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C C R & R N E W S L E T T E RC C R & R N E W S L E T T E RC C R & R N E W S L E T T E R July 2026 A Note from Our President & CEO Dear Staff, We have concluded a highly successful fiscal year, I would like to take a moment to commend your collective dedication, hard work and professionalism. Our performance over the past twelve months has been exemplary, most notably marked by our completion of multiple rigorous audits with zero findings. This achievement serves as a testament to your unwavering commitment to compliance, operational excellence, and attention to detail. The achievements of the past year have set a high bar, but I have absolute confidence that this team is equipped to exceed those expectations in the months ahead. Your professionalism is the engine of our success, and I am honored to lead such a talented group of individuals. Thank you! I look forward to more outreach events and social gatherings in the months to come. Please join me in welcoming this new fiscal year with high energy, a shared sense of purpose, and a renewed commitment to our collective vision. Thank you once again for your hard work, your attention to detail, and your continued loyalty to our organization. Rita Armstrong, B.S., M.P.A. President/CEO
Things to RememberThings to RememberThings to Remember Remember that the agency has installed suggestion boxes around the office for anyone that wants to submit ideas for improvements or changes. These suggestions can be completely anonymous and will still be taken into consideration. You can also place a complaints or concern in the box as well! As a reminder, the perfect attendance challenge is still in effect. For those who did not call off sick, later than 10 minutes to work any day, and did not leave early are eligible to receive two days remote, with those days being limited to Tuesday through Thursday. These days also needed to not be in conflict with other members of the department. keep that attendance up! Speak with your lead if you feel you qualify As we transition into the summer months, we are mindful that the rising temperatures and shifts in seasonal activity can present unique challenges to both our personal well-being and our professional operations. While we remain committed to maintaining our productivity and service standards, the safety and health of our staff are our absolute priorities. Exposure to extreme heat, increased UV radiation, and the demands of seasonal travel can impact physical health if proper precautions are not observed. Whether your role requires you to be on-site, in the field, or operating from a remote environment, we encourage each of you to approach the coming months with a heightened awareness of your physical needs. Please adhere to safety guidelines designed to help you navigate the summer season safely and effectively.Health & SafetyHealth & SafetyHealth & Safety ☀ Sun Safety - Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) at least 15–30 minutes before going outside 💧 Stay Hydrated Increase water breaks during active play and outdoor activities. 🍎 Healthy Summer Habits - Keep nutritious snacks such as fresh fruits, vegetables, yogurt, and whole grains readily available. TipsTipsTips
New StaffNew StaffNew Staff Waikeen Henderson is an ERSA Manager in the Kankakee office! We wish him good luck in this new position! Tiffney Donerson is a new teacher at Kiddie Scholars Two in Richton Park! We hope she can bring an impact to the kids of Richton partk Welcome to the team!Welcome to the team!Welcome to the team!Welcome to the team!Welcome to the team! Waikeen Henderson Waikeen Henderson Tiffney Donerson Tiffney DonersonAsk questions and take notes Build Connections Know who to contact for support Use Technology Wisely Follow IT and cybersecurity guidelines Use task lists or planners to stay organized Double-check your work Manage Your Time Prioritize tasksCommunicate and ask questions Respond in a timely manner Keep Learning Attend trainings for professional development Be open to feedback Maintain quality work Be reliable and professional Lastly, ask for support when needed Employee Success Tips!
Early Learning DepartmentEarly Learning DepartmentEarly Learning DepartmentJune HighlightsJune HighlightsJune Highlights Juneteenth, celebrated annually on June 19, is a U.S. federal holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. A portmanteau of "June" and "nineteenth," it marks the historic day in 1865 when Union federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to take control of the state and ensure that all remaining enslaved people were freed. June is National Safety Month, an annual campaign led by the National Safety Council (NSC). Celebrating its 30th anniversary, this nationwide initiative focuses on reducing preventable injuries and deaths from the workplace to anywhere in between. Each week, the NSC provides free resources targeting a different safety themeJuneteenthJuneteenthJuneteenthSafety MonthSafety MonthSafety MonthLet’s take a moment to say thank you and congratulations to our early learning department. They successfully completed their recent Federal Review with no findings. This is an outstanding achievement and one that reflects the dedication, and teamwork of everyone involved. Federal reviews are rigorous and they require months of preparation, collaboration, and attention to detail, but we witnessed teams working together, supporting one another, and getting all the information needed in a short period of time and that commitment did not go unnoticed. A special thank you to Marquita for your leadership, perseverance, and unwavering dedication to the Early Learning Program. Your guidance was instrumental throughout this process. To the Early Learning, Administrative, and Fiscal Teams—thank you for your hard work behind the scenes. Your expertise, preparation, and commitment to excellence made this success possible. This achievement reflects who we are as an organization: dedicated to serving children and families in the communities. This showed everyones dedication to the mission.
The core team went to the Will County Health Department to network and share ideas with other childcare agencies. Thank you to Fayeza Waris and Karen McCalister for broadening the knowledge and reach of CCR&R! The Early Learning department visited PKA2 at Park Forest for a fathers day card making event! Thanks to Niquita Hampton for the photos and for supporting our local kids! The Early Learning department visited the Richton Park Public Library to reach out to local families and educators that might benefit for CCR&R services. Thank you to Samantha Norris and Amy Cherven for your hard work!Community EngagementsCommunity EngagementsCommunity Engagements “Seeds of collaboration bloom together”
Northwestern EarlyNorthwestern Early Childhood ConferenceChildhood Conference Northwestern Early Childhood ConferenceOur very own Higher Education and Workforce Development Navigator, Binta, recently represented Child Care Resources and Referral (CCRR) at the inspiring Northwestern Early Childhood Conference. Held right on campus, the event was proudly hosted by EC*REACH—the dedicated Chicago early childhood research team. The conference offered an extensive look at the latest research, featuring highly impactful sessions on workforce development and the true importance of deeply valuing early childhood workers. Binta had the privilege of learning from brilliant keynote speakers, including acclaimed author Paul Tough and Dr. Teresa Ramos, the Secretary of the newly formed Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC), who shared the state's exciting future data goals. Binta States that the experience reinforced how vital genuine relationship- building is when supporting our early childhood workforce every day. We are so proud to have had CCRR represented on such a prominent stage, and we are excited to see these wonderful insights brought back to our community outreach!
FATHER”S DAY AROUND OUR SITESFATHER”S DAY AROUND OUR SITESFATHER”S DAY AROUND OUR SITES
CPR & FIRST AIDCPR & FIRST AIDCPR & FIRST AID7/7/26 - Joliet Location, 6:00PM - 10:00PM 7/18/26 - Kankakee Location, 9:00AM - 1:00PM 7/30/26 - Joliet Location, 6:00PM - 10:00PM 7/14/26- How to communicate with Your program Leader- 12pm-1pm - Carrie Becker 7/15/26- Classroom Management Basics- Sabrina Robertson 6:30pm-8pm 7/21/26- Building trust with Children and Families - Sabrina Robertson 6:30pm-8pm 7/28/26 - Back to School Bootcamp- Fayeza Waris 2:00pm - 4:00 pm in-person CCRR Joliet
The "One Thing" Method: Every morning, write down the single most critical task that will make your day a success. Do that task first thing in the morning when your energy is highest. Capture Ideas Instantly: Your brain is for having ideas, not holding them. Write down thoughts, tasks, or random ideas the exact second they pop into your head so you can forget about them and stay focused on your current task. Close Open Tabs: Digital clutter slows down your brain. Keep only the tabs open that relate directly to the single task you are working on right now. Clear Your Desk Daily: Spend the last five minutes of your workday clearing your physical desk. Walking into a clean workspace the next morning lowers stress and helps you start immediately. July Fun Facts!July Fun Facts!July Fun Facts! Pro Productivity TipsPro Productivity TipsPro Productivity TipsTwo roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. –Robert Frost Three U.S. Presidents—John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Monroe —all passed away on July 4th. Adams and Jefferson even died on the exact same day in 1826: the 50th anniversary of the Declaration. July's full moon is traditionally called the "Full Buck Moon" because male deer grow their new, velvety antlers during this time of year. An Odd Coincidnece! The “Buck” Moon? July's birthstone is the ruby, symbolizing passion and protection. Its birth flowers are the larkspur and the water lily. Birthstones and Flowers Celebrated on July 14th, this holiday commemorates the storming of the Bastille and the dawn of the French Revolution. French Independence
Diapers, Diapers, Diapers!Diapers, Diapers, Diapers!Diapers, Diapers, Diapers!CCR&R recieved a fantastically large donation of diapers from United Way! The training room was full to the brim with boxes, and it took nearly an entire day just to unpack and store them all! Thanks to the amazing generocity of United Way and the rest of this community, hundreds of families will get the help they need to support their children. Totals: 300 Packs of Wipes 10,000 Diapers! 4,000 Pull-ups!
In just the first week we have collectively walked over half a million steps! Thank you to everyone participating, we hope these fitness challenges can create a healthier, happier, and more collaborative team! Happy Walking!Step Challenge!Step Challenge!Step Challenge! Fayeza Waris is facilitating a month long step challenge! Participants are tracking their steps everyday to challenge each other to walk more and stay active
Remember to SubmitRemember to Submit a Ticket!a Ticket! Remember to Submit a Ticket!If you have an IT problem, request, or other communication please remember that we have an IT Request Form! Complete the form and the IT team will receive your request and follow up as soon as we are able. Contact Connor McNurlan or Sheredia Wash with any questions about the form. Learn Some Shortcuts!Learn Some Shortcuts!Learn Some Shortcuts! Keyboard shortcuts save hours of cumulative time each week. Memorize these essentials to navigate any application faster: Ctrl + Z / Ctrl + Y: Undo (Z) the last action or redo (Y) it. Ctrl + F: Open the find function to search text. Ctrl + Shift + > / <: Increase or decrease font size in Microsoft Word instantly. Ctrl + C / V: Copy (C) and paste (V) highlighted text. Memorize these shortcuts and become a master of your computer! EMPIST has begun sending emails regarding updates for your system. If you system is in need of an update, EMPIST will send an email asking you to reboot. Please follow these instructions and reboot as soon as is convenient, such as on your lunch break, at the end of the day, or at the beginning of the day. Please be wary of emails that are not from legitimate senders, always double check the address the message was sent from, and NEVER click any links, or download any attachments from an email you don’t fully trust. IT CornerIT CornerIT Corner
Brain Break!Brain Break!Brain Break!
Jacqueline Haltom - July 3rd Debra Wells - July 10th Malik Elhaj - July 10th Nasser Murad - July 13th Veronica Gutierrez-Lamas - July 17th Zack Davis - July 23rd Christina Stone - July 10th Fayeza Waris - July 17th Zackery Davis - July 27th Sharine Davis - July 30th Laura Douglass - July 31st
THANK YOU FOR READING!THANK YOU FOR READING!THANK YOU FOR READING!JULY 2026Childcare Resource and Referral