Welcome to the
ELRC 8, 9, & 10 Newsletter
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Your source for all relevant resources, updates, PD, and events
relating to Child Care and School Age Care in your region!
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Child Care Technology Access Award
Deadline June 30, 2022
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Eligibility for the Child Care Technology Access Awards ends Thursday, June 30, 2022. The Child Care Technology Access Award allows eligible DHS certified child care providers to purchase certain identified tools aimed at increasing technology access and supporting business practices and enhance classroom activities. Applicants experiencing issues with the receipt of their technology should contact Kaplan at 1-800-334-2014. For child care providers newly licensed in May or June, Kaplan will have targeted outreach to your program contact. You are considered eligible to participate in this initiative if licensed by June 30, 2022.
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Welcome Ashlee!
Hello! My name is Ashlee Walter, and I am the new STARS Quality Coach in Region 8 covering Centre County. I am excited to begin my new career, since promoting high quality early care and education has been a long-time passion of mine.
I began my journey in Early Childhood Education working with children and their families in 2007, working as a Floater, Assistant Teacher, Assistant Head Teacher, Peer Mentor, Early Head Start Teacher and as a Developmental Preschool Teacher. It has been a professional goal of mine to gain as much experience as possible; I have worked with children ages birth through five years with diverse developmental needs and abilities across Snyder, Union, Mifflin, and Clinton Counties.
In my personal life, child development and learning are also at the forefront of my priorities - I have two daughters: Sofia and Auslyn. My husband and I enjoy taking the girls outdoors to hike, bike, boat, kayak, canoe, camp, snowboard, fish, and swim. We love to explore and play in nature!
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ELRC Learning Opportunities |
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Summer Series: CACFP Portable Picnics
Sunny days with a refreshing breeze are a perfect time to take dining outdoors. On Thursday, July 14th, learn from our Nutrition Education Specialist, Isabel Ramos-Lebron, MS, RDN, LD, about how to create and safely serve CACFP meals picnic...
Read more
www.cacfp.org
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Moving Our Bodies
Playtime can be full of opportunities to learn! Check out these printable movement squares from Sesame Street in Communities. Simply download the document, print, and cut the squares. When it's time to play, take turns drawing squares and...
Read more
www.cacfp.org
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Call for Participants in Study on Technology in Early Care
Who is eligible: You are eligible to participate if you're an over eighteen adult, working at a state-licensed or registered Child care facility in the United States that is currently open, operational, and caring for children for pay. Ready to...
Read more
www.cacfp.org
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NEW Streamlined Keystone STARS Designation System - 7/1/2022
The new Streamlined Keystone STARS Designation System rolls out next week - ARE YOU READY? Prepare using the PD Registry Director's Guide and ensuring your personal profile, your staffs' personal profiles, and your organization profile is up to date.
Read more
www.pakeys.org
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HealthChoices Plan Selection
Pennsylvania's Department of Human Services (DHS) is changing which Physical Health Managed Care Organizations (PH Plans) are available for Medical Assistance (MA) consumers. This is an opportunity for DHS to be sure that...
Read more
www.dhs.pa.gov
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Diversity, Equity, Inclusion |
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Diversity in an early years classroom
It used to be an accolade to be considered a "melting pot" or a "mosaic" when it comes to cultural diversity. However, it is now recognized that instead of a unified and singular cultural expression, there is more value in highlighting individual ...
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www.himama.com
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Four Things to Remember About Supporting LGBTQ Youth
Want to learn more about how to be supportive and inclusive of LGBTQ youth? Eileen Wise, a youth development specialist at Penn State Better Kid Care and primary author of the PYD series, shares four things to keep in mind. 1. Know basic facts...
Read more
naaweb.org
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Achieving equity and quality in early learning [Podcast]
The week on The Preschool Podcast, we are honored to welcome Judy Jablon, the Executive Director of Leading for Children. Judy is passionate about shaping experiences that ignite children's personalities. Through Leading for Children, she gets a...
Read more
www.himama.com
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Social-Emotional Learning |
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Get Your Free Growing With Nature Book Excerpt - Nature...
Get the first 75 pages of Nature Explore's Growing With Nature book and be inspired by educators across the nation as they share classroom insights and practical advice on enhancing children's healthy development in outdoor classrooms. This free...
Read more
natureexplore.org
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Expand Your Classroom With Nature-Based Sensory...
Sensory activities are a great way to enhance learning by introducing elements of play, discovery, and creativity into the classroom. Explore the world outside or bring the outside in with these nature-based sensory activities. You'll find...
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www.plt.org
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Health, Safety, & Wellness |
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The Power of Kindness - Mindful
Power makes the world go 'round. It's how we get things done. But, Dacher Keltner says, too often we associate it with nastiness and self- centeredness. I first read Lord of the Flies when I was 15, and my family was on sabbatical in Nottingham,...
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www.mindful.org
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HHS releases new PSAs to encourage Covid-19 vaccinations ...
Just days after the United States rolled out child-sized doses of Covid-19 vaccine for children younger than 5, the Biden administration has launched a new ad campaign to encourage parents to give their kids the "best protection" against...
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www.cnn.com
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Have you started using the Healthy Minds app yet? This free self-care resource is made available to you by OCDEL.
Since it's FREE why not give it a try?
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The Healthy Minds Program is an easy-to-use guide on your journey to greater well-being. With a combination of podcast-style lessons and both seated and active meditations, you’ll learn what the science says about the brain and practice skills based on these insights to foster a healthier, happier you.
Users of the Healthy Minds @Work Program report burnout symptoms reduced by 25%.
70% reported a clinically significant decrease in depression, anxiety, and stress.
Ready to sign up?
Register by your Region (ELRC) HERE
Use that login info on your personal phone/tablet to access the app. The Healthy Minds app is available in both Apple Store & Google Play.
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Supporting Providers - GeeWhiz Education
At Gee Whiz, we recognize the importance of supporting providers in as many ways as possible. Research indicates that providers who are supported not only have stronger programs, they have a more positive outlook. At Gee Whiz, we support...
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geewhizeducation.com
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National Summer Learning Week - July 12-16, 2021
National Summer Learning Week is a celebration dedicated to elevating the importance of keeping kids learning, safe, and healthy every summer, ensuring they return to school ready to succeed in the year.
Read more
www.summerlearning.org
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Changes are coming to PA's Medicaid Plans...
Starting today and going through July 7, mailings explaining the new plan choices will go out to all Medicaid consumers. Mailings will be sent to both those who are impacted and must change plans because their current plan is going away, and...
Read more
mailchi.mp
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Professional Development: on the PD Registry |
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Mark your calendars | October 17 - 19, 2022
Yes ... we all wanted to be back together at the Penn Stater this year, but with vaccines continuing to roll out and social distancing requirements continuing to evolve, we decided to move forward with our 3rd Online Early Childhood Education Summit.
Read more
earlychildhoodsummit.org
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Professional Development: Other Opportunities |
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6/29- Leadership Focus: Leading a Program Where Wellness...
Never underestimate the value of caring about what you do and whom you do it with and for. In this hour-long webinar, we will talk to experienced school and program leaders who are effectively addressing the...
Read more
teachingstrategies.com
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6/30- Creating an inclusive learning environment...
Kayla will be joining us to discuss how to bring anti-oppressive practices into early childhood education classrooms and walk us through how to create an environment that expects, rather than accommodates, everyone. We will learn how to...
Read more
wow.himama.com
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Additional Online Training Opportunities |
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New resources, Summer Reading, a Live Musical and More!
new resources for Afghan and Ukrainian families as part of our Welcome Sesame initiative, all designed to help children cope with the trauma of displacement, communicate and process their experiences, and develop a sense of belonging in new places.
Read more
www2.sesame.org
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Thank you for all you do for children, families, and your community by being part of the STARS program.
Sincerely,
Child Care Consultants
(717) 854-2273 or
(800) 864-4925
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