Greetings!
Early Learning Update Week of February 7th, 2022
Items Covered:
All: Early Learning Virtual Professional Development Day: Links, Schedules and Details
All: Fulcrum Foundation Early Childhood Education Fund Grant Application
All: Updated Washington Department of Health Child Care and Early Learning COVID Guidelines
Licensed ONLY: Register for Courses using the new “Cohort Tab” in the DCYF Training Site
Licensed ONLY: COVID-19 Temporary Child Care Basics Training No Longer Available
Early Learning Virtual Professional Development Day: Links, Schedules and Details
I am looking forward to our Professional Development Day on Friday, February 11th. By the end of Monday, February 7th I will have sent an individual email to each person that has registered for the training with their selected session’s zoom links, schedule and any other details. Please reach out to me if you have questions and I am looking forward to a great day of Professional Development.
Fulcrum Foundation Early Childhood Education Fund Grant Application
On Wednesday, February 2nd the Fulcrum Foundation released the second annual Early Childhood Education Fund Grant Application. Founded in 2002, the Fulcrum Foundation leverages financial assistance to support and strengthen Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Seattle primarily through tuition assistance, school partnerships, and transformational leader training. Dick and Sharon Abrams established the Fulcrum Early Childhood Education Fund to increase awareness of Fulcrum and encourage broader support for Early Learning and their growing endowment. You should have an individual email from me with all the details to apply for the grant that can result in an award of up to $2,000 to support your program. The grant application will be open for one month closing on Wednesday, March 2nd. Please reach out to me with any questions!
Updated Washington Department of Health Child Care and Early Learning COVID Guidelines
On February 1st the Washington State Department of Health updated their Child Care and Early Learning COVID Guidelines. This has been eagerly anticipated and now aligns with K-12 guidance. The highlights of the updates are below with a link to the full document:
• Updated information on staying “up to date” with COVID-19 vaccination and wearing well fitting masks - guidance on Page 5 and 6
• Updated recommendations for isolation and quarantine in alignment with CDC – guidance on Pages 15-20 (aligns with K-12 guidance).
Licensed ONLY: Register for Courses using the new “Cohort Tab” in the DCYF Training Site
In the coming weeks, students will be able to sign up directly for online training cohorts that count toward initial, In-Service and PACE requirements directly on the DCYF training site via the 'Cohorts' tab. These are trainings with discussion boards that meet the following training requirements:
Child Care Basics
EQEL
Sign-in to your DCYF Training Site account at www.dcyftraining.com and click on the Cohorts tab on the left. Scroll down and the cohorts will show on the left-hand side. You can select the cohort and register for the training you wish to complete. Please let me know if you have questions!
Licensed ONLY: COVID-19 Temporary Child Care Basics Training No Longer Available
Child Care Basics is the initial training to meet the health and safety requirements for educators working in licensed early learning facilities. The temporary, condensed version of the COVID-19 Child Care Basics is no longer available. For those who selected this option, you will need to complete the full Child Care Basics version during the 2022 calendar year (Jan. 1st – Dec. 31st, 2022). There are various way to meet the Child Care Basics Training Requirement. Check them out at this link:
Thank you and have a wonderful week!