Announcement ELRC 23-01, Increase to Child Care Works Base Payment Rates for DHS Certified Providers

Feb. 21, 2023: The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), Bureau of Early Learning Policy and Professional Development has released the Announcement ELRC 23-01, Increase to Child Care Works Base Payment Rates for DHS Certified Providers. The purpose of the Announcement is to announce an increase to base rates paid by PA Department of Human Services (DHS) to certified child care providers participating in Child Care Works (CCW). Base payment rates are also known as the Maximum Child Care Allowance (MCCA). This Announcement replaces ELRC Announcement 21 #11 Increase to Child Care Works Base Payment Rates.

Effective March 1, 2023, OCDEL is implementing increases to the MCCA rates. Learn more.

OCDEL Early Head Start Child Care Partnerships (EHSCCP) Request For Applications (RFA)

Feb. 21, 2023: Applications are being accepted for up to 40 slots (total amount available) by child care providers interested in applying for the Early Head Start Child Care Partnership (EHSCCP) grant. The grant provides partnership opportunities to high-quality child care providers to serve 324 income eligible infants and toddlers in their community. Application deadline is March 20, 2023. Learn more.

Minor Updates to Announcement REVISED C-19-01 Verifying Compliance with the Pennsylvania Safe Drinking Water Act (Child Care Centers Only)

Announcement REVISED C-19-01 has been updated to provide additional Drinking Water Reporting System 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. The revisions to Announcement C-19-01 are provided in red text in the announcement.

Office of Head Start (OHS) Webcast: New Federal Opportunities to Bolster the Early Childhood Workforce

The Office of Head Start is hosting the webinar, New Federal Opportunities To Bolster the Early Childhood Workforce, on Wednesday, March 1, 2023, 1:00–2:15 p.m. Learn about new Federal funding and resources, including those from the Consolidated Appropriations Act for fiscal year (FY) 2023, that can help states, territories, Tribes, and communities launch, sustain, or expand promising strategies that strengthen the early care and education workforce.

Hear from a panel of Federal agency leaders about Federal funding and resources from their respective departments that can support the growth, quality, and well-being of the early childhood workforce and the following new Federal opportunities:

• FY 2023 funding increases for the Child Care and Development Block Grant, Head Start, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (Part B, Section 619, and Part C), Registered Apprenticeship, Career and Technical Education, and other programs
• New Preschool Development Grant Birth Through Five (PDG B–5) Awards
• Launch of the new National Early Care and Education Workforce Center
• Reauthorization of and budget increases for the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting program.

Click here to register.

Early Learning Resource Center Request for Applications

The Early Learning Resource Center Request for Applications is now open on Pennsylvania’s eMarketplace. Information can be found here: PA - eMarketplace (state.pa.us)

The deadline to submit applications has been extended to March 8, 2023.