News

March 22, 2024

Voice Of ECE Childcare Liability Insurance Survey

The Voice of ECE is inviting child care providers to share their insights by participating in its Childcare Liability Insurance Survey. The survey was created by and for early childhood business owners.

Learn More

The survey’s objective is to gain a comprehensive understanding of child care business owners’ experiences with liability insurance carriers. The Voice of ECE is interested in gathering information on changes in premiums, coverage issues, or policy cancellations/non-renewals. 

Feedback gathered during the survey will play a crucial role in identifying areas for improvement and help to ensure that child care facilities are adequately protected. Challenges and concerns shared during the survey will help to better serve and maintain child care facility operations.

All content will be utilized only for internal data collection purposes and will be treated as confidential.

The Voice of ECE’s partners in the survey include Trying Together as well as Children First, First Up, Latinos Educando Juntos, the Pennsylvania Child Care Association (PACCA), and the Pennsylvania Association of the Education of Young Children (PennAEYC). 

How To Participate

Providers who are interested in filling out the survey have until April 12 to do so. Two participants will be randomly chosen to win a $100 gift card from PennAEYC.

News

July 12, 2023

DHS Requests Feedback on Corrective Action Process Resources

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) is requesting feedback from child care providers on recently developed corrective action process (CAP) resources through a new survey.

About Corrective Action Process Resources & CAP Resources Survey

In recognizing the importance of corrective action processes in human services licensing, DHS released its, “Developing a Plan of Correction,” webinar in 2019. That same year, they released a corresponding, “Plan of Correction Quick Reference Guide,” (available as a PowerPoint presentation and PDF).

The webinar aimed to assist providers with the successful development and implementation of acceptable plans of correction. The guide, consequently, was issued as a tool to assist providers with this process.

Now the department seeks to understand the efficacy of these tools. Survey results will provide needed insight and help determine additionally needed resources.

Access and Take the Survey

Utilize the following link to access and take the survey:

The survey closes Wednesday, July 26. DHS must receive all responses on or before that date.

Learn More

To learn more, visit the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) webpage.

Source

Trying Together took the information in this post directly from the Department of Human Services announcement. Some text may have been added, paraphrased, or adapted for readability and comprehension.

Related Content & Resources

News

State Departments Extend Insurance Survey Deadline, Add Spanish Option

The Pennsylvania Insurance Department (PID) and the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) have extended the deadline for child care providers to complete their survey on health insurance in the child care industry.

Entitled, “Child Care Liability Insurance Survey,” the questionnaire is aimed at improving state understanding of the insurance market, and will now close on Friday, August 4.

(Trying Together updated this article on Tuesday, July 11, 2023 to reflect the extended deadline and addition of the Spanish survey option). 

About the Child Care Liability Insurance Survey

PID and DHS have become aware of difficulties child care providers now face in securing health insurance for themselves and their employees, given the rising cost of care. Though PID previously sent out a similar survey, the limited response inhibited the department’s ability to fully understand the scope of the insurance market. Because of this, they have partnered with DHS to release the Child Care Liability Insurance Survey.

This survey will help PID and DHS understand availability and affordability of insurance and assist in determining next steps.

Responses are confidential. Also, DIP and DHS will only share general, aggregated results.

Access and Take the Survey

Utilize the links below to access and take the survey:

The survey closes on Friday, August 4. Please complete the survey on or before that date.

Learn More

To learn more, visit the Pennsylvania Key website. Please contact Caolinn Martin at caolmartin@pa.gov or Jameekia Barnett at jamebarnet@pa.gov with questions.

News

July 5, 2023

2023 Paving the Way to Educational Success Conference

The 2023 Paving the Way to Educational Success Conference is a unique learning opportunity to support children and youth experiencing homelessness and students experiencing foster care.

This three-day conference is ideal for:

  • School district homeless liaisons.
  • Foster care points of contact.
  • Child welfare agency education liaisons and private providers.
  • Shelter staff and staff in congregate care settings.
  • Early education, Head Start staff, and K-12 educators.
  • School social workers and counselors.
  • Pupil services personnel.
  • Post-secondary staff.
  • Any professionals working with children and youth experiencing homelessness, children and youth experiencing foster care.

When: Wednesday, 10/11 – Friday, 10/13

Where: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, 910 Sheraton Drive, Mars, Pa. 16046

  • Register (There is no cost to attend.)

The Paving the Way Conference is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Education programs Education for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness (ECYEH) and Educational Stability for Children and Youth in Foster Care and is held in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services and Center for Schools and Communities.

News

June 19, 2023

Child Care Providers and Advocates Ask for Legislative Support in New Video Series

Trying Together spoke with child care providers and advocates at the 2023 Annual Celebration Dinner on Thursday, April 27 and recently released a video series of the conversations they captured.

In this series of 10 videos, providers detail the current staffing crisis and its effect on families. They call on state legislators to support the workforce behind the workforce and raise wages for child care and early learning professionals.

Excerpts From Videos: What Did Providers Say?

Videos in the series are between approximately 30 seconds and 1:30 seconds long. However, if you’re looking for quick quips, check out the excerpts below.

  • “A huge resource that we need is more high quality teachers.” – Laura Saxon, Carnegie Science Center
  • “We desperately need more staff and we need better wages to retain good staff to take care of our children.” – Tressie Lesnoski, University of Pittsburgh Child Development Center
  • “Without early learning facilities, parents cannot go to work.” – Gwendolyn Marcus, Project Destiny Early Learning Centers
  • “We cannot compete with the wages being offered…. In order for us to be able to compete, we’d have to raise tuition to an astronomical price that would make our child care not affordable to most of our families.” – Denise Burke, Westminster Early Childhood Education Program
  • “…We need to keep our teachers. And in order to keep our teachers, we need to be able to pay them well.” – Lori Feldman, Westminster Early Childhood Education Program
  • “We need more support from our lawmakers and our policymakers so that we can keep the children in programs…and still pay ourselves a livable wage.” – Brandi Allen, Brandi’s Care with Love, LLC
  • “Every family and every child deserves access to a high quality program, and, in order to provide that, we need to provide our child care professionals with a living wage.” – Casey Mindlin, STEM Coding Lab
  • “As a working parent, I am grateful for my children’s early learning program because it gives us a chance to create a better opportunity for our families while we are being ensured that our children are being loved, taught, and cared for while we are working.” – Nachell Henderson, YWCA Homewood-Brushton
  • “I’ve been doing this business for over 30 years, and I’ve seen a definite decline in the staff that we’re able to retain because of pricing.” Joy Simmons, Joy Simmons Family Childcare
  • “The staffing crisis has really affected us and has made it really hard to keep classrooms open…which really puts a burden on the parents, because then they don’t have child care.” – Mary Merryman, Presbyterian Day School

Access the Videos

To hear more from child care providers and advocates, access the videos below.

Laura – We Need Educators

Watch on Vimeo.

Tressie – Raise ECE Wages

Watch on Vimeo.

Gwen – Support ECE: Backbone of the Community

Watch on Vimeo.

Denise – We Need Funds for Higher Wages

Watch on Vimeo.

Lori – Help Us Retain Teachers

Watch on Vimeo.

Brandi – We Need Support From Lawmakers

Watch on Vimeo.

Casey – Give Child Care Professionals a Livable Wage

Watch on Vimeo.

Nachell – Show Gratitude for Child Care Providers

Watch on Vimeo.

Joy – Help Solve the Staffing Crisis

Watch on Vimeo.

Mary – Help Us Keep Classrooms Open

Watch on Vimeo.

Learn More

To learn more, visit the “Advocacy” tab on the Trying Together website or visit any of the following webpages:

News

May 11, 2023

Child Care Providers Invited to Complete Environmental Health Survey

The Healthy Childcare Partnership (HCP), a statewide group of child care organizations, is asking child care providers in Pennsylvania to complete their Childcare Programs Environmental Health Survey.

The survey aims to gauge interest in, and need for, training and policies that keep children and staff healthy. Participating providers must submit their surveys by Friday, May 19.

About The Healthy Childcare Partnership

The Healthy Childcare Partnership was founded by Women for a Healthy Environment (WHE) in 2022 as part of a grant from the  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Funds for the grant were provided by the American Rescue Plan (ARP). These funds aimed to support children’s environmental health by building capacity through activities that identify and address disproportionate environmental or public health harms and risks in underserved communities.

WHE was one of four organizations to receive a grant. In receiving one, the organization committed to developing HCP. Additionally, it agreed to complete over 200 eco-healthy assessments aimed at mitigating environmental risks in child care centers.

Complete the Survey

Interested individuals must complete the survey on the University of Pennsylvania website, or via the link on the PD Registry Facebook page.

The survey closes Friday, May 19.

Learn More

To learn more about the Healthy Childcare Partnership or EPA grant, visit the EPA website. For more information about the survey, contact the Pennsylvania Key.

News

May 3, 2023

ELRC Requiring All Subsidized Child Care Providers to Submit Closed Days

Early Learning Resource Centers (ELRC) are requiring all in- and out-of-state child care providers participating in the ​Child Care Works (CCW) Subsidized Child Care Program to provide their Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-24 closed days.

CCW is managed by local ELRC offices, and closed days must be provided to them by May 15.

About Closed Days

The ELRC pays subsidized child care providers for a limited number of days that their facilities are closed, when those providers also charge private-pay clients for their closed days. During FY 2023-24 (July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024), CCW will pay up to 15 closed days. However, these closed days must be provided to ELRC by the May 15 deadline. In no case will the ELRC pay for more than 15 closed days per year.

In-state and out-of-state providers using Provider Self-Service (PSS) have more flexibility to manage closed days than those not using PSS. Providers with PSS access may add, delete, or change closed days that occur in the current month, are planned for a future month, or that occurred in a prior month (even if the day is not an emergency closure), if the change is entered before the 6th of the current month. Requirements for changing closed days by providers not using PSS are described below.

Child care providers can register for PSS at pelican.state.pa.us/provider. If you have questions when registering for or using PSS, call the PELICAN Help Desk at 1-877-491-3818.

Providing Closed Days to the ELRC

Providers Using PSS

Providers using PSS must update closed days online. The ELRC will NOT enter the closed days for you. After accessing your PSS account:

  • Click “Provider Profile,” then “Manage Closed Days.” On the “Location Closed Days Summary” page, select “2023.”
  • Large, state-observed holidays will be prepopulated. Please indicate whether private-pay parents pay you for these closed days. If you are open on a prepopulated closed day, delete that day.
  • Enter the remainder of your closed days by clicking the “Add Closed Day” button, and indicate whether private-pay parents pay you for the closed days you enter.
  • Closed days must be entered into PSS by May 15.

Providers Not Using PPS

Providers not using PSS must complete Provider Agreement Appendix B and return their completed appendix to the ELRC by May 15. To find your local ELRC, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services website.

Please note:

  • Once providers not using PPS identify their closed days, they may not change them.
    • Since providers not using PPS cannot change their closed days once submitted, you may want to limit the number of closed days you declare at the beginning of the year, in case you need to add closures later in the year.
  • If you initially choose fewer than 15 closed days and need to increase closed days at a future date, you may only do so by:
    • Notifying the ELRC at least two weeks prior to adding closed days.
    • Notifying the ELRC within three (3) days of reopening your facility following an emergency closure, such as a snow day.
  • If you do not return Provider Agreement Appendix B by May 15, all the commonwealth holidays will be entered as paid closures and will not be changed if you are open for business.

Learn More

Provider Profile

Providers located in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania who use PSS are encouraged to update their provider profile information through PSS. This information about your facility includes rates you charge your private-pay families, closed days, hours of operation, and activities offered. It is presented to the public through internet searches in Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Access to Social Services (COMPASS). In-state providers who do not use PSS can contact the ELRC to update their profile information.

Out-of-state child care providers do not have a provider profile.

Additional Information

If you have any questions, please contact your ELRC at 412-350-3577.

News

April 12, 2023

BabyTalks Series: Supporting Infant and Toddler Peer Relationships

Children are born with the amazing ability to form strong bonds with their caregivers, but how do we help infants and toddlers prepare for peer relationships?

Join the Office of Head Start and their National Center on Early Childhood Development, Teaching, and Learning for this webinar, and learn how infants’ and toddlers’ experience with others shapes their understanding of themselves and their relationships with peers.

This webinar will have English and Spanish captioning.

Webinar Details

Thursday, April 20 | 3 – 4 p.m.

Virtual

Register

Learn More

In this webinar, Beth Zack, Ph.D., and Marley Jarvis, Ph.D., from the National Center on Early Childhood Development, Teaching, and Learning will present research on how children build peer relationships.

Attendees will discover the importance of creating spaces where children feel like they belong and how this helps children understand themselves and others, as well as explore strategies and resources that help infants and toddlers build a strong foundation for a lifetime of healthy peer relationships.

To learn more, visit the “Supporting Infant and Toddler Peer Relationships” registration page.

News

April 11, 2023

PA Department of Health Gauging Interest in Free Cleansing Device

The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) is currently evaluating air and surface cleaning devices and asking small businesses, nonprofits, child care providers, and similar organizations to express their interest in receiving such a device free of charge.

About DOH Cleansing Devices

These cleaning devices can eliminate viruses, bacteria, mold, and other pathogens from air and surfaces simultaneously. Free standing or wall-mounted, they utilize a standard outlet for power.

If funding is approved, DOH will purchase and distribute the devices, and two years of operational supplies, to interested Pennsylvania businesses and organizations at no cost to them.

Express Interest and Apply for a Device

All individuals interested in receiving a device must complete an application. NOTE: Completing an application does not guarantee a device.

At the moment, the application will only gauge interest in receiving a device. Should funding get approved, DOH will evaluate completed applications and award devices. DOH will award devices on a first come, first served basis, dependent upon:

  • the amount of available funding,
  • foot traffic at applicant facilities,
  • square footage of applicant facilities,
  • and COVID-19 risk.

Additionally, DOH will prioritize applicants with facilities in underserved communities.

Learn More

To learn more, visit the Pennsylvania Key website.

News

March 27, 2023

Learn the Secrets Recruiters Use to Find Staff Online

With the ongoing staffing crisis, many child care providers are struggling to find and hire qualified child care professionals to work in their child care facilities. Despite challenges facing the industry, adjustments to hiring practices and processes may help providers find the staff they need.

If you’re struggling to staff a child care facility, join Early Childhood Investigations Webinars and Brightwheel for this webinar presented by Lauren Small and Virginia Marsh, and learn strategies to enhance online recruitment efforts and uncover more qualified applicants.

Session Details

Wednesday, April 19 | 2 – 3:30 p.m.

Virtual

Register

Learn More

Attendees will learn:

  • marketing strategies
  • tips for creating job ads and career pages
  • tips for attracting qualified candidates
  • how search engine algorithms work

Can’t participate in the webinar at the appointed time? Don’t worry. It will be recorded. To view the recording, simply register for the event and you will receive an email with a link to the recording when it is ready to be viewed.

You can earn .2 CEUs for this webinar. They cost $15 from the University of Oklahoma when you apply.

To learn more, visit the Early Childhood Investigations website.