News

August 8, 2019

Applications Open | Building Capacity for Coaching Initiative

In collaboration with The Pennsylvania Key, the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) recently announced the “Building Capacity for Coaching Initiative” in support of developing internal coaches in STAR 3 and STAR 4 facilities.

About

The purpose of this initiative is to leverage coaching supports from Penn State Better Kid Care (BKC) and other professional growth activities to develop internal coaches in STAR 3 and STAR 4 facilities. Selected applicants will demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of early childhood practices and must have the approval of their administrator or director as this will require a time commitment.

Family Child Care providers can apply if they are able to support other family child care providers in their coaching efforts and commit the time necessary to complete the program.

Benefits

Facilities
    • will develop the internal capacity to offer coaching to other staff to ensure continuous quality improvement;
    • receive exceptional professional development opportunities at no cost as well as access to the Learning Community;
    • and gain valuable insight as OCDEL works to learn about needed coaching supports for ECE providers.
Coaching & Staff
    • coaches receive a one-time stipend of $2,500
    • and teachers receive supports and coaching on areas of practice that can strengthen or improve child experiences in their classroom.

What Will Be Expected

Facilities participating in this program must meet the following expectations:

Facility
    • identify a coach (lead teacher, director, assistant director, or another instructional leader);
    • have two teachers, identified by the coach, complete four free modules;
    • have coach-staff teams select one coaching guide as a framework for coaching;
    • and complete additional recommended professional development supports as needed.
Coach
    • attend a one-day in-person coach training;
    • complete two free BKC online modules;
    • observe and then facilitate bi-weekly coaching sessions with selected teachers;
    • complete a coaching log;
    • participate in monthly learning community webinars;
    • and participate in two touchpoints per month.

Applications

To apply for this program, visit their online form.

All applications must be submitted by Friday, September 20, 2019.

Learn More

To learn more, visit the Pennsylvania Key website.

Questions

For more information or questions, contact Barbara Willier at barwil@pakeys.org.

News

August 2, 2019

2019-20 PA NAP SACC Mini-Grant

The Pennsylvania Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (PA NAP SACC) program is seeking licensed child care providers for their 2019-20 Mini-Grant Project!

About the Program

PA NAP SACC is a continuous quality improvement process focused on nutrition and physical activity practices and policies within early care and education settings. The program utilizes Go NAP SACC, an online, evidence-based tool to guide providers through self-assessment action planning, implementation, policy development, re-self-assessment, and reflection. The process empowers program leadership and includes individualized technical assistance to increase knowledge and improve the quality of practice and policy.

With this, a limited number of programs will receive onsite, targeted technical assistance from a Child Care Health Consultant (CCHS) at no cost to the site. The CCHC reviews current practices and policies, assisting with developing sustainable policies and offering guidance for continuous quality improvement.

Program Participation

Beyond the reward of making a difference in the health of children in your care, those who participate and complete project requirements will receive a $500 mini-grant to support their action steps and enhance their nutrition and physical activity practices and policies.

For STAR 3 and 4 programs, and STAR 2 programs moving to STAR 3, participation in all components of the program satisfies the performance standards and/or bonus point requirements related to utilizing a health care consultant to establish and maintain health policies above those required by certification. In addition to this, the program ensures participation in an organized effort to promote nutritional health for children.

Technical support and policy consultation will be available to all participating programs.

Timeline

The PA NAP SACC Mini-Grant Project will follow the following timeline:

    • Applications Due: August 27, 2019
    • Notification of Acceptance: September 12, 2019
    • Orientation & Kick-Off: October 2019
    • Implementation: Period of 8 to 9 months
    • Reflection & Wrap Up: June 2020

How to Apply

If you’re interested in participating, complete and submit the electronic application.  All applications must be submitted by August 27, 2019.

More Information

For questions or more information, contact Lori McMonigal at 717.248.4942, x 112 or lmcmonigal@tiu11.org.

*Information provided by PA NAP SACC

News

July 18, 2018

Pilot Launches This Fall for Infant/Toddler Child Care

Beginning September 2018, OCDEL will use $2 million of the increased Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) funding to pilot contracting for slots for infants and toddlers participating in Child Care Works (CCW).

OCDEL will leverage the PA Pre-K Counts model to pilot contracting with STAR 3 and STAR 4 programs to serve infants and toddlers in high-quality settings.

This pilot will improve access to, and continued enrollment of, children 0-36 months in high-quality early care and education programs and is supported by the results of Pennsylvania’s Infant/Toddler policy scan (a tool developed by Administration for Children and Families’ Office of Child Care).

Shared via The PA Key.

News

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.