Winter Newsletter & Training Bulletin

Winter 2021

Child Care Resource & Referral

Serving Douglas, Klamath & Lake Counties

Douglas: 541.440.7705 Klamath & Lake: 541.882.2308

Winter 2021 Newsletter

& Training Bulletin

Winter Training Bulletin

CCR&R Happenings

A Message from the Director:

Hello Early Learning Friends!

There is a lot of BIG news packed into our newsletter this time. Your Child Care Resource & Referral is growing and moving! We are thrilled to announce a whole new team for our Klamath and Lake County’s office in Klamath Falls. We are welcoming a new Assistant Director in Charlene Shaw as well as two new amazing Quality Improvement Specialists, Melisa Miner and Brenda Jackson. All new staff have been diving into the CCR&R world to learn how to be the best support to you. Many of you from our Klamath and Lake counties have already been in touch with them. They bring passion, experience and early childhood knowledge to their roles and we couldn’t be happier to have them join our team. All three new staff are in the same location in Klamath Falls but have moved across the hall to a bigger office space.

In addition to the growth of our team, we wanted to let you know that as of January 1st, 2021, we will be moving our program under the Douglas Educational Service District.

We will be working closely with Umpqua Community College but our grant will be housed at the Douglas ESD. There are over 100 employees of the Douglas ESD working in the early childhood field and we are joining them the create greater impact in our three counties. Soon, CCR&R staff phone numbers and emails will be forwarded to new ones. We will be issuing more information about that as soon as we get all of that in place. For now, please keep calling and emailing us as you always have. You can expect to see a postcard and some emails about new contact information soon.

Lastly, I just want you to know how much I miss seeing all of you. Our team misses seeing all of you and we hope that you are staying well and have all that you need. Please know that we are still working to make sure you have what you need whether it’s materials for your program, support with grants and questions or just someone to connect with about the amazing work that you do. You are a big part of what makes our communities grow and our families feeling safe and cared for. Remember your self-care and enjoy this holiday season. You can’t pour from an empty cup as they say. Take care and we hope to see you on a Zoom soon.

Best Wishes,

Heather Freilinger

CCR&R Director

Care Connections & Education

Welcome our newest additions to the Klamath Falls Office:

Charlene Shaw

CCRR Assistant Director

Read Bio

Melisa Miner

Quality Improvement Specialist

Read Bio

Brenda Jackson

Quality Improvement Specialist

Read Bio

Winter Office Schedule:

Mon-Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm

Winter Holiday Office Closures:

Dec 21 - Jan 4, 2021

NEW: Infant Toddler Cohort with Small Business Management Coaching Opportunity

Do you care for infants and toddlers? Would you like to but can’t make it work financially? Our new year-long cohort will provide expert training in infant/toddler care AND offer small business management training from our Small Business Development Center at UCC.

Participants who complete the year will have the support they need to become a Spark program and take home a completion certificate from the SBDC. One virtual class a month, two topics each class. Individualized supports and advising each month all-starting February 2021. $400.00 in program materials awarded to each program upon completion of training course!

Please call Theresa Songer-Tuckey

for more information! Class is filling up!

541.440-7718

More Details

Reminder to Register for Winter Term:

Are you Taking the CKC Challenge?

The CKC Challenge:

We are challenging Early Learning Professionals from Douglas, Klamath & Lake Counties to get training in every category! As you travel through the CKCs, you will earn different achievement levels that each have rewards including tickets for a drawing to win some amazing prizes!

The Challenge Started October 1, 2020 and continues through April 30, 2021.

Remember to call us to see what level you have achieved and collect your reward!

Congratulations to the following providers for reaching level 1:

Dana Garza

Stacey Hanson

Stefanie Arents

Learn More

Douglas County Childcare Coalition Donates Needed Supplies

On Oct. 13 and 15 a total of 15 child care centers and 35 home-based programs benefited from donated supplies in an effort to support early childhood development during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ELD COVID-19 Resources for Providers

ECC4 Grant Information

All providers who previously meet the criteria, should have received a grant. ELD issued notices awards and grant agreements via email the week of Nov. 16. The deadline to return documentation is Dec. 16. Link for info. The documentation is in the email to those who were eligible.

Check Out the FAQ guides for more info:

English / Sp anish

Get up to Date ELD Info for Child Care Providers Here:

English / Spanish

Exempt Providers ODHS Grant Information

There will be a round of grants for license exempt providers coming soon from ODHS. The providers who are eligible are ODHS approved licensed exempt providers who provided care in at least one month between April 2020 – Sept 2020. All providers who meet the qualifications above can receive a payment regardless if they have received a prior grant. There are two different payment amounts however for those who have received a previous grant and those who have not. Providers will be getting sent a letter if they are eligible soon with payment shortly after.

"Find Child Care Oregon" Gets an Update

What does this mean for you as a child care provider?

Automated emails that allow you to see and update your child care program details and child care openings.
Expanded program detail options that can be shared with families, including a description of your program, photos, and your Spark rating certificate. Your local Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) can assist you with adding this information to your profile.
More of your program information will be available to families searching for child care online beginning November 16th, 2020.
211Info will be able to assist families with more specific child care referral needs with access to program information available to referral staff.
Direct access to update your program information is scheduled for June of 2021.

Learn More

NEWS FLASH: ERDC Increased Income and $0 Copay will Continue through February 2021!

Coming Soon:

Save the Date for

Spring Fling: May 15

Featured Speaker: Heidi McGowen

Second Step Training

Cohort

Learn About the Program

Early Learning Educator Gatherings Return in 2021 Bringing together the child care community, early learning organizations, preschools and kindergarten educators

In March of 2020, the Kindergarten Readiness Partnership Program (KPI) a program of the South Central Early Learning Hub and Douglas ESD, along with early learning partners in Douglas county to include: Care, Connections & Education, Head Start, Roseburg School District, the South Central Early Learning Hub and the Family Development Center held the first early learning educator gathering at Head Start. Thirty seven educators were in attendance to share a meal, participate in a scavenger hunt of Head Start classrooms, discuss classroom practices and receive incentives for attending. It was a great success! An early learning educator gathering was planned for Klamath County, unfortunately, we were unable to meet because of COVID.

In 2021, our new approach will be holding 2 virtual gatherings between January and June of 2021. These gatherings will be available to educators in Douglas, Klamath and Lake Counties. We intend to offer:

Relationship building between early learning educators

Opportunities to learn from each other and share classrooms/learning strategies

Develop and improve communication to discuss shared goals for children and families

Stayed tuned for more information in 2021 about the next early learning gathering. We hope to see you soon.