December 8, 2021
Rules Workshop

A Rule Workshop for Rule 6M-10.001 Gold Seal Quality Care Program and Rule 6M-10.002 Gold Seal Quality Care Accrediting Associations will be held via webinar on the following dates and times:
Tuesday, December 14, 2021
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. EST
or until business is concluded, whichever is earlier.
Thursday, December 16, 2021
3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. EST
or until business is concluded, whichever is earlier.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Written comments on the proposed rule may be submitted to oel.rules@oel.myflorida.com. All emails should have “6M-10.001 and 6M-10.002 Comment” in the subject line. 

Health Insurance Market Place

The Administration for Children and Families is partnering with The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services to help the early childhood workforce access health coverage and connect with navigators and assisters during the Open Enrollment period for Marketplace coverage, which started on November 1. 
It is important to ensure that every early childhood educator has access to affordable health care coverage, particularly those who are on the front lines serving children, families, and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we know that the early childhood workforce is two times less likely to have health care coverage or to receive employer-sponsored health care coverage than the general population. Benefits are a critical piece of compensation, and as we continue to work to improve compensation for the workforce, it is essential to include health care coverage. 
Handmade Cards for Seniors
Will your kids help make Holiday cards for local senior citizens?
Senior Santa is an annual program by DCF and local partners to ensure that seniors are remembered during the holiday season.
Escorted by Santa Claus himself, Senior Santa volunteers will deliver handmade holiday cards created by children from our local child care providers. If you wish to have your program participate, please have your cards ready by December 10th.
Contact: Missy Lee (850) 251-7350 mylisa.lee@myflfamilies.com and she will pick up your cards.

Be on the Lookout!

Kate and Tami from our Provider Development Team will be visiting Providers in our region to distribute useful information and resources for your teachers and program.

Be sure to say "Hi" when you see them!
If you would prefer to drop off your hand artwork directly to us, we can mail it for you. Please drop off at our below office locations by January 5th.
ELC Panama City
3009 Hwy. 77, Suite F
Panama City, FL 32405
ELC Marianna
4636 HWY 90 East, Suite P
Marianna, FL 32446
Quarterly Frog Street Training is available now
 
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
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 "Up, Up, Up", 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.
December Special Dates
National Human Rights Month
Safe Toys and Gifts Month
National Influenza Week: December 6-10
National Hand Washing Awareness Week: December 6-10
Computer Science Education Week: December 13-17
Las Posadas: December 16-24
Kwanzaa: December 26 - January 1 
December 8
National Brownie Day
 
December 9
Christmas Card Day
 
December 10
Human Rights Day
Nobel Prize Day
 
December 12
Gingerbread House Day
Poinsettia Day
 
December 13
National Cocoa Day
 
December 15
National Cupcake Day
Bill of Rights Day
 
December 16
National Chocolate-covered Anything Day

December 17
National Maple Syrup Day
Ugly Christmas Sweater Day

December 18
National Twin Day
Wreaths Across America Day
December 19
National Hard Candy Day
 
December 21
Crossword Puzzle Day
Winter Solstice
 
December 23
National Re-Gifting Day
 
December 24
National Eggnog Day
Christmas Eve
 
December 25
Christmas Day ELCNWF Offices Closed
 
December 26
National Candy Cane Day
National Thank-you Note Day
 
December 28
Pledge of Allegiance Day
 
December 31
New Years Eve
Universal Hour of Peace
We exist to grow healthy children, parents, and the relationship between them.
Sponsored by the Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida and the State of Florida, Division of Early Learning