Shapiro Administration Releases 2022 Market Rate Report for Child Care, Highlights Investments in Base Rates to Support Access to Care for Children and Families

On June 16, 2023, the Department of Human Services’ Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) released the 2022 Market Rate Survey (MRS) Report, which assesses costs of care incurred by child care providers and payments made by families in care. The survey is used to set base reimbursement rates for Child Care Works (CCW), Pennsylvania’s subsidized childcare program. This new data reflects the challenging operating environment that childcare providers have navigated through the pandemic and accompanying economic challenges. Read more.

Reminder: ECE Recap To End

The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) has determined there is no longer a need to distribute the ECE Recap. The ECE Recap was developed during the pandemic to ensure providers and partners with a recap of the important email correspondence from OCDEL from the previous week.

OCDEL has been intentional around how often critical messages are being sent which has made the distribution of the ECE Recap unnecessary. The ECE Recap will be sent through June 2023, and the last edition will be sent on Monday, June 26, 2023.

OCDEL will continue to send important information via the Early Education News (monthly edition and Special Announcements) and the Certification News. Please sign up for both and other newsletters on the Pennsylvania Key website here.  

Apply to Become a 2023-24 Pennsylvania Afterschool Ambassador

Become part of a coalition of leaders who possess the necessary knowledge and experience to champion and advocate for high-quality out-of-school time (OST) programs with the Pennsylvania Afterschool Ambassadors Program.

Ambassadors will: 

• Attend a two-day training in Harrisburg.
• Be part of a robust cohort of ambassadors who will engage with policymakers regarding support for the OST field in Pennsylvania. 
• Establish universal terminology pertaining to the OST field for use during advocacy efforts. 
• Establish relationships with policymakers and OST providers statewide. 
• Increase access to regional, state and national OST experts. 
• Facilitate an annual Afterschool Advocacy Day at the Capitol building with policymakers, OST providers and youth to support and promote OST programming and build pathways to sustainable programming in the Commonwealth.

Ambassadors will receive participation stipends as well as free registration for EMPOWER 2023, Pennsylvania's only OST conference, being held Dec. 7-9. Ambassadors located more than 50 miles from Harrisburg, funds to offset travel costs may be available. Act 48 credits will be available. Apply now.

Deadline Extended: Child Care Providers to Order Two Free Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Certified child care providers have until the extended deadline of Aug. 31, 2023, to order one or two Carbon Monoxide Detectors. 

The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) is making these detectors available to certified child care providers, but the ordering and placement of detectors is not a regulatory requirement. Certified child care providers should have received an email from School Health on Wednesday, March 1, 2023, with directions. See the original release for more details. 

Renewing Medicaid and CHIP Coverage

Pennsylvanians throughout the state may get information in the mail about renewing their Medicaid or CHIP coverage. If they and/or their children get health coverage through the state, they must complete a renewal every year. If this renewal is not completed, they and/or their children could lose Medicaid or CHIP coverage.

When this packet arrives, they must complete and return it by the date printed on the packet. They can send it in by mail or deliver it in-person at any local County Assistance Office. They can also complete the renewal by phone at 1-866-550-4355 or online at dhs.pa.gov/COMPASS.

To help spread the word to the families you serve, check out DHS’ Communications Toolkit (pa.gov) for print material, social media posts, and newsletter blurbs.