ELC Broward Celebrates Black History Month |
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Virtual Child Care Town Hall: Share your views on the state and challenges of early learning with local legislators and the ELC |
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As our local state legislators enter into the 2021 Florida Legislative season, it is critical they hear from child care small businesses to better understand the full scope of challenges and issues including the impact COVID-19 faced by essential child care programs. Early learning providers will have the opportunity to have their voices heard by local state legislators so they are prepared to advocate in Tallahassee on behalf of the Broward early learning/provider community.
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“If you give a child a book…” Book Giveaway!
ELC Broward Partners with WSFL-TV
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WSFL-TV (Channel 39: The CW) partnered with the Early Learning Coalition of Broward County (ELC Broward) for the “If You Give a Child a Book…” campaign with the Scripps Howard Foundation to fundraise and purchase NEW books for kids in our community. Employees at the TV station, along with their viewers raised over $10,700 to purchase almost 1,100 books for kids in Broward County.
As part of the book campaign, on Tuesday, January 19, ELC Broward and WSFL-TV surprised the students at Itsy Bitsy Kids Preschool in Tamarac with gift bags containing two books and a family activity guide for each of the children there.
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Free Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten
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School Readiness Program
Do you know families who need help paying for child care? Funding is now available for the School Readiness Program! The program offers early childhood education and care so families can become financially self-sufficient and their young children can be successful in school in the future. We are currently serving applications submitted as of 9/29/2020. Please encourage families to apply! They can apply today by going on our website! Scroll down to our Quick Links and select “Apply for School Readiness.”
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Join us for our next PLAN Meeting on Feb. 17. |
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Office of Early Learning News |
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Quick Tips for Provider Reimbursement Reports |
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Please see these helpful hints for accessing OEL Reimbursement Report in your provider portal. You can now download your reports by service period or payment period. Contact your reimbursement specialist if you have any questions.
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Check out our photos from Florida Literacy Week! |
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Florida Literacy Week 2021 was a great success! This year's theme is Humanity tells a story: What’s YOUR chapter? and lends itself to our early childhood theme of My Community and Me! While Florida Literacy Week has come to an end, you can participate all-year long with your little one at home. Click here for a list of activities and ideas!
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Join us for ELC Broward StoryTime on Facebook Live! |
Our StoryTime on Facebook Live is still on! Join us on Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays at 9:30 am for a new story. We look forward to seeing you soon!
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Free Resources & Information |
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Children’s Week 2021 - April 4-9, 2021 |
The 26th annual Florida’s Children’s Week is scheduled for April 4 – 9, 2021. This event is a special annual celebration filled with joyful singing voices of young children, the colorful “Hanging of Hands” and the dedication of thousands of child advocates across Florida.
Children’s Week provides a platform for advocates to deliver the message that every child in Florida should be healthy, ready to learn and able to achieve their full potential.
Mail your hand artwork any time before March 25, 2021 to the address provided below:
Please drop all artwork to the Early Learning Coalition of Broward County by March 12, 2021 so all Broward’s hands can be sent together.
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Join The Children's Movement on Tuesday, February 23, from 12:30 to 2 p.m. as they host an advocacy training for parents and caregivers. |
The Children's Movement will provide basic information and easy tips that any parent or caregiver can use to effectively tell your story to our legislators. Legislative session 2021 starts March 2 and continues until April 30, so you will have a chance to use what you learn to impact legislation that matters to you. You can view The Movement’s 2021 Legislative Agenda here.
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EduCare: Free Parent and Caregiver Support from the Florida Grade-Level Reading Campaign |
EduCare is *free* parent and caregiver support, delivered via text message straight to your phone!
Florida Grade-Level Reading Campaign (FGLRC) knows how busy families and caregivers are these days. The messages you will receive are brief, but thoughtful and are customized for your child's age level.
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Resources and Support Available for Early Care and Education Providers |
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Early Childhood Training and Technical Assistance System has gathered information on its website about resources available to help small businesses, including early care and education providers, through the pandemic. These resources include information about loan and grant programs, programs that can provide assistance in determining eligibility, and free consulting and training opportunities.
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Florida Certified Communities of Practice Facilitators Training Stipend |
Florida Certified Communities of Practice Facilitators are eligible for a onetime $225 stipend upon the successful completion of specific online courses by June 30, 2021, or until the stipend funding is depleted. Successful completion may include an end of course assessment or certificate of completion.
Certified Communities of Practice Facilitators must apply and be approved PRIOR to taking classes to receive a stipend. Courses taken prior to receiving notification of approval by PAEC do not qualify for a stipend.
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Early Childhood Educators Stipend Still Available |
Florida Early Childhood Educators are eligible for a $75 stipend upon the successful completion of specific online courses by June 30, 2021, or until the stipend funding is depleted. The maximum stipend an eligible participant can receive is $225 (3 courses/events x $75 = $225). Successful completion may include an end-of-course assessment or certificate of completion.
Early Childhood Educators must apply and be approved PRIOR to taking classes to receive a stipend. Courses taken prior to receiving notification of approval by PAEC do not qualify for a stipend.
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Child Care Grant and Loan Resources |
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child Care, has assembled a resource guide for child care programs interested in learning more about different loan and grant opportunities.
The resource includes recordings of previously held national webinars that provide basic information related to the Paycheck Protection Program, Emergency Injury Disaster Relief Loans and other Small Business Administration loan and grant opportunities. There are also links to pertinent information from the IRS, First Children’s Finance, free business consulting services and more.
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February 2021 Virtual Study Buddies |
February 2021 Virtual Study Buddies
The February Virtual Study Buddies Calendar is now available at
http://www.floridaearlylearning.com/vpk/vpk-providers/professional-development-training
These sessions are appropriate for early childhood educators who have completed the targeted online course and would like to participate in a review or refresher of the course content prior to taking the end of course assessment.
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HUF has offered the 100% FREE Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) to the low to moderate income communities of Broward County for more than a decade. IRS-Certified Volunteer Tax preparers assist individuals and families to identify tax credits they are eligible for in order to maximize return refunds and bring critical dollars back to the community most in need. The services are provided from numerous community sites and offered in five languages - English, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian-Creole and Sign Language.
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RFA Conducting Certification Survey |
Research for Action (RFA) is conducting a national survey of lead teachers, program administrators, parents/guardians, policymakers, and deans/ECE program directors at institutions of higher education. RFA will randomly award a $25 gift card to 60 people who choose to enter their email address into the survey. Winners can choose an e-gift card from Barnes & Noble, CVS, or Target.
The survey link above connects people to information about the study; risks, benefits, and confidentiality; and the stakeholder groups that are eligible to complete the survey.
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3Ts Tip of the Month: Talk & Tune In |
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With a little one around extra time is hard to find, but your day is full of opportunities to build your child’s brain while staying healthy at home! Just by talking and interacting with them, you prepare your child for success. It doesn’t take extra time or special activities, just conversation! Learn how to make the most of your time together by using the 3Ts at the3Ts.org.
#AnyTimeIs3TsTime #3TsFlorida #PNCGrowUpGreat
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