Greetings!
Early Learning Update Week of September 11th, 2023
Items Covered:
· Early Learning Roundtable Thursday, September 14th at 4:00pm - Staff Meetings/Staff Communication
· Licensed ONLY – Is your MERIT Dashboard Up to Date?
· Licensed ONLY - Licensing “WAC” of the week – Staff Records
1.) Early Learning Roundtable Thursday, September 14th at 4:00pm - Staff Meetings/Staff Communication
I am looking forward to our first Early Learning Roundtable of the year on Thursday, September 14th at 4:00pm. This month we will discuss Early Learning Staff Meetings/Staff Communication. Do you run staff meetings for your early learning team, if so what topics are discussed, how often do you meet, when do you meet, do you provide food, ect. What is the best and most effective way you communicate with your early learning team. These roundtables are meant to share how you operate in your program and get ideas from others in how they operate. Please join at the zoom link below:
Join Zoom Meeting
2.) Licensed ONLY – Is your MERIT Dashboard Up to Date?
The MERIT Workforce Registry provides a Dashboard to help licensed early learning providers easily track qualifications for their role. DCYF is reaching out to individuals that need to update their licensing Dashboard. If your Dashboard is not up to date, please review and update your information. I am more than happy to schedule a time with your program to come and review each staff person’s MERIT account and answer any questions they may have. Please let me know if you have any questions!
· Training (Child Care Basics, CPR, First Aid, Food Handlers, etc.)
· Experience (required for specific roles)
· Pre-service (Licensing orientation, TB test, PBC)
· Hiring education
· Job role education
3.) Licensed ONLY - Licensing “WAC” of the week – Staff Records
Each week this year I am going to highlight a specific Licensing WAC to ensure that all of our programs stay in compliance, and we are always ready for annual monitoring visits. This week’s featured Licensed WAC is “Postings”. The link below provides a list of all items that need to be posted on a board in a visible place at your program. The board can be a bulletin board, A-Frame, Whiteboard, ect. Most programs have this “board” either just outside their room/s or just inside the door. All items on the list need to be on the board, except the following:
a. Enrolled children’s Dietary restrictions, known allergies, and nutrition requirements, if applicable, need to be in a location easily accessible for staff but not accessible to those who are not parents or guardians of the enrolled child
b. Handwashing practices need to be at each handwashing sink
c. In most cases the diaper changing, and pesticide treatment information are not applicable so you do not need to include those items.
Please let me know if you have any questions
Have a great week!
