Tomorrow is the Deadline to Submit Application for Work Force Support Grant 2.0

Tomorrow, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022, is the deadline for the Work Force Support Grant 2.0 which provides funding to eligible DHS certified child care providers (providers) for staff retention and staff recruitment purposes.



While the WFSG 2.0 is like the previous Work Force Support Grant released earlier this year, there are some areas that are significantly different. Some of the main differences include changes to:

• Provider and Staff Eligibility Requirements. The most significant changes are included in these sections.
• Funding Categories
• Availability of grant funds: Funding is limited. Funds will be made available on a first come-first serve basis to providers who submit complete and accurate applications.

Eligible child care providers should submit their applications by the Dec. 6, 2022, deadline.

Dec. 7: National CACFP Sponsors Association’s Power of the Food Program Virtual Event

The National CACFP Sponsors Association is hosting the Power of the Food Program virtual event on Wednesday, December 7, 11:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Attendees will learn how the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) contributes to nutrition security, why they should participate in CACFP, how to get financial reimbursement for the healthy meals they serve to those in their care, what the meal patterns are, and how to sign up and meet program requirements. There will also be sessions about menu planning, food allergens, physical activities, low-cost snacks that meet the meal pattern, and nutrition education resources. Learn more and register.

Planning to Submit a PA Pre-K Counts Application? Attend the Informational Webinars!

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) has opportunities to participate in informational webinars and regional meetings to learn about the Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts (PA PKC) program.

FY 2022-2023 is the last program year for the current five-year grant cycle of the PA PKC program. In the Spring of 2023, PDE will announce a full, competitive rebid. During the rebid, all eligible providers interested in receiving a grant must apply. It is important during the application process that eligible applicants fully understand the program regulations and expectations so that informed decisions can be made regarding whether to apply. Learn more about upcoming webinars or access recordings.

Certification Regulations Update 



The proposed Certification Regulations for Chapter 3310 (Family Child Care Homes) and Chapter 3320 (Child Care Centers) were submitted to the DHS Regulatory Review process in November 2022. OCDEL will move into the next phase of the Certification Regulation rewrite Project which will be the Training and Resource Development Phase. Phase II will include developing supporting resources and identifying technical assistance and training opportunities.

• See former Deputy Secretary Tracey Campanini’s final video for this project.
• View the recorded presentation that provides updates on next steps.
• For more information and ongoing updates, please visit the Child Care Certification Regulation Rewrite Project page.

Reminders

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

• All Director/Owner/Operator and all staff who have a role in processing CCW payments have taken the professional development training titled, CCW Program Integrity and Accountability Training for DHS Certified Providers by November 30, 2022, or within 90 days of hire, if hired after November 30, 2022. 
• Owner/operator must complete the “Appendix I - Attestation of Professional Development” and return it to the ELRC by December 30, 2022.
• If the attestation is not signed and returned to the ELRC by December 30, 2022, the Provider Agreement will be terminated effective January 1, 2023.

ELRC Policy Announcement 22 #07 OCDEL Approved Developmental Assessment and Curriculum Tools in Keystone STARS (released Dec. 1, 2022).

• The optional requirements for STAR 3 and 4 providers to use OCDEL-approved curricula and development assessments in order to earn points in EC 3.4.1 and EC 3.4.2 has not changed in recent years. However, OCDEL recognizes these requirements may not have been communicated effectively or implemented consistently across the commonwealth. Effective December 1, 2022, only current OCDEL-approved curricula and developmental assessment tools will be accepted in meeting EC 3.4.1 and EC 3.4.2 for STAR 3 and 4 designations as outlined in this policy announcement. In addition, this policy outlines the annual process OCDEL will use to update the listings of assessment and curriculum tools. 

ELRC Policy Announcement ELRC 22-08 Requirements for Programs Using an OCDEL-Approved Alternate Pathway to a Keystone STARS Designation in the Professional Development (PD) Registry (released Dec. 1, 2022)

• Programs who hold accreditation through an OCDEL-approved Alternate Pathway accrediting body can apply for their Keystone STARS designation. For a current list of the accreditations that serve as OCDEL-approved Alternate Pathways, click here. The announcement includes detailed information about how Alternate Pathway programs can use the PD Registry to apply for designations.

Announcement C-22-06 Updated Health and Safety Pre-Service and One-Hour Training

• The New pre-service trainings are:
• Get Started with Center-Based Care-Revised 2022; or
• Versión en español: Comience con Cuidado Infantil Basado en Un Centro - Revisión 2022; or
• Get Started with Home-Based Care-Revised 2022; or
• Versión en español: Comience Con Cuidado Infantil Basado En Un Hogar - Revisión 2022
• All new child care staff hired after October 4, 2022, will need to complete the updated versions within 90 days of hire.
• Additionally, OCDEL and BKC created a new one-hour course to provide updated information on required health and safety topics for current staff: “Pennsylvania Health and Safety Update 2022 or Versión en español: Actualización de Salud y Seguridad de Pennsylvania 2022”
• All staff hired before October 4, 2022, are required to complete this updated health and safety training by December 30, 2022