Greetings!
Early Learning Update Week of May 22nd, 2023
Items Covered:
· Save the Date: INSPIRE Conference Thursday, August 10th at Seattle University
· Licensed ONLY: Free Water Testing for Lead and Copper
· Licensed ONLY: Monitoring Visits Points of Emphasis
Please see this week’s professional development opportunities and news.
1.) Save the Date: INSPIRE Conference Thursday, August 10th at Seattle U 8:30am – 3:30pm
Please save the date for the INSPIRE conference on Thursday, August 10th at Seattle U from 8:30am – 3:30pm. All Early Learning Staff in your program are invited to this FREE in-person conference that will bring us together for sessions specifically focused on our Early Learning Programs. I sent a separate email last week to you with additional details and I will sending you the online registration link shortly! This conference will have a specific tract for Early Learning where you will enjoy great speakers and have the opportunity to share resources about your program and create community with other Early Learning Leaders.
2.) Licensed ONLY: Free Water Testing for Lead and Copper
Prior to Licensing a new program you are required to do a Lead and Copper Water Test for the faucets/fountains that kids will get their drinking water. Did you know that in an existing Licensed Program you also need to do Lead and Copper Water testing every six years. There is now a FREE water testing program for Licensed Programs through the Environmental Protection Agency’s Water Infrastructure for the Nation Act Grant and the Washington State Department of Health. The Department of Health will train staff to collect and send their water samples to their lab for testing. If you would like to use this program please click on this link and fill out the interest form: Lead and Copper Testing in Drinking Water in Child Care Facilities– Child Care Interest Form Survey (surveymonkey.com)
3.) Licensed ONLY: Monitoring Visits Points of Emphasis
A few of our programs have had recent Annual Monitoring Visits from their licensors. Please see below for a list of items they have consistently been looking at – I included WAC links if applicable. I also included a document which mirrors the document licensors use during their visits that has their whole lists of items to review.
· Dates on Fire Extinguishers
· Confirm all is up to date in MERIT
· Confirming Immunization forms were signed by parents
· Last Water Test Date for Copper and Lead (see above)
· MMR vaccine documented in staff file
Have a great week!
