The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a broad range of flexibilities to allow school meal programs and child care institutions across the country to return to serving healthy meals in fall 2021. Several meal service flexibilities that enable social distancing are now extended through June 30, 2022.

“Students’ success in the classroom goes hand in hand with their ability to access basic needs like healthy and nutritious meals,” said Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “This program will ensure more students, regardless of their educational setting, can access free, healthy meals as more schools reopen their doors for in-person learning.”

USDA will continue to offer targeted meal pattern flexibility and technical assistance as needed. In addition, schools and child care institutions can continue providing breakfasts, lunches, and after-school snacks in non-group settings at flexible meal times.

To read more on the USDA announcement, click here.

Dear Child Care Providers,

This is a courtesy reminder regarding the extension deadline that was extended to individuals who needed to complete competency exams. Effective Monday, May 3, 2021, all competency exam requirements must be met in order to be in compliance with DCF.   

Please review the available exam locations as new opportunities continue to be added. In some cases, child care personnel may need to travel to a neighboring county to complete the testing. 

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Education Department at 407-532-4158.

Thank you.

Estimados Proveedores de Cuidado Infantil,

Este es un recordatorio de cortesía con respecto al plazo de extensión para el personal de cuidado infantil que necesita completar sus exámenes de competencia.

A partir del lunes 3 de mayo de 2021, se deben cumplir todos los requisitos del DCF con respecto a los examenes de competencia. 

Revise las ubicaciones de exámenes disponibles para poder cumplir con este requisito. En algunos casos, es posible que el personal de cuidado infantil deba viajar a un condado cercano para completar la prueba.

Si tiene alguna pregunta no dude en comunicarse con el Departamento de Educacion al 407-532-4158.

Gracias.

Educators can register now for one of three Transition To Kindergarten Regional summits.

These virtual sessions span two half days and are intended to help preschool and public school educators as they plan ways to support the transitional changes children and families face when moving from Pre-K to kindergarten.

Also, you can receive CEU for attending the Florida Office of Early Learning Transition Summits.

To learn more and register, click here.

Step Up for Students is currently accepting applications for the Florida Tax Credit and Family Empowerment scholarships. Step Up administers five scholarship programs:

• Florida Tax Credit and Family Empowerment scholarships for lower-income families.
• Gardiner Scholarship for children with certain special needs or unique abilities.
• Hope Scholarship for public school children who are bullied.
• Reading Scholarship Accounts for public school students in grades three to five who struggle with reading.

The application and all required documents must be submitted by June 1, 2021.

Step Up will continue to accept applications after June 1, but cannot guarantee those received after that date will be processed in time to receive a full award.

To apply now, click here.

Prevent Child Abuse Florida encourages all Floridians to participate in the 2021 National Child Abuse Prevention Month by taking simple actions that can make a big difference in the lives of children and families:

• Follow Prevent Child Abuse Florida on social media, share their posts throughout April, and encourage others to do the same.
• Purchase blue and silver pinwheels from www.preventchildabusefl.org.
• Make a tax-deductible donation and help build a virtual pinwheel garden.

To learn more, visit www.PreventChildAbuseFL.org.

Are you a School Readiness provider looking for techniques to help decrease stress in the classroom?

In recognition of National Child Abuse Prevention Month, the Florida Department of Children and Families is inviting SR providers to take its Trauma-Informed Care for Child Care Professionals (TICC) course to learn how to:

• Identify age-related signs of stress and trauma in children.
• Describe the role caregivers play in promoting connections and buffering the effects of adversity.
• Identify how stress and trauma can negatively impact the cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and physical development of young children.
• Identify resources and strategies to use to provide trauma-informed care.

The five-hour course is being offered for FREE during the month of April. Log into your DCF student account to register!

This week, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed CS/SB 72, which provides crucial liability protection to individuals, businesses, educational institutions, religious organizations, and health care providers for liability claims related to COVID-19.

“As we move forward in our state’s economic recovery, this good piece of legislation will provide Floridians with greater peace of mind as they go to work, go to school, and go about their daily lives,” said Gov. DeSantis.

Among other measures, CS/SB 72 provides immunity from COVID-19 related claims for individuals, businesses, schools, and houses of worship if a good faith effort was made to comply with health standards and guidance related to COVID-19.

To learn more about CS/SB 72, click here.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has directed states and territories to get all teachers, school personnel, child care program educators, and other child care program staff members their first coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination by the end of the month. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed a short survey to learn:

• The estimated number of staff in child care programs who have received a COVID-19 vaccination.
• Their reasons for getting vaccinated.
• The vaccination concerns or challenges that people who have not been vaccinated may have.

Use this survey link (i.e., https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/covid19vaxchildcaresurvey) and share it with your networks and encourage child care providers and staff to complete the survey.

• You can complete the survey between now and March 31.
• The survey is completely anonymous; individual responses will not be reported.
• If you receive the link multiple times, please complete the survey just once.

After the data collection period has ended, the CDC will analyze the responses and share a summary of the results with the Administration for Children and Families and other national organizations.

Thank you for supporting this national directive to prioritize our child care workforce for COVID-19 vaccinations.

The Department of Children and Families’ Child Care Program Office offers a tool for child care facilities to advertise available positions.

The Employment Bulletin Board is a tool to help child care directors and professionals find jobs that require either a Staff Credential or Director Credential.

Child care programs can use their license number to post an ad to the website. An individual who has either credential will see the ads through their training portal on the main menu under Job Listing.

Use your facility license number exactly as it appears on your Child Care license to login, click here.

The Florida Office of Early Learning March 2021 CCR&R Resources for Infants & Toddlers document is full of great resources, including STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math).

The resources can greatly assist families, providers, and early learning coalition staff as they support infants, toddlers, and preschoolers’ development and encourage family engagement.

Please share these resources with staff and partners who work with families and providers, click here.