NJ Child Care Association newsletter fall 2015 by elainefinn

THE CHILD CARE ADVOCATE Official Newsletter of the New Jersey Child Care Association

Fall 2015 On March 7, 2015, NJCCA held its annual “Partners in Education” conference at Rutgers University—Busch Campus. Photographed here, Dr. Gerard Costa, Director and Senior Lecturer at the Center for Autism and Early Childhood Mental Health at Montclair State University, gave the keynote address on “Babies, Brains and Relationships” to almost 400 attendees at the Sonny R. Werblin Recreation Center.

Inside:

State of Private Pre-K...................................Page 2 Don’t Be Shy..................................................Page 3 Expanding Your Child Care Center?...........Page 11 Successful Borrowing.................................Page 13

Are You a Good Leader? by Kathy Feigley President, NJ Child Care Association

ost of us have the opportunity to become leaders in our various roles in life. Leaders come from all walks of life, whether you are a director, business owner, teacher, spouse or parent. Before you can lead others, however, you must know who you are. Kathy Feigley Ask yourself: what do I stand for? What are your guiding principles to life? Only when you fully understand your beliefs, will you be able to formulate your leadership model. What qualities of a leader do you think are important? Are they things like integrity, sincerity, honesty, solution-oriented, energetic or communicative? Sometimes it helps to clarify what you believe is important in a leader “What leadership by choosing a few people who qualities do you you consider to be good leaders, and then see what quali- think are most ties are most respected about important?” their leadership. One leader who I follow is amazingly dynamic, while another one is a system-person who always appears organized in her goals, and a third leader remains always ready to help others. Most leaders I respect are also creative and action-oriented people who always are on the look-out for solutions to problems. They do not thrive on simply identifying problems and are willing to work hard to accomplish their goals. Once you have an idea of what is important to you then you must ask yourself another key question, where do I rank in these qualities? Do I walk my talk? Unfortunately, many people who think they are leaders can verbalize all the qualities of leadership, but when it comes to action they fall short. It is like a parent that lectures his or her child about honesty, but then cheats on the family’s tax return. A good, but sometimes scary, proposition is to have your staff or family evaluate you. There are many standard forms available to conduct these types of surveys, and if you go this route, it is important to set the CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

THE CHILD CARE ADVOCATE

• Fall 2015

Legislative Report: Senate Education Chair Hosts Hearing on State of Early Childhood Education in New Jersey By Barbara DeMarco NJCCA Legislative Agent

s part of a coordinated statewide movement to promote the benefits of preschool and other high quality programs, including those focused on the needs of infants and toddlers, Senator Theresa Ruiz (DEssex), chair of the Senate Education (SED) Committee, called a special hearing on September 28, 2015 of the committee where invited guests spoke to the topic. New Jersey Child Care Association (NJCCA) president Kathleen Feigley of Kangaroo Kids Child Care and Learning Center in Branchburg, N.J. testified on behalf of licensed community-based preschools and private child care centers. Feigley focused her testimony around the continued academic advances of her center, as well as her over 25 years of experience as an educator in private preschool. In her role as chair of the SED Committee, Senator Ruiz limited the testimony to the benefits of high quality preschool and why it should be expanded further. In her opening remarks, Ruiz said that although she recognized

that there were significant funding concerns tied to the issue of state-funded preschool expansion, she did not want to talk about funding. Senator Michael Doherty (R-Warren), the ranking Republican on the committee, disagreed strongly, and he directed most of his questions to the issue of “fairness” in funding, as well as the high cost of providing a government subsidized preschool program. Doherty spoke of the current lack of available educational funding and thought that continued expansion under the New Jersey Department of Education would cause a further spike in property taxes. As indicated earlier, Senator Ruiz did not want to address funding issues, so she ruled Doherty “out of order,” which resulted in the senator leaving the hearing. The result for participants and attendees of the hearing is that no one has a credible estimate of what an expansion of CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

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Executive Director’s Report Curt Macysyn Executive Director, New Jersey Child Care Association

Don’t Be Shy About Supporting Private Pre-K

Curt Macysyn

s I go around the state attending meetings on behalf of the New Jersey Child Care Association (NJCCA), I am often at a loss to understand why many child care owner-operators are reluctant to “get involved.” The industry is certainly at the cross-roads of its existence, as evidenced by the sheer amount of attention from bureaucrats and the general public that it receives these days. From the standpoint of average everyday citizens, private child care continues to be viewed from multiple lenses. It can be seen as the springboard to future academic success, or as an unnecessary expense to taxpayers. The fact of the matter remains that not everyone shares the same views about the importance of early childhood education, nor is there universal agreement about the best delivery system for it. In fact, even some parents do not quite grasp the nuances of the preschool delivery system in the state. These impediments are to be expected in our democratic society, and instead of ignoring the talk, child care providers should continually look for opportunities to educate the parents and the public at-large about the benefits of private Pre-K. Many people bemoan the existence of social media, but social media has the ability to level the playing field in some cases. Yes, there are so many social media outlets, and it is nearly impossible to keep track of what to use, and what to avoid. But social media is also free to use, free to post and free to create your own narrative. Like anything else, social media requires a time commitment, as well as creative thinking, but have I mentioned that it is free? NJCCA commenced a social media campaign in June that asked everyone posting on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook to use #PreKTheRightWay every time your center posts something child care related on your center’s social media outlets. Why is this important? In the world of child care, a picture is really worth a thousand words. Most people are so wrapped up in their daily lives that position papers, articles, columns and letter-writing campaigns are out of the question because of the time and energy required. But with the advent of tablets and smart phones, almost everyone takes a moment CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

2015 NJCCA Officers: Kathy Feigley ................President Kangaroo Kids Child Care & Learning Center Branchburg, NJ Lynette Galante ............Vice President Future Generation Early Learning Centers Teaneck, NJ David Falzarano ...........Treasurer Lightbridge Academy Piscataway, NJ Maria Hughes ................Secretary Les’Enfants Palisades Park, NJ Guy Falzarano ..... Legislative Committee Chairman Lightbridge Academy Piscataway, NJ NJCCA Executive Director: Curtis S. Macysyn NJCCA Legislative Agent: Barbara DeMarco Address: Telephone: E-Mail: Website: Facebook: Twitter:

P.O. Box 634 Allentown, NJ 08501 (609) 223-2223 curt@nj-cca.org www.nj-cca.org www.Facebook.com/NJCCA @NJChildCareAssn

Disclaimer:

NJCCA assumes no responsibility for the content or nature of any column or article published in The Child Care Advocate. Moreover, articles and columns contained within this newsletter reflect the opinions of the respective author, and not necessarily those of NJCCA or The Child Care Advocate. Information contained in this newsletter should not be construed as a recommendation for any course of action related to child care. By submitting an article for publication, the author understands that they are verifying that their submitted work is original or adheres to the Modern Language Association (MLA) standards governing the proper citation of published/copyrighted works. Any damages arising from the improper use of federally trademarked or copyrighted property shall be the sole responsibility of the author. If you have any concerns about the content of articles contained in this newsletter, please contact the executive director.

THE CHILD CARE ADVOCATE

• Fall 2015

Quality Pre-K abounds in New Jersey. Let’s Work Together To Ensure It Continues! FACT: New Jersey has a significant private sector infrastructure in place currently providing high quality preschool and child care. • •

State licensed community based preschool and child-care programs serve 380,000 of New Jersey’s 680,000 children aged 0-5. (Source: Benefits for All: The Economic Impact of the Child Care Industry) These licensed providers are regulated by multiple state and local entities to assure quality and safety of the state’s children. (Inspections are performed regularly by the state Department of Children and Families, Local Health Departments, Local Fire Safety Departments, state Department of Environmental Protection, the Local Building and Construction Code offices.)

PROTECT THE TAXPAYER: New Jersey school districts are eroding the ability of private community providers to compete in the offering of child care services. These programs are often completely paid for or subsidized by taxpayers without their knowledge or consent. •

•

• • • •

The community based preschool and child care industry generates approximately $3 billion annually in gross receipts; more than scientific research and development, clothing stores and all farm commodities. (Source: Benefits for All: The Economic Impact of the Child Care Industry) When a school district opens a preschool program and does not consider the impact to the existing community-based preschool and child care programs, the majority of community-based programs close. Factually, this is evidenced by experiences in Red Bank and Piscataway (both non-Abbott school districts). The reality is that a communitybased preschool or child care center cannot compete with free or significantly subsidized tuition. If private centers close, then municipalities will undoubtedly lose significant property tax revenue needlessly. Local taxpayers will have to make up revenue short falls through significant increased property taxes to fund “free Pre-K” offered in their school district. Putting private centers out of business will also create a crisis for the state’s working parents in seeking care of infants and toddlers. Caring for infants and toddlers on their own will not be enough for private providers to remain in business. Use of the current federally-funded voucher system that now allows families (in poverty and in crisis) to choose from existing licensed programs should continued to be utilized, and these revenues should not be siphoned off by school districts or organizations under school district control. The current system empowers parents to continue to have choice and to stay involved in the care of their children. P.O. Box 634 • Allentown, New Jersey 08501 • Tel.: (609) 223-2223 • E-Mail: curt@nj-cca.org Website: www.NJ-CCA.org • Facebook: www.Facebook.com/NJCCA • Twitter: @NJChildCareAssn

New Jersey Child Care Association

• www.nj-cca.org

VITAL ISSUE: The current child-care subsidy rate in New Jersey has not kept up with rising costs. The rate of reimbursement must be increased to assure children in poverty have access to high quality early care and education. • • • • • •

Eligible families in the state receive aid that covers only 50-70% of the cost of child-care. The rate of reimbursement to centers has not increased in New Jersey since 2008. The net effect has made it more difficult for children in poverty to receive quality care. Some high quality centers must charge families a supplemental tuition fee in order to accept the families who receive aid, and some centers simply take the reimbursement. Neither case represents a good situation for the business or the child. When families are unable to afford the fee, they may have to uproot their children from quality care givers they know and trust and search for a lower cost alternative. This causes stress and instability in the lives of children and families who already are experiencing the stresses of poverty.

ADDITIONAL CONCERN: Licensed Private Sector Providers should have a greater role to shape and impact the requirements in the Grow New Jersey Kids Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS). •

• •

Community-based providers have no objection to an objective statewide rating system, but the components of the system should not require community-based center owners and operators to violate the privacy of the parents and guardians with children in their facilities, or force parents to do things that are unnecessary, in their opinion. An example of one aspect of Grow New Jersey Kids program that is difficult for private centers is a requirement to offer home visits. This requirement simply mirrors a Head Start mandate without regard to the liability and overtime issues of private providers. We are concerned that the Grow NJ Kids program does not have a stable source of funding, as it is funded through a four-year federal grant.

HIGHLIGHTS: New Jersey’s Licensed Private Child Care Providers Offer More to Families than just “Day Care” • • • • • • • •

High quality education Continuity of care from infant to toddler to school-age Cost effective Offer parents a choice in their child’s education Smaller setting for 1:1 attention Connected to families, working with their schedules Transparency of operations that cooperates with parents Dedicated and passionate owners, directors and teachers

Support Private Pre-K On Social Media - #PreKTheRightWay

P.O. Box 634 • Allentown, New Jersey 08501 • Tel.: (609) 223-2223 • E-Mail: curt@nj-cca.org Website: www.NJ-CCA.org • Facebook: www.Facebook.com/NJCCA • Twitter: @NJChildCareAssn

THE CHILD CARE ADVOCATE

• Fall 2015

Are You a Good Leader? From page 1

stage for a solution-oriented approach. After you have analyzed your leadership skills, you need to assess what areas of improvement are necessary. Be honest and ask yourself, how can I grow in those areas? Perhaps you can take a college course, joining a peer networking group like the New Jersey Child Care Association or participate in a local community group. Maybe your improvement could be skills-based. For example, if you need to become a better communicator, you consider a class at the community college or join Toastmasters. By and large, associating yourself with good leaders not only gives you role models, but it also helps you hold yourself to a higher standard. When attempting to lead, two of the traps that even good leaders fall into are: providing subordinates with clear expectations, as well as holding them accountable. One of the best ways to help others succeed is to set up specific goals with specific deadlines. In the Last Lecture by Randy Pausch, he gives a Star Trek example of leadership. He describes the crew of the Enterprise as follows: Kirk was not the smartest guy on the ship; Spock was always the logical intellect; McCoy had endless medical knowledge; and Scotty the Chief En-

gineer had technical know-how to keep the ship running. So what was Captain Kirk’s skill? It was LEADERSHIP! Pausch believes that Kirk was a dynamic manager who knew how to delegate, had the passion to inspire and looked good in what he wore to work! He never professed to have greater skills than his subordinates. He acknowledged they knew their domains and established both the vision and tone for his crew. In summary, our job is to establish the vision and steer the ship, while setting the tone of the organization. This objective is best done through integrity-driven leadership. We must always “walk our talk” and communicate effectively. I have also found the “Rotary Four-Way” test to be a good reminder. It goes like this: “Of the things we think, do and say…First, Is it the TRUTH? Second, is it FAIR to all concerned? Third, will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? Fourth, will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned”. There are many great books on leadership. A few that I have found interesting and motivational are Seven HabCONTINUED ON PAGE 13

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WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? The New Jersey Child Care Association is dedicated to providing support and guidance in the management and administration of child care centers in New Jersey Non-members who prepay their 2016 NJCCA dues can attend this conference at the member rate. In addition to the NJCCA Fall Conference, we will host our annual “Partners in Education” Conference on Saturday, March 12, 2016 at The Hotel Woodbridge in Iselin, NJ.

www.NJ-CCA.org

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE AT:

PROGAM SCHEDULE 8:30 am – 9:15 am Registration/Coffee/Breakfast/Visit Exhibitors 9:15 am – 10:00 am

In Partnership With:

NJCCA P.O. Box 634 Allentown, NJ 08501 Tel. : (609) 223-2223

2016 NJCCA “Partners In Education” Conference Saturday, March 12, 2016 7:45 a.m.—3:00 p.m. The Hotel Woodbridge at Metropark

SAVE THE DATE!!!

Keynote Session (Full Room) Dr. Renu Verma The Unterberg Children’s Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center 10:00 am – 10:15 am Break for Room Set-Up/Visit Exhibitors

Find details at www.nj-cca.org

RESOURCE/EXHIBIT TABLES ARE AVAILABLE

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/NJCCA

ATTENDEES WILL RECEIVE CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS (CEUs)

————————————————————PLEASE CONTACT: CURT MACYSYN (609) 223-2223 –or– CURT@NJ-CCA.org

Health Symposium Date & Time: Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2015 —8:45 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

10:15 am – 12:00 pm (Morning Sessions) (Room A) Nutrition in Child Care & Childhood Obesity Prevention with Kristen Walsh, M.D., F.A.A.P. & Gina Consalvo, R.D. (Room B) CPR Certification Training - Part 1 (Morning & Afternoon Required) with Debbie Millar, R.N., director of Community Education, Princeton HealthCare System 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Lunch/Visit Exhibitors 1:00 pm – 2:45 pm (Afternoon Sessions) (Room A) CPR Certification Training—Part 2 (Morning & Afternoon Required) You must attend both morning and afternoon sessions to receive certification. (Room B) Medication Administration for Children & Epi-Pen Administration; Presenters: Princeton HealthCare System 2:50 pm Adjournment

2015 NJCCA FALL HEALTH SYMPOSIUM

WORKSHOPS: CPR Certification Course

Nutrition in Child Care & Childhood Obesity

Epi-Pen & Medical Administration

WHEN: Tuesday, November 3, 2015

WHERE: FEA Conference Center

12 Centre Drive

Monroe Twp., NJ

TIME: Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.

(Program begins promptly at 9:15 a.m.)

COST: NJCCA Members $50.00

Non-Members $85.00

YOUR REGISTRATION FEE INCLUDES

BREAKFAST & LUNCH

Get the Member Rate by joining NJCCA for 2016

DETAILS NEXT TO PROGRAM SCHEDULE

#PreKTheRightWay

• Fall 2015 THE CHILD CARE ADVOCATE

A health care professional from Princeton HealthCare System will discuss pediatric medication administration with specific medications used by preschool students. Demonstration of the proper use of the epi-pen will be given as well.

Medication Administration for Children & Epi-Pen Administration

_______________

Join Debbie Millar, R.N. for a two-part intensive CPR Training class . The Heartsaver AED course teaches CPR, automated external defibrillation (AED) use, relief of choking in adults, children and infants; and use of barrier devices for all ages. Heartsaver AED is designed for those who have a duty to respond to a cardiac emergency because of job responsibilities or regulatory requirements. This course includes a skills test. Participants will receive a two-year course completion card.

CPR Certification Training

_____________

Child care is truly on the front lines of our nation's battle against childhood obesity. Gina Consalvo, R.D., and Kristen Walsh, M.D., F.A.A.P. will be discussing healthy eating and obesity prevention in the child care setting.

Nutrition in Child Care & Childhood Obesity Prevention

WORKSHOPS:

Dr. Renu Verma is the Program Director and Section chief of the Pediatric Infectious Disease at The Unterberg Children's Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, N.J.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: EVENT DATE & TIME: Tuesday, November 3,2015 at 8:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

Credit Cards Accepted: ____ MasterCard/VISA

___AMEX

(Please check one)

???QUESTIONS??? Call 609-223-2223

Email form to: CURT@NJ-CCA.org (Credit Cards only!)

P.O. Box 634, Allentown, NJ 08501

NJCCA Fall Health Symposium

Mail form with payment to:

Phone: 609-223-2223 E-mail: CURT@NJ-CCA.org

P.O. Box 634 Allentown, NJ 08501

Cardholder Signature:_____________________________________ Date:__________ Amount to be charged: $___________CVV_____________

Street Address (for card):__________________________________________________ City/State/ZIP_____________________________________

Name on card_______________________________________ Card #_______________________________________ Exp. Date_______/_______

Your 3 or 4 Digit C V V Code is Required for Credit Card Payments

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Payment Method:

Breakfast and Lunch are included in your registration fee(s),:

*Student Fee ______$25. (by 10/16/15) _______$30. (after 10/16/15)

*NJCCA Non-member ______$85. (by 10/16/15) _______$90. (after 10/16/15)

General Registration: *NJCCA Member ______$50. (by 10/16/15) _______$55. (after 10/16/15)

Please check appropriate fee: If you are claiming membership rate, then you MUST BE an NJCCA member when this form is received.

(ON-SITE REGISTRATION WILL BE SUBJECT SPACE LIMITATIONS & AN ADDITIONAL $5.00 ON-SITE SURCHARGE)

EARLY BIRD: SAVE $5. when your registration is received by October 16, 2015.

IMPORTANT! Please select your track:____ CPR Training (Two-Part) ___ Nutrition/Medication Administration& Epi-Pen

Tel.:__________________________Fax:_________________________Center E-mail:______________________________________

City:________________________________________________________State_________________________Zip________________

Mailing Address:______________________________________________________________________________________________

Center/Facility/College::___________________________________________________________________(MUST BE COMPLETED)

Name(s) (Use separate sheet if necessary):_________________________________________________________________________

Please print clearly for accuracy !

2015 NJCCA FALL HEALTH SYMPOSIUM REGISTRATION FORM

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THE CHILD CARE ADVOCATE

• Fall 2015

Save the Date!

NJCCA Annual Conference Scheduled For March 12, 2016 by Lynette Galante Executive Director, Future Generation Early Learning Center

ew Jersey Child Care Association’s 6th annual professional development extravaganza will be on March 12, 2016. This year, the conference committee has decided to change venues to The Hotel Woodbridge at MetroPark. This new conference setting will prove to be a much more easily accessible location to attendees, as you can directly reach the hotel with ease off of both the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway. As early learning leaders, we all know the value of staff development and the “Partners in Education” Conference provides an array of valuable sessions led by esteemed members of the early childhood community. There will be featured tracks for Infant/Toddler, Preschool/Pre-K, and Administrative professionals. Each attendee will be able to interface with our Business Partners and explore, the most recent products and cutting edge early childhood technology. This fun-filled day of learning will also include breakfast and lunch for each of our attendees so as they feed their minds with knowledge, their stomachs will be content as well. Keep in mind that there are registration

discounts that you will certainly want to take advantage of! The conference always is a wonderful opportunity for both directors and staff to ensure they receive the required hours and topics of training as prescribed by the Department of Children and Families - Office of LicensLynette Galante ing. Our keynote plans are almost signed, sealed and delivered. However, it’s never too early to let the cat out of the bag…. You will just have to attend our meetings and monitor our website for the most up-to-date information. I promise you, you will not be disappointed. I look forward to seeing child care centers from across the state join us on March 12, 2016 for the 6th annual Partners in Education Conference at The Hotel Woodbridge. Truly, it is the place to be!

New Jersey Child Care Association

• www.nj-cca.org

Environmental Briefs: When Are Play Area Samples Required For New Or Expanding Child Care Centers? by Paul Sakson Owner, Paul D. Sakson Associates, Inc.

hen opening a new child care center or expanding an existing play area, often times soil samples are needed for compliance. Soil samples are generally required when there is a potential for children to have direct contact with any site contaminants, such as pesticides from historic agriculture use. The potential for direct contact includes play areas constructed on natural grass or topsoil, or having permeable surfacing with a minimal thickness (such as woodchips or rubber pellets). Samples are also required for areas where contaminants are unknown or not well documented, such as mapped historic fill areas. Whether there’s a potential for direct contact or not, these sites normally need to be sampled. Typically, at least two samples are collected and analyzed for suspected contaminants. The results, if favorable, are provided in a Site Investigation Report and submitted with the Preliminary Assessment Report in order to meet child care licensing requirements. If contaminants are present, some precautions such as a capped play area

need to be installed to eliminate risk. Mr. Sakson is a Licensed Site Remediation Professional, and a Licensed Indoor Environmental Consultant, specializing in child care center compliance. He sits on the NJDEP’s Technical Committee currently developing a Child Care Center Technical Guidance Document. He can be reached at p.sakson@paulsakson. com.

REMEMBER TO USE #PreKTheRightWay #PreKTheRightWay is a campaign created to build a movement of owners, directors, advocates, teachers and parents committed to preserving private preschool in New Jersey. Let’s show everyone what private child care does on a regular basis. For additional information regarding this campaign, please visit www.NJ-CCA.org and find out where you can sign our petition. Advocates are also encouraged to contact NJCCA executive director Curt Macysyn at curt@nj-cca.org for more information and assistance with advocacy efforts.

We proudly support NEW JERSEY CHILD CARE ASSOCIATION

Sal M. Anderton General Counsel Barbara DeMarco Vice President Lynn M. Nowak Executive Vice President

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THE CHILD CARE ADVOCATE

• Fall 2015

Legislative Report From page 2

“Your reputation is your livelihood, let us help smooth out the rough edges”

Branding – Social Media – Media Contact: Curt Macysyn P.O. Box 634 Allentown, NJ 08501 Tel. (609) 223-2223 Email: curt@epa.rocks

state-subsidized preschool would mean to the state financially. It is expected that many of the issues dealing with preschool expansion and funding will be part of an anticipated debate on the current New Jersey school funding formula. According to NJCCA sources, the Christie administration will be proposing changes to the way New Jersey funds public education over the next six months. NJCCA will be fully engaged on these discussions given the huge impact expansion of preschool education will have on existing licensed private community-based preschools and child care centers. The NJCCA also will be working with advocates for quality to address “why” family day care homes in New Jersey are not required to be registered or licensed. Given that so many infants, toddlers, preschoolers and after-schoolers are watched by individuals who run these homes, it is imperative that the Legislature address the “quality of care” in these environments. Research has shown that about one-half of the children in this ever-expanding universe are being housed in these unlicensed and unregistered environments during some part of the work week. It is the NJCCA’s belief that until these homes are registered and licensed, the issue of quality will remain an unlevel playing field.

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New Jersey Child Care Association

• www.nj-cca.org

Borrowing Your Way to Success by Robin Preisler

ou may think of your child care operation as a calling, but it is also a business and every business needs working capital. That’s the money you need to respond to unexpected expenses or new opportunities for growth. Small businesses of all types fail in alarmingly high numbers every day because owners do not maintain enough working capital. Ask yourself: Are you falling behind the competition because of outdated equipment? Are you stuck in a nogrowth rut because you have run out of space at your current location? Are you ready to stop leasing and want to own your building? You may be among the lucky owners who have enough cash on hand, but most small business owners will need to borrow at some point. It may seem counter-intuitive to go into debt to grow your business, yet smart borrowing can minimize your risk and maximize the benefits to your business. Be Prepared Being prepared to borrow is an essential business practice, but too often is given low priority by busy owner/ operators. Perhaps your accountant handles your financial statements and tax returns, but it is also essential that you understand how money flows into and out of your business. Lenders will want to see positive trends and adequate cash flow in order to pay off your debt. And they will expect you, not your accountant, to clearly explain any issues that may cause concern. Examples of these types of issues might be center revenues trending down for several months, or operating expenses that are much higher than in years past. Ignorance is not bliss when it comes to your business’s finances – you must understand the good and the bad about your revenue and expenses. This process should be done before you think about submitting a loan application. Finding the Right Lender Your bank is the logical first place to turn to when you are ready for financing, but the unique challenges of the child care industry may fall outside of their lending comfort zone. If your loan application has been turned down by your bank, the nonprofit SBA lending world may be the answer. SBA lenders often can help small businesses when they cannot get a conventional loan. Typical loans that child care centers may want to consider can assist owners to purchase new equipment, renovate their center, purchase their own building, or expand to new locations. Types of loans that are available include: • Microloans: up to $50,000. Fixed rates (depending on business finances and your credit history) for up to 6 years. • Community Advantage 7a: $50,000 - $250,000. Long-

term loans with flexible collateral requirements, starting at Prime + 3 percent. • SBA 504 Commercial Real Estate: up to $5 million. Build, buy or improve your own building with as little as 10 percent down, instead of the typical 20-30 percent. Robin Preisler is the director of Business Development for UCEDC, which is located in Cranford, N.J. She can be reached at robin@ucedc.com or via telephone at 908-527-1166.

Are You a Good Leader? From page 6

its of Highly Effective People, One Minute Manager, and The Last Lecture. Remember that you can always surround yourself with leaders in the early childhood education field by joining NJCCA. I wish everyone a happy and successful school year! Kathy Feigley is the president of the New Jersey Child Care Association, and she operates Kangaroo Kids Child Care and Learning Center in Branchburg, N.J.

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• Fall 2015

Look At What NJCCA Offers...

Professional Development Knowledgeable Vendors • Workshops & Symposiums Annual Conference & Expo

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR AFFILIATION WITH AELL!

Regular Toolkit Subscription Rate: $115 JOIN NJCCA & YOUR AELL RATE IS $85

(*) - Unless otherwise noted, the name listed as the owner/director will be your AELL toolkit subscriber. The Association for Early Learning Leaders (AELL) is a national organization that believes quality early care and education programs begin with strong leadership. We recognize that administering these programs poses daily challenges. We pride ourselves on providing the resources YOU need to be efficient, successful directors, owners and administrators of early learning centers.

2016 NJCCA Membership Application Our new simplified dues structure allows owners with multiple centers to join at one low rate. You also consent to being contacted by NJCCA through e-mail. APPLICANT INFORMATION

Business/Center Name: Mailing Address:

Phone:

City:

State:

Fax: ZIP:

Name of Owner/Director (*): ___________________________________________________________

□ Nonprofit

Signature:___________________________________________________

□ For profit

Accredited by: □ NECPA

□ NAEYC

Other:_____________

E-mail:_____________________________________________________

So that we might better represent our members, for each of your centers, please list: Center Name

City

Occupancy

Number of Staff

#1. #2. #3. #4.

PLEASE CHECK ONLY ONE CATEGORY SPECIAL AELL RATE ONLY FOR NJCCA MEMBERS DUES COVER A ONE‐YEAR TERM & YOUR RENEWAL IS BASED UPON THE MONTH THAT YOU REGISTER __ Child Care Center Dues: Total enrollment less than 100 students…$99.00/per year (plus optional $85.00 for AELL) __ Child Care Center Dues : Total enrollment between 100 & 199 students…$199.00/per year (plus optional $85.00 for AELL) __ Child Care Center Dues: Total enrollment of 200 or more students…$299.00/per year (plus optional $85.00 for AELL) __ Business / Educational Partner Dues…$350.00/per year (plus optional $85.00 for AELL) __ Individual Dues (Non‐Affiliated Individuals & Students)…$35.00/per year (plus optional $85.00 for AELL) PAYMENT INFORMATION TOTAL AMOUNT (Make checks payable to NJCCA) $_____________

□ AMEX

Exp. Date: (Month/Year)

Credit Card Number:

_______/_________

______________________________________

Person’s Name on Credit Card:

Company:

Address Associated with Credit Card:

Street:

City:

State:

Zip Code:

Phone:

E-mail:

□ MasterCard/ VISA

CVV Code: ________________ (3 or 4 Digits on Back/Front)

Signature:

MAIL YOUR COMPLETED MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION, ALONG WITH PAYMENT TO: NJCCA • P.O. Box 634 • Allentown, NJ • 08501 • Email: Curt@NJ-CCA.org #PreKTheRightWay *Membership information is not shared. #PreKTheRightWay

New Jersey Child Care Association

• www.nj-cca.org

Executive Director’s Report FROM PAGE 3 or two to check their social media several times a day. If we as an industry take these opportunities, and consider the ripple effect of all the outreach to parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts and uncles, then the vast potential of a simple campaign becomes clearer. And did I mention that it is free? There is always a great reluctance to embrace what is new, or what represents change, but a minimal amount of effort is really all that is required for something that can have continuing positive impact for your center, and for your profession. If you are an owner-operator of a private child care facility, you wear many hats already. You can choose to embrace the fact that you are not only an educator, but you are a business owner as well. In my books, these are positive attributes that should be celebrated. But celebrations never occur in a vacuum, do they? They occur because there is public awareness and publicity that supports the celebration. There is no state agency or government program out there that advocates for private child care. Truthfully the industry has to “beat its own drum” as far as making the public aware of the importance of private child care.

The industry also does not have deep pockets for expensive advertising campaigns that highlight its accomplishments, which is why the correct usage of social media is so vital. All of which brings me back to my initial thought; why are owner-operators reluctant to get involved? If you want to help support a thriving private child care delivery system in New Jersey, I urge to join NJCCA today. For those who are already members, I hope that you take time out of your schedule to become more active and involved in the upcoming months. Our membership meetings have great speakers and topics, and you can certainly gain some useful insights by attending. I hope this call to action serves as a reminder that it’s time to get in the game.

“Celebrations never occur in a vacuum, do they?”

Curt Macysyn is the executive director of the New Jersey Child Care Association (NJCCA). You can reach Curt via e-mail at curt@nj-cca.org.

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1st Month Free

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