November 24, 2021
CARES/CRRSA PHASE VI Provider Grant Opportunity

The Division of Early Learning (DEL) has released a COVID-19 Grant Opportunity for Providers who were OPEN on 09/01/2021. This grant is intended as Emergency Funding for Early Learning/Child Care Providers.

Providers who are interested in participating will need to complete and submit the attached Application. Grants are paid based on 2020-21 capacities.

The Application is brief and requires completion of all areas to qualify. The Provider should complete pages 1 through the middle of page 2 of the application. The Coalition will complete the bottom section of page 2. 
 
We are requesting that the Applications be completed and returned by Close of Business (COB) on Tuesday, November 30, 2021, so that Grant payments can be processed prior to the Christmas Holiday.
 
Completed applications should be returned via Sharefile/Coalition Document Exchange. Please create a folder titled: CARES Grant Opportunity to return the application. If you do not have a Sharefile/Coalition Document Exchange Account, you may return the application directly to: michelle.shadoan@elcnwf.org.
 
COVID-19 Grant Applications are subject to review by the Early Learning Coalition for criteria eligibility and will be timely processed in the order they are received. 

If you have questions regarding the Application, please email redline@elcnwf.org and use the keyword “COVID-19 Grant Question” in the subject line so that the appropriate staff member can respond.
Program Due Dates

Please see the below lists of Due Dates for the SR and VPK programs. If you have any questions or concerns please reach out to your contract specialist and they will be happy to assist you.
Health Insurance Market Place

The Administration for Children and Families is partnering with The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services to help the early childhood workforce access health coverage and connect with navigators and assisters during the Open Enrollment period for Marketplace coverage, which started on November 1.
 
It is important to ensure that every early childhood educator has access to affordable health care coverage, particularly those who are on the front lines serving children, families, and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we know that the early childhood workforce is two times less likely to have health care coverage or to receive employer-sponsored health care coverage than the general population. Benefits are a critical piece of compensation, and as we continue to work to improve compensation for the workforce, it is essential to include health care coverage. 
A Mandated Reporter Training for Head Start and Child Care Staff:
iLookOut for Child Abuse
 
 
Abuse or neglect can impair children’s healthy development. Children who are maltreated may be at risk of experiencing cognitive delays and health and mental health challenges that will affect many aspects of their lives.
 
Everyone who works as a staff member, consultant, or contractor in a Head Start or child care program is a mandated reporter. Mandated reporters are required by law to report known or suspected cases of child abuse or neglect to their local child protective services agency. Head Start and child care programs must provide training on identifying and reporting suspected child abuse and neglect. They must also have internal procedures in place to report suspected cases.
 
To assist programs, the Office of Head Start (OHS) is partnering with the Penn State Center for the Protection of Children to offer a version of iLookOut for Child Abuse (iLookOut) for Head Start and child care providers. This interactive training course can help staff members understand their role and responsibilities in protecting vulnerable children and in supporting at-risk families. It is now available on the Individualized Professional Development (iPD) Portfolio.
 
Access the iLookOut Course
To access the course, log into the iPD using your Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC) account. Once logged in, select this ECLKC Web link to access the course.
 
You will receive 0.3 continuing education units or three contact hours after completing the course and course evaluation. For more information, review these FAQs (frequently asked questions) on iLookOut for Child Abuse on the ECLKC site.
 
Attend the iLookOut Webinar
Join the iLookOut for Child Abuse webinar on Wednesday, November 17, 2021, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time). Explore this new resource and learn how to protect vulnerable children and to support at-risk families. Topics for the webinar include:
 
  • Recognizing the signs and symptoms of suspected child abuse or neglect
  • Understanding the responsibilities of a mandated reporter
  • Supporting families when filing a mandated report
  • Accessing the interactive iLookOut online learning module
  • Finding additional resources to support mandated reporting.
 
This webinar will be offered with simultaneous interpretation in Spanish. Select this Zoom Web link to register for the webinar.
 
Related Resources
Explore related resources on the ECLKC site to learn more:
 
Stay Informed
Please share this message with colleagues who may be interested in this topic. Did someone forward you this announcement? Stay up to date with OHS email updates by subscribing to this ECLKC webpage.
 
Join MyPeers to connect with Head Start and child care colleagues around the country on this and other topics. The Health, Safety, and Wellness Community has more than 1,000 members who are networking, sharing, and learning from each other. Find that information under "All Communities" and select the blue "Join" button.
 
We Want To Hear From You!
Send your questions or comments to the National Center on Health, Behavioral Health, and Safety at health@ecetta.info or call us at (888) 227-5125 (toll-free).

Effective Strategies for Communication with Families

We have all heard the phrase “communication is key”, and that phrase most definitely holds true for optimizing your child’s experience at child care.
What does good communication look like? 

  • According to HiMama’s Parent Satisfaction Survey, 77% of parents want more details about their child. In fact, 40% of parents preferred proactive daily communication from their child care centers.
  • Communication should be consistent and clear. Concerns, suggestions, and observations should routinely be conveyed to you. 
  • Daily updates are a necessity. Paper reports often get lost in the parking lot or left behind. Consider using a center that uses digital communication apps like HiMama. Digitally is convenient and fast, not to mention parents prefer digital communication rather than paper.
  • Pictures are always a plus! In fact, 94% of parents that had the highest happiness scores in our Parent Satisfaction Survey are receiving photo updates. 
If you would prefer to drop off your hand artwork directly to us, we can mail it for you. Please drop off at our below office locations by January 5th.
ELC Panama City
3009 Hwy. 77, Suite F
Panama City, FL 32405
ELC Marianna
4636 HWY 90 East, Suite P
Marianna, FL 32446
Helping and Healing Library Delivering Soon

The Helping and Healing Library is a collection of books specifically chosen to address difficult life experiences that our children may go through. Some of the books highlight topics like loss, separation from a parent due to death, addiction or deployment, social anxiety, trauma, grief, and even the pandemic. Each library comes with a topic guide, which includes a brief description of the book and keywords that indicate what the book discusses. We recommend the books be kept in the front office to "checkout", to ensure that they stay in good condition and can be used across all classrooms and ages.
It is our hope that this library will equip and empower you to connect with your children according to their specific needs.
Quarterly Frog Street Training will be available beginning November 2021. 
 
These recurring trainings will be for new staff coming on board or current staff needing a refresher.

  • Frog Street roll-out training is available for providers needing beginners training for their current staff.  
  • This can be completed virtually or on-site at your center.  
  • 80% of providers, currently using Frog Street Curriculum, has received this roll-out training for staff, but if you feel you need additional training, please email the redline.
HiMama Helps – Childcare Webinar Series

Now, more than ever, the early childhood community has to come together to figure out life during a global pandemic. The HiMama Helps Webinar series was created as a platform for ECEs and child care experts to share stories and practical tips with each other.
Join your hosts, Ria Simon and Kiah Price every Thursday at 2 PM, to explore different topics, offer practical strategies, and have your questions answered. Click below for the library of past webinar recordings.
Conference-Quality Professional Development by Early Childhood Experts

Early Childhood Investigations offers free webinars to early childhood educators. The series is produced by Engagement Strategies, LLC., and presented by leading authors, experts, and leaders. Now, you can participate in conference-quality training without leaving your home, classroom, or office.
We are looking for parents to join the Parent Advisory Committee (PAC)

Download a copy of the flyer by clicking the button below. Please make sure all parents in your center receive a copy of this flyer. You can print to send home with each of your children, or you can simply post the flyer on your social media page.
Florida KidCare

In a time when the health and safety of our community are most important, help keep the children in your center insured.
Encourage families in your centers to contact ELCNWF for information and assistance applying for Florida KidCare. Call 850-747-5400 X 108 or request CCR&R via the link below!
Teach your way during the 2021-22 school year with this timely new collection from PBS Kids, of flexible resources aligned to monthly themes and skills for PreK-2 students. Use the monthly Teach Your Way calendar and teacher planner to integrate media in creative and developmentally appropriate ways, all year long!
Big Heart World is an initiative produced by Sparkler in collaboration with Noggin that enables parents and educators to help children explore what it means to have a “big heart” and how to grow one. This means:

  • Learning About Me — Awareness of self: identity & belonging, feelings and self-regulation
  • Learning About You — Awareness of others: empathy, appreciation of diversity
  • Learning About Us — Relationships with others: interpersonal strategies

Have your kids listen, sing, and dance along to "Up, Up, Up", the next song from Noggin’s Big Heart Beats album. And be sure to follow their site as they will release a new video every month.
November Special Dates
 
Family Engagement Month
Movember
Military Family Month
National Adoption Month
National Family Caregivers Month
National Gratitude Month
National Native American Heritage Month

 
November 25
Thanksgiving Day (ELCNWF Offices Closed)

November 26
National Native American Heritage Day
Black Friday
November 27
Small Business Saturday











 
November 28
Chanukah Begins
 
November 29
Cyber Monday
 
November 30
Giving Tuesday - National Day of Giving
We exist to grow healthy children, parents, and the relationship between them.
Sponsored by the Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida and the State of Florida, Division of Early Learning