September 2021
 
Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) Region 17 provides a single point-of-contact for Montgomery County families, early learning service providers and community members looking to gain information and access services that support high-quality child care and early learning programs. ELRC Region 17 can help families find the best child care for their children by offering links to many services, including Child Care Works, Pennsylvania’s child care subsidy program.
 
 
Through ELRC Region 17, child care professionals can obtain support in building quality outcomes for children by working with quality coaches to achieve Keystone STAR 3 and 4 status, building connections with community partners and supporting children and families in accessing additional services, such as PA Pre-K Counts, Head Start, home-visiting and Early Intervention. Please review our monthly newsletter and email us at elrcregion17@pa.gov with questions!
OCDEL Announcements
The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), Bureau of Early Learning Policy and Professional Development and Bureau of Certification, has recently released the following Announcements:
 
ELRC Policy Announcement 21 #06, Restoring Child Care Works Invoicing, Attendance and Payment Policies explains that effective October 1, 2021, Child Care Works (CCW) payments to child care providers will no longer be based solely on their current enrollment. All attendance and invoicing policies will be restored as outlined in Appendix A-Rules for Participation in the Subsidized Child Care Program in the Certified Provider Agreement.
 
Announcement C-21-06 Ending of Child Care Certification Regulations Suspensions Under the State Disaster Emergency Declaration provides updated information to certified child care providers who are impacted by announcements and guidance issued as a result of Governor Tom Wolf’s Proclamation of Disaster Emergency and communicate the end of the child care regulations suspension.
 
 
Announcement C-21-07: COVID-19 Policy Updates communicates the release of an Order of the Acting Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health Directing Face Coverings in School Entities and expectations for compliance by certified child care facilities as well as provide clarification of ongoing reporting requirements related to COVID-19.
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Stabilization Grant
 
The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) is making American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Stabilization Grants available to eligible child care providers. Eligibility for the Stabilization Grants has been established in ARPA, by the federal Office of Child Care (OCC) and Pennsylvania’s 2021-22 Fiscal Code (HB 1348). To qualify, certified child care providers must:
 
  1. Have a regular or provisional Certificate of Compliance on or before March 11, 2021;
  2.  At the time of application, be either open and available to provide child care or be in a temporarily closed status due to a COVID-19 pandemic related reason; Providers in a temporarily closed status must plan to reopen by Sept. 30, 2021; and
  3. At the time of application, a providers’ Certificate of Compliance cannot be in the Revocation or Refuse to Renew status with the OCDEL Bureau of Certification Services.
 
OCDEL had previously issued communications on creating an account and claiming your organization in the PD Registry. Instructions can be accessed here and contact our office with questions.
Reporting COVID-19 Cases

Child care programs in Montgomery County are required to report cases of COVID-19 to all three agencies listed below:
 
  1. Montgomery County Office of Public Health at (610) 278-6211 or MCSchoolsCOVID19@montcopa.org
  2. DHS Certification Representative
  3. ELRC Region 17, Terry McLaughlin at (610) 278-3261 or TMcLaugh@montcopa.org
  • Include the date of closure and date of re-open
  • Whether the whole program is closed or a classroom is closed
  • If classroom closure, include a list of CCW children affected
  • Forward email response from DHS verifying notification of closure
 
Child care providers will mark COVID-19 related absences as "CA" (COVID absence) to distinguish it from a non-COVID related absence on a paper invoice. For online invoices, providers should include an Enrollment Comment under each child who had COVID absences, stating the dates of the COVID related absences, to distinguish from non-COVID related absences.
 
Beginning August 30, 2021, ELRC Region 17 will no longer pay for full time care for virtual school-aged children. Please contact our office with questions.
Conscious Discipline®

Conscious Discipline® is a comprehensive classroom management program and a social-emotional curriculum. It identifies the seven powers needed for conscious adults to regulate their own emotions enough to see conflict differently and the seven basic skills of discipline that will empower adults to respond to conflict and upset in a way that instills life skills.
 
ELRC Region 17 hosted a successful Conscious Discipline® session on August 26th and 27th. Nine participants are now trained in the Conscious Discipline® method and will be able to implement it in their programs. Participants received FREE Conscious Discipline® materials including Conscious Discipline: Building Resilient Classrooms Book, Easy to Love, Difficult to Discipline Book, Safe Place Poster Set and 20 Safe Space Bags for children in their programs.
 
The next Conscious Discipline® session will be held on Monday, September 20th and Tuesday, September 21st, from 8:00am-4:00pm in the Pottstown area. Registration information can be found at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/conscious-discipline-training-pottstown-september-event-tickets-168609320015. Contact Maggie Johnson at mjohnson2@montcopa.org with questions.
Upcoming ELRC Region 17 Events

Wednesday, September 22nd, from 1:00pm-2:30pm
 
Wednesday, October 6th, from 1:00pm-2:30pm
ECE PDO Information Sessions: Sept 21st & 23rd
 
Are you interested in pursuing a degree or credential in early childhood education? Connect with the ECE PDO at PHMC through one of our information sessions! This month, we will be hosting information sessions for teachers who are interested in pursuing their educational goals and may have questions about CDA Coursework and/or Degree Programming. Registration is required. For more information and to register for the sessions, please click the appropriate flyer linked below:
 
 
 
ECE Program Directors: please share these flyers directly with your staff to help spread the word widely across the ECE workforce in Philadelphia and the Southeast Regions!
Learning is Everywhere
 
From papromiseforchildren.com, Learning Is Everywhere helps children prepare for school with fun activities each month such as, early learning activities, book recommendations, resources and more to help prepare your child for kindergarten. Click here to view their September newsletter and share with families in your program!
Connect With the ECE PDO at PHMC
 
Learn about career advancement opportunities today! If you are interested in advancing on the PA ECE Pathway but are unsure of where to start, our ECE PDO Career Advising services can assist in coordinating your plans! Individuals who are interested in enrolling in Early Childhood Education coursework can reach out to the ECE PDO at PHMC for information about available degree and credential programs across Southeast Pennsylvania.
 
Click here to complete an intake form to access our Career Advising services, or reach out to the PDO team at ecepdo@phmc.org to get started on your Career Pathway today. You can connect directly with Mina Abdollahi, the ECE and Higher Ed Coordinator for ELRC 17 at mabdollahi@phmc.org.
Emergency Preparedness Month
 
September is National Emergency Preparedness Month. Use this month to help families prepare for emergencies like floods, fires, winter storms, and more. Check out these resources to help your family prepare for emergencies.
 
Pennsylvania Emergency Preparedness Guide: This guide will help you become better prepared by learning about different kinds of emergencies, how to create emergency plans and kits for your home, your vehicle and your workplace, and how to plan ahead if you have a special need
 
Family Communication Plan for Parents and Kids: Guidelines to help families determine who would be your out-of-state point of contact, and where you would meet away from your home
 
Emergency Supply Kit Checklists for Parents and Kids: Checklists designed to help parents and kids prepare for emergencies
 
Helping Children Cope: Tips to help children recognize their reactions during and after emergencies, and also help children cope with their emotions
Other Resources
Early Learning Resource Center Region 17
In partnership with Montgomery County Dept of Health and Human Services
P.O. Box 311, 1430 DeKalb Street
Norristown, PA 19404
Phone: (610) 278-3707
Fax: (610) 278-5161