August 2022

Upcoming ELRC Region 17 Events

ELRC Region 17 Provider Meeting

Wednesday, September 14 from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Register here

Health & Safety Regional Task Force

Wednesday, September 21 from 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

Register here

Local Leadership Council

Wednesday, November 16 from 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

Register here

2022 Child Care Market Rate Survey

The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) is asking all Pennsylvania licensed child care facilities to complete the 2022 Child Care Market Rate Survey and share information about tuition rates and the true cost of care. Every two years, OCDEL asks early care and education providers to submit updates on their costs or confirm there has not been any change. These updates and confirmations are necessary as OCDEL uses this information to consider future Child Care Works (CCW) base rate increases. When all providers participate, this accurate accounting of data may mean more money for resources and staff in the form of future increased base rates. The final deadline to complete the survey is October 11, 2022. Those who have questions about the 2022 Child Care Market Rate Survey, did not receive the survey, or need help submitting the survey, contact the Institute of State and Regional Affairs at ChildCareResearch@psu.edu or leave a toll-free voicemail at (866) 982.6433. Continue reading.

Increased Income Limits at Redetermination

Effective immediately, the Child Care Works (CCW) subsidized child care program has increased the amount that eligible families may earn at their yearly redetermination! Gross annual income may not exceed 300% of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines (FPIG). All other eligibility requirements must still be met. Please contact your Child Care Specialist with questions.

Reporting Classroom Closures

Providers who temporarily close classrooms due to staffing shortages, cleaning, or any other reason, must immediately notify Terry McLaughlin at ELRC Region 17 by phone, (610) 278-3261, or email, TMcLaugh@montcopa.org, with the names of the Child Care Works/subsidy children affected and the dates of the closure. Subsidy payment will not be made for the days that the provider is unable to offer child care services in those classrooms.

Text and Email Options for Providers

Providers who do not use Provider Self-Service and would like to enroll in the new text and email communication tool from DHS, complete this form and return to elrcregion17@pa.gov or fax to (610) 278-5161. Please complete one form for each contact person.

Announcement ELRC 22-06 Required Professional Development Training for DHS Certified Child Care Providers Participating in Child Care Works (CCW)

Beginning August 30, 2022, all child care staff of DHS certified child care providers that participate with CCW are required to take a minimum of one professional development training in Child Development annually, each fiscal year (July 1-June 30), unless actively enrolled in an Early Childhood Education/Child Development (ECE/CD) degree program, including a Child Development Associate (CDA) program which will meet this requirement by completing coursework throughout that fiscal year. Child care staff not enrolled in a degree program will select approved training from the Professional Development (PD) Registry that aligns with competencies Standard Area 1: Child Development and Learning in Context (the Pennsylvania Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators will be implemented effective July 1, 2022) to meet this professional development training requirement.

All Directors/Owners/Operators and staff who have a role in processing CCW payments must take the professional development training titled “CCW Program Integrity and Accountability Training for Regulated Providers” (#341825) in the PD Registry by November 30, 2022. New staff involved in processing CCW payments hired after November 30, 2022, must complete the professional development training titled “CCW Program Integrity and Accountability Training for DHS Certified Child Care Providers” in the PD registry within 90 days of hire. This training does not have an annual requirement. Subsidy providers must sign and return Appendix I - Attestation of Professional Development by December 30, 2022 or their Provider Agreement will be terminated. Please contact ELRC Region 17 with questions. Continue reading.

Updated COVID-19 Best Practices for Early Childhood Education

Updated information is now available for COVID-19 Best Practices for Early Childhood Education (ECE). The updated information includes the Isolation and Quarantine Visuals, clarification of obsolete certification policies related to COVID-19, 6 Things to Know about COVID-19 Vaccination for Children, and more. This information helps keep ECE professionals informed on best practices for keeping children, staff and families safe and healthy as they continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. Continue reading.

Action Required for Regulatory Compliance

Providers who hold a license to operate a facility licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) recently received an important notice regarding two changes to the Civil Rights Compliance process. First, there is a new Civil Rights Compliance form when submitting a new licensing application and a new Civil Rights Compliance attestation form when submitting a licensing renewal application. Second, the process of submitting the form has changed.

The DHS Bureau of Equal Opportunity currently issues a letter verifying compliance with applicable civil rights laws. With the new process, a letter from BEO will no longer be sent out to licensed entities. Instead, the issuance of the new license or renewal license will indicate that a CRC form or Attestation form submission was approved. This new process is effective Monday, August 22, 2022. Existing licensees and applicants were notified to begin following the new process on or before this date. For additional details, see the release.

Overview of Keystone STARS: Pennsylvania's Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS)

Reminder: All staff must complete “Overview of Keystone STARS: Pennsylvania’s Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS)” by the time of their next designation occurring after October 1, 2022. Ongoing, all newly hired onsite Leadership Team and Teaching Staff complete the course within 90 days of hire unless previously completed.

Training - English, Spanish

Work Force Support Grant Reminders

Please review the following reminders about Work Force Support Grants and contact your Quality Coach with questions:

Payment for Staff Retention portion must be paid out by 30th day of ELRC payment date.

Allowable uses for Staff-Related Expenses grant funds include, but are not limited to:

• provide recruitment sign-on bonuses;
• pay for advertisement of vacancies;
• pay for or reimburse staff for costs associated with criminal background clearances; and
• pay for costs associated with mandated staff training related to annual OCDEL Certification requirements.

Changes to Keystone STARS Standard EC 3.4.5 - Internal Assessment Process (IAP)

For Fiscal Year 2022-2023, the Internal Assessment Process (IAP) approach has been enhanced to better focus on the unique quality improvement priorities of each program, create additional opportunities for discussion and sharing ideas, and connect Program Observation Instrument (POI) feedback to Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) goals to support meaningful and sustainable growth. A collaborative approach continues with the opportunity for the program, quality coach, and assessor to partner on planning for and implementing the IAP prior to the required CQI Consultation meeting. The CQI Consultation meeting takes place after the program shares their observation feedback with their quality coach and partnering assessor. The assessor will use the completed observation to help prepare for the CQI Consultation meeting and might make notes on element and practices highlighted as strengths and potential areas of growth. Although programs are welcome to share scoresheets in addition to their observation notes, the assessor is not focused on what the program scored. The CQI Consultation is a chance to explore what the program has learned, discuss priorities for growth, and develop goals that connect the observation feedback to the program’s culture and vision. Contact your Quality Coach with questions.

Backpacks Are Here!

Republic Bank donated 100 backpacks to ELRC 17 to help children in our community start the school year with new school supplies.

In addition, the ELRC received 200 backpacks from the Literacy Council of Norristown and from other area agencies and partners to assist our low-income families in preparing for a new school year.

Thanks to our generous partners, we’ve distributed 550 backpacks so far and still have some left!

Parents and providers may contact Raquel Graham, rgraham@montcopa.org, and Diahann James, djames1@montcopa.org, or call our office at (610) 278-3707 to request backpacks. View the backpack flyer here in English and Spanish.

Community Outreach

ELRC Region 17 participated in PA State Representative Matt Bradford’s Family Fair at the Elmwood Park Zoo on August 18^th in Norristown!

We will be participating in the Veterans Resource Fair on Tuesday, October 4^th, from 10am until 12pm at the Human Services Center in Norristown. We look forward to having an opportunity to share resources with veterans and families in Montgomery County.

Announcement Revised C-19-01 Verifying Compliance with the Pennsylvania Safe Drinking Water Act

On August 12, 2022, the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning, Bureau of Early Learning Policy and Professional Development and Bureau of Certification Services released the Announcement Revised C-19-01, Verifying Compliance with the Pennsylvania Safe Drinking Water Act. The updates include providing additional information regarding changes of the verification process for child care centers with an on-site water source that is in a stand-alone public water system such as a strip mall. Revisions to Announcement C-19-01 are provided in red text within the Announcement. Continue reading.

Child Care Professionals Network

CDA courses available! Offerings with reduced cost, flexible schedules and laptops available to borrow. Courses can matriculate to college credit and are taught by PQAS instructors. Click here to access the flyer and registration link.

Fall Enrollment Opportunities are Happening Now

Explore funded pathways towards ECE degrees and credentials through the ECE PDO at PHMC. ECE/IHE Coordinators are ready to help you connect with our higher education partners as you advance on your unique career pathway. Visit ecepdo.phmc.org/career-advising to complete an intake form and begin working towards earning your degree or credential today! For general questions, contact ecepdo@phmc.org.

Early Childhood Provider Council

Calling for Southeast PA Parents and Families! The Early Childhood Provider Council has created a Parent/Family Council. This group's purpose is to advise the Early Childhood Provider Council on their work as well as develop a policy agenda. The Council is looking for 40 parents and/or family members with young children in Philadelphia region. Please share widely with parents and caregivers in your program and please click here or see the flyer for details.

The Pennsylvania Key IECMHC Virtual Office Hours

The Pennsylvania Key Infant-Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) Program is offering a new service: IECMHC Virtual Office Hours. IECMHC Virtual Office Hours accepts appointments for office hours throughout Pennsylvania. IECMH Consultants are available by appointment to provide IECMHC Virtual Office Hours consultation via telephone or video conference. IECMHC Virtual Office Hours is a short-term, collaborative, problem-solving conversation to help you find next steps for: Child Social-Emotional Concerns; Child Behavioral or Developmental Concerns; Emotional Well-being of Teachers and Caregivers; and Partnering with Families Services are available at no cost to families, child care professionals and specialists supporting Keystone STARS child care programs. We invite:

• Teachers, directors, and staff in center, family, and group-based child care programs
• Families with children attending child care programs
• Early Intervention (Birth-3 & 3-5) professionals
• Keystone STARS Quality Coaches
• Mental Health/Behavioral Health agencies
• Home Visiting and Family Support Programs

IECMH Consultation helps adults strengthen their relationships with young children and build capacity to respond to children’s social-emotional needs. IECMHC can help reduce caregiver stress, as well as increase caregivers’ reflective practice skills.

• Figure out what’s really going on when a child exhibits challenging behaviors
• Reflect and respond to problem behaviors with the power and impact of nurturing relationships
• Build partnerships with families
• Share community resources
• Consider your next steps and where to go from here

Appointments are held on the first and third Fridays of the month, or other days/times by request. Schedule an appointment here.

Early Childhood Education Linkage System (ECELS)

The Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (PA AAP) operates the Early Childhood Education Linkage System (ECELS) to improve the quality of early childhood education and school age child care programs. ECELS provides professional development and technical assistance about health and safety in child care, in addition to sharing resources with colleagues in other states and countries. They link quality improvement efforts of government, early childhood educators, health professionals, and other organizations. Visit their website to learn more and view their monthly Health and Safety Update as well as additional Mental Health Resources.

2022-2023 PA NAPSACC Wellness Grant Application

This grant provides an opportunity to engage in a continuous quality improvement process focused on obesity prevention practices and policies within an early care and education setting. The program utilizes Go NAPSACC, an online, evidence-based tool, to guide self-assessment, action planning, implementation, policy development, re-self-assessment and reflection. The process empowers program leadership and includes individualized technical assistance to increase knowledge and improve quality of practice and policy. Programs will also be linked with a Child Care Health Consultant (CCHC) at no cost to the site. The CCHC will review current nutrition and physical activity practices and policies, assist with developing sustainable policies, and offer guidance for continuous quality improvement. Applications are due by September 16, 2022. Continue reading.

Emergency Preparedness Month

September is National Emergency Preparedness Month. Use this month to help families prepare for emergencies like floods, fires, winter storms, and more. Visit ready.pa.gov and check out these resources to help families prepare for emergencies.

Pennsylvania Emergency Preparedness Guide: This guide will help you become better prepared by learning about different kinds of emergencies, how to create emergency plans and kits for your home, your vehicle and your workplace, and how to plan if you have a special need

Family Communication Plan for Parents and Kids: Guidelines to help families determine who would be your out-of-state point of contact, and where you would meet away from your home

Emergency Supply Kit Checklists for Parents and Kids: Checklists designed to help parents and kids prepare for emergencies

Helping Children Cope: Tips to help children recognize their reactions during and after emergencies, and help children cope with their emotions

Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) Region 17 provides a single point-of-contact for Montgomery County families, early learning service providers and community members looking to gain information and access services that support high-quality child care and early learning programs. ELRC Region 17 can help families find the best child care for their children by offering links to many services, including Child Care Works, Pennsylvania’s child care subsidy program.

Through ELRC Region 17, child care professionals can obtain support in building quality outcomes for children by working with quality coaches to achieve Keystone STAR 3 and 4 status, building connections with community partners and supporting children and families in accessing additional services, such as PA Pre-K Counts, Head Start, home-visiting and Early Intervention. Please review our monthly newsletter and email us at elrcregion17@pa.gov with questions!