NORWICH – The Chenango County Child Care Coordinating Council was recently awarded $15,000 in grant funds from the Community Foundation for South Central New York. According to Donna Adams, executive director for the council, the money will be instrumental in the organization’s pursuit for national accreditation for quality assurance.

Thanks to the grant, the council was able to hire intern Heather McShane, a Morrisville State College Norwich Campus Early Childhood Development student. McShane’s talents have been – and continue to be – an invaluable resource, as the council continues the three-year, National Association of Child Care Resources and Referral Agencies’ accreditation process, said Adams. There are approximately 40 child care resource and referral agencies statewide that must complete the quality assurance process by the association’s October, 2012, deadline, the final submission date for all necessary documents, she added.

According to Adams, the Child Care Coordinating Council receives a significant amount of its funding through the NYS Office of Children and Family Services. In order to continue receiving that funding, the council must complete the accreditation process.

“It’s a very lengthy process,” said Adams. “Heather’s been a huge help, she’s a hard worker and she’s done a great job so far. She’s knowledgeable in what she’s doing and, if something we’re looking for is not there, she’ll find it.”

The council received notification that it had been awarded the grant in April, reported Adams, who was assisted by Margaret Hoose, the council’s quality assurance coordinator and Norwich Campus Early Childhood Development advisor. The two worked for nearly a month in writing the grant application, added Adams.