The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is partnering with the U.S. Department of Treasury to promote emergency rental assistance available through the American Rescue Plan Act. Many families need housing assistance to maintain stability, especially during times of uncertainty. The rental assistance will help cover rent, utilities, and other housing costs to keep residents in their homes.

Find information on rental assistance across states and counties through the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) website. The CFPB website also offers resources in English and Spanish to help renters and landlords access additional financial assistance related to housing costs.

The American Rescue Act Plan Act also includes $4.5 billion in additional Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding. The funds will help families with low incomes afford home heating and cooling costs and meet unpaid electric and natural gas bills. ACF is also administering more than $1 billion in funding to assist low-income households with drinking water and wastewater bills through the newly established Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP). Visit https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ocs for additional information.

Community Coordinated Care for Children, Inc. (4C) wants to continue supporting the child care industry by offering a DCF online class that will provide an overview of professional requirements and best practices for individuals who are entering the field of childcare in Florida before an individual completes their mandatory training.

If you are new to the child care industry and are interested in becoming an essential part of a child’s growth and development; then, you should take advantage of this opportunity that we are offering to participants who are entering the child care field. We want to support you during your educational path by offering you the Florida Child Care Personnel Orientation CCPO online course for free. (please see attachment for details and pre-requisites).

Requirements:

• It would only be for those individuals that are new to the child care industry and that have not already taken their mandatory training
• Reside in the Seminole, Orange, Osceola, or Brevard counties

Registration: Online through the DCF Training Portal at myflorida.com/childcare/training

Payment: contact the education department at 4C: 407- 532-4158 or send an email to mbello@4cflorida.org

Code: freeccpo

Registration and completion of the course must be done by August 31, 2021.

If you have questions regarding this course or need to complete your mandatory training, please feel free to contact our department at 407-532-4158 or by replying to this email. We will be glad to assist you!

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Community Coordinated Care for Children, Inc. (4C) desea continuar apoyando a la industria del cuidado infantil ofreciendo una clase en línea del DCF que brindará una descripción general de los requisitos profesionales y las mejores prácticas para las personas que ingresan al campo del cuidado infantil en Florida antes de que una persona complete sus cursos de capacitación mandatorios.

Si usted es nuevo en la industria del cuidado infantil y está interesado en convertirse en una parte esencial del crecimiento y desarrollo de un niño; entonces, debe aprovechar esta oportunidad que ofrecemos a los participantes que ingresan al campo del cuidado infantil. Queremos apoyarlo durante su camino educativo ofreciéndole el curso en línea CCPO de Orientación para el personal de cuidado infantil de Florida de forma gratuita. (consulte el anexo para obtener detalles y requisitos previos).

Requerimientos:

• Solo aplica para aquellas personas que son nuevas en la industria del cuidado infantil y que aún no han tomado su capacitación obligatoria.(40 hrs.)

• Residir en los condados de Seminole, Orange, Osceola o Brevard

Registro: en línea a través del portal de capacitación del DCF en myflorida.com/childcare/training

Pago: comuníquese con el departamento de educación 4C: 407-532-4158 o envíe un correo electrónico a mbello@4cflorida.org

Código: freeccpo

La inscripción y la finalización del curso deben realizarse antes del 31 de agosto de 2021.

Si tiene preguntas sobre este curso o necesita completar sus 40hrs. de capacitación, no dude en comunicarse con nuestro departamento al 407-532-4158 o respondiendo a este correo electrónico. Estaremos encantados de atenderle!

Here are upcoming back-to-school events in Central Florida:

Saturday, July 24

• 9 a.m.- Bithlo Community Center, 18501 Washington Ave., Orlando. For more info, click here.
• 10 a.m. – Orange County Sheriff’s Office, 2500 W. Colonial Drive, Orlando. For more info, click here.
• 11 a.m. – Dr. James R. Smith Center, 1723 Bruton Blvd., Orlando. For more info, click here.
• 3 p.m. – Goldenrod Recreation Center, 4863 N. Goldenrod Road, Winter Park. For more info, click here.

Friday, July 30

• 2 p.m. – Ivey Lane NCF, 5151 Raleigh St., Orlando. For more info, call 407-254-9491.

Wednesday, July 28

• 3 p.m. – East Orange Community Center, 12050 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando. You must register to receive items, please call (407) 254-9709 to register.

Saturday, July 31

• 9 a.m. – 1515 S. Semoran Blvd., Winter Park, For more info, call 407-751-7906.
• 9:30 a.m. – Kissimmee, UF IFAS Extension Osceola County, 1921 Kissimmee Valley Lane, Kissimmee. For more info, click here.
• 10 a.m. – St. Cloud Civic Center, 3001 17th St., St. Cloud. For more info, click here.
• 10 a.m. – Wayne Densch YMCA Family Center, 870 N. Hastings St., Orlando. For more info, click here.
• 10 a.m. – Kaley Square, 1030 Kaley Ave., Orlando. For more info, click here.
• 10 a.m. – Archie Gordan Memorial Park, 420 Buenaventura Blvd., Buena Ventura Lakes. For more info, click here.
• 10 a.m. – Meadow Woods Recreation, 1751 Rhode Island Woods Cir, Orlando. For more info, click here.
• 10 a.m. – Oak Ridge High School, 700 W. Oak Ridge Road, Orlando. For more info, click here.
• Noon – Eastland Baptist Church, 9000 Lake Underhill Road, Orlando. For more info, click here.

Tuesday, Aug. 3

• 3:30 p.m. – The Intown Suites, 5615 Major Blvd, Orlando. RSVP by Friday, July 30, call 407-226-1714. For more info, click here.

Wednesday, Aug. 4

• 5 p.m. – Oak Ridge NCF, 150 Amidon Lane, Orlando. For more info, call 407-850-5101.

Saturday, Aug. 7

• 9 a.m. – Taft NCF, 1001 4th St., Orlando. For more info, call 407-254-1960.
• 11 a.m. – I Fade Hair Studio, 5767 Edgewater Drive, Orlando. For more info, click here.

Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature authorized two qualified disaster relief payments to child care and early learning instructors affected by COVID in Specific Appropriation #80B of the 2021-22 General Appropriations Act (GAA) (Chapter 2021-036, Laws of Florida).

These payments are provided to qualified instructors in recognition of their continuing service and dedication to Florida’s children and families.

To learn more, click here.

What’s the Expanded Child Tax Credit?

To help families get through the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Rescue Plan expanded the Child Tax Credit (CTC). It will give most families $3,000 to $3,600 per child, even if the families have little or no income.
In 2021, families can get:

• $3,600 ($300 a month) per child for children ages 0 to 5
• $3,000 ($250 a month) per child for children ages 6 to 17

The IRS should start paying these benefits monthly in July 2021. Most families will get $250 to $300 a month per child from July through December 2021. Families will get the remaining $1,500 to $1,800 per child when they file their 2021 taxes in spring 2022.

The Child Tax Credit will NOT affect your Medicaid, SNAP/Food Stamps, TANF Cash Assistance, SSI, or other public benefits.

Is My Child Eligible?

To be eligible, children must:

• Have a Social Security Number
• Live with you for at least half of the year
• Be under age 18 as of December 31, 2021

Eligible children include adopted children, step-children, half-siblings, foster children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews, or certain other relatives. The adult filing taxes must have a Social Security Number or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.

You do not need to have any earning to get this credit. Families will qualify for full credit if their income is below $75,000 for single filers, $112,000 for people filing as head of household, or $150,000 for people who are married and filing jointly.

What do I need to do?

Eligibility is based on your 2020 or 2019 tax return. If you already filed your 2020 or 2019 tax return and are eligible, you will generally receive automatic payments without needing to take any additional action.

You must take action if you have NOT filed your 2020 tax return or 2019 tax return!

Visit*: https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/child-tax-credit-non-filer-sign-up-tool

*This simplified tax return will allow individuals to register for advance Child Tax Credit payments and the third Economic Impact Payment, as well as claim the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit. For full details, visit: https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021

For more information, please click on the link: Child Tax Credit Relief Informational Sheet
Para obtener más información, por favor haga clic en el enlace: Hoja de información sobre el credito de alivio de impuestos por hijos

Community Coordinated Care for Children is partnering with TMW Center for Early Learning + Public Health and #PNCGrowUpGreat to bring the “Any Time is 3Ts Time” campaign to Central Florida!

As part of this campaign, we’ll share free resources for parents of children ages 0-3.

To get your organization involved, sign up at partners.the3ts.org.

Orange County, Fla. (July 13, 2021) – With the CDC Eviction Moratorium set to expire at the end of the month, Orange County is reaching out to local nonprofit agencies for assistance in getting critical funds in the hands of residents to avoid eviction.

Orange County is recruiting community partners to participate in a “How to Apply for Emergency Rental Assistance Program” which is an online training course on Wednesday, July 28, at 2 p.m. to explain the application process to organizations.

“We are asking local non-profits to help us reach those facing eviction,” said Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings. “I encourage all those that wish to be a part of the solution to participate in the virtual training session and engage with your clients to make sure they know resources are available.”

The goal is to expand the reach and connection with our residents who are most in need. This is an opportunity to teach nonprofit partners across Orange County about the application process so that they can then help their clients apply and receive assistance. The application can be found at, ocfl.net/RentalAssistance.

The Emergency Rental Assistance Program is an income-based program aimed at continuing to help Orange County’s most vulnerable tenants who are past due in rent as a result of financial hardships caused by COVID-19.

The Emergency Rental Assistance Program began taking applications to distribute $33.4 million of federal funds to assist eligible residents on March 1, 2021. The funding made available under this program will be used to make direct payments on behalf of qualifying tenants. Such payments shall:

• Cover a tenant’s documented past-due rent only for the time period beginning on April 1, 2020, to present and may provide one (1) month’s future rent.
• Not to exceed 12 months of past-due rent or $20,000.
• Shall not be duplicative of any additional rental assistance received by the tenant or the landlord for the tenant’s past-due rent. Any such duplicative assistance shall be deducted from the program payment amount.

As of Friday, July 9, 2021, a total of 755 applications have been approved and $4 million has been approved by the Comptroller’s Office for distribution.

For more information on tenant and landlord eligibility and required documents, and to apply for the program, visit www.ocfl.net/RentalAssistance.

Sign up with the Florida DEP to participate in a new lead-testing program.

Section 2107 of the federal Water Infrastructure Improvements for the National (WIIN) Act authorized the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide financial assistance for states to develop voluntary lead testing programs to check drinking water in schools and child care facilities. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) applied for and is receiving this assistance through a grant from EPA known as the “WIIN 2107” grant.

According to DOH, even low levels of lead exposure in children contribute to behavior and learning issues. To avoid these adverse effects, the EPA recommends that all schools and child care facilities regularly test their drinking water for lead. If lead is found at any drinking water fixture at a level above 15 parts per billion (ppb), the EPA further recommends taking action to reduce the lead.

Florida’s new Voluntary Lead Testing Program for Schools and Childcare Facilities will allow qualifying selected child care facilities to benefit from this initiative at no cost. All participating facilities will receive:

• On-site drinking water sample collection and analysis.
• Educational materials on the health effects of lead in drinking water, methods to reduce lead exposure, proper methods for sample collection and preservation, and responding to elevated results. 
• Guidance for effectively communicating with parents and the community.
• Assistance with development of a lead testing program following EPA’s “3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water in Schools and Child Care Facilities” guidance (Training, Testing, Taking Action).

Due to the number of eligible facilities in Florida, all interested facilities may not be able to participate in the program. In compliance with EPA requirements, priority will be given to those facilities that volunteer for participation where children may be more vulnerable to lead exposure, including:

• Child care programs in low-income areas, such as those with at least 50% of children receiving free/reduced school lunch and Head Start Facilities.
• Programs primarily caring for children 6 years of age and younger.
• Facilities that are more likely to contain lead plumbing, such as those built prior to 1986 and those with evidence of lead plumbing materials. 

The DCF Office of Child Care is committed to working with selected child care programs to ensure safe drinking water for students and young children. If you would like your child care facility to participate in this voluntary and cost-free program, or if you have any questions about the program or participation, please call at 850-245-8486 or email at: PWS@dep.state.fl.us.

UpliftED is partnering with researchers in the Sociology department at UCF to conduct a study assessing technology access across K-12 students in Orange County (public, private and charter students included).

This year’s One Goal Summer Conference will be in person at the Hilton Tampa Downtown, July 21-23. Registration is open but limited to a first-come, first-serve basis. Join with early learning providers, leaders, and influencers from all across the state to explore the 2021 One Goal: Building The Future Together “Putting Families and Children First.”

Click here to register or to learn more.

Participants at the One Goal Summer Conference receive:

• Up-to-date information on best practices and techniques to engage and nurture children.
• Policy and practice resources, materials, and information from national, state, and local experts and leaders.
• Opportunities to exchange ideas and share successes with peers.
• Access to workshops that provide information on developmentally appropriate activities and teach skills that can be used daily in working with children, and more.