November 26, 2019 Professional Development Catalog About For more than 55 years, Trying Together has supported the work of early childhood with a dedication to making sure every caregiver feels valued. In pursuit of this vision, Trying Together delivers professional growth services that connect with high-quality early childhood practices. Our Professional Development Catalog To view a list of Trying Together’s professional growth services, see our Professional Development Catalog (PDF). Course focus areas include Inclusion, Play, Interactions, Leadership, and Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP). See Our Upcoming Courses Visit Our Course Calendar To register for our upcoming courses, visit Trying Together’s Courses page. Request a Custom Course You can request a customized offering by submitting the online Request for Professional Services Form. Customized courses can be created to meet individual or group goals, interests, and needs. All custom course requests must be submitted at least four weeks prior to the desired course start date. To view custom course fees, see our Professional Development Fee for Service document (PDF). PD Credit, Standards, and Competencies All of our courses are instructed by a certified PQAS instructor and are ACT 48 approved. We strive to ensure that all of our courses align with: Pennsylvania Core Knowledge Competencies, NAEYC Standards, Danielson Framework, and Keystone STARS performance standards. To best meet the needs of each professional growth content request, Trying Together may draw on an External Instructor’s expertise. COVID-19 Restrictions Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Trying Together has suspended in-person professional growth sessions until October 2021. At this time, only virtual and online sessions are available. Starting October, both in-person and virtual opportunities will be available to interested professionals. More Information For more information, contact Allison Hritz at allison@tryingtogether.org. To receive updates, sign up to receive our newsletter or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.
November 8, 2019 Pennsylvania Announces 2019 Market Rate Survey The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) invites all Pennsylvania certified child care providers to participate in the 2019 Market Rate Survey. About Every three years, states conduct a Market Rate Survey (MRS) to update information regarding the prices child care providers charge families. With the last official MRS conducted in 2016, OCDEL invites all certified child care providers in Pennsylvania to submit their published private pay rates. By providing this information, child care providers help OCDEL paint a more accurate picture of child care prices in Pennsylvania and will provide an important database to compare private pay prices with the Child Care Works reimbursement base rates. How to Participate The survey is available online from October 7 through December 30, 2019 within the PELICAN Provider Self-Service Portal. Participation will require a username and password to enter. For assistance on enrolling in Provider Self-Service or updating your child care prices if you do not have access to Provider Self-Service, contact your local Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC). Information from all child care providers is important, even if your private pay prices have not changed. If your prices remained the same, please update the “effective date” within the Provider Self-Service Portal. Any changes made between October 7 and December 30, 2019 will be included. Click here for instructions on how to complete the Survey using Provider Self-Service. Frequently Asked Questions What is the Market Rate Survey? In order to comply with federal requirements and continue to draw down federal dollars from the Child Care Development Block Grant for the operation of the Child Care Works (CCW) child care subsidy program, OCDEL is required to complete a periodic Market Rate Survey (MRS). The MRS collects information from all regulated child care providers about their published private pay rates. Providers should participate in the MRS and confirm or report updates to their private pay rates using Provider Self Service (PSS) or, if not enrolled in PSS, by contacting their Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC). What does the term “market rate” mean? The “market rate” is interpreted as the rate which families are asked to pay, and which is published in program literature. The market rate does not reflect any discounts. Will I be audited for updating my published rates? Probably not. OCDEL has required verification in the past, and ELRCs have on occasion called a sampling of providers to check, but this is not the plan for this year’s MRS. However, providers should still only share published rates that they can verify if needed, and is the rate charged to most families. What qualifies as a “discount?” “Discounts” reflect allowances for families to pay a lower rate. For example, Comcast advertises its rate to clients, but frequently offers specials and discounts for loyal customers and new clients. Child care providers who typically charge $100 but who can offer discounts and specials to lower the price to $80 should still report their rate as $100. The MRS is not designed to capture any discounts that individual providers may choose to offer; it captures ONLY a provider’s published private pay rate. What do they mean by “published?” “Publishing” includes your website, your family handbook, any written contracts, or the rate visible on COMPASS. What is the Child Care Works (CCW) reimbursement rate? The Child Care Works (CCW) reimbursement rate is the rate that providers are reimbursed by the state for providing care to children who are eligible for CCW. This rate is based on the current market rate as provided through the MRS and is determined in part during the appropriations process. Because many providers also serve children who are not eligible for CCW reimbursement, providers must maintain a separate market rate for private pay families, and report this rate when completing their MRS rather than the CCW reimbursement rate. Why participate in the Market Rate Survey? It is important that each provider updates their private pay rates so that OCDEL has the necessary data to consider future Child Care Works base rate increases. Learn More To learn more, view the full announcement or contact your local ELRC. *Information provided by OCDEL
July 1, 2019 ELRC Region 5 Launches in Allegheny County Today, July 1, 2019, the Allegheny County Department of Human Services (ACDHS) officially became the ELRC for Region 5, providing information and services to families and early childhood professionals about high-quality child care in Allegheny County. These services and information provided include: Child Care Works Subsidized Child Care Program (CCW) Keystone STARS Early Learning Programs (like PA Pre-K Counts and Head Start) Early Intervention As is customary for ACDHS, the agency chose two well established partners to facilitate this work including, The Alliance for Infants and Toddlers and Trying Together. The Alliance will provide direct service to families, while Trying Together will provide direct service to early care and education providers in Allegheny County. About ELRC Region 5 CORE VALUES At ELRC Region 5, we recognize the dignity and potential of all people through our interactions with those we serve and the services we seek to deliver, coordinate and align. We commit to: Meeting and honoring the child, family and early care and education professional where they are on their developmental journey. Recognizing that children are best supported in the context of their family, culture, neighborhood, and community. Recognizing (or realizing) we have much to learn from children, families and early care and education professionals and seek to bring this learning to our work. Collaborating in partnership across sectors and expertise to deliver services that build on the inherent strengths of children, families, and the early care and education professional. Building familial, professional and partner relationships with open and honest communication. Services Available FAMILIES Community members may call or visit one of several ELRC sites to receive information or initiate services. Families will be greeted and connected to a Family Navigator for on-going assistance. The Navigators will help their clients understand and navigate the early care and education system, including supporting them through the process to apply for and enroll to receive a child care subsidy, while simultaneously assessing for and connecting them with other supports and services that meet their needs. Once a family has completed the initial application process, they are connected to a Family Specialist for the ongoing management of their child care subsidy. EARLY CHILDHOOD PROFESSIONALS Early childhood professionals first will connect with an Early Learning Program Engagement Specialist and subsequently a Quality Coach – all of whom are assigned to regions so that providers can turn to a consistent staff person in their community. The Early Learning Program Engagement Specialist will serve as the professional’s initial point of contact and will help to identify the initial needs of the provider, such as enrollment in Child Care Works (CCW – the child care subsidy program) and the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) or support to participate or increase quality in the Keystone STARS program. They are responsible for recruiting, establishing eligibility, and enrolling providers of all types in Child Care Works. Quality Coaches will complete a full needs assessment with the program staff, and based on individualized plans, the coaches will use a variety of methods to support continuous quality improvement. The assigned Quality Coach will serve as the provider’s single point of contact, helping to coordinate support from the full team available to assist providers with a variety of tasks, specialized needs, or challenges (STARS designations, CCW billing, etc.). Service Offerings Supplemental services will vary by location, but core services available at each site include: Assistance with understanding, identifying, and enrolling in high quality child care Connection to an appropriate home visiting program, including Early Head Start Information about the Family Support Centers Public benefits enrollment through Compass Voter registration Support for Early Care and Education Providers Provider enrollment in CCW Provider enrollment in Child and Adult Care Food Program Provider support for continuous quality improvement through individualized coaching to obtain higher STAR levels Support for Relative Provider certification (health and safety) Referrals and connections to community-based services covering a full range of human services Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Where are the ELRC Region 5 offices located and how do I contact them? Main Office: ELRC Region 5 304 Wood Street, STE 400 Pittsburgh, PA 15222-1928 Satellite Offices: (Beginning August 1, 2019) Kingsley Association 6435 Frankstown Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15206 Hosanna House 807 Wallace Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15221 Human Services Center 519 Penn Avenue Turtle Creek, PA 15145 South Hills Interfaith Movement 41 Macek Drive Pittsburgh, PA 15227 Providence Family Support Center 3113 Brighton Road Pittsburgh, PA 15212 Focus on Renewal Learning Center 500 Chartiers Avenue McKees Rocks, PA 1513 Phone: 412.350.3577 Toll-Free: 1.888.340.3572 Fax: 412.350.3575 E-mail: elrc5@alleghenycounty.us Website: https://elrc5.alleghenycounty.us Facebook: @ELRCregion5 Twitter: @ELRCregion5 What are the hours of operation? Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.* *Walk-ins accepted until 4:30 p.m. Tuesday 8:30 a.m.–7:00 p.m.** **5:00–7:00 p.m. by appointment only Who manages ELRC Region 5? The Allegheny County Department of Human Services (ACDHS) partners with the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) to support Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) Region 5 in partnership with The Alliance for Infants and Toddlers and Trying Together. In spring of 2018, the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) announced that the state was moving towards a new service model called an Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC). This change was made to consolidate family and early learning provider services to better meet the needs of young children, their families, and the early childhood professionals who interact with them.
December 20, 2018 OCDEL Reports Progress on Infant/Toddler Policies In 2017, the PA Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and stakeholders completed a policy scan with National State Capacity Building Center that identified short, medium, and long-term policy goals to support infants and toddlers in Pennsylvania. Goal Progress OCDEL is proud to report progress on those goals: Short-Term Goal The short-term goal to “adopt a shared definition of relationship-based care” across the ECE system is underway. OCDEL and Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) staff, in partnership with the National Center on Parent, Family, and Community Engagement, are focusing on Relationship-Based Competencies and developing shared definitions and language across systems. Medium-Term Goal The medium-term goal is to “develop a triaging protocol that creates a system akin to Early Head Start that will connect families of infants and toddlers in child care with comprehensive health (including oral) and family support services in their community.” This goal is reflected in the work of the ELRCs which are charged with ensuring all families have access to needed services beyond child care, such as CHIP, WIC, and family supports, including home visiting. Long-Term Goal The long-term goal is to “explore vouchers and contracts that fund the true cost of serving infants and toddlers.” Through the Infant/Toddler Contracted Slot Pilot, OCDEL is piloting contracted slots for infants and toddlers in Keystone STAR 3 and 4 programs. The pilot seeks to understand how contracted slots can support continuity of care for infants, toddlers, and their families and the financial impact on high-quality providers interested in seeking financial stability for the classrooms serving their youngest learners. More Information Additional details will be released in later editions of the PA Early Ed News. *Information provided by the PA Early Ed News
July 18, 2018 OCDEL Announces Child Care Reimbursement Changes The PA Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) announced the Child Care Works (CCW) program will both lift the base rate freeze for STAR 1 and STAR 2 providers, as well as, apply a general Maximum Child Care Allowance (MCCA) base rate increase of 2.5% across all counties, provider types, STAR levels, and care levels effective August 1, 2018. Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) will contact providers in July or August to both gather their program’s current private pay rates and to sign updated provider agreements. If a program serves children in Philadelphia or Allegheny County, they will receive this information through their Child Care Information Service Office. OCDEL is requesting that early learning providers be responsive to the ELRCs when they reachout around the provider agreements. Shared via The PA Key.
June 11, 2018 ELRC Transition Community Meetings Scheduled Pennsylvania families, early care and education professionals, and communities will soon have one point of access for information to support them and the young children they interact with beginning July 2018. To provide more information regarding the transition to the Early Learning Resource Centers (ELRCs) model, several community meetings have been scheduled in surrounding counties between June 18 – 28, 2018. Interested parties may visit pakeys.org/elrcs to learn more.
