Staff will be available by phone or email on these dates.

Interested in kindergarten transition research, ideas? Want to hear examples and learn tools? Register for the Transition to Kindergarten Virtual Summit on Friday, December 2, 2022, from 10 - 11:30 a.m. The summit is open to everyone who works with students and families during kindergarten and service transitions, including teachers, community members and leaders, administrators, providers, and others.

The Transition to Kindergarten Virtual Summit is a collaborative presentation led by the FSSA/Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning, the Indiana Department of Education, and the Indiana Head Start Association.

This year, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is showing up earlier than usual, and more children are getting sick. RSV is a viral infection that is very common in the winter, especially among young children. Although most people with RSV have mild cold symptoms, it can cause severe illness and result in hospitalization. It's important for early care and education program staff members and families to recognize the symptoms of RSV so they understand its effects and how to respond when children and adults get sick.

The National Center on Health, Behavioral Health, and Safety (NCHBHS) has a new resource to help staff learn more about RSV — including the importance of daily health checks, the inclusion of ill children, and information on what to do when it's more than just a cold.

Additional resources include:

• RSV Resources from the Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC)
• Explore the ECLKC
• Preventing Infectious Diseases in Early Childhood Programs and the related Course Overview
• Managing Infectious Diseases: Infection Control

Please note — all ECLKC webpages are also available in Spanish. Select the "Español" button on the top right corner to see the Spanish translation.

Questions? Send any questions about the above information to NCHBHS at health@ecetta.info or call them at 888-227-5125 (toll-free). To join the mailing list for the Office of Child Care Administration for Children and Families through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, subscribe here.

Check out this article for NUMEROUS family engagement resources. Here's a brief sample of what you'll see:

The research-based principles of family engagement remain steady and include core tenants such as:

• Involve parents, caretakers, and guardians in decision-making about their child
• Provide truly reciprocal communication and involvement with school staff
• Add to families’ parenting knowledge outside of the classroom.

There's so much more! See the full blog post HERE.

Family Bonding

Tues, Dec 6th @ 1pm

Join CASY's Family Engagement Specialists during this workshop as we explore expectations and processes to encourage bonding throughout different types of families.

Register Here

Post COVID Language Delays & Timely Services

Wed, Jan 11th @ 11am

Now that the masks are taken off and the quarantines have ended, are we back to normal? COVID left a lasting mark on most of us, and our children are no different. Children born during this time or those that reached "toddlerhood" are showing signs of speech and language delays. Our pediatricians are the first line of defense, but they need your help! Learn more about the signs, symptoms, and risk factors that have been found to be indicative of a speech language disorder. If your child fits any of these concerns, then stay tuned for how to get timely evaluation and treatment as EARLY intervention is key! Many of our children missed opportunities and experiences that promote language and learning; so, do not wait to get the help they need to get back on track! Hear from Jessica Downing, Speech Therapist and owner of Clarity Cognitive and Speech Therapy during this CASY family information session.

Register Here