GOECD Briefing Will Focus on COVID-19 in Child Care: December 9
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Please join us for the next GOECD Briefing, during which IDPH Epidemiologist, Shelby Daniel-Wayman, will provide the latest data on COVID-19 in Illinois child care settings. GOECD staff will also provide updates on child care policies, access to vaccines, and other useful information. This GOECD Briefing will take place on Thursday December 9, 2021, from 12:30-1:00 pm. Please click the button below to register. If you are not able to join us at that time, the Briefing will be recorded and posted to the GOECD Newsletters & Briefings page on the GOECD website.
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COVID-19 Vaccine Information for the Early Childhood Workforce
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Workforce Requirements
On October 22, 2021, Governor JB Pritzker issued a requirement that all staff at licensed day care centers be fully vaccinated by January 3, 2022. This requirement aligns with the federal mandate for Head Start Program staff. Visit the GOECD website to review the current guidance, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), and other resources on vaccinations for the early childhood workforce.
Boosters for Early Childhood Education & Care (ECEC) Workers
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) now recommends residents age 18 and older get a Moderna or Pfizer booster shot six months after receiving their second shot, or two months after receiving the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. According to health officials, vaccines continue to offer strong protection against severe COVID-19 illness and death, but effectiveness against milder infection can lessen over time. More information is available in the IDHP - Additional Dose and Booster Shot FAQ.
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Where to Find Vaccines, Including Boosters, & Testing
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Visit www.vaccines.gov or call 1-800-232-0244 to find where you, your staff, or the families you serve can get vaccinated.
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Vaccination Resources for Early Childhood Leaders
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Strategies for Staff Vaccination
The Office of Head Start has created a webpage and weekly email blasts to support programs in planning to meet the COVID-19 staff vaccination requirement. In these resources, program leaders highlight strategies, processes, and best practices they have used to support staff with the vaccine requirement. For more information visit Vaccination for Head Start Staff.
Head Start has created a resource that includes strategies for talking with staff and families about the COVID-19 vaccines. Click here to view the webpage.
Financial Support for Vaccinations and Testing
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COVID-19 Vaccines for Children
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Vaccinations for Children Age Five to Eleven
On November 3, 2021, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) adopted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendation that children ages five to eleven years old be vaccinated against COVID-19 with the Pfizer-BioNtech pediatric vaccine. This recommendation comes after months of rigorous review and the Food and Drug Administration's decision to authorize emergency use of the vaccine for children. The “child sized” dose has been found to be over 90% effective.
COVID-19 vaccinations for those five years and older are available at local health departments, many pharmacies, pediatrician offices, Federally Qualified Health Centers, and from other providers who offer the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Additionally, IDPH continues to work with schools to set up vaccination clinics. More than 1,200 youth vaccination events have been held or are scheduled.
If you want to consider arranging a vaccination clinic for your community, IDPH is accepting applications for clinics that can serve adults, older children and teens, and the newly eligible.
Resources for Parents
The American Academy of Pediatrics has information about the COVID-19 vaccinations for parents in English and in Spanish.
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Click below to access COVID-19 Resources for:
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Illinois Early Intervention Extended Services (EI/ES)
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Illinois law, 325 IL CS, Section 11, was amended by SB0820, Amendment 002. This legislation goes into effect in January of 2022, applies to children with May 1 through August 31 birthdays, and provides eligible families the option to extend Illinois Early Intervention (EI) services past the child’s third birthday. If a child meets the criteria, families will be offered the option to continue with EI services until the beginning of the next school year.
To qualify for Early Intervention Extended Services (EI/ES), the child must:
- Be determined eligible for Early Intervention and have an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP).
- Have their third birthday between May 1 and August 31.
- Be found eligible for Early Childhood Special Education services under IDEA and Section 14-8.02 of Public Act 102-0209 (Section 11h).
For more information about options and when and how changes will be made, click the button below.
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National Culture of Health Awarded to Addison, Illinois
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The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Prize honors and elevates U.S. communities working at the forefront of advancing health, opportunity, and equity for all. Addison, Illinois was one of ten communities selected for this highly competitive award. The award event took place November 9, 2021.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation recognized Addison's efforts to create a culture that ensures there are no unmet needs for its residents. The Addison Early Childhood Consortium (AECC) is an active partner in the broad-based collaboration. AECC has actively participated in creating a "no wrong door" approach for families and is working to expand family voice and involvement, recently hiring a community member as a family advocate. Mary Haley, AECC Project Director, describes their partnership with the library to place books in laundromats for families to promote early literacy and relational health.
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New Report Examines Impact of Pre-K and the Early Grades for English Learners in Chicago Public Schools
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The University of Chicago Consortium on School Research, Latino Policy Forum, and Robert R. McCormick Foundation presented a new report on English language learner students, or ELs, conducted with Chicago Public Schools. The study examines two groups of CPS students—English Learners in pre-k and English Learners in kindergarten through third grade—to determine which types of preschool programs are most beneficial and identify which ELs are most in need of early support. The report provides evidence that: ELs who attend full-day versus half-day pre-k had higher attendance, stronger speaking skills, and stronger reading ability in the long run; ELs who enroll in CPS pre-k programs at age three show stronger language and reading skills than those who enroll at age four; ELs who receive bilingual education services show higher English proficiency scores by the end of third grade; and refusing bilingual services is associated with lower grades, attendance, and test scores in the long run.
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Safe Sleep Information for Child Care Providers and Families
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Every year, about 3,400 babies in the United States die suddenly and unexpectedly while sleeping, often due to sudden infant death syndrome or accidental deaths from suffocation or strangulation. The Early Childhood Training and Technical Assistance System (ECTTAS) has compiled information and resources on best practices for states, providers, and families on safe sleep. Child care providers can champion safe sleep practices and environments, not only in their programs, but also with parents and families.
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Kindergarten Individual Development Survey Videos for Families
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The McCormick Foundation and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) are proud to share a new early learning resource to support families: a series of short videos aligned with the Kindergarten Individual Development Survey (KIDS) measures, featuring real families sharing ways to support their three to five year olds as they develop social-emotional, math, and literacy skills. Please share these videos with families in your network as a fun way to engage in learning with their young children.
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Family Needs Study: Survey Opportunity for Illinois Families
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As part of the Illinois Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5), the Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development (GOECD) is partnering with the American Institutes for Research® (AIR) to update the Statewide Birth through Five Needs Assessment that was completed in January 2020. One part of this work is a Family Needs Study that aims to learn more about how children, parents, and families are engaged with Illinois’ Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) system, what their needs are, and how the ECEC system might better address those needs.
If you are a parent, caregiver, or guardian of a child between birth to age five (less than six years old), please click on one of the buttons below to complete the survey. Early childhood providers, advocates, and community members, please share this opportunity widely with the families across your networks.
The survey will take about 5-7 minutes to complete. As a thank you to families for completing the survey, they may enter into a drawing to win one of 80 Visa gift cards ranging from $20-$100.
The online survey available in English and Spanish will close on November 29, 2021. Additional languages coming soon! A close date for the additional surveys will be provided once those surveys are released.
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Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (ECACE) Scholarship: Details and Application Coming Soon!
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Members of the early childhood education workforce who are seeking credentials and/or a degree in early childhood education may be eligible for the new Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (ECACE) Scholarship Program, launching this fall. Program information, eligibility details, and an online application (coming soon!) are available on the Illinois Student Assistance Commission website.
If you would like to be considered, you do not need to wait for the availability of the ECACE Scholarship Application to get started. In addition to the ECACE Scholarship Application, applicants will be required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) at fafsa.gov for the same academic year that they are applying for the scholarship. Interested applicants can get started now!
If you have not filed an online FAFSA before, you will first need to create an FSA ID at studentaid.gov/fsa-id to use as your electronic signature. Once you access the online FAFSA and log in, you will be asked to choose the school year for which you will be completing the FAFSA. This year will need to be the same year as the ECACE Scholarship Application you are submitting. For example, if you are applying to receive the ECACE Scholarship during this year (the 2021-22 academic year), you must also select the 2021-22 FAFSA when given the option after logging in.
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Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services: Notice for Public Comment
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On April 27, 2021, Governor JB Pritzker signed the Healthcare Pillar bill, P.A.102-0004. This public act provides that Community Health Workers (CHWs), perinatal doula services, and evidence-based home visiting services shall be covered under the medical assistance program, subject to appropriation, for persons who are otherwise eligible for medical assistance.
The Department of Healthcare and Family Services is seeking public input on developing and implementing rules and is requesting the expertise of CHWs, doula program experts, doula training providers, practicing doulas, home visiting experts, Medicaid customers, and other stakeholders on the credentials necessary for CHWs, perinatal doula, and home visiting services to be eligible for Medicaid reimbursement and the rate of reimbursement for CHWs, home visiting, and perinatal doula services. Public input will be collected orally during the public Equity and Quality Subcommittee meeting of the Medicaid Advisory Committee on December 8, 2021 and in writing electronically and by mail through December 31, 2021. View details on what can be included in public feedback entries using the link below.
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Advance Illinois is Hiring: Senior Policy Advisor in Early Childhood
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Advance Illinois is looking for experienced candidates to apply for their Senior Policy Advisor in Early Childhood position. The ideal candidate is a systems thinker with strong knowledge of the early childhood field – preferably with knowledge of, and experience with, Illinois-specific policies, stakeholders, and context. Advance Illinois is looking for a strategic thought partner and self-starter who is able to work independently and is comfortable working in a small team environment and partnering with a diverse network of outside partners and stakeholders.
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