Provider Network Newsletter October 13, 2021

October 13, 2021

Dear Providers,

Just a few reminders when submitting your monthly attendance:

Attached is the Reimbursement Upload Guide to reference when uploading your Attendance Documentation.

All information should be in Alphabetical Order by the child's LAST NAME.

Upload all backup documentation with your attendance. (Notes, Excessive Absence forms, Court Orders, Rilya Wilson Absence forms, etc.)

Don’t forget to upload the absence documentation when marking the absence in the EFS Mod-Provider Services Online Attendance.

Remember, the fewer papers we have to shuffle through, the faster we can get through the Reimbursement process, and the faster the providers will get paid.

Reimbursement Upload Guide

Voluntary Prekindergarten Sign In/Sign Out Sheet and Attendance Processing Rules:

VPK Providers using the Short Form must have additional back up documentation validating child attendance. For example: Daily sign in/out sheets and (or) teacher’s attendance records.
VPK Providers that use a method other than a daily sign in/out sheet, such as attendance logs, the provider must ensure that parents certify the students’ attendance each month using the Long Form.

Short and Long Forms must be signed and certified by the parent/legal guardian no earlier than the last school day of the month and no later than five (5) calendar days into the following month. For example: The month of October 2021 can be verified and signed between the days of October 29th, 2021 and November 5th

While processing VPK Reimbursement, we are observing several things; Children’s legal names are being shortened, middle names or nicknames are being used on the Sign-in/Sign-out sheets, Teacher daily attendance logs, Long Forms and Short Forms in place of legal names. These documents are being presented as your invoice for payment and should contain the legal name of the child.

Please see the below listing of guidelines to assist providers in successfully meeting the requirements.

For the Child Attendance and Parental Choice Certificates (Short or Long forms)

Submit completed forms (all spaces filled in)

Child’s Name first and last name (must match name on the ELC Enrollment Certificate) that will match child's name on EFS MOD Roster as well
Date
Time in (must be accurate to the minute, may not be rounded up or down)
Time out (must be accurate to the minute, may not be rounded up or down)
Signature of person signing child in (in ink)
Signature of parent or person authorized by the parent to pick up child (in ink)
Name of Facility/Provider
Month / Year

Please upload in alphabetical order by classroom or scan packets by class.

A message from the Office of Child Regulation

To Florida Child Care Providers,

According to s. 402.305(10), F.S., by January 1, 2022, child care providers operating either child care facilities or large family child care homes will be required to install an alarm system in each vehicle used to transport children. The Office of Child Care Regulation has prepared a final list of alarm manufacturing companies for child care providers.

The list can be found on the child care website at the following link: Alarm Manufacturing Companies.

Please keep in mind this is a list of manufacturing companies only. Child care providers may purchase these products through a variety of sellers.

The Office of Child Care Regulation’s provision of the list of manufacturers does not constitute an express or implied endorsement of any of the listed companies or their products. This is a list of manufacturing companies that meet the minimum requirements.

If any child care providers already have alarm systems installed in their vehicles, they may continue to use their alarm systems provided the alarm is in working order and meets certain criteria. However, when the alarm system is no longer functioning, child care providers must secure an alarm system from the approved list.

If you have any questions regarding the alarm, please work with your licensing counselor.

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!

Teach Your Way

Fun Pumpkin Activities that Build Skills

Pumpkin activities are great for fall, for Halloween, and for Thanksgiving. If you’re looking for craft, motor, snack, emotions, sensory, or perceptual activities, this list will inspire you to get into the fall spirit with your kids. Read more...

Children's Mental & Behavioral Health Trainings

This training is free and open to all. The goal is to increase awareness of how to leverage available resources and services and build collaborative connections to reduce children in mental and behavioral health crisis, and establish concrete connections for families.

See Additional Sessions Below

Wednesday, November 10th 12:00PM - 2:00PM

PEARLS

Friday, November 12th 12:00PM - 2:00PM

Transforming Staff

Saturday, November 13th 9:30AM - 11:30AM

Shake Up Your P.R.O.F.I.T.S.!

Saturday, November 13th 12:15PM - 2:15PM

Motivate The Motivator

Saturday, November 13th 2:30PM - 4:30PM

Challenging Behaviors

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.

Webinar Series

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.

Upcoming Webinars

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.

PAC Flyer

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!

CCR&R Request

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 "Help Work It Out", 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.