The 2023 Atlantic hurricane season is almost here. It runs from June 1 to November 30 and covers the areas including the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. Hurricanes are dangerous and have the potential to cause a lot of damage, so make sure you are prepared with this helpful information from Child Care Aware of America, click here.
Promoting ECE Staff Mental Health and Well-Being
Workforce Wednesday Webinar
Helping Early Childhood Educators Thrive:
Promoting ECE Staff Mental Health and Well-Being
Wednesday, May 31, 2023—3:00 to 4:15 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time)
Early care and education (ECE) teachers and service providers fill important roles in their communities: facilitating children’s healthy development and early learning; supporting parents and families; and implementing practices that promote quality, health, and safety. During the past several years, the early childhood community experienced unprecedented levels of stress—too often while working long hours and without the pay and support they deserve. Many early childhood educators and providers continue to experience heightened stress, burnout, exhaustion, and even depressive symptoms.
Promoting access to mental health support and wellness for ECE teachers and service providers is critical to a strong early childhood system. During Mental Health Awareness Month, join a webinar to learn how programs and states are leveraging the expertise of infant and early childhood mental health consultants (IECMHC) and other resources to support educators’ and providers’ wellness as well as the wellness of children and families.
January Contreras, Assistant Secretary for the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Khari Garvin, Director of the Office of Head Start, ACF, will provide opening remarks during this webinar. Other speakers will be announced as they are confirmed.
Key Topics
During this webinar, we will do the following:
- Hear directly from early childhood educators and providers about their experiences with IECMHCs and other mental health supports.
- Learn how state and systems leaders have funded these services, supported IECMHCs, and are planning to sustain their strategies.
- Learn about federal resources and policies that could help programs, states, territories, and tribal communities implement similar strategies.
How To Register You can select this Web link to register for the webinar.
Sliding into Summer
The Early Learning Coalition of Orange County Family Services Department is hosting an event to equip Orange County families with educational toys for the summer. The Sliding into Summer event is Saturday, May 20, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at Grand Avenue Neighborhood Center, 800 Grand St in Orlando.
Florida Space Art Contest for K-5 Students
Florida students in grades K–5 are encouraged to create an art piece and participate in Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez’s Space Art Contest. Each student can submit original, two-dimensional artwork based on this year’s theme: Time Travel to 2123: Florida’s Future as the Space Capital.
“I am proud to launch the 2nd Annual Lieutenant Governor’s Space Art Contest. Last year, we had a tremendous response, with over 2,500 original art submissions from K–5 students,” said Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez. “Imagining what the space industry in Florida will look like in 100 years through art allows students to explore the seemingly impossible and tap into their creativity. I look forward to seeing what this year’s students dream up.”
Space Florida, as a key sponsor of the Lieutenant Governor’s Space Art Contest, believes supporting STEAM education initiatives is an integral part of its mission.
“Both space and art are about exploration, imagination, and pushing forward to what’s next for humanity,” said Space Florida CEO Frank DiBello. “The future is right here in the minds of our children and expressed through colors and paper. We are proud to work with Lt. Governor Nuñez on this important initiative.”
About the Florida Space Student Art Contest
Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez’s Space Art Contest is open to all K–5 grade students in Florida. Each student will submit an original, two-dimensional artwork based on this year’s theme. Submissions will be broken down into two categories: K–2 and 3–5. Six art pieces from each group (12 total) will be selected as finalists. Finalists will win two tickets to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and also have the opportunity to work alongside our featured artist to paint a custom created piece of art imagined and sketched by the artist. Two lucky grand prize winners, one selected from each group, will have their artwork launched into space on an upcoming SpaceX mission!
About the Featured Artist
Romero Britto, founder of the Happy Art Movement, is an internationally renowned artist who has created an iconic visual language of happiness, fun, love, and hope all its own inspiring millions worldwide. Brazilian-born and Miami-made, Romero has made it to the top and is considered one of the most famous and celebrated living visual artists on the globe. His work has been exhibited in the most prestigious galleries and museums in more than 120 countries, including the Carrousel Du Louvre and Museu Nacional de Belas Artes, and he was the first living visual artist to present his work at the Soumaya Museum.
Forms and Guidelines
Student contest rules and guidelines can be found online at www.FloridaSpaceArt.com.
Submit artwork to the address below:
Space Florida
ATTN: Space Art Contest
505 Odyssey Way, Suite 300
Exploration Park, Florida 32953
All entries must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday, May 12, 2023.
For more information about the contest please visit www.FloridaSpaceArt.com.
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month
National Child Abuse Prevention Month is an annual observance to raising awareness and preventing child abuse. April has been designated Child Abuse Prevention Month since 1983. President Obama continued the tradition. In 2016, he issued a Presidential proclamation stating: “During National Child Abuse Prevention Month, we recommit to giving every child a chance to succeed and to ensuring that every child grows up in a safe, stable, and nurturing environment that is free from abuse and neglect.”
Pinwheels for Prevention is Florida’s statewide coordinated effort to highlight programs and activities that promote healthy child development and prevention of child abuse. The campaign, coordinated by Prevent Child Abuse (PCA) Florida, the Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida and the Florida Department of Children and Families, creates awareness of the proven ideas that child abuse can be prevented.
PCA Florida believes all families deserve to live in communities that have adequate resources to support families and provide, opportunities for healthy growth and developmental experiences for children. Through the use of pinwheel displays, each community, business or organization can demonstrate its commitment to help Florida children live healthy, happy lives. To learn more, click here.
HFUW Financial Education Workshops
Heart of Florida United Way will be hosting a series of financial education virtual workshops on the following topics:
- March 14: Credit/Credit Scores, 1 to 2 p.m.
- March 21: Maximizing Your Tax Refund & Savings, 4 to 5 p.m.
- March 28: Bank On & Banking, 1 to 2 p.m.
- April 4: Avoiding Online Scams, 4 to 5 p.m.
Please visit this link to register and learn more about how to improve your finances: HFUW Financial Education Workshop Registration Form 2023.
National Child and Adult Care Food Program Week
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National Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Week is March 12-18. CACFP is a critical source of support for child care programs in combatting hunger and offering healthy food options to children.
Check out the newest CACFP resources to get in the spirit!
- Read the Celebrating the Child and Adult Food Program blog for more information about CACFP and its role within child care programs.
- Watch a recent webinar hosted by USDA on revisions to the CACFP meal patterns.
- Interact with CACFP story mapping resources, which layer information about child care participation in CACFP, food access, and family poverty in select states.
- Learn more about policies and tactics states have shared that would help boost awareness of CACFP, strengthen systems of support for providers and sponsors, and bolster CACFP at the state and federal levels.
Together, we can continue raising awareness about CACFP and the importance of the program in ensuring children have access to healthy and nutritious foods.
Happy Read Aloud Month
It’s finally here… so it’s time to start the 21-Day Challenge. This means finding at least 15 minutes every day to read aloud with the children in your life. That reading doesn’t have to be just while sitting in a cozy chair or right before bed, it can be anywhere, and it can be anything from a book to the back of a cereal box.
Sign up for the 21-Day Read Aloud Challenge today! There are plenty of free digital resources to help make your Challenge a success.
Health Insurance Marketplace Special Enrollment Period
Do you need health insurance enrollment help? Get free help enrolling in health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace. All services are offered completely free of charge.
We are now in the Special Enrollment Period for the Health Insurance Marketplace, and the Primary Care Access Network is actively looking for people who qualify for coverage. The Special Enrollment opportunity for people with an expected income of 150 percent of the poverty level or below has been extended under the Inflation Reduction Act.
PCAN can help you find an affordable health insurance plan that fits your budget and health care needs, click here.
More information
- To learn about income levels by household size that qualify for financial help, click here.
- For tips to help someone who has lost Medicaid or CHIP coverage, click here.
- How to prepare Medicaid or CHIP changes, click here.
Black History Month Student and Educator Contests
The Florida Department of Education and Volunteer Florida officially launched the 2023 Black History Month student art and essay contests with the theme of “Celebrating the Achievements of African American Floridians.” These contests will run through Tuesday, February 7, 2023. Black History Month is celebrated each year in the month of February.
“African Americans have a long and proud history in our great state of Florida, and Black History Month is the perfect occasion to celebrate their many achievements,” said Florida Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. “Learning about African American achievements is central to learning about Florida and America itself. I have no doubt that this year’s art and essay contest submissions will be outstanding.”
“Florida goes the extra mile to recognize the immense and historical contributions of African Americans in our great state, said Volunteer Florida CEO Josie Tamayo. “We are proud to offer this opportunity each year to recognize outstanding students and educators in Florida for their unique efforts and talents.”
First Lady Casey DeSantis invites students to participate in academic and creative contests throughout the month. Students in grades K-3 can participate in an art contest, and students in grades 4-12 can participate in an essay contest. Additionally, students, parents, teachers, and principals are invited to nominate full-time educators of all student grades for the Black History Month Excellence in Education Award.
About the Student Art Contest
Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis’ Black History Month Art Contest is open to all Kindergarten through third-grade students in Florida. Each student will submit original, two-dimensional artwork based on this year’s theme. Four statewide winners will be selected each month, and each winner will receive a $100 art supplies gift card and a one-year pass to Florida state parks.
About the Student Essay Contest
Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis’ Black History Month Essay Contest is open to all fourth through 12th-grade students in Florida. Each student will submit one essay no longer than 500 words based on this year’s theme. Six winners will be selected: two elementary school students (grades 4–5), two middle school students (grades 6–8), and two high school students (grades 9–12). Each winner will receive a Two–Year Florida College Plan scholarship provided by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation and a $100 gift card for school supplies.
For more information, click here.
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