Families Invited to Participate in Professional Photo Session - Stipend Provided!

The Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems (ECCS) Team at the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) invites pregnant and parenting families of children birth to age six to participate in a free professional photo session! The photos will be used in future local, state, and national education and outreach efforts.

Each participating family will receive a stipend of $150 and associated travel/mileage reimbursement for completing the approximately 1-hour photoshoot. Families will also receive copies of their photos.

Four sessions will be held at various locations throughout the state in late June and July. There is no cost to participate in the ECCS photo session. Space is limited, and registration is required by the June 15 deadline. Get more info, including how to register. 

Free Summer Professional Development Series

The Learning Lamp and the Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children have launched a free summer professional development series to help school-age child care providers gain access to needed training.

Workshops will take place monthly through August from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on the third Thursdays of the month via Zoom.

The series will offer numerous strategies to deliver high-quality summer camp sessions for pre-school and school-aged children.

PQAS hours and/or Act 48 credits will be awarded to participants for each completed two-hour session. The next workshop is scheduled for June 15, followed by July 20 and Aug. 17. For more information, visit www.thelearninglamp.org/events.

June 30 Deadline for Child Care Providers to Order Two Free Carbon Monoxide Detectors

June 30, 2023, is the deadline for Pennsylvania certified child care providers to order one or two Carbon Monoxide Detectors. 

The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) is making these detectors available to certified child care providers, but the ordering and placement of detectors is not a regulatory requirement. Certified child care providers should have received an email from School Health on Wednesday, March 1, 2023, with directions. See the original release for more details. 

Renewing Medicaid and CHIP Coverage

Pennsylvanians throughout the state may get information in the mail about renewing their Medicaid or CHIP coverage. If they and/or their children get health coverage through the state, they must complete a renewal every year. If this renewal is not completed, they and/or their children could lose Medicaid or CHIP coverage.

When this packet arrives, they must complete and return it by the date printed on the packet. They can send it in by mail or deliver it in-person at any local County Assistance Office. They can also complete the renewal by phone at 1-866-550-4355 or online at dhs.pa.gov/COMPASS.

To help spread the word to the families you serve, check out DHS’ Communications Toolkit (pa.gov) for print material, social media posts, and newsletter blurbs.