Early Education Newsletter
August 2020
Giving Us a Call? Our Extensions Have Changed!
Program Engagement Specialist: Kristi Burkhart 812-231-8902
Community Engagement Specialist: Kati Colvin 812-231-8905
Community Engagement Specialist: Jennifer Lee 812-231- 8916
Community/Family Engagement Specialist: Amy Marine 812-231-8917
Family Engagement Specialist: Heather Campbell: 812-231-8903
Family Engagement Specialist: Katherine Darby: 812-231-8906
Program Director: Natalie Pugh 812-231-8919
Office of Early Childhood and Out of School Learning Updates
OECOSL provided updates sharing information on face covering requirements, updated guidance about response to a positive case within your program, and updates on temporary assistance grants. If you missed the webinar, you can review the recorded webinar here.
COVID-19 updates Recorded webinar (July 27, 2020)
NEED ILEAD HELP? HAVING TROUBLE ACCEPTING YOUR INVITATION? NEED ASSISTANCE LEARNING TO NAVIGATE ILEAD?
Paths to QUALITY
Come Brainstorm with SPARK!
You are invited to join us for our first SPARK Learning Lab Feedback Tour. During each stop you will have an opportunity to learn more about SPARK as well as provide valuable input on the technical support we provide.
Find the date and location below that works best for you and register today on Indiana Learning Paths!
SDA 4
August 31 @ 6 pm EDT Nashville, IN
September 2 @ 6 pm EDT Terre Haute, IN
September 3 @ 6 pm EDT Richmond, IN
FREE SPIRIT WEBINARS
UPCOMING SPARK WEBINARS:
Register for these great upcoming webinar opportunities on Indiana Learning Paths! While you're there, also check out ongoing Discussion Board Learning Forums, Resources, and Online Training.
Getting started is easy! Login or create an account at ilead.in.gov and click "Start Your Indiana Learning Path.”
August 6 @ 1:30 pm -3:30 pm EDT
Safe Sleep Practices
August 19 @ 1:30 - 3:30 pm EDT
Preparing for Program Assessment
August 24 @ 6:00 am - 8:00 am EDT
Building Equal Partnerships with Families
Heart-Centered Leadership: Create an Inspiring Work Environment With a People-Centric, Nature-Based Approach, by Tina Reeble, BS and Heather Fox, MA
August 12, 2020
2:00 PM Eastern Time
Heart-centered leadership begins with an appreciation for the wonders of the world and the people around us. It is a way of leading that honors individual gifts and helps teachers bring their best selves to their work with children. “Organizations led by heart-centered leaders become interdependent, mutually supportive, and joyful. That doesn’t mean
people don’t work hard, get discouraged at times, or face challenges.
What it does mean is that any challenge is secondary to the sense of purpose and pleasure felt by a shared commitment to an important mission.” (Nancy Rosenow, 2015)
In this interactive webinar, presented by early childhood natural program expert, Heather Fox, you will discover how an appreciation of the world around us can guide interactions with teachers. You will leave with a set of leadership and training tools to help cultivate, train and inspire teachers and leaders. These include, a format for listening and sharing, a plan for staff development and a way to incorporate nature and celebration into our classroom for children and adults.
Resources:
What if a positive case of COVID-19 occurs in my program?
FDA Warning About the Dangers of Hand Sanitizers With Methanol
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a recent urgent warning to consumers and health care providers about hand sanitizer products that are labeled as containing ethanol (also known as ethyl alcohol) but that have tested positive for methanol contamination. Methanol (i.e., methyl alcohol or wood alcohol) is a substance that can be toxic when absorbed through the skin or ingested and can be life-threatening when ingested. As per the FDA news update hyperlinked below, “Methanol is not an acceptable active ingredient for hand sanitizers and must not be used due to its toxic effects. FDA’s investigation of methanol in certain hand sanitizers is ongoing. The agency will provide additional information as it becomes available.”
FDA updated the original list of more than 24 hand sanitizer products to avoid, now listing 75 such products to avoid on this FDA webpage; those products can be viewed either by clicking on the “Methanol Contaminated Products List” button at the top of the webpage or by scrolling down to the bottom of the page and then by clicking on any or all eight pages listing the 75 hand sanitizer products.
As with the original list of hand sanitizer products to avoid, all 75 products are potentially toxic when absorbed through the skin. Please see the FDA news update on hand sanitizers with methanol and the current list of hand sanitizer products to avoid for more detailed information. It is urgent that this information be sent to child care providers, parents, those who work in state child care licensing offices, child care professional development agency personnel, and others who can disseminate this information. In addition, everyone should check the linked FDA webpage on a regular basis to stay fully informed regarding this important health issue.
Consumers who have been exposed to a hand sanitizer containing methanol and are experiencing symptoms should seek immediate treatment for the potential toxic effects of methanol poisoning, which can include nausea, vomiting, headaches, blurred vision, permanent blindness, and seizures. Although people of all ages are at risk for methanol poisoning, “young children who accidentally ingest these products and adolescents and adults who drink these products as an alcohol (ethanol) substitute are most at risk.”
ATTENTION: CASY Food Program Providers
The 2020-2021 CACFP Meal Reimbursement Rates have been released. See chart below for the updated rates effective July 1, 2020. If you wish to have a hand out/mini-poster of these rates contact the CASY Food Program at themminghouse@casyonline.org or 812-231-8913.
RATES EFFECTIVE FROM JULY 1, 2020 TO JUNE 30, 2021
EARLY LEARNING GUIDEBOOK FOR INDIANA SCHOOLS
Current On My Way Pre-K Programs:
Are you a Paths to QUALITY Level 3 or Level 4 Program Interesting In On My Way Pre-K?
Safe & Unsafe Toys for Childcare Centers During COVID-19
The Way Forward: Addressing Racism in Early Childhood Programs
The recent weeks of protests over racial injustice create difficult challenges for early childhood programs. What can we do to respond?
“Addressing issues of racial inequality in early childhood programs is complex and challenging,” writes Dr. Francis Wardle. “These challenges do not mean, however, that there is nothing we can do! There are positive steps we can take in our daily life and in our programs to address the serious issues of racism and inequality in this country.
“As we consider our response, there are some things that need to be kept in mind.” Continue reading.
Reducing Challenging Behaviors during Transitions: Strategies for Early Childhood Educators to Share with Parents
Resources for Families:
CASY Family Engagement Specialists
While providing referrals to early education programs, we share the benefits of high quality care and discuss what to look for when searching for a quality child care program. In addition to providing referrals, we share additional information such as financial assistance programs and can connect families to other local resources.
Family Engagement Specialists are advocates for children and families and are able to assist in navigating difficult situations and conversations. If your families are struggling with specific topics, let us know. We can speak with them one-on-one or work with you to schedule a parent workshop opportunity, where they can discuss and learn more about their challenges.
Help CASY's Family Engagement Specialists connect with your families by sharing our Family Newsletter. Families can find our newsletter under the "Resources for Families" tab on our website (www.casyonline.org). Receive the newsletter monthly by clicking "Follow Chances And Services for Youth" at the right side of any of the family newsletters. The newsletters include information and resources on child development, current events and much more. The family newsletter also helps families stay up to date on local family events and provides registration links to the CASY monthly Family Webinars and previous recordings. Please share our contact information and the most current newsletter with them.
We are excited to support you and your families. Feel free to reach out to us at any time!
Amy N. Marine
812-231-8917
amarine@casyonline.org
Heather Campbell
812-231-8903
hcampbell@casyonline.org
Katherine Darby
812-231-8906
kdarby@casyonline.org
Ready or Not Kindergarten, Here We Come!
5 Tips to Ease Back-to-School Anxiety
The transition back to class as summer ends can be a stressful time for children and parents alike. Some anxiety is a normal response, but parents should know the difference between normal back-to-school jitters and anxiety that warrants clinical attention.
There are several easy ways to tell when a child's anxiety is cause for concern, say psychology experts from the Johns Hopkins Children's Center. Read more here.
Stay Connected:
Email: help@casyonline.org
Website: www.casyonline.org
Location: 1101 South 13th Street, Terre Haute, IN, USA
Phone: 800-886-3952
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CASY.Inc
Twitter: @CASYTerreHaute