Need Insurance? Pennie gets you covered!

Pennie is the Commonwealth of PA’s official health & dental insurance marketplace and the only link to financial assistance to help reduce the cost of coverage and care. See your savings & get local, personalized help! Open enrollment is happening now, through Jan. 15, 2023. 

Not sure if you qualify to enroll through Pennie? Don’t hesitate to reach out with questions. You can even find local support and work with a Pennie professional to help find the best plan for you. Visit pennie.com/connect or call 1-844-844-8040

Deadline Tomorrow for Conference Scholarship Applications to Attend the 2023 National Child Nutrition Conference

Fifteen scholarship opportunities are available from the National CACFP Sponsors Association (NCA) for the 2023 National Child Nutrition Conference. The conference is to be held at the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego from April 10-14, 2023.

Each scholarship will include conference registration, four (4) nights' lodging at the conference hotel, and up to $300.00 toward transportation costs. Fifteen additional scholarships to attend the conference virtually will also be awarded.

Apply online if you are a:

• Family Home Provider
• Child Care Center
• Head Start
• School District
• At-Risk Afterschool Site

Applications are due tomorrow, Jan. 10, 2023, and recipients will be announced in early February.

Deadline Tomorrow to Share Feedback in the Early Childhood Credentials Survey

Tomorrow, Jan. 10, 2023, is the deadline to share your feedback for the Early Childhood Credential Survey. OCDEL encourages all providers to complete the survey. In addition to the email announcing the survey, which came from First Start Partnerships, this link can also be used to complete the survey.

Next PA Pre-K Counts Regional Meeting: January 20 in Malvern

Any eligible applicant applying for a PA Pre-K Counts grant is highly encouraged to participate in at least one regional meeting. Opportunities for regional networking have been scheduled and are a means to coordinate and collaborate on required Requests for Application (RFA) items, such as community needs assessments and partnerships, which will be highly prioritized during the RFA process. Regional meetings are taking place throughout the state, with the next one scheduled January 20 in Malvern, PA at PaTTAN East. Register for this meeting or get info about other regional meetings.

2023 Orientation Training Schedule for Prospective Operators of Child Care Facilities

The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning, Bureau of Certification has released the updated 2023 Orientation Training Schedule for Prospective Operators of Child Care Facilities. The 2023 Orientation schedules are available for Central, Northeast, Southeast and Western regions of Pennsylvania. All orientation sessions are available virtually only.

Those interested in participating must first complete within one year from the orientation, the Better Kid Care Department of Human Services' online training. For full details, please see the individual regional information.

Time Remains to Submit for the 2023 PA’s Equity in Early Childhood Education Champion Award

Less than a month remains to submit for the 2023 PA's Equity in Early Childhood Education Champion Awards! The award bring awareness to and highlight the equity work being done within Pennsylvania’s early childhood education and afterschool settings, by child care, evidence-based home visiting and early intervention professionals, and organizations which support Pennsylvania’s Early Childhood Education programs and individuals. Applications should be submitted electronically by the Feb. 1, 2023, deadline. Visit the Pennsylvania Key website for more information and how to apply.

Webinar: Supporting the Health of Children Experiencing Homelessness, Jan. 18, 1:00 pm

Understanding the housing experiences of young children and their families is essential to assessing and addressing their health, behavioral health, and safety needs. Learn how to identify and enhance housing-related protective factors to support child development and family stability. This Jan. 18, 2023, webinar from the Office of Head Start National Center will review the ways that housing is used to determine eligibility for benefits and services. It will also introduce participants to the interactive learning series, Supporting Children and Families Experiencing Homelessness, which addresses how to identify families experiencing homelessness and much more. This webinar is being offered with simultaneous interpretation in Spanish.

Early Learning Resource Center Request for Applications Feb. 17 Deadline

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 is February 17, 2023.