Become a Sullivan County Childcare Provider — We are Here to Help!

Are you or someone you know looking for employment? Have you dreamed of running your own business and setting your own hours? Sullivan County is in desperate need of more licensed or registered childcare programs. This is an ongoing issue in our small and rural county, but the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly exasperated the situation. Opening your own childcare program can feel overwhelming but we are here to help. We have a full staff that can walk you through every step of the process from requesting your application to improving the quality of your care. We can help you secure funding for things like meals and materials. We can provide you with free trainings that you need to keep your license current. If you have ever considered opening a program in your home or at another location, please take the next step and call us! Here is how we can help:

1. Click on the tab that says, “Become a provider.”
   Click on the links and carefully read through the information. Visit the Office of Children and Family Services website where you can formally request an application. Overwhelmed? Call us!!
2. Darlene  Kehrley- Business Support and Retention Specialist                                                                                                                  Darlene helps spread information to members of the community regarding the start-up of childcare programs.  This includes the licensing process, the start-up according to regulations, financial planning, and operational responsibilities to ensure success.  She also provides a business series training to members of the community with interest in starting a childcare program, as well as to current childcare providers in Sullivan County.  Darlene does follow up with providers giving continued support. She helps to retain childcare employees by empowering them with knowledge regarding positive interactions within the field of early childhood education.  She does director’s trainings with continued mentoring to ensure that they build upon their skills to become a successful leader.  Darlene also encourages connections within the childcare community in hopes that we continue to improve quality and childcare availability.
3. Sue Sennett-Registrar
   Call Sue Sennett, our Sullivan County Registrar. Depending on the type of program you are opening, she will be the one to work with you until you receive your registration. If you will be working with a licensor instead, she can still answer your questions and ease any concerns. Sue also provides the required CPR and First Aid trainings.
4. Courtney Hanback– Parent Counselor
   Courtney is your direct link to the parents-your customers!   She will enter your information into our referral system so that you can connect with the families that work best for your location and schedule.  Courtney will help make sure your program fills up and you are able to bring in a steady source of income quickly.
5. Aimee Pittaluga– CACFP Coordinator and TA Specialist
   Now that you have your program licensed or registered and you have families calling for enrollment, Aimee can help you to enroll in the Child and Adult Care Food Program.  This program offers reimbursement as much as $500-$600 a month for the food items you serve to your children for meals and snacks.  It also helps you to make nutritious food a priority!  CACFP is a great program for providers and their families.
6. Samantha Drezek- Infant Toddler Specialist, Infant Toddler Mental Health Consultant & Legally Exempt Coordinator
   Samantha is available to help your program be the best it can be.  She can help you earn endorsements, improve relationships, prevent expulsions, improve materials, earn training hours, get new ideas for programming and much more.  She is available to support you as a new program and will continue to support you for as long as you are open. She provides the mandatory Health and Safety trainings, continuity of care, Pyramid Model and more- just ask!  Samantha is also a liaison between families who receive assistance in paying for childcare and the county.  She can help you to investigate missing or late payments and prevent your families from having any lapse in coverage.
7. Donna Willi– Executive Director
   Donna, who has been working at the Council for over 20 years, can answer any and all questions you may have after speaking to all the members of our experienced and qualified staff.  She works hard to make sure the childcare providers in our community feel valued and supported as they care for our communities’ children.
8. Get Paid—Pamela DeMarmels
   You may not reach Pam on the phone and you may not see her around the office but you can certainly appreciate her work because she processes all of the timesheets for families who receive childcare assistance and maintains our financials for things like materials we purchase for you and your CACFP reimbursements.  She meticulously makes sure your income source remains steady to the best of her ability and as a new Sullivan County provider, she will be there for you too.

If you are interested in opening up a childcare facility, please take step one today. Our workforce needs childcare to continue to thrive. Afterhours, weekend care, before and afterschool care are all desperately needed in addition to traditional care. We look forward to working with you to improve our community and support our families!