Welcome to the ECE Recap where you can find the
most recent and important information from the
Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL).

Those anticipating submitting a Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program (HSSAP) Request for Application (RFA) for fiscal year 2022-23 can now access the HSSAP 2022 Request for Application Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). The FAQ contains information about Application Process; Scoring; Eligibility; Proposed Service Area, Locations, and Risk Score Calculations; Partnerships; Program Requirements; Fiscal, and more. Access the FAQ and additional materials at the Pennsylvania Key website. Application deadline is 3:00 pm on March 28, 2022.
Child Care Hiring Days Coming Soon: March 29-31

Are you hiring? You are not alone! With the majority of child care programs experiencing staffing shortages, action is being taken to connect job seekers to hiring early learning programs throughout Pennsylvania. 

ECE programs can participate in Child Care Hiring Days for PA on March 29, 30 and 31, 2022, at no cost! During this 3-day event, ECE programs will host walk-in hiring events, featuring on-the-spot interviews at their locations. Programs will display yellow balloons, ribbons, or stars in front of their facility to signify that they are participating in Child Care Hiring Days of PA. This event will be widely advertised via radio, social media and community organizations. The event aims to simplify the job search and hiring process for potential applicants and promote the rewards of working in early childhood education. 

Register, post your job positions, watch the recorded Information Session and learn more at ECEhire.com! Child Care Hiring Days for PA (phmc.org)
Reminder: CDC's Updated COVID-19 Guidance for Operating Early Care and Education/Child Care Program
 
A reminder for early childhood education programs of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) updated information for COVID-19 Guidance for Operating Early Care and Education/Child Care Programs, as of Jan. 28, 2022. This release included updated guidance to reflect new quarantine and isolation guidance and recommendations, specifying the circumstances when isolation and quarantine periods can be shortened, and updated guidance regarding staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccines.
 
OCDEL continues to recommend that programs to follow the CDC COVID-19 Guidance for Operating Early Care and Education/Child Care Programs. If a change is issued, OCDEL will immediately communicate to the ECE community.  
Update Your Email Address Up to Date in Provider Self Service Now!
 
The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) uses email communications targeted to child care operators for important communications. It is critical child care locations maintain an up-to-date email address for the primary point of contact at their program. 
 
Looking forward, OCDEL anticipates additional grant and award opportunities in the coming months. To ensure certified child care providers receive complete information on these opportunities, certified child care providers should visit Provider Self Service (PSS) and confirm their contact information is up to date as soon as possible.
 
Specifically, certified child care providers are asked to visit their Licensing Location Profile(s) in PSS and check to ensure all Location Information is accurate paying special attention to the Email Address field. 
 
For help with PSS, certified child care providers should contact the PELICAN Provider Help Desk at 877.491.3818 (select option #2 twice), or by email at ra-eln@pa.gov. 
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