What's New in the ECE Community

Rhode Island Kids Count has released a new Early Learning Fact Sheet. The Fact Sheet focuses on three areas “(1) Stabilize the family child care system, (2) Invest in staffed family child care networks, and (3) Include family child care in the state’s comprehensive, mixed-delivery early care and education system.” You can find the Fact Sheet in English here: Building and Sustaining a High-Quality Family Child Care System in Rhode Island.

Rhode Island Kids Count ha publicado una nueva hoja informativa sobre el aprendizaje temprano. La hoja informativa se enfoca en tres áreas: (1) Estabilizar el sistema de cuidado infantil familiar, (2) Invertir en redes de cuidado infantil familiar con personal, e (3) Incluir el cuidado infantil familiar en el sistema educativo  estatal. Puede encontrar la hoja informativa en español aquí: Construyendo y Sosteniendo un Sistema de Cuidado Infantil Familiar de Alta Calidad en Rhode Island.

In recognition of National Child Safety and Protection Month, EDC created an article that provides links to evidence-based tools and resources on the topic of child safety and protection. The resources in the article are aimed at helping educators and families improve the safety and well-being of young people and cover a range of topics including injury prevention, talking to families, playground safety, trauma-informed care, and so much more. You can find these and other important resources by clicking on the article: Child Safety and Protection Month: Make Safety a Reality for All Young People.

Child Care Providers are Invited to Participate in the COVID-19 Impact Survey Series

This fall, the Department of Human Services (DHS) is conducting a series of monthly surveys to gather information on the financial and program impacts of COVID-19 on child care providers in an effort to better support the child care provider community during and after the pandemic. These online surveys are available in English and Spanish.

Each month, one participating Family Child Care provider and one participating Center-based provider who complete the survey will be randomly selected to receive a $100 gift card! All responses will remain confidential.

For more information, see the COVID-19 Survey Series FAQs.

For questions or assistance, please contact: RIDHSSurvey@pcgus.com.

Se invita a los proveedores de cuidados infantiles a participar en la serie de encuestas sobre el impacto de la COVID-19

Este otoño, el Department of Human Services (DHS) está llevando a cabo una serie de encuestas mensuales para recabar información sobre los impactos financieros y programáticos de la COVID-19 sobre los programas de cuidados infantiles, en un esfuerzo por brindar mejor apoyo a la comunidad de proveedores de cuidados infantiles durante la pandemia y después de ella.

Estas encuestas en línea están disponibles en inglés y en español.Cada mes, se seleccionarán al azar un proveedor de cuidados infantiles familiares participante y un proveedor de un centro participante que completen la encuesta para que reciban una tarjeta de regalo de $100. Todas las respuestas se mantendrán confidenciales.

Si tiene preguntas o necesita ayuda, pógase en contacto con: RIDHSSurvey@pcgus.com.

Every election is determined by the people who show up. -Larry J. Sabato

Our rights as citizens are inherently tied to our responsibility to vote. Moreover, as engaged members of the early childhood community we have a duty to vote in the best interest of young children all across our great country. This means we need to be mindful of and prepared for national, state, and local elections.
The first step requires being registered to vote, the second is determining when and how to vote, and the third, and oftentimes the most daunting, is researching the candidates so you know how you will cast your ballot. Our work is not done once we know who we plan to vote for, we must also think about
educating and empowering staff and families to vote as well.

We at the McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership recognize that many factors may make this election cycle more difficult to navigate, but no less important. If you are a family child care provider, the following document, Planning for the Polls: Voting Resource for Family Child Care Providers, may be helpful as you prepare for this election season. If you are interested in learning more about virtual and in-person professional development opportunities for family child care providers contact the McCormick Center.

by Robin Kelton, MA, Quality Training Specialist for the McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership at National Louis University (NLU)

The Washington County Coalition for Children in collaboration with the Maine Resilience Building Network is offering the professional development series “Strong Kids, Strong Families, Strong Communities.”  This online training will review ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) research, early brain development, the impact of toxic stress on development, and protective factors such as positive relationships. Family and classroom resilience-informed strategies to promote resilience building for our children birth-5 will be introduced. Asset-informed, trauma-sensitive approaches that strengthen child-teacher connections to support social emotional learning and well-being will be shared. The virtual event will provide an opportunity for new learning, application and understanding through self-reflection, breakout room assignments with peers, report and full group discussion and networking. Separate sessions will be offered for early childhood center staff and for family child care home professionals.

Session dates for family child care home professionals are Wednesdays, October 28th and November 4th from 6:30-8:00pm or Tuesdays, November 10th and 17th from 6:30-8:00pm.

Session dates for early childhood center staff are Wednesdays, October 28th and November 4th from 1:00-2:30pm or Tuesdays, November 10th and 17th from 9:00-10:30am.

For more information and to register go to Events at the Maine Resilience Building Network. For assistance contact info@maineresilience.org.

The Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS) Office of Child Care has announced an orientation date for the Fall of 2020 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 October, Thursday the 15^th from 9:00am – 11:00pm (English) and 1:00pm – 3:00pm (Spanish). We will set up an additional date for orientations this Fall, so stay tuned for more information on this page. For the time being, all orientations will be held virtually.

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. After the orientation, participants enroll in and complete a training series that provide information about health and safety in family child care homes, state licensing regulations, high-quality learning environments for young children, and basic business practices on how to launch a family child care business. 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, please reach out to the Child Care Licensing Unit at 401-462-3009 or DHS.Childcarelicensing@dhs.ri.gov. From there, we can add you to the list for the next virtual orientation and follow up 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 Oficina de Cuidado Infantil del Departamento de Servicios Humanos de Rhode Island (DHS) anuncia una fecha de orientación este otoño de 2020 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 el jueves 15 de octubre de 9:00 am a 11:00 pm (inglés) y de 1:00 pm a 3:00 pm (español). Estaremos ofreciendo sesiones de orientación adicionales este otoño, así que estén atentos a esta página. Por el momento, todas las orientaciones serán ofrecidas de forma virtual.

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 se inscriben y completan una serie de entrenamiento 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 y prácticas comerciales básicas sobre cómo iniciar un negocio de cuidado infantil familiar. 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, comuníquese con la Unidad de Licencias de Cuidado Infantil al 401-462-3009 o envíe 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 próxima 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

Rhode Island College (RIC) is offering an online class for the fall semester titled “Curriculum, Developmental Play, and Programs.” The class will examine the development and content of early childhood curriculum and trends in research for early care and education through the primary grades. The fall semester starts August 31, 2020. You can register online at MyRIC using registration call number 11372. For more information contact Dr. Mary Ellen McGuire-Schwartz at mmcguire@ric.edu.

Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo recently announced the establishment of a $5,000,000 Child Care Provider Relief Fund to provide critical resources necessary to help sustain the State’s essential child care provider infrastructure. LISC Rhode Island, in partnership with the Rhode Island Department of Human Services, will administer the fund for Child Care providers impacted by the COVID-19 shut down. The resources are available as a result of CARES Act funding and can be used for small capital improvements needed to reopen under new DHS and CDC guidelines, as well as to cover up to three months of carrying costs incurred during the shutdown.

Click here for more information

La gobernadora de Rhode Island, Gina Raimondo, anunció recientemente el establecimiento de un Fondo de Ayuda para Proveedores de Cuidado Infantil de $5,000,000 para proporcionar alivio crítico necesario para ayudar a mantener la infraestructura esencial de proveedores de cuidado infantil de nuestro estado. LISC, en asociación con el Departamento de Servicios Humanos (DHS), administrará estos fondos como subsidios de emergencia para la comunidad de proveedores de cuidado infantil y aprendizaje temprano de Rhode Island a través de un proceso de solicitud competitivo.

Haga clic aquí para más información

RI-Itinerant Early Childhood Special Education (RI-IECSE) is a six (6) session professional development series in which special education teachers, therapists, and educational leaders will learn about the RI-IECSE service-delivery model. The professional development focuses on the changing role of the early childhood special education teacher and therapist, from one that is based primarily on direct instruction to one that includes ongoing and robust collaboration with the general early childhood teacher. Topics will include how best to use the time dedicated to direct instruction, how to hold productive collaborative meetings, and how to partner with the early childhood teacher to embed instruction into daily classroom activities. Classes will be held July 20, August 3, 17, 24, September 21, and 28 from 9:00am-12:00pm.

Intro to the RI-IECSE Service Delivery Model for General EC Teachers and Coordinators is a 2-module informational training that introduces the RI-Itinerant Early Childhood Special Education (IECSE) service delivery model. The training includes a focus on the roles of the special educator, as well as the general early childhood teacher while introducing the research behind the model, the rationale for adoption, the key features, and the alignment with RI’s vision for supporting all young children within high quality early learning programs. The sessions will be held on August 25 and 27 from 3:00pm-6:00pm.

Both offerings will be held over Zoom and participants will receive a link once they have registered. Please register through the RIDE Workshop Registration System and search for IECSE. If you have difficulty with registration contact Ruth Gallucci at ruth.gallucci@ride.ri.gov.