Early Education Newsletter
The CASY Office will be CLOSED May 3rd & 30th.
May 2022 -- Child Care Provider Appreciation Month
THANK YOU!
WE HEAR YOU
One-on-One Business Consultation
Get free guidance from a child care business coach to strengthen your business. Take advantage of this no-cost, professional consultation for child care providers that could make a big difference to your child care business.
Connect with a business coach through live Q&A sessions and one-on-one coaching calls at no cost to you. Your business consultant can:
• Assist you in identifying key areas in your business to utilize relief funding
• Help you define and reach goals to increase revenue and decrease costs
• Offer best practices and tools to operate your child care business
• Create action steps to help you move forward with confidence
WORKFORCE COORDINATORS
Check out the FLYER!
Reach out to your INAEYC Early Childhood Regional Workforce Coordinator. They are excited to connect with you to learn more about your work, your ideas, your goals, and the ways they can support you in achieving them! Find your local contact in the flyer. Here are some ways they can help:
- Offer data-driven support to address workforce issues, recruitment, retention, improving working conditions, or creating salary scales.
- Career coaching, navigation, and professional development planning.
- Connect with local programs, community leaders, and other regional partners to support the recruitment and retention of a competent workforce.
- Assist with coordination of new initiatives designed to meet workforce needs regionally.
- At a state level, our team tracks statewide trends and advocates for the workforce, families, and children.
- Provide information for the T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® INDIANA and the Non-Formal CDA™ scholarship programs.
- Work with programs to create program professional development plans.
Child Care HIRING FAIR
SAVE THE DATE
Child Care HIRING FAIR
Saturday, June 11
CASY, 1101 S 13th St, Terre Haute
We've heard your cry for help - YOU NEED STAFF!!!
CASY and CCR&R will host an "Everything You Need" child care staff hiring fair where potential employees will have on site access to computers for hiring forms, ILEAD, background check scheduling and drug screen sign ups. Resources will also be available around TB testing, CPR classes, and CDA opportunities. They will also have professionals from the community to answer questions that may be barriers for employment.
If you need staff and are interested in being a part of the Child Care HIRING FAIR,
please contact:
Trisha Guinn
Program Engagement Specialist
(812) 231-8919
****** A Little Help from your ****** Program Engagement Specialist
I'd like to introduce myself. I am Trisha Guinn, your new Program Engagement Specialist at Chances and Services for Youth (CASY), your area’s Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agency. I hope you are enjoying this newsletter! I have been gathering resources, picked specifically for you. Besides developing the newsletter, you may hear from me about updating your child care program information. Updating this information is important to allow us to continue to provide referrals to families looking for care. You may click on this link at any time to update online. My favorite part is hearing from you about your needs and providing you with the resources and answers to those needs. Finally, if you know of someone who is interested in becoming a child care provider, please send them my direction! Please don't hesitate to reach out to me! I want to help YOU!
~Trisha Guinn
(812) 231-8919
Announcements
Applications are Open for On My Way Pre-K
If a family in your program may be interested or qualify for On My Way Pre-K, please have them visit www.onmywayprek.org and apply today.
On My Way Pre-K is still accepting applications for the 2022-2023 school year. On My Way Pre-K awards grants to 4-year-olds from low-income families so they may have access to a high-quality pre-K the year before they begin kindergarten. Families who receive a grant may use the grant at any approved On My Way Pre-K program. Children who will be 4 years old by August 1, 2022 are eligible.
Build, Learn, Grow Summer Scholarship Program
The Indiana Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning — in partnership the Indiana Afterschool Network — is offering a new Build, Learn, Grow SUMMER Scholarship program.
Many students lost valuable instructional education time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to ensure that students are ready to learn during the 2022-2023 academic year, we have created a new Build, Learn, Grow Scholarship program for children of essential workers.
- Program Dates: May 23, 2022-August 12, 2022
- Applications open April 25, 2022, at 9 am EST, through June 30, 2022, at 6 pm EST.
- Eligibility: At least one member of the household must work in an essential business and enroll their school-age child in a summer program at an eligible provider.
- Description: Indiana’s Build, Learn, Grow Summer Scholarship Fund will cover up to 80% of tuition for families of essential workers scholarships toward their children’s summer learning.
Save the Date: Indiana Summit on Out-of-School Learning
The Indiana Afterschool Network is excited to announce their 11th annual Indiana Summit on Out-of-School Learning - Indiana's premier conference designed specifically for out-of-school time providers and champions.
This year's summit will be taking place at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Noblesville Indianapolis Conference Center on May 24-25, 2022. Check out the SCHEDULE of events.
Follow Indiana Afterschool Network on social media to receive updates on this event and more.
The Summit is hosted in partnership between the Indiana Afterschool Network and the Indiana Department of Education
Professional Development
Summer CDA Fast Track - Bloomington Ivy Tech
Classes will take place from June 6 – July 31st and will be Learn Anywhere classes, which means the instructor will be on campus, but the student can be anywhere they can login to Canvas.
CDA Fast Track Cohort
ECED 100 LA 1-4pm Monday
ECED 101 LA 4-7pm Tuesday
ECED 103 LA 4-7pm Wednesday
ECED 105 LA 4-7pm Thursday
For more information on the course and details pertaining Ivy Tech admission:
Marjie Risen
Department Chair
812-330-6109
Scholarships for the program are also available. The TEACH Early Childhood Indiana Scholarship Project can provide scholarship assistance and support to participate and earn the CDA Credential. Please reach out directly to Nahid Rezaei, nrezaei@inaeyc.org and she will be able to assist you or your staff members with the process and answer questions pertaining TEACH.
ServSafe Manager Training and Exam
June 2nd
Randolph County Fairgrounds
1885 S US Hwy 27, Winchester, IN 47394
Here is an upcoming local ServSafe opportunity! Randolph County Purdue Extension will be hosting an 8-hour ServSafe Manager Training and Exam. Anyone serving food needs to pass this exam every 5 years.
For further details, times, and cost regarding the training and exam, or if you have any questions, email robin389@purdue.edu or call 765-584-2271.
3 Keys to Staff Retention Through Practically Perfect Performance, by Rachel Supalla, MA
May 5, 2022
2:00 PM Eastern Time
Practically perfect performance might seem like a dream in today’s classrooms but with just a spoonful of sugar and a little bit of work you will reap the rewards of using a systematic approach to measuring performance. Rachel will help you think outside the box, while making you laugh with her creative and quirky style. This session will give you takeaways that you can implement right away along with a step-by-step action plan as part of the handout.
You will leave tis session able to:
- understand KPI’s and how to apply them to childcare metrics.
- identify gaps in their program and employee performance.
- identify their non-negotiable job expectations.
- set benchmarks for program and performance goals.
- create a measurable system using a step by step guide for improved performance.
Getting Pre-K Right
The Iceberg Model for Early Developmental Competencies
The tip of the iceberg, the section floating above the surface, is composed of things that are easily measured. All standard school readiness assessments focus on these types of skills. This content focus and the teaching strategies result in a detachment of the tip of the iceberg from the deeper skills under the surface. Thus, children can score well on school readiness skills at the end of pre-k–especially on those related to literacy–but not maintain any advantage by the end of kindergarten when all children attain these skills with or without pre-k experience. This article discusses why getting early Pre-K right is so important.
Learning America: How We Can Welcome and Provide a Just and Robust Education for Refugee and Immigrant Students
May 4, 2022
4:00 pm EDT
Millions of refugees fleeing war in Ukraine and Afghanistan in recent months have captured attention and concern in the United States. Hundreds of thousands will resettle here, but the U.S. education system is largely failing refugee and immigrant students. Over five million English language learners (ELLs) are enrolled in schools nationwide, yet among them, only 14% achieve English language proficiency. Nationally, the dropout rate of ELLs is 40%, and these students are five times more likely to be out of school than their peers.
How can we design schools and classrooms to not only welcome our new students, but also provide environments where robust learning can occur? The nonprofit Fugees Family has reimagined schools for refugees and immigrants who are learning English, offering specialized education and centering on soccer as a way to, among other things, create a sense of belonging. Fugees Academies in Georgia and Ohio now serve as innovation hubs for school districts nationwide seeking support for their newcomer and ELL programs.
In this edWebinar, attendees will:
- Learn more about the Fugees model and hear personal stories and inspiration behind the Fugees Academies
- Dive into specific examples of how Fugees is partnering with districts to build and transform schools for refugee and immigrant students
- Explore the relevance of whole-child teaching and learning and learner variability within schools embracing refugee and immigrant students
From Self-Care to Self-Aware: SEL Starts with You
May 17, 2022
5:00 pm EDT
Educators play an essential role in students’ social-emotional development. It’s not just a 30-minute class or a single worksheet; you are teaching social-emotional learning (SEL) to your students throughout the school day. SEL is learned through their relationships in the classroom. Every day, you’re tasked with teaching students who have a wide range of academic and emotional needs, and every day, you show up for them, you support them, and you put their emotional well-being first. However, your well-being matters, too.
It’s time to focus on you and explore the relationship between self-care and resilience. During this edWebinar, you will learn how to identify moments throughout your school day when you can take care of your needs and ultimately create a positive learning environment for your students.
podcasts
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 our 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.
Resources
Flower Painting
Here’s a fun way to capture some of that wondrous splash of color from your flower garden on paper. Experiment with different flowers and leaves.
Materials:
- Paper
- Wax paper
- Hammer-like tool
- Flowers and leaves
STEM: Block Play
Watch this 3-minute VIDEO as, Hal Melnick, Susan Wood, and Yvonne Smith explain why every school that is serious about STEM education needs to have a strong block play component in their curriculum.
Breathe: Healthy Steps to Living Tobacco Free
Breathe: Steps to Protect Your Kids from Secondhand and Thirdhand Smoke ~ Thursday, May 26th at 12:30pm
Join this interactive workshop as the Vigo Co. Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Coordinator gives tips and tricks on how to protect your children from the #1 cause of asthma attacks in kids - secondhand smoke. Thirdhand smoke and marjiuana exposure will also be discussed.
Help parents understand the impact of secondhand smoke and the importance of smoke-free environments for their children. Breathe is offered FREE of charge to Head Start centers and other organizations working with low-income families. Complete the 2 hour Breathe training to receive Breathe kits for your organization as well as on-going support.
View video for more information.
To schedule a training, contact Sarah Knoblock.
Loan Forgiveness Webinar
Resources for Families
CCDF
Families Will Resume Paying Copays May 2, 2022
Since last April, families have not been required to pay CCDF copay. The state of Indiana provided the temporary benefit of paying the copay to help reduce family's financial stress using COVID-19 relief funds provided by Congress. At the end of April 2022, and beginning Monday, May 2, 2022, this benefit will end. Families will be required to pay the weekly copay amount to providers once again. To view copay amounts, access your account at www.hoosierchildcarefamily.com. If providers are unable to assist families, then they may direct encourage them to contact the eligibility office.
CCDF Eligibility Office Updates
Click below to learn if your county's contact has changed. Be assured that your child care voucher will not be affected by this change. The only difference is clients will contact the new office to apply for child care assistance, schedule appointments, submit documentation, report changes and answer questions in regards to the CCDF voucher program.
FAMILY WEBINAR: Sunshine, Swimming & Safe Summer Days
May 19, 2022
12:30 PM EST
As the weather warms up and we head into the summer, more time will be spent outside enjoying the sun. Whether you are traveling somewhere new or staying home for the summer, we want to make sure we all stay safe and healthy. Join CASY’s Family Engagement Specialists as we discuss ways to keep kids safe while they have fun.
Stay Connected:
Email: admin@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