What's New in the ECE Community

As part of a grant from the Health Equity Zones of Woonsocket, Bristol, and Central Providence through the Department of Health, The Autism Project is offering free early childhood training for professionals in those towns. Click on the links to register and to find out more information.

Understanding Autism –January 13^th from 5:30pm-7:30pm
“Understanding ASD” for Woonsocket, Bristol, and Central Providence

Visual Supports in Practice – January 20^th from 5:30pm-7:30pm
“Visual Supports in Practice for Woonsocket, Bristol, Warren and Central Providence

Understanding Autism – January 27^th from 5:30pm-7:30pm
“Understanding ASD” for Woonsocket, Bristol, Warren, and Central Providence

Visual Supports in Practice – January 31^st  from 5:30pm-7:30pm
“Visual Supports in Practice for Woonsocket, Bristol, Warren and Central Providence

Understanding Autism –February 3rd^th from 5:30pm-7:30pm
“Understanding ASD” for Woonsocket, Bristol, Warren, and Central Providence 

Visual Supports in Practice –February 17^th  from 5:30pm-7:30pm
“Visual Supports in Practice for Woonsocket, Bristol, Warren and Central Providence

Click here to learn how to become a Family Child Care Subsititute!

¡Haga clic aquí para aprender como convertirse en un Sustituto de Cuidado Infantil Familiar!

Enviando en nombre de la Oficina de Cuidado Infantil de RI Department of Human Services y RI Department of Health

Proveedores Valiosos,

Con un nuevo año escolar en el horizonte, la Oficina de Cuidado Infantil del Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS) está respondiendo muchas preguntas sobre el COVID-19 y la variante Delta.

Gracias por su paciencia mientras trabajamos con el Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) para responder mejor a sus preguntas con la guía más reciente del Estado y los CDC en lo que respecta al COVID-19. Su arduo trabajo y sus extraordinarios esfuerzos para mantener seguros a los niños y al personal durante el último año y medio no han pasado desapercibidos. No podemos agradecerle lo suficiente por su compromiso, preguntas y preocupación genuina por garantizar que esté ejecutando un programa de cuidado infantil saludable y seguro.

Con la pandemia aún presente, es más importante que nunca contar con políticas y procedimientos sólidos para la prevención del riesgo de COVID-19 para su personal y sus familias. La variante COVID-19 Delta se propaga más fácil y rápidamente que otras variantes. Ahora es la variante principal en Rhode Island y en todo el país. Las vacunas COVID-19 ayudan a proteger contra la variante Delta de COVID-19.

Si bien la mayor propagación de casos y los resultados más graves ocurren en lugares con bajas tasas de vacunación, aún debemos tomar precauciones. Hay muchas cosas que puede hacer para crear un programa seguro y saludable.

Como centro de cuidado infantil o hogar de cuidado infantil familiar, debe utilizar una variedad de estrategias de prevención en conjunto para proteger a los niños. Las regulaciones de COVID-19 aún incluyen cápsulas estables siempre que sea posible, creando e implementando una política de recogida y devolución que minimiza las grandes reuniones y autoafirmación de los síntomas de COVID-19 al ingresar al edificio o mientras está en casa antes de la llegada. Además, existen importantes recomendaciones de los CDC que queremos asegurarnos de que aún las conozca y las comprenda, ya que existen programas con muchos niños no vacunados.

Como recordatorio, nuestras regulaciones aún requieren enmascaramiento para adultos. El CDC también recomienda encarecidamente el uso de enmascaramiento universal para niños mayores de dos años. Si bien el enmascaramiento de niños pequeños no es un requisito en nuestras regulaciones, y el equipo de Licencias de Cuidado Infantil no lo estará monitoreando en este momento, es importante que el centro de cuidado infantil y los propietarios tomen decisiones de política que beneficien su programa y minimicen el riesgo.

Como propietario de un programa de cuidado infantil, puede optar por tener una política de enmascaramiento universal para niños mayores de dos años. También puede optar por implementar una política de “elección de los padres” en la que los padres pueden enmascarar a sus hijos a su discreción. Hay formas en las que puede emplear múltiples estrategias de prevención simultáneamente para mantener su centro o el hogar familiar lo más seguro posible. Tanto la Oficina de Cuidado Infantil del DHS como la RIDOH apoyan la recomendación de los CDC para el enmascaramiento universal como una estrategia de prevención de COVID-19.

Hay muchas cosas a considerar cuando busca mejorar o actualizar sus políticas COVID-19:

• ¿Cómo está trabajando para asegurarse de que su programa utilice grupos estables con la mayor frecuencia posible? ¿Su política sobre las cápsulas estables es fácil de entender y cómo se comunica al personal y a los padres?
• La retención del personal es un problema al que se enfrentan los programas de cuidado infantil en este momento. ¿Cómo es su formación y orientación con respecto a la limpieza y desinfección? ¿Está tomando medidas adicionales para asegurarse de que su nuevo personal sepa qué se espera para mantener el aula lo más limpia posible?
• ¿Qué establece su política de visitantes? ¿Está permitiendo que alguien entre en el edificio? ¿Están dando fe de los síntomas del COVID-19? ¿Se les permite permanecer en su edificio por más de 15 minutos? ¿Está pidiendo un comprobante de vacunación? ¿Mantiene un registro de 30 días de visitantes y su estado de vacunación?
• Lavarse las manos es una gran parte de las regulaciones estándar de cuidado infantil. ¿Cómo les está enseñando a los niños a lavarse las manos? ¿Hay carteles y gráficos cerca de todos los lavabos que describan cómo lavarse las manos y cuándo? Las señales visuales son útiles tanto para niños como para adultos.
• ¿Qué dice su póliza de enfermedad? ¿Es claro y está disponible para el personal y los padres? Si un niño se enferma con dolor de garganta durante su estadía en el centro de cuidado infantil, ¿su política aborda el hecho de que los padres / familias lo recojan, se hagan pruebas y posiblemente lo vean por su pediatra y el consentimiento de los padres?

El CDC tiene un juego de herramientas para los programas de cuidado infantil que proporciona hojas informativas, videos y gráficos para ayudarlo a considerar todas sus opciones al mantener a los niños seguros en su programa. El Instituto Americano de Limpieza también tiene un conjunto de herramientas para compartir materiales descargables de salud pública enfocados en la desinfección, limpieza e higiene de manos para la comunidad de cuidado infantil. RIDOH y la Oficina de Cuidado Infantil continúan reuniéndose todas las semanas para asegurar que discutamos todos los casos de COVID-19 en el cuidado infantil y anticipamos brotes y conglomerados en Rhode Island.

Como recordatorio, comuníquese con su licenciante asignado si tiene alguna pregunta específica del centro. También hay un correo electrónico de RIDOH Child Care para preguntas generales relacionadas con COVID: ridoh.covidchildcare@health.ri.gov. Por favor, recuerde también que usted están obligados a informar tanto a RIDOH como al DHS de un caso de COVID-19 en su centro o cuidado infantil familiar.

Gracias por su compromiso continuo de mantener a los niños seguros y saludables durante este tiempo. Estamos agradecidos por los maravillosos proveedores de cuidado infantil que tenemos en Rhode Island.

Atentamente,

Nicole Chiello
Administradora de Cuidado Infantil

Sending on behalf of the RI Department of Human Services’ Office of Child Care and RI Department of Health

Valued Providers,

With a new school year on the horizon, the Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS)’ Office of Child Care is fielding many questions about the COVID-19 and the Delta variant.

Thank you for your patience as we work with the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) to best answer your questions with the latest guidance from the State and CDC as it pertains to COVID-19. Your hard work and extraordinary efforts to keep children and staff safe over the course of the last year and a half have not gone unnoticed. We cannot thank you enough for your engagement, questions and genuine concern with ensuring you are running a healthy and safe child care program.

With the pandemic still present, it is more important than ever to have strong policies and procedures in place for COVID-19 risk prevention for your staff and families. The COVID-19 Delta variant spreads more easily and quickly than other variants. It is now the primary variant in Rhode Island and across the country. COVID-19 vaccines help protect against the Delta variant of COVID-19.

While the highest spread of cases and most severe outcomes are happening in places with low vaccination rates, we still need to take precautions. There are many things you can do to create a healthy, safe program.

As a child care center or family child care home, you should be using an array of prevention strategies together to protect children. COVID-19 regulations still include stable pods whenever possible, creating and implementing a pick-up and drop-off policy that minimizes large gatherings and self-attesting to COVID-19 symptoms upon entering the building or while at home before arrival. As well, there are important CDC recommendations that we want to make sure you are still aware of and understand as there are programs with many unvaccinated children.

As a reminder, our regulations still require masking for adults. The CDC also highly recommends universal masking for children over the age of two. While masking young children is not a requirement in our regulations, and the Child Care Licensing team will not be monitoring for it at this time, it is important for child care center and homeowners to make policy decisions that benefit their program and minimize risk.

As a child care program owner, you can choose to have a universal masking policy for children over the age of two. You can also choose to implement a “parent choice” policy where parents can mask their children at their discretion. There are ways you can employ multiple prevention strategies simultaneously to keep your center or family home as safe as possible.

Both the DHS Office of Child Care and RIDOH support the CDC’s recommendation for universal masking as a COVID-19 prevention strategy.

There are many things to consider as you look to enhance or refresh your COVID-19 policies:

• How are you working to ensure your program is using stable groups as often as possible? Is your policy about stable pods easy to understand and how is it communicated to staff and parents?
• Staff retention is an issue child care programs are facing at this time. What does your training and orientation look like regarding cleaning and sanitizing? Are you taking extra steps to ensure your new staff know what is expected to keep the classroom as clean as possible?
• What does your visitor policy state? Are you allowing anyone into the building? Are they attesting to COVID-19 symptoms? Are they allowed to stay in your building for longer than 15 minutes? Are you asking for proof of vaccination? Do you keep a 30-day log of visitors and their vaccination status?
• Hand washing is a large part of the standard child care regulations. How are you teaching the kids to wash their hands? Are there signs and graphics near all sinks to describe how to wash hands and when? Visual cues are helpful for children and adults alike.
• What does your sick policy state? Is it clear and readily available to staff and parents? If a child becomes ill with sore throat during their stay at child care, does your policy address being picked up, getting tested and possibly being seen by their pediatrician clearly communicated and consented to by parents/families?

The CDC has a toolkit for child care programs that provides fact sheets, videos and graphics to help you consider all of your options when keeping children safe in your program. The American Cleaning Institute also has a toolkit to share downloadable public health materials focused on disinfecting, cleaning and hand hygiene for the child care community. RIDOH and the Office of Child Care are continuing to meet every week to ensure we discuss all COVID-19 cases in child care and anticipate outbreaks and clusters in Rhode Island.

As a reminder, please reach out to your assigned licensor if you have any center-specific questions. There is also a RIDOH Child Care email for general COVID related questions: ridoh.covidchildcare@health.ri.gov. Please also remember that you are required to inform both RIDOH and DHS of a COVID-19 case in your center or family child care.

Thank you for your continued commitment to keeping children safe and healthy during this time. We are thankful for the wonderful child care providers we have in Rhode Island.

Sincerely,

Nicole Chiello
Child Care Administrator

APPLICATION DEADLINE IS JUNE 30, 2021

Information and applications available at www.ccri.edu/hmns

RIECETP 12 College Credit Program

If you are an Early Childhood Educator working with children ages birth through 5 in a DHS licensed/CCAP program or family childcare setting, you may qualify to receive 12 college credits in Early Childhood Education for free with use of textbooks.

Courses will be offered in the following sequence:

• HMNS-2100 Child Growth and Development Skills — Fall Semester, 2021
• HMNS-2120 Curriculum for Young Children — Spring Semester, 2022
• HMNS-2150 Parent and Child Relations — Summer 1 Semester, 2022
• HMNS-2140 Guiding Children’s Behavior — Fall Semester, 2022

RIECETP CDA Training

The Child Development Associate (CDA) is a nationally recognized early childhood credential designed to assess early childhood educator’s knowledge, skills and abilities using multiple sources of evidence such as an exam, observation and professional portfolio. The purpose of this credential is to ensure that early childhood educators are providing high quality care and meeting the developmental, emotional and educational needs of children.

Credencial de Asociado en Desarrollo Infantil (CDA) es una credencial de infancia temprana reconocida a nivel nacional diseñada para evaluar el conocimiento y las habilidades de los educadores de la primera infancia utilizando múltiples fuentes de evidencia, como un examen, observación y carpeta profesional. El propósito de esta credencial es garantizar que los educadores de la primera infancia brinden atención de alta calidad y satisfagan las necesidades de desarrollo, emocionales y educativas de los niños.
The 14-week Cohort model will meet weekly to assist participants to:

• Receive instruction to gain an understanding of the 6 CDA Competency Standards.
• Technology training and use of textbooks will be provided.
• Receive guidance in preparing the Professional Portfolio and developing a Philosophy Statement.
• Develop Community Supports.
• Link students to the RI-T.E.A.C.H. coordinator for scholarship funds and exam registration assistance.
• Can earn up to 42 hours of RI State Approved Professional Development Hours.
• Receive guidance in completing the CDA online application process and pre-exam requirements.

Lori Ryan, CCRI
RIECETP Program Director
Lryan2@ccri.edu

All RIECETP services are funded through the RI DHS Office of Child Care

June 26th National Webinar:
Help Is on the Way! A Webinar for Family Child Care Providers

Saturday, June 26, 2021
2:00–4:00 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time)

Click on this Web link to register for the webinar.

In response to the urgent need to stabilize the child care sector, the American Rescue Plan Act (Public Law 117-2), signed on March 11, 2021, included nearly $24 billion in child care stabilization grants for states, territories, and Tribes. The goal of these grants is to address the financial burdens that child care providers faced during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health emergency. By offering much-needed, immediate economic relief to child care providers, this funding aims to help stabilize the child care market so that families have better access to child care that meets their needs.

Please join the National Center on Early Childhood Quality Assurance and our partner Tom Copeland for a webinar to learn about the stabilization grants coming to your state, territory, or Tribe. This webinar will highlight tools to help you apply for the stabilization grants, potential uses for the stabilization grant funds, and information about how to access the grant funds.

Who Should Attend
The webinar will benefit family child care providers interested in learning more about this much-needed support.

How To Register
You can register for the webinar via this Web link. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Office of Child Care
Administration for Children and Families
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Mary E. Switzer Building, Fourth Floor, MS 4425
330 C Street, S.W.
Washington, DC  20201
General office number: (202) 690-6782
Fax: (202) 690-5600
General email: occ@acf.hhs.gov
Website: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/occ

El Instituto de Salud Comunidad de Lifespan y Temas Familiares ofrecerá un taller virtual el miércoles 9 de junio de 6: 00-7: 30 p.m. titulado “Diversión en Nutrición para Toda la Familia!” El taller comenzará con una feria de recursos que incluye actividades familiares para hacer este verano. Después de la feria de recursos, Fatima Tobar, educadora de nutrición comunitaria del programa URI SNAP-Ed, nos guía a través de una una receta deliciosa para hacer en casa. ¡Este taller destacará la importancia de comer una variedad de frutas y verduras y hablará sobre los beneficios de tener a los niños más involucrados en la cocina! Este taller será completamente en español. ¡Todos los participantes recibirán una revista infantil gratuita! Para Registrar, llama a Marly Torres al 401-444-8076 o usa el enlace: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2021temasfamiliares

The Lifespan Community Health Institute and Temas Familiares will deliver a virtual workshop entirely in Spanish on Wednesday, June 9^th from 6:00-7:30 p.m. titled “Family Friendly Nutrition Fun!”  The workshop will start with a virtual resource fair featuring family-friendly summer activities. Following the resource fair, Fatima Tobar, Community Nutrition Educator with the URI SNAP-Ed program, will demonstrate a delicious recipe to prepare at home. This workshop will highlight the importance of eating a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables and speak to the benefits of involving children in meal preparation! All participants will receive a FREE children’s magazine! To register, call Marly Torres al 401-444-8076 or click HERE.

CCRI and the Department of Human Services announce the R.I. Early Childhood Education and Training Program Grant

Are you interested in earning your Preschool Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential?

What is a Child Development Associate® (CDA)?
The Child Development Associate (CDA) is a nationally recognized early childhood credential designed to assess early childhood educator’s knowledge, skills and abilities using multiple sources of evidence such as an exam, observation and professional portfolio. The purpose of this credential is to ensure that early childhood educators are providing high quality care and meeting the developmental, emotional and educational needs of children.

The CCRI-CDA cohort program at CCRI is a FREE instructional program available to Child Care providers, who are CCAP & BrightStars approved and are working with preschool age children.

Upon completion of the CCRI-CDA program, eligible students can apply to the RI-T.E.A.C.H scholarship program to cover a portion of the cost of the Council for Professional Recognition CDA exam. The RI-T.E.A.C.H contractual agreement will cover 90% of the CDA exam. The remaining 10% of the CDA Assessment application fee will be divided evenly between the sponsoring center/employer and the student. Upon receipt of the Nationally Accredited CDA certificate, the student will be eligible to
receive a $100.00 bonus paid by RI-T.E.A.C.H.

To Qualify Your Center Must:
Be in good standings and hold a current DHS license.
Be approved with DHS-Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) and serving CCAP children.
Be actively enrolled and rated by the RI Quality Rating and Improvement System known as BrightStars

The 14-week Cohort model will meet weekly to assist participants to:

• Receive instruction to gain an understanding of the 6 CDA Competency Standards.
• Receive guidance in preparing the Professional Portfolio.
• Receive guidance in developing a Philosophy Statement.
• Develop Community Supports.
• Link students to the RI-T.E.A.C.H. coordinator for scholarship funds and exam registration assistance.
• Receive 42 hours of RI State Approved Professional Development Hours.
• Receive guidance in completing the CDA online application process and pre-exam requirements.

The Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS) – Child Care Licensing Unit has announced a new orientation date for people interested in obtaining a state license to operate as a family child care home provider.

DHS, in collaboration with the Center for Early Learning Professionals, will offer the orientation sessions on Wednesday, May 19, 2021 from 9:00am – 11:00am (English) and 1:00pm – 3:00pm (Spanish). Orientation sessions will be held virtually through RingCentral. We will set up additional orientation opportunities in the summer of this year so stay tuned for more information on this page.

The orientation sessions explain the licensing process to participants and are the first step toward obtaining a state license. Participants need to attend just one orientation in order to start the process of becoming a Family Child Care provider. After the orientation, participants submit four pre-required documents and enroll into the First Steps, a complete a training series that provides information about health and safety in family child care homes, state licensing regulations, high-quality learning environments for young children, basic business practices on how to launch a family child care business, and current protocols related to COVID-19. After participants complete the training, Center staff will support them as they apply for licensure.

If you are interested in starting a family child care home business, please register for the Orientation coming up calling the Child Care Licensing Unit at 401-462-3009 or emailing at DHS.Childcarelicensing@dhs.ri.gov. We will add you to the list for the virtual orientation and potential available training.

We look forward to working with you all!

Nicole Chiello
Child Care Administrator for Licensing and Regulations
Department of Human Services (DHS)
25 Howard Ave, Building 57
Cranston, RI 02920
C: 401-487-6603
Nicole.Chiello@dhs.ri.gov

La Unidad de Licencias de Cuidado Infantil del Departamento de Servicios Humanos de Rhode Island (DHS) – Unidad de Licencias anuncia una fecha de orientación en enero para las personas interesadas en obtener una licencia estatal para operar como proveedor de cuidado infantil familiar.

El DHS en colaboración con the Center for Early Learning Professionals ofrecerá sesiones de orientación virtuales el día Miércoles, 19 de Mayo, 9:00 am – 11:00 am (Inglés) y 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm (Español). Estaremos ofreciendo Orientación adicionales en el futuro, así que estén atentos a esta página.

Las sesiones de orientación explican el proceso de concesión de licencias a los participantes y son el primer paso para obtener una licencia estatal. Los participantes deben asistir a una sola orientación. Después de la orientación, los participantes someten cuatro documentos y luego se inscriben para asistir al entrenamiento de los Primeros Pasos con información sobre la salud y la seguridad en hogares de cuidado infantil familiar, regulaciones estatales para la licencia, medioambientes de aprendizaje de alta calidad para niños pequeños, prácticas comerciales básicas y cómo iniciar un negocio de cuidado infantil familiar y protocolos que debe seguir relacionados al COVID-19. Una vez que los participantes completen dicho entrenamiento, el personal del Centro los apoyará durante el periodo de aprobación de la solicitud de la licencia.

Si está interesado en comenzar un negocio de cuidado infantil familiar, regístrese para la Orientación con la Unidad de Licencias de Cuidado Infantil llamando al 401-462-3009 o enviando un correo electrónico a DHS.Childcarelicensing@dhs.ri.gov. Una vez nos haya contactado para asistir a la orientación nosotros agregaremos su nombre a la lista para la orientación virtual y luego le conectaremos con el próximo entrenamiento que haya disponible.

¡Esperamos trabajar con todos ustedes!

Nicole Chiello
Child Care Administrator for Licensing and Regulations
Department of Human Services (DHS)
25 Howard Ave, Building 57
Cranston, RI 02920
C: 401-487-6603
Nicole.Chiello@dhs.ri.gov

If you are an Early Childhood Educator working with children ages birth through 5 in a DHS licensed center or family childcare setting, you may qualify to receive 12 college credits in Early Childhood Education for free with use of textbooks.

Applications are now being accepted for the Fall 2021 Cohort

Courses will be offered in the following sequence:

• HMNS-2100 Child Growth and Development Skills —– Fall Semester, 2021
• HMNS-2120 Curriculum for Young Children Spring —– Spring Semester, 2022
• HMNS-2150 Parent and Child Relations Summer 1 —– Summer 1 Semester, 2022
• HMNS-2140 Guiding Children’s Behavior —– Fall Semester, 2022

For more information, please contact:
Lori Ryan
Program Coordinator
Community College of Rhode Island
Department of Human Services
Program Coordinator
Lryan2@ccri.edu

Application available April 1, 2021 at: www.ccri.edu/hmns/RIECETP

Grant Requirements

• Applicant must be employed for a minimum of 20 hours in a licensed child care center or family childcare setting
• Applicant must be working with infant, toddler or preschool-age children
• Applicant must complete grant application
• Applicant must apply to CCRI and complete the Accuplacer test
• Your center must be in good standing with DHS licensing
• Your center must be approved with DHS-Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) and serving CCAP children
• Your center must be actively enrolled and rated by the RI Quality Rating and Improvement System known as BrightStars

APPLICATION DEADLINE is June 30, 2021

All RIECETP services are funded through the RI DHS Office of Child Care

Carol Patnaude
Program Director
cpatnaude@ccri.edu