April 22, 2020
DID YOU KNOW!?
We created a website page to keep you safe and up-to-date with COVID-19 Updates !
Please report any closures or program changes due to COVID-19 to the Redline .
Possible Small Business COVID-19 Relief Deal
U.S. lawmakers are very close to an agreement on approving extra money to help small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. An agreement would add $250 billion dollars to a small-business loan program established by Congress last month as part of a $2.3 trillion coronavirus economic relief plan. Learn more about this agreement by clicking the blue button below.
COVID-19 Response:
Federal Support Webinar for Childcare Center Directors
Thursday, April 23, 2020 at 12:00PM Representative Loranne Ausley, Whole Child Leon, and the Institute for Child Success will be fac ilitating a webinar covering all things related to small business loans (PPP/EIDL). Please click the blue button below to learn more and register!
First Responder Child Care Referral Program
Dear Providers,

We, at the Coalition, appreciate you sharing the First Responders Child Care Referral Program with the families you serve. To ensure you are providing them with the most accurate information, please review the list below.

  • The referral is intended for first responders and health care workers only at this time.
  • Parents who are interested or have questions should call 850-747-5400 or email the Learning Line.
  • Agencies, HR Departments, etc. are required to submit the completed referral form HERE on behalf of the parent.
  • Once the referral has been received, the parent will be contacted by our Customer Service Specialist to confirm personal information and their preferred child care provider. 

Attached to the blue button below is an excerpt from Governor DeSantis’s Executive Order 20-91 that lists essential services for Healthcare/Public Health and Law Enforcement, Public Safety and Other First Responders. At this time, these are the only personnel eligible for the First Responders Child Care Program.
School Readiness Providers,

An email introducing your assigned Contract Specialist, who will be there to help you throughout the new contract process, has already been disseminated. Also sent was an invitation to electronically sign your amendment for the rate increase that has occurred. If you have any questions pertaining to the contract process please reach out to your assigned Contract Specialist.

Teacher Appreciation Week Video Submission Request
COVID-19 has been disorienting but that doesn't mean we have to stop celebrating all the world's wonderful workers! Teacher Appreciation Week is coming and we want YOU to celebrate all the efforts made by your teachers who instruct, love, and celebrate the children they care for. Please take a moment to record a 10-20 second clip expressing why your teachers are essential and submit to Redline! Videos will be featured on all ELCNWF social media accounts.
Coalition Mental Health Program
Offered to ELC Children, Families and Child Care Staff
In light of recent events, the Coalition will be offering support services including the opportunity to talk with  mental health specialists  who can help provide information, support, and even counseling.

These services are  free  to the children and families in your care as well as child care center staff. Sessions can be conducted via phone or video until it is safe to meet in person.  These services are confidential and are designed to help in this time of increased stress and uncertainty.

There are many ways that we can help. We can explain the current health crisis to young children, develop plans to deal with the isolation associated with social distancing, provide advice on handling increased fears/anxieties, or address other needs in the family.  Sessions typically meet once a week for 50 minutes at a time that is convenient for all.

If you are interested, please submit a request to the   Learning Line !

When submitting requests please include the following:
  • Your name
  • The name of the person/child you are requesting theses service for
  • Place of employment
  • Email address
  • Phone number
COVID-19 Stress: How Uncertainty Affects Our Brains
As we live through this time of great uncertainty pertaining to COVID-19, prolonged uncertainty causes predictable changes in the brain for both adults and children. By clicking the blue button below you will watch a recent video by Becky Bailey and learn how to utilize a foundational understanding of these changes to create greater resilience, new ways of thinking, and increased well being for yourself and your children.
Provider Pick-Me-Ups
Little Babes Academy
The Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida would like to acknowledge Monica Jones with Little Babes Academy for going above and beyond to support the children and families of Bay County. Little Babes Academy has remained open and willing to accept displaced children throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring continuity of care and normalcy to the child and families served.
Thank you Monica for providing a routine for the children of your center and directing their thoughts towards a piglet instead of a pandemic.
We, at the Coalition, firmly believe it takes a village and applaud the actions of Little Babes Academy. Thank you for being a part of our village.
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month! We know you work tirelessly every day to ensure the children in your care are safe and properly supervised. If you participated in Wear Blue Day on April 3rd, please share any pictures you took and be sure to tag @ ELCNWF ! Thank you for all you do!
The Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida was selected as a beneficiary of the Community Bag Program for the month of April! The Winn-Dixie Community Bag Program, which launched in February 2019, is a reusable bag program that facilitates community support with the goal to make a difference in the communities where shoppers live and work. A $1 donation will be given to the Coalition every time the $2.50 reusable Community Bag is purchased at any Bay County Winn-Dixie location throughout April. This is a great way to raise awareness, support the environment, and fundraise for  our cause. To learn more about this program and locate your nearest Winn-Dixie, please click the blue buttons below.
Florida KidCare
Don't miss out on the year-round open enrollment with Florida KidCare!

With the help of Florida KidCare, staying healthy doesn't have to be difficult.

Florida KidCare provides the families of Northwest Florida with low-cost options for health and dental insurance for children birth to 18!

For eligibility information and applications click the blue button below.
The Census Bureau has acknowledged their long-term misrepresentation of young children in decennial censuses and in Census Bureau surveys. Evaluations show that Census Bureau surveys like the American Community Survey, the Current Population Survey, and the Survey of Income and Program Participation also miss young children while counting, which can result in biased survey estimates.

To combat the misrepresentation of children ages birth to four, we ask that all parents be made aware of the benefits of counting their children.

Representation and funding make a difference where it matters, and it matters here.

Click the blue button below for a list of common family situations and Census approved answers to help the families you serve complete the Census.
We exist to grow healthy children, parents, and the relationship between them.
Sponsored by the Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida and the State of Florida, Office of Early Learning