Stay in the Loop with GSQ's Continuous Quality Improvement Newsletter

NOVEMBER 2022 EDITION

Welcome to The Loop
ITERS-3 Training
FCCERS-3 Recorded Webinar
Importance of Measuring Quality for Schoolagers
Handwashing Reminders
New Indicator Spotlight

Welcome to The Loop

As we welcome a reimagined quality improvement process in February 2023, Great Start to Quality has also reimagined its brand with a new logo, new colors and a fresh, new start. Previously the Star Gazette, The Loop will continue to make its way to your inbox every month with important information about the quality improvement process, provider tips and tricks, professional development opportunities and much more.

Looking for prior editions? All newsletters are posted on our website to review at any time.

Previous Newsletters

GSQ Training and Support

Training opportunities to help you prepare and improve

ITERS-3 Training

Virtual

Register in MiRegistry for training on the Infant Toddler Environment Rating Scale (ITERS-3) On-Site Observation Overview. In this training, learn about the ITERS-3 On-Site Observation tool which will be an option for programs when Great Start to Quality launches the reimagined brand process in February 2023. Join us to learn how this tool will help you support quality improvement in Infant and Toddler settings. Training is free. 2 course offerings.

December 9th 1pm-3 pm

(event ID: 119063)

December 14th 6:30pm–8:30pm (event ID: 119069)

FCCERS-3 Recorded Webinar

GSQ Website

Training on the Family Child Care Environment Rating Scales (FCCERS-3) for home-based providers was held in mid-November 2022.

If you missed the training, you can view a recorded version below, without training credit.

View Recording

Learn more about the FCCERS-3 tool and its scales.

More About FCCERS-3

Importance of Measuring Quality for Schoolagers

Schoolage care matters! Ask any parent looking for care before and afterschool or for care during school breaks. The needs of schoolage youth are much different from young children so it is important to ensure that GSQ measures quality for schoolage programs too. Families count on programs to provide safe places for schoolagers to go when they are not available as well as academic enrichment activities and development opportunities to help their schoolagers flourish. Many families have limited time with their schoolagers each day, so they count on programs to provide planned, intentional experiences ensuring schoolagers are engaged in learning outside of the standard school day so their family time can be just that, family time.

The vast majority of licensed child care programs in Michigan include schoolage care. Since 2018, programs that were strictly licensed to serve schoolagers only could participate in Great Start to Quality to support program quality improvement. Until now, there has not been a opportunity to include all licensed schoolage care.

What happens on February 1?

Programs that serve schoolagers, and that engage with the revised model of Great Start to Quality, will receive Quality Indicators specific to schoolage care in their Self-Reflection.

The revised model for GSQ is all about quality improvement. Remember, there are no longer points during the validation process so working on quality improvements in schoolage programs will not keep your program from moving forward in the process.

Also, remember that the first time a schoolage classroom in a program that serves other ages has a Social Emotional Learning Program Quality Assessment (SEL PQA) completed for the On-Site Observation, it's okay if threshold scores are not met. Coming through the process will just give the program the data needed to continue the quality improvement efforts.

Early Education Tips

Handwashing Reminders

As infant and toddler classrooms return to pre-pandemic child care capacities and normalcy, it is important to remember that their immune systems were exposed to relatively few germs while at home. Children returning to child care and increased enrollment means more germs to spread. There have been numerous programs that have reported outbreaks of RSV and hand-foot-mouth across the state. It is important to keep good handwashing practices in place and to remove toys that infants or toddlers have had in their mouths. Handwashing is important before bottle-prep, bottle-feeding, and meal times as well as after mealtimes, diapering, and nose-wiping. Follow posted handwashing guidelines and help infants and toddlers with good handwashing routines throughout the day. Keep a “dirty toy” bin to toss mouthed toys into for sanitizing. Handwashing practices are assessed with ERS tools during On-Site Observation and are an important measure of quality.

As always, if you have any questions, reach out to the Assessment Team at assessment@ecic4kids.org.

New Indicator Spotlight

The New Indicator Spotlight will be featured in each edition of The Loop to help programs prepare for the launch of the quality improvement process in February. A different indicator will be featured in each newsletter.

FCP3: Program has at least one (1) goal, in the Quality Improvement Plan, that supports improvement based on the Strengthening Families™ Protective Factors Framework which are ideas that are used to guide programs in supporting families to promote healthy child and family outcomes.

The Protective Factors Framework contains five (5) main ideas:

Parental Resilience
Social Connections
Knowledge of parenting and child development
Concrete support in times of need
Social and emotional competence of children

The Strengthening Families™ Protective Factors Framework is an approach to improve outcomes for children, schoolagers, and families. Understanding the Protective Factors allows staff to help families build resilience, form relationships, and access services and resources in the community.

To implement this indicator, the program will:

Review the Strengthening Families™ Protective Factors Framework
Create a goal focused on the Strengthening Families™ Protective Factors Framework
Enter goal into the Quality Improvement Plan
The goal must be current or completed after the initial Self-Reflection submission.

As you being to draft a goal in the Quality Improvement Plan consider the following questions to get your thinking started:

How do you see the Protective Factors in your current policies and practices?
Is there one specific Protective Factor that you want to learn more about?
Have the staff been trained on the Strengthening Families™ Protective Factors?
How can the program share more information with families about the Strengthening Families™ Protective Factors?

More information about this indicator can be found in the Quality Indicators Guidance Document and Quality Indicators FAQ.

If you are thinking about how to maintain or continue making quality improvements, or if you're ready to learn more and need help, contact your local Great Start to Quality Resource Center by calling 877-614-7328 or visit www.greatstarttoquality.org

Funding from the Office of Great Start within the Michigan Department of Education supports the implementation of Great Start.