News

March 27, 2024

Review and Comment Period Open for Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) is inviting families, early childhood educators, Early Intervention and child care providers, and other professionals to review and make comments on the proposed 2024 application for Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

The review and comment period opens Monday, April 1 and closes on Wednesday, May 15.

About IDEA, Part C and the Application

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is a federal grant program that assists states in providing early intervention and school-aged services to children with special needs. Part C of IDEA – also known as the Infant Toddler Early Intervention Program – provides early intervention services for children from birth through 36 months. Through the application, children with special needs due to developmental delays and disabilities are eligible to receive free early intervention services.

Early intervention services can include family training, counseling, and home visits as well as occupational, physical, or speech therapy. Other services include hearing loss services; health, nutrition, and social work; assistance with service coordination; assistive technology devices and services; and transportation.

Services – which are based upon the individual needs and strengths of each child and the child’s family – may be provided in the child’s home, child care center, nursery school, play group, Head Start program, early childhood special education classroom, or other familiar settings.

Review and Comment Period

Anyone who would like to review the proposed grant application can find the document at Early Intervention Services or Early Intervention (pa.gov) on the right side menu of the web pages. Hard copies can also be requested by emailing ra-ocdintervention@pa.gov or by calling 717-346-9320.

Opportunities to provide public comment include:

  • Visiting Part C Grant Public Comment. The link will allow for online comments when the review and comment period commences on April 1.
  • Submitting written comments regarding the proposed grant application to:
    Office of Child Development and Early Learning, Bureau of Early Intervention Services and Family Supports
    ATTN: Public Comments for Part C Grant Application
    607 South Drive, 4th Floor Rotunda
    Harrisburg, PA 17120

Those who need accommodation or assistance to review the proposed grant application or to submit comments should contact ra-ocdintervention@pa.gov or call 717-346-9320.

Comments will be accepted through Wednesday, May 15.

Learn More

The Department of Education will review and consider all comments before submitting the final grant application. To learn more about the review and comment period, visit the Pennsylvania Key website.

Sources

The above information was compiled from the U.S. Department of Education, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center, Pennsylvania Department of Education, and Pennsylvania Key websites.

News

January 22, 2024

2024 OCDEL Conference – Stable and Secure: Supporting Children Through Trauma Sensitive Approaches

Registration is now open for the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) Early Childhood Education Conference, Stable and Secure: Supporting Children Through Trauma Sensitive Approaches.

The conference is a transformative event that deepens our understanding of child and adult well-being through trauma-sensitive approaches. This unique gathering brings together experts, practitioners, and educators, committed to creating stable and secure environments for young children, their families, and the adults who serve them.

Event Details

When: March 25-26

Where: Hershey Lodge in Hershey, PA

Cost: Free

Registration: Register today!

More Details

Directors and teachers of Pennsylvanian licensed child care centers, group child care, family child care homes, and after-school care are invited. Limit two staff per program, with a limit of 500 total attendees.

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 7, 2023

PA DHS Accepting Applications for Children’s Trust Fund Grants

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) is accepting applications for the Children’s Trust Fund (CTF) grants to promote primary and secondary child abuse and neglect prevention programs in community-based settings in order to address child and family well-being and prevent abuse and neglect of children in the Commonwealth. The maximum CTF grant award is $50,000 per year.

About the Children’s Trust Fund Grants

The mission of the Pennsylvania Children’s Trust Fund (CTF) is to prevent child abuse and neglect in Pennsylvania. To do this, the CTF Board of Directors funds community-based primary and secondary prevention programs that support families.

The CTF was established in December 1988 by Act 1988-151. It operates under the administration of the CTF Board and is supported by the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), a dual deputate of the Department of Human Services (DHS) the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE).

Funds for the CTF are generated from a $10 surcharge on all applications for marriage licenses and divorce complaints. These surcharges are paid into a special non-lapsing fund. Interest, donations and federal funds also contribute to the CTF.

The CTF is dedicated to funding community-based programs to prevent child abuse and neglect. Since its inception, the CTF has invested more than $37 million through 295 grants. See the list of current grantees.

The CTF also supports the work of the Pennsylvania Strengthening Families Leadership Team.

How to Apply

Application details and forms are available at the eMarketPlace website.

Each Applicant must submit one complete copy of the Submittal via email to ra-pwrfaquestions@pa.gov. The subject line of the email must indicate “RFA 13-23 Application”. Applications are due by 10 a.m. on July 31, 2023. Please refer to the eMarketplace listing for any changes regarding the deadline.

Organizations can view the bid online. Awarded contracts are posted to eMarketplace after they become fully executed.

Questions?

If you have a question, send an email to Robin Lease at RAPWRFAQUESTIONS@PA.GOV. All emails should include the subject line “RFA #13-23 Question” and must be submitted by July 14, 2023 at 10 a.m. Written answers will be posted on the eMarketPlace website on July 21, 2023.

News

June 21, 2023

OCDEL Releases 2022 Market Rate Survey Report

The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) recently released their 2022 Child Care Market Rate Survey (MRS) Report.

Data in the report reflects a challenging operating and economic environment, which child care providers continually navigate.

About the MRS Report

The MRS report is a collection and analysis of prices charged by child care providers in an open market. It includes information on private pay tuition rates, staffing, payments and fee practices, facility types, and food offerings at local programs.

OCDEL uses the report to set base reimbursement rates for Pennsylvania’s subsidized child care program Child Care Works (CCW) to ensure equal access to child care for low-income families.

2022 MRS Report

Across the state, 6,378 child care providers stayed in operation throughout the entire survey period. A total of 4,383 providers participated in the 2022 MRS, representing a 68.7% response rate.

Key Findings from the 2022 MRS Report

CCW

  • Of providers with a CCW agreement, half (50.1%) indicated that they do not usually require CCW families to pay any difference between the private tuition rate and the subsidy payment amount.
  • Family and Group Child Care Homes are more likely to require CCW families to pay the difference between the private pay rate and subsidy reimbursement amount than centers. This raises concerns about equity and access to affordable child care in these settings.
  • Among providers who did not have a CCW agreement, the most common reason for not participating was that their capacity was at full enrollment with only private pay families.

Payments & Fees

  • Providers with higher Keystone STAR designations charge more than similar providers with lower designations across all care levels and types.
  • Almost two-thirds (64.4%) of providers charge families a registration fee, with the median fee being $50. Registration fees were most often charged by centers. Incidental fees for late pickups and overdue payments were charged by most providers.
  • With so many providers requiring a registration fee, low-income families in the CCW program may face financial barriers to accessing child care. Additionally, fees for late pickups and overdue payments may cause financial strain for families who are struggling financially.

Staffing

  • Over half of all providers reported unfilled job openings (54.1%), which reduced the number of children that could be served. This was most common among Child Care Centers (67.9%).
  • Only a portion of providers (36.6%) offered health insurance to any staff members. The low portion of providers offering health insurance benefits to staff members may impact the quality of care.

Food & Nutrition

  • The USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a federal program that provides reimbursements to providers for healthy meals and snacks — 43.3% of providers reported using the program.
  • Regardless of CACFP participation, most providers offered some meals or snacks with regular tuition.
  • The fact that over half of providers do not participate in CACFP suggests that there may be gaps in the quality of meals and snacks offered by child care providers. This could be particularly bad for children from low-income families who may rely on child care providers for healthy meals.

Access the Report

Access the 2022 MRS Report on the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) website.

Learn More

To learn more, visit the Official Pennsylvania Government website.

News

June 20, 2023

OCDEL Extends Deadline to Order Two Free Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) has extended the deadline for certified child care providers in Pennsylvania to order two complimentary First Alert carbon monoxide detectors to August 31.

The detectors are available to all certified child care providers in the state who want them. However, providers do not need to order or place the detectors.

(This article was updated on May 9, 2023 and June 20, 2023 to reflect new deadlines.)

Why is OCDEL offering carbon monoxide detectors?

In October 2022, a carbon monoxide leak occurred in a Pennsylvania child care facility. OCDEL is providing this opportunity for providers who want to increase the safety of their staff and the children in their care.

How do I order carbon monoxide detectors for my child care facility?

School Health, a national provider of health supplies, sent an email on March 1 to all certified child care providers in Pennsylvania. The email, sent from reply@email.schoolhealth.com, included a unique promotional code and instructions on how to order the carbon monoxide detectors.

Providers interested in ordering the detectors should follow the instructions in the School Health email to place their orders. The provided promotional code will cover the cost of purchase and shipping for two detectors.

Please note:

  • School Health promotional codes are unique. Child care providers should not share promotional codes or forward the School Health email to other child care providers.
  • OCDEL will only cover the cost of this one-time purchase and will not cover any other costs. Additional costs not covered include costs to replace lost or broken devices.

Who can I contact with questions?

If you have any questions, or did not receive an email on March 1, please contact Kristi Leahy from School Health at kleahy@schoolhealth.com or 630-339-7943.

News

June 12, 2023

WIDA Early Years Program to Sunset in June

WIDA and the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) will sunset the WIDA Early Years Membership Program for Pennsylvania on June 30.

Consequently, the four current, free, one-hour, self-paced, WIDA Early Years trainings in the PD Registry will no longer be available beginning July 1, and anyone completing WIDA Early Years training coursework must do so by July 1 to receive credit for the training.

Still, trainers who completed the WIDA cohort may still offer in-person WIDA courses in the PD Registry for a fee.

About the WIDA Early Years Membership Program

WIDA Early Years Membership Program promotes equitable early care and education (ECE) opportunities for young, multilingual children through partnerships with state agencies.

Though the program will end on June 30, WIDA will continue to make PreK–3 resources available on the WIDA website under “Early Language Development” or “Teaching in PreK–3.” Additionally, OCDEL will make dual language resources available on the Pennsylvania Key website.

Future WIDA Offerings

Beginning September 1, WIDA will offer two new PreK-3 resources:

  • A new self-paced workshop, “Exploring the WIDA PreK-3 Essential Actions,” will introduce educators to the new WIDA PreK-3 Essential Actions. Educators will have an opportunity to build their knowledge and understanding of the Essential Actions and to reflect on their own ideologies, practices, and settings.
    • Access to the course will require a WIDA Secure Portal account. Search the training calendar in the PD Registry for “Exploring the WIDA PreK-3 Essential Actions” or contact Barry Wiestling at bwiestling@pa.gov for information about how to set up a WIDA Secure Portal account and access this and other WIDA self-paced offerings.
  • A new, “Are We Ready?” resource will support PreK–3 educators to promote and provide equitable transitions for multilingual children and their families. This resource will be available on the WIDA website.

Learn More

Please contact Barry Wiestling at bwiestling@pa.gov with questions.

To learn more, visit the WIDA website.

News

June 5, 2023

OCDEL Invites Families to Participate in Free Professional Photo Session

The Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems (ECCS) Team at the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) invites pregnant and parenting families of children birth to age six to participate in a free professional photo session.

Each participating family will receive a stipend of $150 and associated travel/mileage reimbursement for completing the approximately one-hour photoshoot. Families will also receive copies of their photos.

About Photo Sessions

Why is OCDEL providing this opportunity?

Photos of Pennsylvania children and their families play an instrumental role in conveying the importance of high-quality maternal and early childhood services in Pennsylvania. Additionally, they aid in outreach to families, professionals, legislators, business leaders, and other partners throughout the state.

By capturing photos of Pennsylvania families, OCDEL can better serve and advocate for them and the care of their children.

How will OCDEL use the photos?

OCDEL may use the photos for:

  • advertising (i.e. television, online, billboard, and print)
  • social media
  • printed displays and materials, such as annual reports, PowerPoint presentations, etc.

In using the photos, OCDEL will never share the names and locations of the families included in them.

Who can participate in the photo sessions?

All Pennsylvania families with children age six and younger are invited to participate, including those who reflect the diversity of Pennsylvania’s population. OCDEL would like to represent differences in identity such as:

  • race
  • ethnicity
  • gender
  • gender identity
  • sexual orientation
  • age
  • disability
  • geographic location across the Commonwealth

Siblings and grandparents are welcome and highly encouraged to participate, too.

Why should families participate?

Each participating family will receive electronic access to the professionally produced photos of their family taken during the photo session. They will be able to:

  • download and save the photos
  • print them
  • share them on their social media accounts (i.e. Facebook or Instagram)
  • email them to family and friends

Additionally, each participating family will receive a stipend of $150 for completing the approximately 1-hour photoshoot. Also, mileage reimbursement will be provided at a rate of 65.5 cents per mile.

ECCS is also able to reimburse other modes of transportation utilized to get to the photo session location, such as public transportation, Uber, or Lyft with receipts. ECCS will also reimburse tolls with receipts.

Where will photo sessions be held?

The ECCS team will host photo sessions:

  • June 27 in King of Prussia, Montgomery County
  • July 17 in Cranberry Township, Butler County
  • July 19 in Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County
  • July 25 in Harrisburg, Dauphin County

How can families sign-up to participate?

If you would like to participate, please complete the online registration form no later than June 15.

There is no cost to participate with the ECCS photo session. However, space is limited and registration is required.

Learn More

To learn more, visit the Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children website.

For questions, please contact Sadia Batool at c-sabatool@pa.gov.

News

May 11, 2023

OCDEL Ends COVID-19 Reporting Requirement for Child Care Providers

The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) will end its requirement for child care providers to report cases of COVID-19 on May 11, 2023.

About the COVID-19 Reporting Requirement

Shortly after the start of the federal Public Health Emergency for COVID-19 (PHE), OCDEL issued a mandate requiring all licensed child care operators to submit information on children and staff who tested positive for COVID-19 on the Licensed Facility COVID Data Collection Tool.

OCDEL will end this reporting requirement and close the portal on May 11, 2023 to align with the end of the PHE. However, OCDEL will continue to require child care operators and facility persons to share any reportable, communicable diseases present in their facilities with the Department of Health (DOH).

Sharing Reportable Communicable Diseases

A list of reportable diseases is available on the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) website.

Child care providers must share all cases of reportable, communicable diseases with the DOH at 1-877-PA-HEALTH or 1-877-724-3258. They may also contact their local health department:

Learn More

To learn more, visit the Pennsylvania Key website. Additionally, interested individuals can attend the ELRC Region 5 Virtual Director Roundtables held each Tuesday at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to get more information.