Early Education Newsletter

Thank you to all the providers, emerging providers, and supporters who attended the Provider Fair in Wayne County this past Saturday. All who came were able to take home prizes and resources to help them on their child care journey. The next Child Care Provider Fair will be held this fall in Monroe County. More information to come!

Are you interested in learning about the support systems that are available to you for free?

Click on the picture to see all the partners and a description of how they can help you and your child care business. Please email Trisha Guinn, Program Engagement Specialist for a copy.

Find all the supports for your county here.

If you could not attend last month's webinars, or if you would like a refresher on Indiana's efforts to increase the access and sustainability of early learning opportunities, you may watch the recording. You may also access frequently asked questions.

Here are the next steps and resources for providers:

Increased Income Eligibility for Families to Qualify for Child Care Assistance: Eligible families seeking CCDF assistance may apply under the newly expanded guidelines starting August 1, 2023. Families seeking On My Way Pre-K assistance may apply at any time. To help explain these changes to the families in your care, access the Provider Toolkit.

New CCDF Reimbursement Rates: The public comment period is now open for providers and community members to share their feedback regarding the new reimbursement rates. The deadline for public comment is Friday, July 21, 2023. Please send your comments to OECOSLPublicComment@fssa.in.gov. New rates will go into effect on July 30. Providers should see the new rates applied during payments scheduled for August 30, 2023.

Child Care Expansion Grants: The State is in the final stages of making award determinations. Award notices will be sent in July 2023. Learn more about the Child Care Expansion Grants.

What can you do? Pay attention to the Air Quality Index (AQI) . The AQI is a tool that tells you when high levels of air pollution are predicted and tells you how air pollution affects your health.

Finding the AQI is easy. It’s on the Web, on many local TV weather forecasts, or you can sign up for free e-mail tools or visit the AirNow website. The AQI is easy to use. If the AQI predicts a “Code Orange” (unhealthy for sensitive groups) day don’t cancel your plans— use the AQI to help you plan a better time or place for them.

What is T.E.A.C.H.?

T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® INDIANA, is a unique scholarship program that links education, compensation, and commitment to improve the quality of early care and educational experiences for young children and their families.

Who can participate?

• Family Child Care Home Owners
• Center Directors
• Teachers
• Assistant Teachers
• Home Visitors
• Family Child Care Home Employees

Benefits

• Children are the main beneficiaries. They are able to bond with an early care and education professional who has made a commitment to the profession, who is a specialist in early childhood education, who understands child development, and who is sensitive to the needs of young children.

• Participants benefit by attainment of credentials, certificates, and degrees which increase their knowledge and lead to higher compensation.

• Programs - Early care and education programs benefit by retaining early childhood professionals trained in child development, reducing turnover, and enhancing the program’s quality.
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

Recognizing that the well-being of our early care and education professionals is critical to the quality of care they are able to provide children, the state is launching a new Build, Learn, Grow initiative that will give professionals and their employees access to critical wellness services at no cost.

The Build, Learn, Grow Building Wellness program offers free, short-term counseling, legal and financial consultation, work-life assistance and crisis intervention services. Individuals who are actively employed by a licensed, Indiana-based early childhood education or out-of-school care program, as well as their household family members and dependents, are all eligible for the services.

The program is strictly confidential. Information about an individual’s participation in the program will not be shared with the person’s employer or with the state of Indiana.

Services are available through September 2023.

Learn more.

Click here to view a list of pre-recorded webinars.

• The Power of the Podcast: How Consultants and Other Experts Can Reach a Wider Audience
• Nature-based Learning Environments: What Every Early Childhood Porgram Leader Needs to Know
• Progressive Early Childhood Leadership: From Aspiration to Implementation
• The Administrators Role in Reducing Challenging Behavior

To view more free webinars, visit Early Childhood Investigations Webinars.

Did you know...

Audio recordings for selected edWeb programs are available and FREE on podcast. To earn a CE certificate for an edWeb program, search and view the video recording in the edWebinar archives here. As an edWeb.net member, you’ll be able to download a personalized CE certificate from your edWebinar transcript page. Check it out here.

Every community has public health challenges that may seem daunting for any one agency to address alone. Healthy choice should be the easy choice! Purdue Extension Nutrition Education Program (NEP) will work with you to help you meet your challenges. And, because they’re grant-funded, all their services are free.

The Nutrition Education Program offers two major initiatives to communities, Nutrition Education/SNAP-Ed and Community Wellness Coordinator and are free of charge.

Who is Eligible for Free Nutrition & Health Lessons?

Preschools, Schools, Head Start, Faith-based Organizations

Check out some success stories and learn more!

Want to learn more about Paths to QUALITY?

Visit Spark's resource site.

Instructions for joining:

• Log into I-LEAD
• Start Your Indiana Learning Paths
• Courses
• Search Paths to QUALITY Introduction

Once you've completed the introductory course, a Spark coach will reach out to you.

Reach out to a Spark coach if you need help.

• Monday Must Know's
• Spark Bulletin
• CASY Family Newsletter
• Early Learning Indiana

On My Way Pre-K is still accepting applications for the 2023-24 school year. On My Way Pre-K awards grants to 4-year-olds from low-income families so they can attend high-quality pre-K the year before beginning kindergarten. Recipient families may use the grant at any approved On My Way Pre-K program. Eligible children must be four years old by August 1, 2023. If a family in your program qualifies, please have them apply at www.onmywayprek.org.

SHARE PRE-RECORDED FAMILY WEBINARS WITH FAMILIES

• Potty Time!
• Challenging Behaviors
• Sunshine, Swimming & Safe Summer Days
• Breathe: Steps to Protect Your Kids From Secondhand & Thirdhand Smoke

We are starting up

Family Child Care Networks and Director Roundtables

for child care businesses across our service delivery area.

Want to meet up with other child care providers or directors?

Email Trisha Guinn, CASY's Family Engagement Specialist to learn more.

Do you already attend something similar?

Please invite me! I'd love to provide resources to your group!

-Trisha Guinn

Email: tguinn@casyonline.org
Website: www.casyonline.org
Location: 1101 South 13th Street, Terre Haute, IN, USA
Phone: 800-886-3952
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CASY.Inc