The Board of Child Care’s Early Learning Program hosts Chinese Delegation representatives in Washington, DC.

 

On Thursday, July 25, the Board of Child Care Early Learning Program hosted two representatives from the Chinese Delegation. The Chinese Delegation is on a US  visit visiting early learning programs to learn more about their best practices and teacher training in conjunction with the Office of the State Superintendent of Education. They will be bringing a group of 15 early childhood leaders from China back to BCC in late September of this year. Pictured in the photo from left to right are Dale Brown, DC Child Care Connections; Angelique Clarkbrown, DC Department of Behavioral Health; Jessica Ling, President AIYOU Education Consulting; Joseph (Jessica’s fiancé); Joan Raghunath, Krystina Johnson and David Ding Senior Advisor of AIYOU Education Consulting.

 

 

To learn more about BCC’s Early Learning Program and career opportunities click here

 

Read more from The Board of Child Care’s Early Learning Program hosts Chinese Delegation representatives in Washington, DC.

Washington, D.C. Mayor selects BCC’s Early Learning Program as venue to highlight two tax credits in the District.

Mayor Bowser giving press conference

Washington DC, Mayor Mayor Bowser selects the Board of Child Care’s Early Learning Program in Ward 6 to highlight two tax credits – the Early Learning Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)

For Immediate Release

Washington, D.C. – March 4, 2019 – Today, at Board of Child Care in Ward 6, Mayor Muriel Bowser highlighted two tax credits – the Early Learning Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) – that can save District families thousands of dollars during tax season.

“Eligible Washingtonians can put thousands of dollars in their pockets through the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Early Learning Tax Credit; but to get the money, residents must know about these credits and claim them,” said Mayor Bowser. “We created the Early Learning Tax Credit as a way of making early child care more affordable for District families. Now, we want to make sure families know about it and are claiming it.”

In last year’s budget, Mayor Bowser created the Early Learning Tax Credit to make child care more affordable for District families. Through the Early Learning Tax Credit, families with children enrolled in a licensed DC child care facility can receive a tax credit of up to $1,000 per eligible child. An eligible child must be a dependent of the taxpayer and meet the following age requirements: a child under the age of 4 (age 0-3) as of December 31, 2018 or a child who reached the age of 4 between October 1 and December 31, 2018.

Additionally, low-income working families are eligible for up to $9,000 in combined District and federal EITCs. In 2018, 25 million workers received more than $63 billion in EITC refunds nationwide. In the District of Columbia, 50,000 workers received $117 million in EITC refunds. However, approximately 19,000 eligible residents failed to claim their credit, leaving nearly $45 million on the table.

Residents who worked last year and had an income of less than $54,884 should learn more about their EITC eligibility. Trained tax preparers can determine if individuals qualify for the EITC and ELC tax credits.

In addition to claiming these credits, families can save hundreds of dollars in tax preparation fees by participating in the District Department of Insurance, Securities, and Banking’s EITC campaign. The EITC campaign provides free tax preparation services at 17 centers for families making up to $55,000. Residents can find a full list of free tax preparation sites HERE.

Read more from Washington, D.C. Mayor selects BCC’s Early Learning Program as venue to highlight two tax credits in the District.

BCC Wins Best Practice Award from EAGLE Commission

BCC-wins-best-practice-award-2019-eagle-commissionFrom Left to right:  Robert Kelly (Board Chair), Laurie Anne Spagnola (President & CEO), Nicole Smith (Executive Director of MD & DC Programs), Bob Kimmons (Board Member), Kevin Gralley (Vice Chair)

BCC Wins Best Practice Award from EAGLE Commission

For Immediate Release

Contact:
Kristian Sekse
Chief Operating Officer
(443) 845-4395 (cell)
ksekse@everstand.org

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – February 19, 2019. Board of Child Care announced today it had received a best practice award from the EAGLE Accreditation Commission.  The best practice award is given to organizations doing standard practices in an outstanding way.

Summary of the Nomination

In 2016 a tragedy occurred at a Delaware residential program that took the life of a young lady from Maryland. This prompted the expedited, targeted removal of all MD youth from that facility. The programming needs of these youth were considerably outside the traditional profile served by BCC at the time. Eleven youth ultimately transferred to BCC because of the tragedy, and with the knowledge that significant challenges were expected to serve these young people and their families, BCC sprang into action.

Staff learned skills such as Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA), Therapeutic Crisis Intervention for the Developmentally Delayed individuals (TCI – DD), and were retrained to collect new types of behavioral and environmental data. Major investments in the facilities such as safe, non-breakable windows and calming rooms were made. As the new program progressed its data was tracked and, ultimately, showed very positive outcomes for some of the youth who were previously not considered to be able to be served by any Maryland provider.

In the end being closer to family, combined with a deep focus on prescribed medications and behavior management drove better treatment outcomes. Big picture, the event in Delaware and BCC’s adaptations to its high intensity residential program made an impact at the state level. The State of Maryland released a Request for Proposal that utilized the hard work of BCC as the framework for new programming offered in state. BCC responded to the opportunity in 2018 and is still anxiously waiting the awarding of the contract to serve Emotional, Cognitive and Developmentally Delayed youth and their families.

What outcomes or benefits came from this practice or program?

Kids with complex problems and treatment needs were able to be served in the state in which they live. Being closer to family drove better treatment outcomes. BCC was able to respond to the State of Maryland in their time of need. BCC shared this practice, and our learning with some of our United Methodist partners from different states like WV and GA. BCC developed more capacity to serve some of the state’s most vulnerable youth.

Why is this considered a best practice?

Working with complex trauma is something very few organizations do or do well. During the research phase BCC traveled to providers in California and Oregon widely considered the best in this space. The way BCC prepared to serve this newer, more acute population is a best practice because what was learned from the leading agencies in this space was applied to the new program structure. The results of our data collection drove a new program offering by the state of Maryland.

Disclosure:

BCC’s President & CEO, Laurie Anne Spagnola, was at the time of this award a board member of the United Methodist Association (UMA), the not-for-profit that oversees EAGLE accreditation. However, Ms. Spagnola was not a member of the selection committee nor was she privy to conversations during deliberations for the award. 

Read more from BCC Wins Best Practice Award from EAGLE Commission

Thomas L. Curcio, former President/CEO and youth advocate passes away.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Kristian Sekse
(443) 845-4395 (cell)
ksekse@everstand.org

BOARD OF CHILD CARE ANNOUNCES THE PASSING OF THOMAS L. CURCIO, FORMER PRESIDENT/CEO

Baltimore, Md. – August 23, 2017 – “On behalf of the Board of Child Care (BCC) Board of Directors, our employees, and program alumni, it is with deep sorrow that we announce the unexpected passing of Thomas Curcio,” stated Guy Everhart, chair of the board of directors.  “Our hearts and prayers are with the Curcio family.” Mr. Curcio, passed away August 22, 2017.

Mr. Curcio started his career in the field of child welfare more than 45 years ago.  In 1993, he took over as executive director (later becoming president and CEO) of the Board of Child Care and led BCC through remarkable growth. When Mr. Curcio assumed his leadership post, BCC had an annual budget of just $3 million and served 50 youth on one campus. Upon his retirement on June 30, 2014, the organization spanned Maryland, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia and served hundreds of children and young adults annually.

During Mr. Curcio’s leadership the Board of Child Care received several honors including Organization of the Year Award and Best Practice Award for Innovative Programming from the United Methodist Association. In 2009 Mr. Curcio was named Administrator of the Year by the same association. A year prior, he received the Samuel Gerson Nordlinger Child Welfare Leadership Award from the Alliance for Children and Families.

An Ellicott City resident, Mr. Curcio graduated from Gannon University in 1967 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology. He held both a master’s in criminal justice from Long Island University and a master’s in social work from Hunter College, School of Social Work.

Family and friends may call at the Candle Light Funeral Home by Craig Witzke for a memorial gathering on Friday, 6-8pm. Services and Interment private. For further information and/or to post condolences, please visit www.candlelightfuneralhome.com

About the Board of Child Care

The Board of Child Care has a long history of serving children and families in the community.  The organization began as three United Methodist orphanages that opened in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which later merged in 1960 to become the Board of Child Care.

Today, the Board of Child Care’s $32 million annual budget provides programs that enrich communities, one family at a time.  It offers residential treatment, mental health, special and early learning educational programs, and community-based programs throughout the Mid-Atlantic.  To see a map of all program locations and descriptions of each BCC program, visit boardofchildcare.org.

 

Read more from Thomas L. Curcio, former President/CEO and youth advocate passes away.

PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN BCC & BLUE RIDGE COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE NOW PROVIDING TUTORS FOR FOSTER CARE YOUTH

blue-ridge-community-technical-college-tutors
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Kristian Sekse
443-845-4395 (cell)
ksekse@everstand.org

Martinsburg, WV – October 17, 2016 – The Board of Child Care’s (BCC) West Virginia programs have partnered with Blue Ridge Community and Technical College (Blue Ridge CTC) to provide tutors for youth served by BCC.

Blue Ridge CTC student tutors are education majors who are taking a class that requires at least ten hours of face to face experience with at-risk youth. The Blue Ridge CTC students will provide one to two hours tutoring weekly from October through December. Cumulatively over 200 hours of tutoring will be provided for the approximately 25 young adults living at BCC’s WV programs.

This is the first partnership between BCC and Blue Ridge CTC. Orientation for the 18 Blue Ridge CTC student tutors was held on September 26 at BCC. The student tutors received a tour of the campus and an overview of the therapy and programing offered by BCC.

“It is absolutely wonderful to have tutors coming in to help our youth,” said Jackie Columbia, Director of WV Operations for BCC. “We hope that Blue Ridge CTC will make tutoring at BCC part of the curriculum each year. It’s such a wonderful resource for our youth especially so early in the school year. It really gives them some momentum and confidence heading into the second semester.”

BCC has two program locations in Martinsburg, WV and both serve foster care youth in WV. On the larger campus youth live and go to school on the property. At the group homes youth attend public school during the day. Blue Ridge CTC student tutors will volunteer at both program locations.

The Board of Child Care has a long history of serving children and families in the community. The organization began as three United Methodist orphanages that opened in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which later merged in 1960 to become the Board of Child Care. BCC’s operations expanded from Maryland to West Virginia in 2001.

Today, the Board of Child Care’s $27 million annual budget provides programs to enrich communities, one family at a time. It offers residential, mental health, educational, and therapeutic counseling services across Maryland, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia. To see a map of all program locations and descriptions of each BCC program, visit www.boardofchildcare.org.

-END-

Read more from PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN BCC & BLUE RIDGE COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE NOW PROVIDING TUTORS FOR FOSTER CARE YOUTH

PRESS RELEASE: GRADUATIONS 2016

BOARD OF CHILD CARE CELEBRATES THE GRADUATIONS OF 20 STUDENTS AND PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS WITH 4 CEREMONIES SPANNING 3 CAMPUSES.

The following press releases were sent to local newsgathering partners and campuses June 27, 2016. Readers will find graduation information from Baltimore, Strawbridge School, Martinsburg, WV and Denton, MD.

2016 BCC Graduation Releases 2016-07-11

For any additional information, please contact Mr. Kristian Sekse, V.P of Communications, at 443-845-4395 (cell). Additionally, readers can email Board of Child Care’s Communications Dept. at communications@everstand.org.

About Board of Child Care

Enriching communities, one family at a time, BCC’s $27 million annual budget provides programs across the Mid-Atlantic. Offerings include residential care, treatment foster care, early childhood education, therapeutic counseling, adoption information and referral, and a special education school. Headquartered in Baltimore, BCC operates facilities and group homes throughout Maryland and the Eastern Shore, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

To learn more, visit www.boardofchildcare.org.

Read more from PRESS RELEASE: GRADUATIONS 2016

PRESS RELEASE: ELP PROGRAM IN D.C. EARNS NAEYC ACCREDITATION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kristian Sekse
443-845-4395 (C)
ksekse@everstand.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. – June 27, 2016 — The Board of Child Care’s Early Learning Program, located in the Southeast (SE) quadrant of Washington, D.C., has earned accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) – the nation’s leading organization of early childhood centers.

This approval follows the Board of Child Care’s certification in February from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) and last month’s license for the West Virginia campus in Martinsburg to offer Functional Family Therapy (FFT).

BCC REPORT CARD W MEAN SCORE NAEYCBCC earned outstanding scores within the 10 NAEYC program standards the ELP was judged and evaluated upon. NAEYC awarded BCC 100 percent marks in five categories, 96 percent or better in two other standards, giving BCC a mean score of 95.8!

“NAEYC is the gold standard and recognized nationally for quality early learning programs like ours,” said Cora Jackson, Assistant Program Director of the DC ELP. “It says that our program is a place where all children can learn, grow and thrive, because of our exciting and rich learning environments, nurturing, engaging, and knowledgeable teaching staff, and committed families.”

The NAEYC certificate, conferred June 6, 2016, is valid through July 1, 2021. The certificate is based upon evaluated proficiency in 10 program standards, each group or classroom observed during a site visit, as well as all candidacy and other required criteria. The required criteria include scoring 80 percent or better for each program standard and 70 percent or better for each classroom or group observed.

“What these numbers tell me is we’re very successful at what we do and justifies why we have a waiting list to get into the program in DC,” said Laurie Anne Spagnola, BCC’s President and CEO. “It also means we have some outstanding programming in place to enrich the children and families we serve, and that is most important.”

To earn NAEYC accreditation, the Board of Child Care went through an extensive self-study process, measuring the program and its services against 10 NAEYC Early Childhood Program Standards and more than 400 related accreditation criteria. Additionally, NAEYC assessors conducted an on-site visit. NAEYC-accredited programs are also subject to unannounced visits during their five-year accreditation.

In the 25 years since NAEYC Accreditation was established, it has become a widely recognized sign of high quality early childhood education. NAEYC validates 7,000 programs, or just approximately eight percent of all preschools and other early childhood programs.

About the Board of Child Care

Enriching communities, one family at a time, BCC’s $27 million annual budget provides programs across the Mid-Atlantic. Offerings include residential care, treatment foster care, early childhood education, therapeutic counseling, adoption information and referral, and a special education school. Headquartered in Baltimore, BCC operates facilities and group homes throughout Maryland and the Eastern Shore, WV and D.C.

To learn more, visit www.boardofchildcare.org.

###END###

Download a PDF of this news release

Read more from PRESS RELEASE: ELP PROGRAM IN D.C. EARNS NAEYC ACCREDITATION

PRESS RELEASE: SPAGNOLA NAMED PRESIDENT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kristian Sekse
443-845-4395
communications@everstand.org

Baltimore, Md. – July 17, 2014 – The board of directors of the Board of Child Care (BCC) has named Laurie Anne Spagnola the nonprofit’s new president. Spagnola leads the organization in its efforts to serve children and families who require physical, emotional, behavioral and social support.

Spagnola becomes just the fourth president in the Board of Child Care’s 140-year history. She succeeds Thomas L. Curcio, who retired June 30, after serving the organization for 21 years.

Spagnola is a seasoned nonprofit executive who has provided leadership for child welfare and human services organizations for more than 25 years. She has an extensive track record of growing operational budgets and making critical community connections.

Jan Hayden, chair of the Board of Child Care’s board of directors, said, “We’re delighted to announce Laurie Anne’s appointment as president. Her energy, drive and experience make her the ideal person to lead the organization into the future. The board is confident the organization’s programs and services for children, youth and their families will grow under Laurie Anne’s guidance and vision.”

Prior to arriving at the Board of Child Care, Spagnola spent 12 years as President of York Children’s Home, in York County, Pa. The nonprofit provides comprehensive, accredited, community-based services to stabilize and strengthen children and families in need. During her time as President she grew the annual budget from $3 million to over $10 million and oversaw a tremendous growth in staff, which now number more than 135 individuals serving over 2,000 children annually.

“The Board of Child Care is a solid, very well-run operation,” Spagnola said. “I look forward to taking this foundation and providing more services for those who need our help. We are well poised to expand our leadership role in the field of child welfare by ensuring that children, families, and their communities facing challenging circumstances have a chance to heal and ultimately lead healthy, productive lives.”

A York, Pa., resident, Spagnola graduated from Millersville University with a bachelor’s degree in social work and a minor in Spanish. She holds both a master’s degree in social work from Fordham University and a certificate in executive leadership from Michigan University. Spagnola is active in the community and has invested her time volunteering for numerous charitable boards. She is currently completing terms on the boards of the Alliance for Children and Families, York Hospital and the regional board of Susquehanna Bank.

About the Board of Child Care

The Board of Child Care has a long history of serving children and families in the community as an outreach ministry within the Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula-Delaware Conferences of the United Methodist Church (UMC). The agency began as three orphanages that opened in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and then merged in 1960 to become the Board of Child Care.

Today, the Board of Child Care’s $27 million annual budget provides programs that include residential care, treatment foster care, early childhood education, therapeutic counseling, adoption information and referral, and a special education school. The agency is headquartered in Baltimore but also operates facilities in West Virginia, the Eastern Shore of Maryland and in the District of Columbia. Its community-based group homes are located throughout Maryland and in Martinsburg, W.Va. To learn more, visit www.boardofchildcare.org.
-END-

BOARD OF CHILD CARE NAMES SPAGNOLA PRESIDENT 07-14-2014

Read more from PRESS RELEASE: SPAGNOLA NAMED PRESIDENT