Welcome to the ECE Recap where you can find the
most recent and important information from the
Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL).
Addendum Added to the Family Support Programs RFA

An Addendum to the Family Support Programs RFA has been added clarifying Audit Clauses. Responses to the Family Support Programs RFA are due March 11, 2022. Get more info.
Is Your Email Address Up to Date in Provider Self Service (PSS)?

The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) uses email communications targeted to child care operators for important communications. It is critical child care locations maintain an up-to-date email address for the primary point of contact at their program. 
 
Looking forward, OCDEL anticipates additional grant and award opportunities in the coming months. To ensure certified child care providers receive complete information on these opportunities, certified child care providers should visit Provider Self Service (PSS) and confirm their contact information is up to date as soon as possible.

Specifically, certified child care providers are asked to visit their Licensing Location Profile(s) in PSS and check to ensure all Location Information is accurate paying special attention to the Email Address field. The screenshot below shows the Location Profile page, the Location Information tab, as well as the Email Address field.

For help with PSS, certified child care providers should contact the PELICAN Provider Help Desk at 877.491.3818 (select option #2 twice), or by email at [email protected]. 
Pediatric First Aid and Pediatric CPR training

OCDEL is working to provide additional opportunities for Pediatric First Aid and Pediatric CPR training to the early education communities. Child care staff and providers are advised to still contact their local Early Childhood Education Professional Development Organizations (ECE PDOs) for access to free, Pennsylvania Quality Assurance System (PQAS) approved, Pediatric First Aid and Pediatric CPR training.
ARC and AAP Updates for Providers

America Red Cross (ARC) Update, February 2022: The American Red Cross (ARC) has updated its pediatric course offerings (ARC no longer offers a “one-year provisional” course). These Pediatric First AID/CPR/AED options are currently available from American Red Cross:
  • ARC Instructor-Led Course: Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED
  • ARC Blended Learning Course: Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED (includes Online course AND hands-on Skills Session with an instructor). 
 
NOTE: American Red Cross is permitting the Blended Learning Course to be completed with a virtual Skills Session, provided the required equipment is used, including manikins. Completion of the Blended Learning Course, which includes the Online course AND the virtual Skills Session, leads to the American Red Cross OSHA compliant final certification (the virtual Skills Session must be completed within 90 days from the date the Online course is completed to achieve final certification).
 
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Update, February 2022: The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) offers an onsite and hybrid course, Pediatric First Aid for Caregivers and Teachers (PedFACTs), which includes Pediatric First Aid/CPR, emergency medical services (EMS) and automated external defibrillator (AED). The onsite course requires an online pretest, 4-hour classroom, and a final examination. The hybrid course requires an online pretest, self-directed online modules (about 2 hours), online final examination, and attending a 2-hour hands-on skills practice with instructor interaction.
 
The PedFACTS course is being discontinued as of March 31, 2022. The PedFACTS certification is valid for two years from the date of the PedFACTS course completion, as long as the PedFACTS course occurs on or before March 31, 2022. If certification is needed after March 31, 2022, it is recommended to seek an alternative approved course in the PD Registry. 
Update on the Let’s Talk Quality Series
The Program Quality Assessment (PQA) team’s Let’s Talk Quality Series includes– Let’s Talk Quality Blog, Let’s Talk Quality Webinar, and the newest, Let’s Talk Quality Spotlight. Each month the PQA team publishes a blog article, creates a webinar, and offers a spotlight session--all that focus on a monthly topic.
 
If you missed the webinar for February, don’t worry. It is recorded every month and you can watch it here. The blog article has been posted and you can read it here.
Career Pathway Update Webinar
Thank you to all who participated in the Career Pathway Update Webinar, held Feb. 24, 2022. This 15-minute overview was recorded, and several questions were collected at the end of the session. A FAQ document will be created and shared with providers and ECE professionals. If you did not get a chance to attend the webinar, the recording and the FAQ document will be available on the Pennsylvania Key website after March 18, 2022. If you have additional questions about the Career Pathway, please send inquiries to: [email protected], and please put Career Pathway question in the subject line.
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