PROVIDERS: We need your help!

The school year for Bay Haven and North Bay Haven starts earlier than Bay District Schools; they start this Thursday on August 10th. Our system is not able to capture the transition from full-time to part-time.  If you have school-age children who are enrolled at your center who might be affected by this, please email the redline@elcnwf.org so that we ensure you are paid the proper amount.  

If you are doing something special on your program's first day of VPK, let us know! We would like to feature you on social media or possibly visit your program. Send us an email at redline@elcnwf.org so we are aware of the amazing things happening in your programs. We've already heard of several exiting events. Thank you for making these days specials for children in Northwest Florida!

Remember to tag all first day photos on Facebook and Instagram with the hashtag #1stDayVPK. For more information about OEL's statewide #1stDayVPK campaign, review the attachments below or email redline@elcnwf.org. We will be happy to clarify anything for you!

You may have noticed a slight change in the DCF Training site cover page. (See above.) OEL and DCF have joined forces in the Florida Early Care and Education Professional Development System. The goal is to support a highly-qualified early learning workforce. The Florida Early Care and Education Professional Development Registry is a key component to the system.

The registry assists early learning professionals in tracking completed training, certificates achieved, career advancement, and work history. The system also enables policymakers to analyze how well the professional development system is supporting early learning professionals in advancing their career and achieving higher levels of specialized education.

Below is a flier provided by OEL and DCF that explains more about the registry's purpose as well as information about using the registry. There are two helpful links you will want to follow and favorite on your Internet browser. If you need support, please email redline@elcnwf.org.

Join us for a free virtual town hall exploring the new GOLD® user interface and experience within MyTeachingStrategies™. MyTeachingStrategies™ experts will be on hand to answer your questions. You can submit your questions in advance when you register!  The Town Hall will be held next Thursday, August 17, from 12-1 p.m. CDT.

Please note: To provide you with the best support possible, space is limited. Sign up today! Click the button below for registration.

At the August 4th Face-to-Face Meeting, Gulf Coast State College (GCSC) presented information about their Early Childhood Education programs. Below please find a link to the main Early Childhood website for GCSC as well as the fliers distributed during the meeting. If you have questions or need additional information, please email redline@elcnwf.org.

For an archived list of materials from each of this year's Face-to-Face Meetings, click on the button below. Scroll down to the bottom of the page, and look for "Coalition Connection (Face-to-Face Meetings)."

A poverty simulation will be held on Thursday, August 24, from 6-8:30 p.m. at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Panama City. A poverty simulation is a unique, interactive experience that helps those participating understand what life is like with a shortage of money and an abundance of stress. During a simulation, participants role play the lives of low-income families, from single parents trying to care for their children to senior citizens trying to maintain their self sufficiency.

If you are interested in attending, email Naomi Sharp at sharpn@cc.ptdiocese.org by August 22. See the attached flier for more details.

Attached please find a link to OEL's August 2017 edition of "Early Learning Parents' Pages." If you would like to view any past editions of "Early Learning Parents' Pages," click here.

If there are changes that affect your contract, use the Amendment Form (OEL-SR20A) to submit changes; upload your completed form through the Coalition Document Exchange. These are the changes that would affect your contract:

• Location of the Provider's Principal Office
• Adding or Deleting Provider Locations
• Curriculum
• Character Development Program
• Contact Person
• Gold Seal Status
• Liability Insurance
• Provider Reimbursement Rates
• Holiday Schedule
  
  

If you have any questions, please email redline@elcnwf.org

Heatstroke is one of the leading causes of death among children as they are more vulnerable to heatstroke than adults. As we have seen by statistics gathered over the past 20 years, even great parents can forget a child in the backseat of a car. Although parents and caregivers need to be vigilant about leaving children alone in cars—for any number of reasons, for any amount of time, and at any time of the year—they need to be extra vigilant in the summer months. Bystanders can also help protect other children if they see a child alone in a car.
 
You can review an important checklist of things to do to prevent a child from suffering heatstroke after being left alone in a hot car at this website. Keep your children, as well as other children under your care, safe this summer!

Reference: Information provided by the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Child Care

We will attend the Downtown Panama City's Rotary Meeting on August 15th to share the successes from the 2016/2017 school year and encourage new Rotarians to sign up for the 2017/2018 school year. If your program is in Bay County and would like to become a partnering program, please email us today using the "Email the Redline!" button below. We are looking forward to hearing from you.

Attached please find a checklist for all providers offering the VPK Program in 2017/2018. Please make sure you submit COEs as soon as possible so your September reimbursement process is not delayed. 

If you have any questions, please email redline@elcnwf.org. 

Visit OEL’s “Statewide Initiatives” page here to view the rules with proposed changes. Rule names and language is located on the left side; opportunities for live workshops and webinars are located to the right. If you are interested in signing up for a workshop webinar, click on the link provided to visit the registration page for the webinar you choose. Below are the following rules with changes being considered.

• Rule 6M-4.700, Child Performance Standards
• Rule 6M-8.602, Performance Standards for Children Participating in the VPK Education Program
• Rule 6M-8.605, VPK Staff Development Plan for Programs on Probation (POPs)
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While on this page, look at the top for the header called “Upcoming OEL Workshops & Hearings.” Click on the link at the top of the page (Sign up to be notified when there is an upcoming workshop or hearing.) to sign up for email alerts about upcoming changes in rules.