There will be a public hearing to consider DCYF’s proposed changes to the child care regulations on June 21, 2017. The hearing will be located in the community room at the DaVinci Center for Community Progress at 470 Charles St., Providence, RI 02904. If you wish to testify, you may do so by signing up at the hearing or by submitting written testimony to Veronica Davis, Chief of Licensing and Regulation, at veronica.davis@dcyf.ri.gov. The hearing will begin at 6:00 p.m. and will conclude when the last speaker finishes testimony or at 8:00 p.m., whichever occurs first. For more information, or to obtain a copy of the draft regulations, please visit the DCYF website.

The Lineham School, an integrated pre-school program housed in the Exeter-West Greenwich Regional School District, has grown in many ways over the past five years, including undergoing an intensive program self-assessment where the school identified and set important health and safety, and quality improvement goals. 

One proposed area for improvement included the outdoor play space. An Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale report (ECERS) identified specific weaknesses in playground safety. This assessment allowed administrators to successfully apply to LISC for a Race to the Top - Early Learning Facility Planning Grant that enabled them to conduct a playground safety audit and receive a conceptual plan for addressing hazards. One major concern was that the play space was only accessible by crossing a driveway and climbing up a set of concrete stairs. Another issue was that some of the previously existing play equipment was not age appropriate for the 3-5 year olds. The space also lacked a variety of play opportunities for children with special needs.

Identifying these issues early on allowed the school district to allocate and apply for other sources of funding in addition to the LISC funded facility grants, such as the RIDE School Business Authority grant for safety-related work. Since the goal of improving the playground had been well-established as part of a larger improvement initiative, pieces of this project also were included in the district’s previously developed 2016 Capital Improvement Plan. Improvements to the space include: re-locating the play space closer to the facility and installing a new gate and fencing, allowing children to have direct access from their building; constructing ADA-compliant pathways to and around the whole playground; and adding a variety of new play elements including an area and path for ride-on toys, an art and music space, sand and water play, age-appropriate climbing opportunities, and natural elements (which also will increase shade in the area).

With a total project cost of $200,000, the school successfully utilized multiple streams of funding, including $65,000 of Race to the Top Early Learning Facility Planning and Capital Grant funds awarded through LISC, to re-create their outdoor environment to be safe and stimulating for all early learners.Congratulations to the Mildred E. Lineham School who recently held their celebratory ribbon cutting ceremony! We were thrilled to play a role in this project!

There is no level of lead exposure that is safe, especially for children because of their fragile nervous system. Any exposure can have a significant impact on a child’s development. Children who come into contact with lead can experience headaches, abdominal pain, constipation, hearing problems, delayed growth, decreased IQ, behavioral and learning problems, as well as damage to the brain and nervous system.

Regulations require that your facility be maintained as lead-free or lead-safe – and there are many things that can be done to ensure your children are safe. If you would like to learn more about how you can reduce exposure to lead, take a moment to read this quick guide from Eco-Healthy Child Care and Children’s Environmental Health Network.

Our first online workshop, Creating Quality School Age Child Care Space, is officially ready! You can register to participate in this virtual learning opportunity on your own schedule and at your own pace. In order to access this learning module, you first need to register by clicking the button below.

This workshop is the first in a series of online modules we will be releasing. These sessions allow for self-guided and self-paced learning opportunities. If there are particular topics you would like to see covered, or if you need assistance registering please let us know! You can contact us at riccelff@lisc.org. 

And don’t forget to visit our Tutorial Training on the home page of our Online Learning Portal for more information about navigating the workshop.