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Rochester Childfirst Network

Rochester, NY · EIN 160743129 · Form 990 · FY2024 · Medium ($1M-$10M) · rcn4kids.org
revenue
$6.0M
expenses
$5.6M
net assets
$2.8M
employees
115
volunteers
40
program ratio
83%
mission · from form 990

Child care and early education for children.

profile · synthesized from sources

Rochester Childfirst Network provides early childhood education and special education services for children ages birth to five, with a focus on inclusive, integrated classrooms. The organization supports children with special needs through its SMILE program and offers family child care provider training and resources. Based in Rochester, NY, RCN operates on a multi-acre campus with nature-based learning environments and serves families across Greater Rochester.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $1.36M
    Family Child Care: The Family Child Care programs administered by RCN offer support for in-home providers of child care through participation in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (reimbursement for nutritious meals), and through training and support in all areas of child development, health and safety, and small business management. In addition to program revenue above, this program is supported by government contributions of $1,109,899.
  2. #2 $1.24M
    Special Education Programs and Services: The SMILE (Successful Milestones in Learning Environments)Program offers educational support for children with special needs, ages three through five. The programs are approved by the New York State Education Department, providing special education and therapies as required by a child's Individualized Education Program. In addition to program revenue above, this program is supported by government contributions of $126,670.
named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Family Child Care Support Services
Supports in-home child care providers through training in child development, health and safety, business management, and access to CACFP meal reimbursement
Leaf & Learn Trail
Outdoor nature-based learning trail on RCN’s 1.4-acre campus that promotes sensory exploration, environmental education, and physical activity for young children
Pyramid Model (School Wide PBIS)
Positive behavioral intervention and support framework implemented agency-wide to promote social-emotional development and reduce challenging behaviors in children
SMILE (Successful Milestones in Learning Environments)
State-approved preschool special education program for children ages 3–5 with special needs, offering individualized education, therapies, and inclusive classroom settings aligned with IEPs
Teletherapy Services
Remote delivery of speech, occupational, and physical therapy services for children, launched during the pandemic and continued as an option
activities · 8 groups

What they do

  • Specialized Therapy for Children with Disabilities 2 activities
    • Home- and community-based early intervention services
      Provides itinerant occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech and language therapy, and special education services in children's homes and childcare settings. Also conducts multidisciplinary evaluations for preschool children in speech, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and music at a dedicated facility.
    • Teletherapy services for children
      Provides teletherapy services for special education and therapeutic support, including speech and language, occupational, and physical therapy, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Play-Based Early Childhood Education 1 activity
    • Early childhood education and developmental support
      Provides inclusive, integrated preschool classrooms combining structured and unstructured play-based learning for children of all abilities, with a focus on preparing them for kindergarten. The program emphasizes social-emotional development, including skills such as kindness, helpfulness, and listening, and actively involves families in reinforcing these traits.
  • Before and After School Childcare 1 activity
    • Emergency child care provision
      Offers emergency child care during snow days exclusively for children already enrolled in Rochester Childfirst Network child care programs.
  • Organizational Newsletter Production and Distribution 1 activity
    • Family and community engagement through communications
      Distributes a newsletter featuring program highlights, upcoming events, staff spotlights, and resources for families and caregivers to keep them informed and involved in the organization’s activities.
  • Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Programs 1 activity
    • Implementation of behavioral support systems
      Implements a School Wide Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (SWPBIS) program across the agency and classrooms to promote positive behavior and social-emotional learning.
  • Early Childhood Education & Development Programs 1 activity
    • Special education and therapeutic services for preschool children
      Delivers special education and therapy services for children ages three to five with special needs through the SMILE program, aligned with Individualized Education Programs and approved by the New York State Education Department. Services include in-class and pull-out support in fine motor, gross motor, sensory, and speech and language skills, as well as individualized autism spectrum programming using developmental, relationship-based approaches and SCERTS-based assessment tools.
  • Child Care Provider Support Services 1 activity
    • Support for in-home child care providers
      Supports family child care providers through participation in the Child and Adult Care Food Program, offering meal reimbursement and training in child development, health and safety, and small business management.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Facility operations and safety management
      Operates a 24,000 sq. ft. facility on over 4 acres in the South Wedge neighborhood, featuring 10 classrooms, renovated outdoor play areas, a courtyard sensory garden, and a child-friendly nature trail with labeled plants and trees. Implements secured entry procedures, a facility-wide alarm system, and safety features such as Fingersafe® door guards and child-sized furniture to ensure a secure and developmentally appropriate environment.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$6.03M
Contributions & grants$2.08M34%
Program service revenue$2.92M48%
Investment income$1K0%
Other revenue$1.03M
expenses
Total expenses$5.57M
Program expenses83%
Admin / overhead14%
Fundraising3%
Salaries & benefits$3.11M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$4.35M
Cash$338K
Investments$0
Liabilities$1.56M
Net assets$2.79M
Liquid reserves0.7 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +13.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
Ann Marie Stephan Executive Director 40 $106K
board members · 18
  • Barbara Clemons — Director
  • Barbara Reifler — Director
  • Barry Wisset — Director
  • Georgine Stenger — Director
  • Jean Williams — Director
  • Jeri Rombaut — Treasurer
  • John Harris — Director
  • Joseph Sergio — Vice Chair
  • Lisa McCabe — Chair
  • Lynanne Wehner — Director
  • Matthew Carrigg — Secretary
  • Michelle Halloran — Director
  • Nikia Washington — Director
  • Peter Nabozny — Director
  • Rohini Daliya — Director
  • Stephanie Darrow — Director
  • Stephen Howles — Director
  • Timothy Miles — Director
relationships · 9

Who they work with

  • Board of Directors Partner — Works in close partnership with the Leadership Team to provide direction and oversight.
  • FoodLink Partner — Partnership to support Family Child Care Satellites of Greater Rochester (FCC-SGR) providers.
  • Local school districts Partner — Referral partners for children ages three through five for special education services.
  • Monroe Community College Partner — Collaborated to pilot the Nurturing Communities program for young mothers and their babies.
  • Monroe County Government — Referral partner for children birth through three years for special education services.
  • National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations Partner — RCN references the National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations as a resource for program implementation.
  • New York State Education Department Government — Approves the SMILE program for special education services for children ages three to five.
  • Pyramid Model Consortium Network — RCN aligns with and references the Pyramid Model Consortium as part of its evidence-based practice framework.
  • Rochester City School District Partner — Coordinates program closures with RCN when schools are closed due to weather.
strategies · 4

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Family-Centered Care Model
    methodology: family-centered_care
    By engaging the entire family in early childhood development, we improve child outcomes because inclusive family involvement strengthens support systems and promotes continuity between home and program environments.
  • Individualized Developmental Support for Children with Disabilities
    methodology: individualized_education_program
    By delivering individualized special education and therapeutic services aligned with Individualized Education Programs and SCERTS-based assessments, we promote school readiness and developmental progress because tailored, strength-focused interventions meet children at their level of need and ability.
  • Integrated Provider Support for Child Care Professionals
    methodology: integrated_provider_support
    By combining nutrition assistance with professional development in child development, health, and business operations, we enhance the capacity and sustainability of in-home child care providers because holistic support improves service quality and provider retention.
  • Nature-Based, Sensory-Enriched Learning Environment
    methodology: nature_based_learning
    By designing child-centered physical environments with sensory-rich outdoor spaces and nature-based experiential learning, we support holistic child development because multisensory, predictable, and safe settings reduce anxiety and enhance engagement, behavior, and school readiness.