ReportWire

Tag: daycare

  • Alexandria daycare worker fired for allegedly tying student to chair – WTOP News

    [ad_1]

    A Northern Virginia daycare worker has been fired for allegedly tying a student to a chair during lunch last month.

    A Northern Virginia daycare worker has been fired for allegedly tying a student to a chair during lunch last month.

    According to the Virginia Department of Social Services, the staffer used a thin blanket to tie a 21-month-old child to a chair at VINCI School Alexandria North.

    It happened around 11:40 a.m. Aug. 13 in a junior toddler classroom, the report said.

    The child was eating lunch and not hurting themselves or anyone else, the report said. The educator confirmed they tied the child to a chair with a blanket because the child “threw food on the floor and moved from the table while eating,” the report said.

    The daycare worker confirmed they didn’t use redirection to get the child to sit in the chair during lunchtime.

    WTOP has contacted the Vinci School for comment.

    Local news site ALXNow was first to report the incident.

    The worker involved in the incident was fired immediately, the report said. The educator said they “did not tie the blanket strong (sic) around the child.”

    The lead teacher, who the report found didn’t untie the child from the chair, received a write up and was reminded about “duty to report incidents.”

    The daycare has a prohibited practices policy that includes confining a child to a chair, car seat or stroller for discipline or instead of supervision.

    An Alexandria police spokeswoman said the agency is aware of the incident, and that detectives reviewed it and determined it to be a violation of daycare policy but “no criminal activity was involved. There is no active investigation at this time.”

    An incident could be reported to Child Protective Services through State Licensing, police said, and at the direction of CPS, it could be referred to police for further investigation.

    According to the report, all staff members will be trained again on “duty to report and mandated reporter guidelines, emphasizing that hesitation or uncertainty should never delay a report.”

    Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

    [ad_2]

    Scott Gelman

    Source link

  • Mistrial declared in case of Brevard mother accused of killing her 3-year-old son

    [ad_1]

    Breaking Update: A judge has declared a mistrial in the murder of a 3-year-old boy over a discovery violation involving an interview.The judge said prosecutors withheld key evidence and testimony from the defense—something that warrants a mistrial. >> Developing story, this will be updated Monday’s story: The mother accused in her 3-year-old son’s murder took the stand in her own defense Monday afternoon.Erica Dotson, 31, spoke for two hours. It was the first time the public had heard from the defendant since her 2021 arrest.“I genuinely believed my son was just having accidents. I believed everything that Josh said,” Dotson said. “I just didn’t see what was going on. I wasn’t home much.”Dotson and her boyfriend, Joshua Manns, are charged in the death of her son, Jameson Nance. They are being tried separately.Manns told authorities he had a seizure while Jameson was in the bathtub on the day he died. He said Jameson wasn’t breathing when he regained consciousness.“I said, ‘What do you mean? Did you call 911?’ He said no,” Dotson said.A medical examiner determined the cause of death was blunt force trauma sustained over an extended period of time. In the days leading up to Jameson’s death in June 2021, Dotson said she noticed a large lump on his head. But both Manns and Jameson told her it was an accident.She said her son was prone to injuries, including a broken leg earlier that year. There was also a time when Jameson had a black eye. Dotson said he got it from another child at daycare, though the school had no record of the incident.Following the more recent head injury, Dotson testified that she wanted to take her son to the hospital because the bruising and swelling were getting worse. She said Manns argued with her about it.“He said he was sorry and that he loved Jameson,” Dotson said. “That he would never do anything to hurt Jameson and that he promised me the next day when I went to work that he’d protect him.”Jameson was killed the following day. According to the medical examiner, he had dozens of bruises and stab wounds to the head.“He didn’t look like that,” Dotson said. “I told Detective Campos, he didn’t have all that swelling. He didn’t look like that when I left that morning. He had swelling on his eyes, but he didn’t look like that.”Dotson and Manns both face the death penalty if convicted.“I’m the only female in Brevard County facing the death penalty,” Dotson said.The state is expected to call rebuttal witnesses on Tuesday. Closing arguments will follow.

    BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. —

    Breaking Update: A judge has declared a mistrial in the murder of a 3-year-old boy over a discovery violation involving an interview.

    The judge said prosecutors withheld key evidence and testimony from the defense—something that warrants a mistrial.

    >> Developing story, this will be updated

    Monday’s story:

    The mother accused in her 3-year-old son’s murder took the stand in her own defense Monday afternoon.

    Erica Dotson, 31, spoke for two hours. It was the first time the public had heard from the defendant since her 2021 arrest.

    “I genuinely believed my son was just having accidents. I believed everything that Josh said,” Dotson said. “I just didn’t see what was going on. I wasn’t home much.”

    Dotson and her boyfriend, Joshua Manns, are charged in the death of her son, Jameson Nance. They are being tried separately.

    Manns told authorities he had a seizure while Jameson was in the bathtub on the day he died. He said Jameson wasn’t breathing when he regained consciousness.

    “I said, ‘What do you mean? Did you call 911?’ He said no,” Dotson said.

    A medical examiner determined the cause of death was blunt force trauma sustained over an extended period of time. In the days leading up to Jameson’s death in June 2021, Dotson said she noticed a large lump on his head. But both Manns and Jameson told her it was an accident.

    She said her son was prone to injuries, including a broken leg earlier that year. There was also a time when Jameson had a black eye. Dotson said he got it from another child at daycare, though the school had no record of the incident.

    Following the more recent head injury, Dotson testified that she wanted to take her son to the hospital because the bruising and swelling were getting worse. She said Manns argued with her about it.

    “He said he was sorry and that he loved Jameson,” Dotson said. “That he would never do anything to hurt Jameson and that he promised me the next day when I went to work that he’d protect him.”

    Jameson was killed the following day. According to the medical examiner, he had dozens of bruises and stab wounds to the head.

    “He didn’t look like that,” Dotson said. “I told Detective Campos, he didn’t have all that swelling. He didn’t look like that when I left that morning. He had swelling on his eyes, but he didn’t look like that.”

    Dotson and Manns both face the death penalty if convicted.

    “I’m the only female in Brevard County facing the death penalty,” Dotson said.

    The state is expected to call rebuttal witnesses on Tuesday. Closing arguments will follow.

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Charges filed against owners of New York boarding facility after 21 dogs found dead

    [ad_1]

    Charges have officially been filed after 21 dogs were found dead at a boarding facility in Argyle, New York.Robert and Anastasia Palulis, the owners of Anastasia’s Acres, are facing 22 misdemeanor counts after investigators said the building where the dogs were held did not have proper water access or ventilation.The charges are for overdriving, torturing, and injuring animals; failure to provide proper sustenance, which is considered a misdemeanor under New York State Law, according to court paperwork obtained by sister station WPTZ.One dog was taken to an emergency animal clinic for care.Both owners were released and are due in Argyle court at a later date.The owner of two of the dogs who died said she was devastated by the news of her beloved pets’ deaths.”Their house is literally 30 feet from the kennel where the dogs are boarded,” said Danielle Barber. “So the fact that nobody went out to check on the dogs at any point in time. I’m sure there were dogs barking in distress.”Anastasia’s Acres has been in business since 2020, and provides boarding, day care, training, grooming, and home care services for local dog owners, according to their website.Barber went on to say that she has not heard from either Robert or Anastasia Palulis following the incident.”I hope that she is held responsible… there are 21 dogs involved, it’s just completely unforgivable,” Barber said. “And the fact that she has not reached out in any sort of capacity to offer condolences, remorse, anything speaks volumes.”On Monday, WPTZ reached out to the owners of the business for comment, but they did not respond.

    ARGYLE, N.Y. —

    Charges have officially been filed after 21 dogs were found dead at a boarding facility in Argyle, New York.

    Robert and Anastasia Palulis, the owners of Anastasia’s Acres, are facing 22 misdemeanor counts after investigators said the building where the dogs were held did not have proper water access or ventilation.

    The charges are for overdriving, torturing, and injuring animals; failure to provide proper sustenance, which is considered a misdemeanor under New York State Law, according to court paperwork obtained by sister station WPTZ.

    One dog was taken to an emergency animal clinic for care.

    Both owners were released and are due in Argyle court at a later date.

    via Washington County Sheriff’s Office

    Robert and Anastasia Palulis

    The owner of two of the dogs who died said she was devastated by the news of her beloved pets’ deaths.

    “Their house is literally 30 feet from the kennel where the dogs are boarded,” said Danielle Barber. “So the fact that nobody went out to check on the dogs at any point in time. I’m sure there were dogs barking in distress.”

    Anastasia’s Acres has been in business since 2020, and provides boarding, day care, training, grooming, and home care services for local dog owners, according to their website.

    Barber went on to say that she has not heard from either Robert or Anastasia Palulis following the incident.

    “I hope that she is held responsible… [the fact that] there are 21 dogs involved, it’s just completely unforgivable,” Barber said. “And the fact that she has not reached out in any sort of capacity to offer condolences, remorse, anything speaks volumes.”

    On Monday, WPTZ reached out to the owners of the business for comment, but they did not respond.

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Former daycare worker accused of binding 1-year-old girl with tape

    [ad_1]

    A former worker at an Ohio daycare accused of using painter’s tape to bind a 1-year-old girl has been formally charged.

    [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

    Katelyn Strohacker, 23, has been charged with child endangerment after an incident was reported back in July at a daycare center in Licking County, according to our news partner WBNS in Columbus.

    TRENDING STORIES:

    She is alleged to have placed painter’s tape over the child’s eyes, restrained her hands behind her back and feet together, and left her face down under a blanket unattended, according to Licking County Common Pleas Court documents.

    The center’s director told the girl’s parent that Strohacker had bound and left the child in bed for an hour, records say.

    She was arrested and released on a $50,000 bond, WBNS said.

    Strohacker is not allowed to have unsupervised contact with minors.

    Her next scheduled court appearance is Aug. 28.

    [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • How the $10-a-day child care program can affect your taxes – MoneySense

    How the $10-a-day child care program can affect your taxes – MoneySense

    [ad_1]

    Understanding the tax impact of more affordable care

    Here’s the problem: your child-care expense deduction will decrease if you pay less to your child-care provider. As a result, your taxes payable will likely increase, depending on your income level. A reduced child-care expense deduction will also increase the net income on your tax return. This is the figure your refundable tax credits, like the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) are based on. These important monthly benefits, therefore, could shrink.  

    To understand this fully, take a look your tax return from last year. The child-care expense used as a deduction is found on line 21400 after being calculated on form T778. Net income is at line 23600. That important line is used for government “income testing” for a number of provisions on the return, including refundable tax credits like the Canada Child Benefit, the Canada Worker’s Benefit and the GST/HST Credit. It will also determine how much OAS (Old Age Security) seniors will get, or whether employment insurance (EI) benefits will be clawed back. Just as important, non-refundable tax credits, like the spousal amount, may be affected. 

    When your net income goes up because of your lower child-care expenses, these benefits are reduced, unfortunately.  

    Invest to offset a reduced net income

    There is some good news for astute investors, howeve,. To keep your family’s net income low despite the reduction in your child-care expense deduction, make an RRSP (registered retirement savings plan) contribution. The resulting RRSP tax deduction reduces your net income and your taxable income and, in the process, works to increase income-tested refundable and non-refundable tax credits too! Check out how much RRSP room you have on your notice of assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to make the contribution. 

    The same effect occurs if you can claim a deduction for contributions made to the first home savings account (FHSA). An annual deduction of up to $8,000 may be claimable. 

    Maximize your child-care claim

    The final way to shore up the tax benefits from your child-care expenses is to make sure you claim all of them and to your best tax advantage. 

    Child-care expenses are often missed entirely by parents. If this has happened to you, did you know you can go back and adjust prior filed returns to make that claim and receive the tax-credit benefits and tax refunds you missed? Especially if you are a first-time filer, be warned, however, that the claim for child care is complex and often audited. Be prepared to provide receipts to justify your claim.

    It’s also important to know that the spouse with the lower income is the one that must claim child-care expenses, except in certain defined circumstances: when the lower earner is unable to care for the children due to a mental or physical infirmity, is in full time attendance at a qualifying school, or in hospital or incarcerated for at least two weeks, for example. Another exception is when there is a breakdown in the conjugal relationship for at least 90 days, but a reconciliation takes place within the first 60 days of the year. The usual $5,000, $8,000 or $11,000 maximum amounts claimable by the higher earner may be reduced, however, with a maximum weekly calculation.  

    [ad_2]

    Evelyn Jacks, RWM, MFA, MFA-P, FDFS

    Source link

  • To Attract the Next Generation, Transit Provider Offering Child Care Benefits to Employees

    To Attract the Next Generation, Transit Provider Offering Child Care Benefits to Employees

    [ad_1]

    TOOTRiS Child Care On-Demand and the Memphis Area Transit Authority partner to provide Child Care benefits to new and current employees

    Press Release
    –

    Jan 5, 2023


    SAN DIEGO, January 5, 2023 (Newswire.com)
    –
    With 9 in 10 transit agencies across the country struggling to hire bus operators, the Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) is launching an innovative solution. MATA is partnering with TOOTRiS Child Care On-Demand to provide new Child Care benefits to employees – including $200/month in financial assistance.

    Effective immediately, MATA working parents will have access to the TOOTRiS platform enabling them to quickly search, vet and enroll their children in real-time. With over 185,000 licensed Child Care providers on its nationwide network, TOOTRiS provides parents options including full-time, part-time care, drop-in care, after-school programs, summer camps, and care for non-standard hours – an important option for drivers with night and weekend shifts. 

    “We’re proud of the valued service our team provides to Memphis, with over 5 million passenger trips each year,” said Bacarra Mauldin, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of MATA. “By partnering with TOOTRiS, we are appealing to a new generation of workers who care about the community and want to work for an organization that cares about them.”

    The number of bus drivers across the US is declining as many are nearing retirement. A recent American Public Transportation Association survey found the average transit operator is nearly 53 years old, more than 10 years older than workers in other industries. With the cost of Child Care for two children in Tennessee averaging $16,199, offering Child Care benefits is a way to help parents while providing a rewarding job.

    “Innovative agencies like MATA realize that to attract the next generation of employees you need a culture that supports their families as well,” said Alessandra Lezama, TOOTRiS CEO and select member of the ReadyNation CEO Task Force on Early Childhood. “They are an excellent example of how employers can support working parents by providing turn-key Child Care benefits – specifically as it enables more women to return to the workforce.”

    About MATA

    The Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) is the public transportation provider for the Memphis area. As one of the largest transit operators in Tennessee, MATA transports customers in the City of Memphis and parts of Shelby County on fixed-route buses, paratransit vehicles and vintage rail trolleys. For more information, visit www.matatransit.com.

    About TOOTRiS

    TOOTRiS is reinventing the Child Care industry as the first and only technology that unites all the key stakeholders – parents, providers, employers, agencies – into a single platform enabling them to connect and transact in real-time. Through TOOTRiS, parents and providers also connect directly, allowing working parents to quickly find and secure quality Child Care while allowing providers to unlock their potential and fully monetize their program. 

    Contact Information: 

    Jeff McAdam – Creative Director – Press and Media Production
    jmcadam@tootris.com 
    720-988-0984 

    Source: TOOTRiS

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Long Hours at Day Care Don’t Worsen Young Kid’s Behavior: Study

    Long Hours at Day Care Don’t Worsen Young Kid’s Behavior: Study

    [ad_1]

    Nov. 16, 2022 — Working parents will be relieved to know that young children who spend extended hours in childcare centers are not at greater risk for behavior problems.    

    In a new study published in the journal Child Development,  researchers looked at data on more than 10,000 preschoolers enrolled in seven studies from five countries in North America and Europe. It found that longer periods spent in center-based child care was not tied to overt antisocial behavior in toddlers and preschoolers.  

    Based on teacher and parent reports, the international investigators found no increase in “externalizing” behaviors, like bullying, picking fights, hitting, biting, kicking, hair pulling, and even restlessness.

    “This is reassuring given that trends in child-care use and parental participation in the labor force are likely to remain stable,” wrote the group led by Catalina Rey-Guerra, a PhD candidate at Boston College in Massachusetts.

    The study also found no evidence that socioeconomic status such as household income and mother’s educational level changed the effect of time a child spent in center-based care.

    And far from worsening behavior, care centers can provide stimulation through lasting learning benefits. 

    “Given the existing evidence of long-term achievement benefits of early childhood care and education for children, I think our findings speak to both the direct positive effects that attending child care might have on children and also the indirect positive effects through their parents being able to participate in the workforce without the fear of any harmful effects to their child,” Rey-Guerra says. 

    Policies ensuring access to quality child care should be an international priority, she says. 

    For nearly 40 years, researchers have debated whether time in center-based child care directly causes children to develop behavioral problems. 

    “Disagreements have been difficult to settle because the vast majority of studies done are purely ‘correlational,’ leaving open many alternative explanations as to why children who spend large amounts of time in center care could be at risk other than center care per se,” Rey-Guerra says. 

    The research has also relied on just a few studies from the U.S.

    “Our aim was to improve the research, providing rigorous tests of whether increasing a child’s time in center-based care leads to increases in problem behaviors, and using data from seven studies from five countries,” she continues. 

    Research results have so far been mixed and inconclusive, and concern has lingered after some suggested harm. A 2001 analysis, for example, found that 17% of children spending more than 30 hours per week in child care exhibited aggressive behaviors, while these behaviors were seen in only 8% of children with fewer hours.   

    But other research, such as a 2015 study from Norway, found that the amount of time spent in care centers by age or entry had insignificant effects on behavior. And research from Canada found that aggressive behaviors were more often exhibited by children in exclusive maternal care than those attending group day care. 

    Several explanations for bad behaviors have been proposed, from severing the parent-child attachment to young children’s imitation of disruptive behaviors seen in their childcare mates. 

    But “most of these hypotheses have not proven true,” Rey-Guerra says. “There is some evidence, however, that risk goes up if children spend continuous time, across their childhoods, in classrooms that have excessively large groups of young children, such as when centers exceed the recommended teacher-to-child ratios.” (These are 1:4 for infants, 1:7 for toddlers, and 1:8 for preschoolers.)

    Carol Weitzman, MD, a pediatrician in the Division of Developmental Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital and an associate professor at Harvard Medical School, cautions that there are vast differences across countries in parental leave and family policies, and therefore the experience of one is not necessarily applicable to another. 

    “However, that is what makes the findings of this study so robust. In no setting was the amount of child care associated with behavior problems,” says Weitzman, who was not involved in the international study. 

    Regardless of care settings — whether center-based, other nonparental care, or parental care — quality is key, with undesirable reactions more likely in children whose needs are not being met. 

    “Then you are more likely to see maladaptive and stressed behaviors such as aggression, acting out, and mood dysregulation,” Weitzman says. 

    She notes that preschoolers are developmentally ready to negotiate interpersonal situations such as sharing, taking turns with toys, and waiting to have immediate needs met.

    “Quality child care scaffolds children so they can learn to identify and describe emotions and negotiate increasingly complex social situations.” It can also help preschoolers develop friendship and understand the experiences of others.

    So why does this question about the bad effects of center-based care continue to be asked? 

    “One must wonder if there’s an underlying bias that children not in maternal care will fare worse and there will be threats to attachment,”  Weitzman says. “When women comprise approximately 50% of the U.S. workforce, our questions should be about how to ensure quality and affordable care for all children and how to establish and enforce child-friendly parental leave policies.” She adds that the other four countries in the study all ranked higher than the U.S. in terms of paid parental and maternity leave. 

    “In fact, we are last when compared with 40 other developed nations,” she says. 

    In her view, all types of childcare settings should have the same mission and standards —  all aimed at promoting optimal development in the young.

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • TOOTRiS Joins Forces With Military OneSource to Provide Child Care Assistance to Military Families

    TOOTRiS Joins Forces With Military OneSource to Provide Child Care Assistance to Military Families

    [ad_1]

    To Honor Service Members on Veterans Day, the Nation’s First and Only On-Demand Child Care Platform is Providing Free Access to Military OneSource Military Members

    Press Release
    –

    Nov 10, 2022


    SAN DIEGO, November 10, 2022 (Newswire.com)
    –
    For the brave men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces, who have the most mission-critical jobs in America, worrying about Child Care should be the last thing on their minds. Yet, 23% of Active Duty families can’t access care. In honor of National Veterans and Military Families Month, TOOTRiS, the largest network and first real-time Child Care platform in the country, has launched Operation Child Care – providing free year-long premium access for military families to tap into more than 180,000 state-licensed Child Care providers to secure reliable and affordable care.

    There are nearly 1 million children of Active Duty members nationwide. Of that, more than 70% are under the age of 11 years old and in need of care. Military OneSource, a Department of Defense-funded program that connects military families to valuable community resources, recognizes those challenges and has enlisted TOOTRiS to join its Community Resource Finder to help. As an approved Military OneSource national resource, more than 500,000 active duty and 300,000 Reservists will now be able to easily find and access TOOTRiS’ premium services free of charge. 

    “We tie every resource back to ‘what gives our members peace of mind?’” said Steven Darbyshire, Military OneSource Consultant. “There isn’t a more important decision a parent can make than placing their child in care. TOOTRiS provides all the options and resources needed for every parent to enroll in the best program based on their specific requirements.” 

    Starting Nov. 11, Veterans Day, TOOTRiS will be giving military families nationwide free premium memberships, allowing them to tap into the country’s largest Child Care network with more than 180,000 providers nationwide. Through TOOTRiS, military families will now be able to:  

    • Search for 24/7 Child Care near their home, base, or work.
    • Use more than 100 filters to narrow the search to exact needs.
    • See each program’s availability in real-time without the need to call.
    • Find temporary slots and drop-ins – all accessible for free online via a desktop, tablet, or mobile app.

    “Military members and their families sacrifice so much for our country,” said Alessandra Lezama, TOOTRiS CEO and select member of the ReadyNation CEO Task Force on Early Childhood. “As a San Diego-based company, we see the military ships leave the harbor every month and understand the impact of deployment on those military families. We are so proud and honored to be in a position to connect parents with the best-suited program for their children.”  

    TOOTRiS was founded in 2019 to transform Child Care so that every working parent — especially women — has the same opportunity for advancement by having access to affordable, high-quality Child Care; and so that every child, regardless of household income, has the same opportunity to early childhood education that can ensure kindergarten readiness and academic success.  

    About TOOTRiS 

    TOOTRiS is the first and only universal Child Care platform that converges private and public Child Care stakeholders (Family Child Care homes and Center-based providers, parents, agencies, and employers) into a unified, real-time technology platform enabling employers to offer fully-managed Child Care Benefits to their workforce. TOOTRiS — which has more than 180,000 providers in its nationwide network — helps working parents to connect with providers and transact in real-time, empowering parents – especially women – to secure quality Child Care, while allowing providers to fully monetize their program. 

    Source: TOOTRiS

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • College, First in the Country, Offering Student-Parents TOOTRiS Child Care Benefits

    College, First in the Country, Offering Student-Parents TOOTRiS Child Care Benefits

    [ad_1]

    MiraCosta College Technology Career Institute Announces Partnership With TOOTRiS Child Care On-Demand to Help Students With Child Care

    Press Release
    –

    Nov 8, 2022 07:15 PST


    SAN DIEGO, November 8, 2022 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Child Care is an ongoing challenge for student-parents. Having experienced a significant drop in female student enrollment due to Child Care issues, MiraCosta College Technology Career Institute in San Diego decided to go beyond just offering on-site care and be the first college in the country to provide a flexible Child Care benefit from TOOTRiS. 

    MiraCosta’s unique accelerated learning programs position students for career advancement; however, in recent years, Child Care has created a barrier for female students to enroll. To resolve the issue, MiraCosta College has selected TOOTRiS to provide cutting-edge Child Care benefits to all its TCI students.  

    Under the partnership, TOOTRiS will provide MiraCosta access to the largest network of licensed Child Care providers, enabling student-parents to search, vet, compare, and enroll in real time. The technology platform also enables them to find slots for temporary care, drop-ins, and non-traditional work schedules. This provides significant value for students who have widely varying schedules.  

    “Our goal is to provide the quickest way for students to go from learning to earning,” said Linda Kurokawa, Executive Director of MiraCosta College. “Our 3-6 month accelerated learning programs provide a lot of flexibility; however, post-pandemic we are still seeing student-parents — especially the female population — struggle to come back to those programs due to Child Care issues. Partnering with TOOTRiS helps us solve that problem by providing students with the most affordable Child Care options that fit their specific needs.” 

    MiraCosta is not alone when it comes to challenges for students with children. According to estimates by National Center for Education Statistics, more than one-fifth of all college students are student-parents. That’s nearly four million college students with children who are trying to balance taking classes and studying while holding part-time or full-time jobs, as well as providing the day-to-day care and support their kids require. 

    Sadly, according to CalMatters, more than half will drop out before attaining a degree. Colleges and universities need to find ways to support these hard-working students and make it possible for them to succeed. 

    “Costs and access to Child Care have always been the biggest hurdles for student-parents, and until now, colleges and universities have had limited options — such as on-site care — which only serves a few students and has long waitlists,” said Alessandra Lezama, TOOTRiS CEO and a select member of the ReadyNation CEO Task Force on Early Childhood. “With TOOTRiS, public and private higher education institutions like MiraCosta are now able to offer their entire population of student-parents and faculty real-time access to affordable care at a fraction of the cost of other options.”  

    MiraCosta College Technology Career Institute is taking a strong leadership position to reduce the barriers facing its student-parents. But with many student-parents across the country being single, female, students of color, and from low-income backgrounds, more higher education leaders, as well as federal and state policymakers, need to address the challenge. 

    About TOOTRiS 

    TOOTRiS is the first and only universal Child Care platform that converges private and public Child Care stakeholders — Family Child Care Homes and Center-Based Providers, Parents, Agencies, and Employers — into a unified, real-time technology platform enabling employers and higher education institutions to offer turnkey Child Care Benefits to their workforce and student populations with the flexibility and family support paramount to increasing retention, productivity, and ROI. Visit tootris.com/employers for information. 

    About MiraCosta College 

    For more than 80 years, the MiraCosta Community College District has served students throughout North County with a wide array of educational offerings on multiple campuses. The college has more than 19,000 credit students annually in over 70 disciplines enrolled in associate degrees, university transfer and workforce readiness certificate programs. There are also about 7,000 students who take part in programs for adult education, community education, basic skills and ESL (English as a Second Language). The college is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).  

    Source: TOOTRiS

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • TOOTRiS Provides Free Child Care Access to First Responders Nationwide

    TOOTRiS Provides Free Child Care Access to First Responders Nationwide

    [ad_1]

    In Honor of National First Responders Day, TOOTRiS Child Care On-Demand Offers Free, Year-Long Access

    Press Release
    –

    Oct 27, 2022


    SAN DIEGO, October 27, 2022 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Starting Oct. 28, National First Responders Day, and in commemoration of the more than 4.6 million first responders nationwide, TOOTRiS Child Care On-Demand is providing free access to millions of first responder parents. 

    More than 25% of American families say finding Child Care is a nightmare, and for first responders (fire fighters, police, EMTs, nurses) who work long and varying hours, the challenge is even greater.

    To ease the burden and provide help, TOOTRiS, the nation’s largest network of Child Care providers, is launching its First Responder Honor Gift program. With the gift, first responders who sign up will get free access to TOOTRiS’ Premium Child Care platform free of charge for a full year. This allows first responders to access over 180,000 licensed Child Care providers nationwide, 24×7, enabling them to search, vet, and enroll their children in real-time quality Child Care programs for full-time, drop-ins, emergencies, before and after school, during standard and non-standard hours, no matter where they live and work.

    “Children and their families are at the core of what we do at TOOTRiS just as first responders are at the core of our communities,” said Alessandra Lezama, TOOTRiS CEO and select member of the ReadyNation CEO Task Force on Early Childhood. “TOOTRiS is humbled to be able to give back to first responders in a way that makes life better for their entire family.”

    First Responders who’d like to receive the First Responder Honor Gift should visit Honor Gift for more information and eligibility. 

    About TOOTRiS

    TOOTRiS was founded in 2019 to transform Child Care so that every person, in every city, in every state has access to affordable Child Care options. TOOTRiS is the only technology platform that integrates the entire Child Care ecosystem (children, parents, providers, employers, and service organizations). This makes finding Child Care more convenient, affordable, and on-demand. 

    Visit TOOTRiS.com for more information.

    Media Contact 
    Jeff McAdam
    JMcAdam@TOOTRiS.com
    (720) 988-0984

    Source: TOOTRiS

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Oklahoma daycare evacuated after car fire in parking lot

    Oklahoma daycare evacuated after car fire in parking lot

    [ad_1]

    An Oklahoma daycare was evacuated after a car fire in their parking lot.The flames reached two cars next to the building, forcing everyone to get out. The daycare workers said that the fire scared them as much as it scared the children.When Jones Fire Department arrived to put out the fire, Nannie’s Daycare was already getting children to safety.”Before we could look up, all the women that worked there at Nannie’s daycare had a perfect plan in place,” said Mark Taylor, Jones Fire chief.The fire department said they were responding to a call of a car on fire in a shopping center parking lot.”Upon our arrival we found one car fully engulfed, impending on the second vehicle next to it. It had already blew out the windows and blew the tires out of that also,” Taylor said.In the shopping center, the staff was already working on getting children out.”The director went and pulled the fire alarm and proceeded to evacuate all the children out of the facility. Then she ran out to the playground to help with getting the children off of the playground because it was pretty close to where the car had caught on fire,” said Sherry Minnick, owner of Nannie’s Daycare.While the fire department worked to put out the blaze, the children were down the road at a local bank.”The people from the bank, who are right behind us, they actually came out and said, ‘Hey, bring those kids in here,’” Minnick said.The owner said it comes as no surprise that everyone around them was willing to help get the children to safety.”It’s a small community so everybody knows just about everybody and when the bank saw what was happening, they started handing out waters and suckers to the kids,” Minnick said.The owner said she’s extremely grateful for the help from their neighbors and the fire department.

    OKLAHOMA CITY —

    An Oklahoma daycare was evacuated after a car fire in their parking lot.

    The flames reached two cars next to the building, forcing everyone to get out. The daycare workers said that the fire scared them as much as it scared the children.

    When Jones Fire Department arrived to put out the fire, Nannie’s Daycare was already getting children to safety.

    “Before we could look up, all the women that worked there at Nannie’s daycare had a perfect plan in place,” said Mark Taylor, Jones Fire chief.

    The fire department said they were responding to a call of a car on fire in a shopping center parking lot.

    “Upon our arrival we found one car fully engulfed, impending on the second vehicle next to it. It had already blew out the windows and blew the tires out of that also,” Taylor said.

    In the shopping center, the staff was already working on getting children out.

    “The director went and pulled the fire alarm and proceeded to evacuate all the children out of the facility. Then she ran out to the playground to help with getting the children off of the playground because it was pretty close to where the car had caught on fire,” said Sherry Minnick, owner of Nannie’s Daycare.

    While the fire department worked to put out the blaze, the children were down the road at a local bank.

    “The people from the bank, who are right behind us, they actually came out and said, ‘Hey, bring those kids in here,’” Minnick said.

    The owner said it comes as no surprise that everyone around them was willing to help get the children to safety.

    “It’s a small community so everybody knows just about everybody and when the bank saw what was happening, they started handing out waters and suckers to the kids,” Minnick said.

    The owner said she’s extremely grateful for the help from their neighbors and the fire department.

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Boys ages 3, 4 locked in dark closet, beaten with ‘teacher’s stick’ at Mass. day care, lawsuit alleges

    Boys ages 3, 4 locked in dark closet, beaten with ‘teacher’s stick’ at Mass. day care, lawsuit alleges

    [ad_1]

    The families of two young boys claim their pre-school age children were locked in closets and beaten with a stick at a Methuen day care center, according to a civil lawsuit filed this week in Essex Superior Court.A 4-year-old boy who attended the Children’s Center of the Faith United Methodist Church day care from March to August 2022 said as a form of punishment, he was frequently locked in a dark supply closet.The child said he was also frequently beaten with a stick known as a “teacher’s stick” and was not allowed to eat food in his lunchbox that was packed by his mother, the lawsuit alleges.”(The child) was told by employees of The Children’s Center that there were rats and monsters in the supply closet to scare the children when they were being ‘bad kids,’” the lawsuit states.Employees of the day care were also accused of retraining the boy, “grabbing him until his arms and legs could not move. (The boy) indicated that he could not breathe when this was being done to him.” The family of a 3-year-old boy who attended the daycare from October 2021 to August 2022 also said he was locked in a dark closet and told “monsters” were inside, according to court paperwork. His family also alleges he was beaten with a “teacher’s stick.”The child’s mother also alleges her son suffered an injury to his face and was denied a meeting with day care staff. Both families have filed complaints with the Department of Children and Families and the Department of Early Education and Care.The civil lawsuit seeks $15 million in damages from defendants, which include the daycare, Mark Siegel, Sandra Lumb, William Callahan, Jennifer Pacard, Leticia Cordero, Iris Cordero, Yarlene Betances, Jane Doe and Unexie Santos.

    METHUEN, Mass. —

    The families of two young boys claim their pre-school age children were locked in closets and beaten with a stick at a Methuen day care center, according to a civil lawsuit filed this week in Essex Superior Court.

    A 4-year-old boy who attended the Children’s Center of the Faith United Methodist Church day care from March to August 2022 said as a form of punishment, he was frequently locked in a dark supply closet.

    The child said he was also frequently beaten with a stick known as a “teacher’s stick” and was not allowed to eat food in his lunchbox that was packed by his mother, the lawsuit alleges.

    “(The child) was told by employees of The Children’s Center that there were rats and monsters in the supply closet to scare the children when they were being ‘bad kids,’” the lawsuit states.

    Employees of the day care were also accused of retraining the boy, “grabbing him until his arms and legs could not move. (The boy) indicated that he could not breathe when this was being done to him.”

    The family of a 3-year-old boy who attended the daycare from October 2021 to August 2022 also said he was locked in a dark closet and told “monsters” were inside, according to court paperwork. His family also alleges he was beaten with a “teacher’s stick.”

    The child’s mother also alleges her son suffered an injury to his face and was denied a meeting with day care staff.

    Both families have filed complaints with the Department of Children and Families and the Department of Early Education and Care.

    The civil lawsuit seeks $15 million in damages from defendants, which include the daycare, Mark Siegel, Sandra Lumb, William Callahan, Jennifer Pacard, Leticia Cordero, Iris Cordero, Yarlene Betances, Jane Doe and Unexie Santos.

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Child Care On-Demand Company Honors First Responders on 9-11 With Generous Gift

    Child Care On-Demand Company Honors First Responders on 9-11 With Generous Gift

    [ad_1]

    TOOTRiS Gifts First Responders in all 50 States with Free Access to Affordable 24/7 Child Care Options

    Press Release
    –

    Sep 11, 2022


    SAN DIEGO, September 11, 2022 (Newswire.com)
    –
    In commemoration of 9/11 and the strength, courage, and service of first responders across the country, TOOTRiS announces their National 50 in 50 First Responder Honor Gift. 

    As champions for the September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance, AmeriCorps has called on Americans to turn one of the most tragic days in U.S. history into a day of good and betterment – TOOTRiS is proud to respond.

    More than 25% of American families say finding Child Care is a nightmare, and for first responders (fire fighters, police, EMTs, nurses) who work long and varying hours, the challenge is even greater.

    To ease the burden and provide help, TOOTRiS is launching its National 50 in 50 First Responder Honor Gift program. With the gift, the first 50 certified first responders to sign up in each of the 50 states will get free access to TOOTRiS’ Premium Child Care platform free of charge for a full year. This allows first responders to access over 180,000 licensed Child Care providers nationwide, 24×7, enabling them to search, vet, and enroll their children in real-time quality Child Care programs for full-time, drop-ins, emergencies, before and after school, during standard and non-standard hours, no matter where they live and work.

    “Children and their families are at the core of what we do at TOOTRiS just as first responders are at the core of our communities,” said Alessandra Lezama, TOOTRiS CEO and select member of the ReadyNation CEO Task Force on Early Childhood. “TOOTRiS is humbled to be able to give back to first responders in a way that makes life better for their entire family.”

    First Responders who’d like to receive the First Responder Honor Gift should visit 50-in-50 for more information and eligibility. The first 50 first responders in each state to respond will receive the TOOTRiS Premium Child Care Gift. 

    About TOOTRiS

    TOOTRiS was founded in 2019 to transform Child Care so that every person, in every city, in every state has access to affordable Child Care options. TOOTRiS is the only technology platform that integrates the entire Child Care ecosystem (children, parents, providers, employers, and service organizations). This makes finding Child Care more convenient, affordable, and on-demand. For more information visit tootris.com.

    Visit tootris.com for more information.

    Media Contact 
    Jeff McAdam
    JMcAdam@TOOTRiS.com
    (720) 988-0984

    Source: TOOTRiS

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Child Care App Helps Center Directors Increase Parent & Child Engagement

    Child Care App Helps Center Directors Increase Parent & Child Engagement

    [ad_1]

    ‘Family Connection’ feature on unrivaled parent engagement app connects parents of children in child care with teachers and staff for maximum growth opportunities

    Press Release
    –

    Apr 25, 2022


    LOCUST GROVE, Va., April 25, 2022 (Newswire.com)
    –
    A new app feature by child care management software company Child Care Seer® advances parent/child engagement for families with children enrolled in child care. In recent months, the company officially introduced Family Connection as a major feature of the Seer app as an easier solution to help keep families informed and engaged with their child’s daily activities in the classroom. 

    “Seer’s Family Connection feature is more than just another parent engagement app with pictures of your child’s day,” says the official company website. “It fosters impactful connection among parents, teachers, staff, children and the entire social structure that helps your child grow to be the best they can be!” 

    One source says that parents who are in tune with what is happening with their child at a facility are better able to establish a connection between what is learned at school and what takes place in the home. Daycare center owners and Directors are, therefore, encouraged to utilize this feature. It boasts the ability for center Directors to engage parents with their children’s activities at all times while maintaining full control. 

    Additional benefits of Family Connection include having a fully functional management and billing system, and owners and Directors having the ability to offer: flexible scheduling options for parents; better work environments for staff; more time for Directors to focus on high-priority tasks; more profit for center owner(s). 

    These integrated tools create streamlined communication and engagement between parents and children — something that could well be neglected in the child care space. They can also:

    • Join and move children to and from classrooms
    • Log detailed children’s activities like toilet, food, health, mood and more
    • Take pictures/attach documents
    • Start/end classroom events like merge, nap time, meal time, and playground
    • See feed with upcoming events and activities
    • Create alerts for missing children 

    Family Connection can conveniently be accessed via tablets, mobile phones, or desktop. More information about the parent/child engagement app can be found by visiting the Child Care Seer®  website https://www.childcareseer.com and clicking on the Family Connection page under the Features tab. A video https://youtu.be/2dHSxd2zrwM is also available with details on how the new feature works.

    For more information, contact us at info@childcareseer.com

    Source: Child Care Seer

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Software Management Company Launches Free Version of Automated Childcare Service Software

    Software Management Company Launches Free Version of Automated Childcare Service Software

    [ad_1]

    Center Directors and business owners are encouraged to try the free version of proprietary software program, Child Care Seer®, for automated child care

    Press Release
    –

    Apr 14, 2022


    Locust Grove, VA, April 14, 2022 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Childcare care management software company Child Care Seer launches a free version of its software program, Child Care Seer®. This program simplifies everyday tasks for Center Directors and business owners by automating child care services such as scheduling, enrollments, and payments. The company’s website includes a free demo of the software with former preschool teacher-turned-partner Kandi Welsh showing how to navigate the software.

    Presenting itself as the software platform that automates everything related to child care (except your love of children), Child Care Seer is built for daycare business owners, Learning Center Directors, and Early Education teachers to simplify tasks with children and their families. 

    “It’s easy to plan when it’s all in one place,” writes the company on one Facebook post. “Your teachers and staff can house all of their daily activities and times within the platform.” This convenience is something that the company deems as crucial in light of many businesses that had to shutdown services during the pandemic. “Even though 2020 is over,” the company continues, “some parents are still working from home and needing child care during the day.” 

    Center Directors and business owners are quickly able to view the school and see the most critical details of their business performance in real time. This is because of the software’s ability to:

    1. Provide a live status so users can check the most up-to-date business status such as who’s in or who’s expected;
    2. Give users access to easily view, change, or schedule new classes to keep the capacity right-sized for your business goals;
    3. Schedule staff based on specific needs;
    4. Manage booking requests;
    5. Track financial flow such as customer payments; and
    6. Create reports for any part of your business.

    The company reiterates that the platform is built for flexibility, so users are encouraged to utilize features that best fit their child care center needs to maximize profit per student and, most importantly, allow users to spend more time with their students. 

    If you’re searching for a child care center solution, the all-in-one Seer platform might be the solution for you. To see if Seer is right for your center, simply head over to https://www.childcareseer.com and click “Get Started Now”.

    For more information, contact us at info@childcareseer.com

    Source: Child Care Seer

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • TOOTRiS & NCCA Partner to Transform the Child Care Industry and Reinvigorate the Economy

    TOOTRiS & NCCA Partner to Transform the Child Care Industry and Reinvigorate the Economy

    [ad_1]

    Press Release
    –

    Feb 8, 2022


    SAN DIEGO, February 8, 2022 (Newswire.com)
    –
    The Child Care industry continues to suffer a major blow as providers and parents struggle to adapt to constantly changing health and safety guidelines due to the latest COVID variant.

    Family Child Care homes – which make up a large portion of the industry – have been the silent voices of this paralyzed sector. These micro-businesses have had little resources to help boost their programs, although they have been primarily responsible for stepping up and supporting essential workers through the pandemic.

    Meanwhile, larger Child Care Centers continue to grapple with staff recruitment and retention, staggered enrollments, and closures, causing further chaos in an already under-supported and under-funded industry.

    In an effort to empower early childhood educators, TOOTRiS, an on-demand Child Care platform, has partnered with the National Child Care Association (NCCA), which promotes the success of licensed providers in quality early care and education through professional development, advocacy and community engagement.

    The partnership will give Child Care providers across the U.S. access to free software tools and full program automation, including payments, which will help relieve them of administrative burdens so they can focus more of their time improving the quality of their programs and boosting enrollments.

    “Historically, there has been little if any investment made in providers. Most resources are directed towards helping low-income families subsidize the cost of Child Care, which as helpful as it may be for a segment of the population, it does not solve the Child Care supply issue,” said TOOTRiS CEO Alessandra Lezama. “We need to invest in our Early Childhood Education workforce to stimulate the profession and help increase the quality and overall supply of Child Care programs in our country.”

    NCCA member providers will have the opportunity to create free profiles on the TOOTRiS platform, giving their programs more visibility. TOOTRiS – which connects providers, parents and employers in real time – also partners with businesses to offer employer-sponsored Child Care, which helps providers ensure they have full enrollments, maximizing their financial success.

    Under the partnership, TOOTRiS will leverage NCCA’s accreditations to help raise Child Care industry standards. The NCCA’s parent organization, The National Early Childhood Program Accreditation, is one of the top accreditation organizations in the US.

    “This has been one of the most unprecedented times in the history of Child Care. Our partnership with TOOTRiS will bring much-needed resources and a more unified voice to the industry,” said Cindy Lehnhoff, NCCA Director. “TOOTRiS is very innovative and can really help the industry as it goes through a lot of change and transition. TOOTRiS offers a lot of hope and people need hope right now.”

    The partnership is also expected to stimulate the Child Care sector by boosting the number of licensed providers, ensuring all children have access to quality and affordable Child Care.

    “The pandemic will continue to take people out of the industry. Couple that with early childhood education being one of the lowest-paid careers, and you have a crisis,” Lehnhoff said. “We can change that by leveraging the TOOTRiS platform and marketing to those who are passionate about starting their own Child Care programs. The time is now.”

    Visit tootris.com for more information.

    Media Contact 
    Press@tootris.com  
    (858) 263-0725 

    Source: TOOTRiS

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Child Care On-Demand for Parents Nationwide

    Child Care On-Demand for Parents Nationwide

    [ad_1]

    Press Release
    –

    Jan 18, 2022


    SAN DIEGO, January 18, 2022 (Newswire.com)
    –
    While COVID continues to ravage the nation, working families are struggling as thousands of Child Care providers have closed their doors. This has left millions of desperate parents who are either juggling working from home while watching the kids or who are quitting work all together. In an effort to help bolster the nation’s crippled economy and get parents back in the workforce, TOOTRiS has expanded its on-demand Child Care platform to all 50 states. With more than 180,000 licensed providers currently on its platform, TOOTRiS touts the largest network of available, real-time Child Care options in the nation.

    The expansion provides much-needed resources and tools to thousands of parents, providers and employers at a time when communities across the nation face an alarming Child Care deficit.

    “American families are in trouble. If we don’t fix the broken Child Care sector, our economy will not rebound and working parents – especially women – will continue to suffer the consequences,” said TOOTRiS Founder and CEO Alessandra Lezama.

    Currently, a majority of US families do not have access to affordable and quality Child Care, primarily due to one or more of the following reasons: a) they can’t afford it, b) they don’t know where to go to search or can’t find open enrollments, or c) the only programs that are available to them don’t meet their needs.

    “We applaud TOOTRiS for introducing an innovative way of helping working parents and employers easily connect with real-time availability of affordable quality Child Care,” said Cindy Lehnhoff, Director of the National Child Care Association, a nationwide nonprofit that advocates and promotes high quality Child Care. “This type of universal online platform also levels the playing field for Family Child Care providers and allows them to stay afloat during these uncertain times.”

    TOOTRiS connects parents, providers and employers in real-time, enabling:

    • Parents to search near their home or work, using filters to find daycare or non-standard hour care that fits their needs and budgetary requirements, even for temporary slots and drop-ins – all accessible for online via desktop, tablet, or a mobile app.
    • Providers to have access to free tools and resources needed to grow their programs and boost enrollments, while automating the administrative functions such as payments.
    • Employers – big and small – to have affordable and seamless solutions to offer Child Care as a Benefit, which is critical for attracting and retaining talent at a time when there are 9.2 million unfilled jobs across the US.

    “Child Care is a business issue and a workforce enabler. Through TOOTRiS, we can re-engineer a scalable and thriving Child Care system of the future, while redesigning the workplace to be more equitable and family friendly,” Lezama said. “This is the future of work, and key to our nation’s ability to compete on a global scale.”

    The nationwide TOOTRiS rollout is a milestone for the startup, founded in 2019 to transform Child Care so that every working parent — especially women — has the same opportunity for advancement by having access to affordable, high quality Child Care; and so that every child, regardless of household income, has the same opportunity to early childhood education that can ensure their kindergarten readiness, and academic success.

    About TOOTRiS
    TOOTRiS is reinventing Child Care, making it convenient, affordable and on-demand. As the world shifts to digitalized services, TOOTRiS helps parents and providers connect and transact in real-time, empowering working parents – especially women – to secure quality Child Care, while allowing providers to unlock their potential and fully monetize their program. It is the only system in today’s marketplace that tracks, publishes and forecasts Child Care availability in real-time and is accessible in multiple languages. TOOTRiS’ unique technology enables employers to provide fully managed Child Care Benefits, giving their workforce the flexibility and family support paramount to regaining employee productivity and increasing their ROI. Visit tootris.com for more information.

    Media Contact
    Press@tootris.com 
    (858) 263-0725

    Source: TOOTRiS

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • TOOTRiS Launches 4Me&4U2 Referral Campaign Nationally to Boost Family Child Care Providers

    TOOTRiS Launches 4Me&4U2 Referral Campaign Nationally to Boost Family Child Care Providers

    [ad_1]

    On-Demand Child Care Platform Levels Playing Field & Gives Working Parents More Affordable and Quality Options

    Press Release
    –

    Nov 30, 2021


    SAN DIEGO, November 30, 2021 (Newswire.com)
    –
     As many Child Care centers continue to struggle to keep their doors open, TOOTRiS has launched a nationwide referral campaign to increase the visibility of smaller in-home providers while giving working parents more affordable and quality options. TOOTRiS, an award-winning on-demand Child Care platform, connects parents, providers, employers and subsidy programs in real time.

    As part of the campaign 4Me&4U2, Family Child Care providers who create a free profile on the TOOTRiS platform and are “enrollment ready” can refer another provider to sign up and become “enrollment ready,” and both will receive a $100 gift card.

    “We want to give a voice to Family Child Care providers, many of whom are women of color,” said TOOTRiS founder and CEO Alessandra Lezama. “These smaller in-home providers manage nurturing home-like programs and while offering a wonderful option to parents looking to enroll their children, they are not widely visible to searching parents. By enrolling more Family Child Care Providers on TOOTRiS, we are giving these programs a digital presence and a fully functional online platform to showcase the quality of their programs, giving them direct access to parents looking to enroll while providing more options and flexibility for parents to fulfill their Child Care needs. It’s a win-win for families, providers and employers as Child Care is an essential service and at the center of our economic recovery.”

    For Los Angeles-based Family Child Care owner Jackie Jackson, joining TOOTRiS has transformed her business.

    “I have been on TOOTRiS for about a month now and it has really helped my program grow,” said Jackson, who launched Touched by an Angel Child Care in 2001. “I was concerned about how I was going to drive new enrollments to my daycare due to the COVID-19 pandemic. TOOTRiS has helped me resolve my concerns of having to be one of those providers that may have to close due to the lack of children. Since I registered and created a profile with TOOTRiS, I’m now at my capacity and I currently have three children on the waiting list.”

    With TOOTRiS, providers can connect with parents virtually in real time, provide virtual tours, display program distinctions and other unique capabilities all from their mobile phone. The platform gives providers — at no cost — program management tools that relieve them from tedious administrative duties that historically have been manual. TOOTRiS processes all provider payments, so they are not concerned with the workflow of collections, and ensures they get paid on time. TOOTRiS — the only real-time Child Care platform that helps providers forecast enrollments and earnings — is also enabling a crop of new women entrepreneurs who have a passion for early childhood education to start their own licensed in-home daycare.

    “The TOOTRiS platform provides Child Care providers like me with the necessary tools that are needed to open and operate a home-based business for free,” said Jackson, who has referred TOOTRiS to six other in-home Child Care providers, all of whom are also at capacity since joining. “All your starting tools are there — from creating your bio to adding your pictures, creating your own price list and your upcoming events, etc. It’s very easy and they always have an available representative to walk you through the process to get you on your feet.”

    TOOTRiS has the largest network of state licensed and registered Child Care providers nationwide — currently more than 180,000. As the platform continues to expand and add more providers, TOOTRiS plans to leverage its unique technology to help bolster the economy while solving the ongoing Child Care crisis.

    “Child Care providers — especially women of color — hold our communities together and are an integral part of moving our economy forward by helping parents get back to work,” Lezama said.

    Media Contact:
    press@tootris.com
    (858) 263-0725

    Source: TOOTRiS

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Lux Bus America Partners With TOOTRiS to Provide Employees Across California Access to Child Care

    Lux Bus America Partners With TOOTRiS to Provide Employees Across California Access to Child Care

    [ad_1]

    Press Release
    –


    updated: Sep 14, 2021


    ANAHEIM, Calif., September 14, 2021 (Newswire.com)
    –
    While many industries are boosting wages and recruitment efforts to desperately find workers during the ongoing pandemic, one charter transportation company is upping the ante by providing its staff access to quality and affordable Child Care.

    Under a partnership with TOOTRiS, Lux Bus America’s employees will have access to thousands of quality and affordable Child Care providers across California. TOOTRiS’ on-demand platform allows parents to search for Child Care providers by entering a zip code and can filter hundreds of criteria such as age, provider type, learning hubs, languages, amenities, activities, meals and more. Parents can also verify a daycare’s licensing, look for compliance red flags, read reviews, contact the director, and more. TOOTRiS – which is available in English, Spanish and Arabic – is the only system in today’s marketplace that tracks, publishes and forecasts Child Care availability in real-time.

    By giving its 1,000 employees access to TOOTRiS, the award-winning Lux Bus America hopes to increase productivity and improve morale, while retaining and recruiting new employees.

    “Like many industries, the transportation sector has taken a hit during the pandemic. As our industry continues to rebound, it’s critical that we give our employees the tools and resources they need to thrive,” said Emma Pitre, Vice President of Operations for Lux Bus America. “Offering our valued staff access to affordable and quality Child Care is part of our continued commitment to providing excellent service. This allows our employees to maintain their stellar productivity while giving them peace of mind that their children are well cared for.”

    Lux Bus America is the first transportation company to join TOOTRiS, and is part of a growing list of national and global organizations that have partnered with the on-demand platform to provide employer-sponsored Child Care.

    “Lux Bus America is a forward-thinking company and I applaud its continued leadership in the industry,” said TOOTRiS Founder and CEO Alessandra Lezama. “As entrepreneurs and company leaders, we can help lay the groundwork for the nation’s economic recovery by supporting the Child Care sector and working parents with innovative solutions.”

    About TOOTRIS
    TOOTRiS is reinventing Child Care, making it convenient, affordable and on-demand. As the world shifts to digitalized services, TOOTRiS helps parents and providers connect and transact in real-time, empowering working parents – especially women – to secure quality Child Care, while allowing providers to unlock their potential and fully monetize their program. TOOTRiS is creating a new digital economy that promotes entrepreneurial opportunities for individuals with passion and talent to become Child Care providers, improving their quality of life while increasing the much-needed supply of Child Care across the state. TOOTRiS’ unique technology enables employers to provide fully managed Child Care Benefits, giving their workforce the flexibility and family support paramount to regaining employee productivity and increasing their ROI.  Visit tootris.com for more information.   

    Media Contact:
    press@tootris.com 
    858-263-0725

    Source: TOOTRiS

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • TOOTRiS Named Minority-Owned Business Award Finalist by U.S. Chamber of Commerce

    TOOTRiS Named Minority-Owned Business Award Finalist by U.S. Chamber of Commerce

    [ad_1]

    First-of-Its-Kind On-Demand Child Care Solution Supports Women & Minorities in the Workplace

    Press Release
    –


    updated: Sep 2, 2021


    SAN DIEGO, September 2, 2021 (Newswire.com)
    –
    The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has announced TOOTRiS, the first-of-its-kind on-demand Child Care technology platform, as one of the finalists for its annual Dream Big Awards. The awards celebrate the achievements of small businesses and honor their contributions to America’s economic growth. 

    TOOTRiS is one of 27 finalists that were chosen from a record 1,000+ applications submitted from U.S. businesses. The Dream Big Awards program includes nine different Business Achievement Awards to recognize the excellence of leading businesses in each of the following categories: community support and leadership, emerging, green/sustainable, minority-owned, LGBTQ-owned, veteran-owned, woman-owned, young entrepreneur, and small business of the year.

    “This year, small businesses have continued facing every obstacle head-on, taking risks, working hard, and dreaming big in the face of ongoing challenges and uncertainty,” said Tom Sullivan, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Small Business Policy. “Small businesses are a critical and vibrant sector of the U.S. economy, and the U.S. Chamber is proud to celebrate the very best in American small business through our Dream Big Awards.” 

    The Minority-Owned Business Award recognizes a minority-owned small business that has attained outstanding business achievement and exemplifies significant contributions to the U.S. economy.

    “It is an honor to have TOOTRiS recognized among other minority-owned businesses that are changing and diversifying the nation’s economic landscape,” said TOOTRiS founder and CEO Alessandra Lezama. “As a woman, immigrant and single mom, I came to this country seeking the ‘American Dream.’ I now want to pay it forward through TOOTRiS, where our mission is to support women and minorities in the workforce and bolster a new crop of women entrepreneurs who want to start their own Child Care programs. Access to quality and affordable Child Care for all parents is the only way our nation can recover from our first-ever ‘female recession.’”

    The winners of the Dream Big Awards will be announced during a virtual program on Thursday, Oct. 21, at 5 p.m. ET.  Registration is open to the public.

    Media Contact
    (858) 263-0725
    press@tootris.com

    About TOOTRiS

    TOOTRiS is reinventing Child Care, making it convenient, affordable and on-demand. As the world shifts to digitalized services, TOOTRiS helps parents and providers connect and transact in real time, empowering working parents — especially women — to secure quality Child Care, while allowing providers to unlock their potential and fully monetize their program. TOOTRiS is creating a new digital economy that promotes entrepreneurial opportunities for individuals with passion and talent to become Child Care providers, improving their quality of life while increasing the much-needed supply of Child Care across the state. TOOTRiS’ unique technology enables employers to provide fully managed Child Care Benefits, giving their workforce the flexibility and family support paramount to regaining employee productivity and increasing their ROI. Visit tootris.com for more information.

    Source: TOOTRiS

    [ad_2]

    Source link