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News

April 16, 2020

COVID-19: Resources for Early Learning Programs

If you work for or operate an early learning program in Pennsylvania, including public and private schools; child care centers; group child care homes; family child care homes; family, friend, and neighbor care, it’s important to remain calm, prepare, and take precautionary measures. By doing so, you will help to maintain the health and wellbeing of yourself, other staff, and the communities you serve. For up-to-date recommendations and COVID-19 Resources for Early Learning programs, please visit the ELRC Region 5 website.

Continue reading below for a brief overview of COVID-19; information about waivers and enrollment capacity; and a list of resources.

 

 

An Overview of COVID-19

COVID-19 is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by a new coronavirus not previously seen in humans. Because the virus impacts the respiratory system, common symptoms of infection include fever, dry cough, tiredness, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing. However, WHO states that some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat, and diarrhea. After being infected with COVID-19, individuals generally display mild symptoms that begin gradually, but some people who become infected may not develop any symptoms at all and may feel healthy.

To learn more about COVID-19 and the steps you can take to reduce your family’s risk of infection, read our recent news post. This post also includes information about what to do after infection, information on how it spreads, and links to several other organizations and entities that can provide more information.

National Sex Offender Registry Clearances

According to the Department of Human Services Office Child Development & Early Learning Bureau of Certification Services, no exceptions will be made for expired or late National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR) clearances after regular child care operations resume. Once regular child care operations resume statewide, staff will not be permitted to return to early learning programs if any of their clearances are expired. For this reason, it is recommended that all staff who require new or renewed finger-print checks should do so as soon as possible at one of the following available facilities.

To learn more about NSOR changes in the last 12 months, please visit ELRC Region 5’s news post.

 

 

COVID-19 Resources for Early Learning Programs

Information about COVID-19

Guidance for Providers

Early Learning

Talking with Children

Prevention

After Infection

Impacts on Child Care, School, and Work

Fact Sheets

Informational Flyers

Mental Health

Receiving Support

Multilingual Resources

Curated Lists

Recorded Webinars

Contacts and Information

More Information

For more information about COVID-19, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), or World Health Organization (WHO) websites.

News

April 15, 2020

Making and Tinkering at Home and School

Are you interested in learning how to transition your home or school into a making and tinkering environment for your young child(ren)? Join Cate Heroman, author of Making and Tinkering with STEM, and Lianna Kali, Project Director for The Tinkering Studio in San Francisco’s Exploratorium, as they share strategies for delightful investigations to try at home and school.

About

During this webinar, presenters will take a closer look at tinkering with two big ideas–light and shadow play and balls, ramps, and chain reactions. Attendees will receive a certificate of attendance for viewing this live webinar. For those who cannot attend, a recorded version of the presentation will be made available within six to eight weeks.

Registration

To register, visit NAEYC’s event page.

News

Picture Books Featuring Black and Indigenous People and People of Color

If you are a parent or caregiver who understands the importance of finding picture books that feature Black and Indigenous People and People of Color (BIPOC) – offering children, as Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop phrased it, “mirrors and windows” to the world – it can still be challenging to know how to choose a good book from among what’s increasingly available on the “diverse books” market.

Join EmbraceRace and the founders of Diverse BookFinder on April 28 for their webinar “Choosing ‘Good’ Picture Books Featuring Black and Indigenous People and People of Color” to get their practical advice about how you can move beyond simply avoiding stereotypical portrayals to find great picture books your child is likely to enjoy. Time for questions and book recommendations will be provided.

Registration

To register, visit the event webpage.

*Information provided by EmbraceRace

News

News

#ResourceWednesdays: Emergency Child Care

Has the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic affected your family’s ability to access child care services? If yes, how are child care center closures impacting your family? These are the questions at the center of the #ResourceWednesdaysChat on April 8, 2020, co-hosted by Single Mom Defined, Jeremiah’s Place, and Trying Together!

This live chat is powered by The Women and Girls Foundation.

How to Attend

If you’re a single mom, you can join the conversation in the private Facebook group on April 8 at 2  p.m. Click here to visit their page and join the group!

News

April 7, 2020

The Science of Learning and Teaching at Home During COVID-19

Are you interested in asking leading child development experts questions about learning and teaching from home during the COVID-19 pandemic? Join the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) on April 10 for their webinar, “At Home with the Child Experts: The Science of Learning and Teaching at Home During COVID-19.”

About

Are you wondering how to make sure your kids are staying on track with school work? If or when to reach out to your child’s teacher? Whether there are “fun” activities you can introduce to help your children learn?

This 30-minute informal conversation gives parents and caregivers a chance to ask leading child development experts direct questions about learning and teaching at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants will have the option of submitting questions in advance or posting them in real-time during the event.

Registration

To register, visit the event webpage.

News

Learning with Parents: Children on the Autism Spectrum and the Arts

Join Brazelton Touchpoints Center‘s Joshua Sparrow, MD for the premiere of Learning with Parents: Children on the Autism Spectrum and the Arts, featuring Elaine Hall, Founder of The Miracle Project, and Yudi Bennett, Co-Founder of Exceptional Minds.

About

In this webinar, participants will find out how – as mothers and entertainment industry professionals – Yudi and Elaine learned to not only listen to their children, but also give a voice to thousands of children with autism spectrum disorders and to help them discover their inner artists!

Registration

To register, visit the event webpage.

News

Paying Yourself, Your Staff, and Your Bills: Helping Child Care Programs

Are you interested in learning about the different options child care programs can access to get financial support during the COVID-19 pandemic? Join the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) on April 9 for the webinar, “Paying Yourself, Your Staff, and Your Bills: Helping Child Care Programs Understand and Navigate SBA Loan Options.”

About

In addition to the $3.5 billion for CCDBG provided by Congress in the recent CARES Act, there are multiple options for child care programs across states and settings to get financial support to survive this crisis. Since these processes may be complex, NAEYC is bringing together experts from the banking, business, and child care industries for a webinar featuring lessons from the first few days following the opening of the Paycheck Protection Program.

By attending, participants will learn how the different options work, which options may work best for them, and what precise steps individuals need to take to apply for them.

Register

To register, visit the event webpage.

News

Attending to Risks for Abuse and Neglect During COVID-19 Pandemic

Families caring for young children during this time with little outside social support or respite can be at risk for an increase in harsh disciplinary practices, abuse, or neglect. If you are an early learning professional, join Zero to Three on April 29 for their webinar, “Attending to Risks of Abuse and Neglect During COVID-19 Pandemic Response: Early Childhood Educators.”

About

Recent protocols around social distancing and sheltering in place have created substantial changes in family lifestyles and professional practice. For some families, staying home together has had positive impacts on their quality of time together, strengthening relationships. For many families, this social isolation is also coupled with anxiety around health concerns and financial security.

Objectives

During this webinar, early childhood educators will learn the following:

    • how to assess and address risks and signs of abuse and neglect in an early childhood education setting while simultaneously adjusting protocols specific to COVID-19 in these settings;
    • how to maintain relationships through virtual contacts when programs are closed and assess risk through virtual interactions;
    • the importance of reflective practice for early childhood educators who are often facing many of their own individual and family challenges during this time; and
    • about resources specific to early childhood education.

Register

To register, visit the event webpage.

News

April 6, 2020

COVID-19 Impact on Child Care Survey Now Available

Many states, including Pennsylvania, have ordered all non-life-sustaining businesses to close their physical spaces as a mitigation effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). While lists of impacted businesses often include gyms, movie theaters, and clothing stores, they also often include a critical service that impacts families and caregivers across the nation: child care.

To better understand the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on families and caregivers, the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) has launched a detailed survey and is seeking submissions from the public.

About

On March 12, 2020, NAEYC launched a survey asking child care programs to share the challenges they were expecting to face and to comment on what they needed to protect children, families, and our nation’s supply of child care programs. NAEYC received responses from 11,500 educators in family child care and center-based programs across the country, which has helped shape federal and state responses to the pandemic. 

Now, several weeks into the pandemic, as many states take action and a federal stimulus bill has passed, NAEYC is launching a more detailed survey with the intention to help organizations and policymakers understand the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 and the solutions that have been put forth thus far.

Complete the COVID-19 Impact on Child Care Survey

This survey is for everyone, including center-based programs, family child care programs, and others. However, not all questions may apply to your specific situation. Please complete the survey and fill out applicable questions to help NAEYC gather a range of perspectives on the impact of COVID-19 on child care. To participate, please visit the survey page.

More Information

For questions, please contact NAEYC at info@naeyc.org or 800.424.2460. For more information on COVID-19, please visit our COVID-19 Resources page here.