partnership members are taking this idea to the State PTA and see if it can be passed out through the schools as well.

On the calendar is the sixth annual Stand for Children day on June 1. This year, the theme will be Building our Voice and Vision for All Children. "This means establishing the strong grassroots voice our children need, which includes advocating for quality child care, health care for all children and living wages for Child Care professionals," said Gerti Colbert, Nassau County Stand for Children Coalition chair.

The celebration will take place on June 1 from 10 a.m. through noon at Eisenhower Park Field Two between the two playgrounds. Approximately 400 children are expected and flowers will be planted in the gardens.

The next Grandparents as Caregivers meeting is scheduled for June 6 at 10 a.m. at Syosset's Borders Books and Music located on Jericho Turnpike. To help answer questions, Alicia Martinez, Cornell Cooperative Extension and Bonnie Montalbano, Child Care Council of Nassau will be present to answer questions. Grandparents meetings will be held the first Wednesday of the month. It is also senior discount day and there is a cafe available. Please RSVP to the Jericho-Syosset-Woodbury Child Care Partnership at 921-3476

Regular meetings of the Partnership take place on the first Thursday of every month at 8:30 a.m. in Jericho Schools. At the June 7 meeting, a plaque and citations will be presented to Brad Peter, from Avon Printers, who printed the brochures at no charge. All are welcome.