Welcome to the
ELRC 8, 9, & 10 Newsletter
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Your source for all relevant resources, updates, PD, and events
relating to Child Care and School Age Care in your region!
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OCDEL ECE Recap - July 18, 2022
Welcome to the ECE Recap where you can find the most recent and important information from the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL).
Read more
myemail.constantcontact.com
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Workforce Support Grant Updates
This section is intended only for those programs that applied for a Workforce Support Grant. If you declined this opportunity, please make sure you complete a declination form (HERE) and submit it to our Finance Inbox. Once you have done that, you can disregard the remainder of this section.
For those programs that DID APPLY for a Workforce Support Grant, please read on:
We are currently working through the approvals of the Workforce Support Grants and wanted to share an update. Payment will occur by the end of August, pending any extenuating circumstances with your application. The Award Letter and Reporting Form will be sent to you during the week of August 22nd. It will detail the amounts received for all 3 categories of spending:
- Staff Retention award (Group A and Group B),
- 7.65% of the total Staff Retention awards amount for payroll taxes, and
- Staff Related Expense amount (see below).
Once you have completed all your spending, you will electronically complete page 2 and return to our Finance Inbox. Please keep a copy for your records.
- Staff retention awards must be paid to all staff within 30 days of receiving your payment. If you receive payment on August 29, 2022, this deadline is September 28, 2022.
- Staff related expenses must be spent by January 31, 2023.
- Reporting is due back by March 31, 2023.
As you are spending, ensure that you are saving payroll, payroll tax, and other documents and invoices. It is also important that you are tracking your expenses to ensure that you have spent all the funds you were paid. You may be selected for monitoring of these grants, and you would need to show proper documentation at that time.
Staff Related Expenses:
Licensed Capacity | Staff Related Expense total
6-26 | $2500
27-38 | $3000
39-49 | $4000
50-62 | $4500
63-77 | $5000
78-93 | $5500
94-113 | $6500
114-138 | $7000
139-180 | $8000
SACC in schools (999) | $2500
If staff leave employment prior to payment of the staff retention award, those funds can be moved to staff related expenses for use on eligible items in that category. When reporting, update the actual amounts spent in each category.
Questions can be sent to your Quality Coach or info@childcareconsultants.org.
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ELRC Learning Opportunities |
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Learn the PD Registry - Your One Stop Shop
Wednesday, August 3rd
1:30 pm | 6:30 pm
You may have heard of the recent updates and changes to the PD Registry system for Keystone STARS and other resources. Join us to become more familiar with the new Keystone STARS Streamlined System, as well as walk through other vital pieces of the Registry.
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Special Diets Boot Camp
Join us for this 2-day event as we tackle the most common topics surrounding special diets in the CACFP. Learn how to apply CACFP meal pattern substitutions or modifications with real, practical solutions to accommodate the diverse needs of...
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info.cacfp.org
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Keystone STARS Renewals and the PD Registry System
As you may have heard, the STARS Designation system is LIVE in the PD Registry! If you are within 90 days of your STAR expiration, please reach out to your Quality Coach (QC) to allow them to help you determine next steps. Please note, there is a glitch in the new system that they are actively working to fix that may affect your ability to complete your application for programs in Year 2 or Year 3 of the 3-year designation cycle. Please reach out to your QC before taking the time to utilize the system to ensure that you are working through the correct application.
Upon working with your Quality Coach, you can use the picture above to locate resources and tipsheets related to the new system.
As well, if you receive any notifications regarding a Request for Designation or Enrollment Calculation Tool (ECT) from Pelican (PSS), please disregard them. As of July 1, 2022, we are no longer using PSS for STAR renewals, so you will NOT be completing that Request for Designation, nor will you be completing the ECT. If you have any questions, please reach out to your QC before doing any unnecessary tasks!
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Community Partners & Other Resources |
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Ready. Set. Go! Teacher Toolkit
Thank you teachers! We invite you to take advantage of this free toolkit of resources specially selected to help preschool teachers like you feel confident and prepared as you welcome the new school year.
Read more
teachingstrategies.com
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Diversity, Equity, Inclusion |
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Multicultural Principles for Early Childhood Leaders | ECLKC
Head Start programs are effective when their systems and services support the cultural diversity of enrolled families. Furthermore, individual staff members must be able to demonstrate their respect for and respond to the different cultures in...
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eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov
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Social-Emotional Learning |
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Stigma and Asking for Help || Talking Mental Health with ...
October 26, 2021In recognition of both Mental Illness Awareness Week and World Mental Health Day, we are dedicating this YouTube limited series (Talking Ment...
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www.youtube.com
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Self-Regulation Before Co-Regulation - Supporting Children..
When was the last time you experienced strong feelings in your classroom? Every day, right? Emotions play a huge part in what happens in classrooms every day.
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teachstone.com
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Health, Safety, & Wellness |
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Poisoning Prevention Home Safety Tip Sheet | ECLKC
Head Start staff can share these tips with families to help them keep children safe from poisoning at home. Download the PDF Cleaning is an important way to reduce germs. However, many young children have been poisoned by products that are meant...
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eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov
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COVID-19 Risk Reduction Strategies: Posters | ECLKC
COVID-19 risk reduction starts with helping everyone understand the steps to staying healthy. Download and display these printable posters to remind staff and families about basic COVID-19 prevention strategies. These posters promote vaccination, ...
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eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov
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Register | EMPOWER 2022 - November 30, 2022
EMPOWER 2022 by Center for Schools and Communities on November 30, 2022. Lancaster County Convention Center and Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Register now, and learn more!
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pheedloop.com
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8/6 - Ready Set Go... Kindergarten!
Join us to celebrate the Class of 2035 and all our friends at Ready Set Go Kindergarten at the WITF Public Media Center
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www.eventbrite.com
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Professional Development: on the PD Registry |
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7/26- Employee Retention Strategies
Join Beth Boger of PACCA business partner FocusHRO as she discusses how employee feedback can be used through all stages of the employment cycle to keep employees engaged in their work and connected to the mission of the company. Also, in this t
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www.memberleap.com
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Professional Development: Other Opportunities |
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Trauma Aware PA - Resilient PA
JOIN YOUR COMMUNITY IN BECOMING TRAUMA AWARE In concert with the Pennsylvania Office of Advocacy and Reform, HEAL PA, United Way of Pennsylvania, and Collectively Rooted are working to help Pennsylvania residents become more trauma aware and have ...
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www.resilientpa.org
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7/21- How to engage in sensory exploration with infants
We'll learn strategies for how to create open ended sensory activities with everyday tools and objects in the classroom, and the importance of observation and assessment when setting up sensory experiences.
Read more
wow.himama.com
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7/28 - Creating Positive Interactions Between Teachers
Effective teachers are present with each other, just as much as they're present with their students. In fact, a classroom that functions like a well-oiled machine can only work when co-teachers are working in-sync. So, how can you ensure...
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info.teachstone.com
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8/11- Removing Barriers in Play to Include All Children
Play is the heart and heartbeat of early childhood programs, and it's our job to offer environments and opportunities for healthy play. If all children are going to play, we need to make sure that we address barriers...
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www.earlychildhoodwebinars.com
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8/18- Back to School with Meaningful Interactions 2022
Back to School with Meaningful Interactions is a free event for early childhood educators that will leave you feeling energized about returning to the classroom. Join Teachstone for an afternoon of inspiring sessions with applicable strategies...
Read more
events.bizzabo.com
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12th Annual Pennsylvania Infant Mental Health Conference
Save the date for PA-AIMH's 12th Annual Infant Mental Health Conference on
September 15 & 16, 2022!
Read more
www.pa-aimh.org
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Additional Online Training Opportunities |
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Thank you for all you do for children, families, and your community by being part of the STARS program.
Sincerely,
Child Care Consultants
(717) 854-2273 or
(800) 864-4925
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