Early Education Newsletter

Register for the Child Care Provider Fair now.

November 4

10am-12pm

St Mark's United Methodist Church

100 N St Rd 46, Bloomington, IN 47408

Whether you are just getting started or have an established child care business, CASY CCRR's Child Care Provider Fair is a great opportunity to connect with resources and state support agencies, that can help you through your licensing journey or support your established business.

Fingerprinting will be available onsite. Please be sure to note your interest in this service at the time of registration. Door prizes will be announced every 15 mins. Must be present to win. Come early to pick up a free book at the CCRR Network table (while supplies last) and stay to network and share ideas with other programs!

Chances And Services for Youth's (CASY) Child Care Resource and Referral (CCRR) Network is starting up Family Child Care Networks for HOME child care businesses. Would you like to meet up with other child care providers?

Email Trisha Guinn, CASY's Program Resource Navigator to learn more.

Beginning October 1, 2023,​ emerging provider support has moved to the Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning​ (OECOSL). If you have questions related to the process or need assistance, please contact OECOSLemergingprovidersupport@fssa.in.gov to be connected to an Emerging Provider Specialist.

Are you an early learning or OST program and are struggling to find educators?

Exciting news! There is a new solution to help!

Indiana has expanded its innovative educator job board to help place high-quality educators in these critical programs.

Learn more and sign up for the online resource.

Register for the upcoming webinar on Oct. 3 at 1pm.

Up your marketing game. Hire more teachers.

Brighter Futures launched a new tool that will help providers recruit teachers and enroll families. Check out this video to view the Social Media and Online Presence sections of the Marketing Best Practices Guide.

Looking for professional development opportunities? Check out this list from FSSA of Online Professional Development Resources.

The Indiana Association for the Education of the Young Children (IN AEYC) team supports early childhood professionals in reaching their goals by helping them get connected to the supports they need most to achieve their dreams. They have regionally-based Workforce Coordinators working in your communities to support collaboration and connection to local and statewide opportunities. Reach out to your local Workforce Coordinator to learn how they can help your child care workforce. They also have T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® INDIANA Scholarship Advisors who can help you achieve the Early Childhood Education you've always wanted at little or no cost. See if you qualify today!

Providers can soon Fall in Love with Group Coaching in SPARK's fall Learning Cohorts.

SPARK Group Coaching Cohorts are virtual groups consisting of an experienced coach and a small group of your peers. Topics include Paths to QUALITY™ level advancement and maintenance, the accreditation process, and enhancing infant and toddler environments. Each Group Coaching Cohort lasts two to three months and is an excellent opportunity to learn and ask questions with a coach and a group of peers. SPARK Group Coaching Cohorts are designed for:

• Family child care owners or directors
• Child care center or ministry owners or directors
• Administrators and principals
• Educational leadership individuals
• New program leaders

• Infant Toddler Cohort: Join for an opportunity to enhance your infant/toddler environment. At the end of the group learning sessions, program leaders will have a plan to enhance their interactions and environment and be able to explain the advantages of having an appropriate environment for infants and toddlers. Participants will develop and/or implement a plan at the end of the five weeks together.

• Paths to QUALITY™ and Accreditation Cohorts: Cohorts meet weekly. Paths to QUALITY cohorts meet for 6 weeks and Accreditation cohorts meet for 10 weeks.

Visit the SPARK website to learn more or to register for a session that meets your needs!

Register for a Cohort

SPARK Learning Lab has partnered with Lakeshore Learning to bring you hands-on, engaging, and invigorating in-person training sessions. Gain strategies you can implement right away. For all Lakeshore® training opportunities, a meal will be provided, and attendees will receive a Lakeshore® materials kit after the training!

Please note, these trainings are in person. Double-check the location for each session before registering. To register, you must first sign-in to Indiana Learning Paths through your I-LEAD account in another browser tab. Once you are signed in, click the links below to register for specific trainings:

Setting up a High-Quality Environment (Center-Based)
January 11, 2023 from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. ET
6501 Sunnyside Road Indianapolis, IN 46236

Infant/Toddler Social Emotional
January 12, 2023 from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. ET
Hoosier Heartland State Bank Success Center, 1623 US-231 Crawfordsville, IN 47933

Setting up a High-Quality Environment (FCCH)
January 21, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. CT
Geminus, 8400 Louisiana St. Merrillville, Indiana 46410

The Paths to QUALITY™ Policy Committee approved a new policy to support high-quality providers (PTQ Level 3 or 4) that are relocating, changing ownership, or opening additional locations. Eligible providers must be in good standing or previously in good standing (if moving) with OECOSL and complete the application for consideration. Upon approval, the program will be reinstated at its previous PTQ Level (3 or 4) and must have a maintenance rating visit within 30 days of the approval. Providers will have 90 days to correct any insufficiencies, which OECOSL hopes help alleviate any challenges for programs. Please contact OECOSL at oecoslproviderinquiry@fssa.in.gov if you have any questions or concerns.

October Indiana Learning Lab Opportunities

IDOE has numerous PD opportunities in the Indiana Learning Lab throughout October. Join PD with IDOE from 4 to 4:30 p.m. ET each Wednesday for the following sessions:

• Wednesday, October 4: Employer-Sponsored Childcare Grant Opportunities
• Wednesday, October 11: Summer of Learning Keynote LIVE: Preview and Review
• Wednesday, October 18, Preschool Special Education Data Collection: Practical TOols to Improve Data Reliability
• Wednesday, October 25: Roadtrip Nation

Join Dr. Catlin Tucker, a renowned expert on blended learning strategies, on Tuesday, October 24, at 4 p.m. ET for the Blended Learning Series session From Objectives to Assessment: Crafting Cohesive Units with Backward Design. To view previous on-demand sessions and register for upcoming opportunities, create a free account by visiting the LINK Portal or the Indiana Learning Lab directly and use your school email address to log in. Contact IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning with any questions

Anxiety rates are skyrocketing among young learners—and their teachers urgently need explicit guidance on how to understand and support these children. This webinar, presented by author and child care advocate, Dr. Sarah Vanover, will prepare you to recognize anxiety in children ages 3–8, identify the associated behaviors, and work effectively with children who have symptoms of anxiety. You will learn different types of childhood anxiety, symptoms, causes, and triggers, and. how to address the challenging behaviors that are often symptoms of anxiety.

Their Name is Today, Reclaiming Chilhood in a Hostile World

by Johann Christoph Arnold

There’s hope for childhood. Despite a perfect storm of hostile forces that are robbing children of a healthy childhood, courageous parents and teachers who know what’s best for children are turning the tide.

Drawing on the stories and voices of parents and educators on the ground, author Johann Christoph Arnold surveys the drastic changes in the lives of children, but also the groundswell of grassroots advocacy and action that he believes will lead to the triumph of common sense and time-tested wisdom.

In recognition of the child-centered vision this book promotes, Community Playthings has chosen to sponsor its distribution to early childhood educators. Use this link to request your free copy. (Softcover, 192 pages, foreword by Mark K. Shriver.)You will need to create an account if you don't already have one. A study guide is also available here.

Check out these activities, print outs, and much more at Safe to Sleep.

SIDS Awareness Month Toolkit

Use this toolkit to:

• Raise awareness about safe infant sleep, such as through the #ClearTheCrib challenge.
• Use the partner resources to compliment your awareness month activities
• Normalize images of safe sleep practices.
• Celebrate caregivers’ roles in helping to keep baby safe during sleep.

#ClearTheCrib Challenge

The #ClearTheCrib Challenge is a fun activity that raises awareness about safe infant sleep. Try the Challenge with friends, during baby showers and parenting classes, or as a relay race or practice on your own. Promote the Challenge and invite your audiences to challenge themselves. Check out our video showing how to do the #ClearTheCrib challenge. Remember, the goal is to create a safe sleep environment. How quickly and accurately can you clear the crib?

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