Parent Aware Info Session

 August 9th from Noon – 1:00 PM, a Parent Aware Information Session will provide center directors with everything you need to know to apply for the Parent Aware quality rating group. This will be an information session only. If you are a currently rated program and want to learn about the changes in Parent Aware since the pilot, please direct questions to the contact below. Please call Brandi baker at 651-233-2264 to RSVP. Questions? Contact Carol Stromme 651-641-6664 or cstromme@thinksmall.org

AGENDA

Early Childhood Center Directors Networking Meeting

August 9^th, 2012

9:00am-12:00

Center Tour Schedule

Attendees: Directors that register at nschelitzche@thinksmall.org

Please read:   Additional Instructions at the bottom of this page

Please bring:  Pen and Paper to take notes if you would like

9:15 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.	Nativity Child and Family Center 3312 Silver Lake Rd NE St. Anthony, MN 55418	612-781-1537
10:00 a.m. – 10:30	Como Community Child Care 1024 27th Avenue SE Minneapolis, MN 55414	612-331-8340
10:45 – 11:15	Rainbow Child Development Center 605 Como Ave St. Paul, MN 55103	651-646-5272
11:30 – 12:00	Wilder Child Development Center 911 West Lafond Avenue St. Paul, MN 55104	651-280-2606

Additional Instructions:

**Please email to register for this event nschelitzche@thinksmall.org by Monday August 6^th.

We will meet at Nativity Child and Family Center and start promptly at 9:15.  Please arrive early, so that we can start the tour at 9:15.  It will be important for timing to make sure we are following the schedule.

For those that would like to carpool, please email nschelitzche@thinksmall.org and I will set up arrangements to carpool together, we would leave from the Think Small West office at 8:50am and return by 12:15pm.

This is the link to the map for our destinations http://goo.gl/maps/nNpZH

July 12th  Meeting Minutes

July 12th    -   10:00 AM - noon 

Think Small, West Office - 2021 E. Hennepin Ave., Mpls

 Presentation: Addressing Social Media Concerns in you Child Care program:

Speaker: Kat Kempke, Senior Policy Advocate for Think Small

Social Media Handout Link:

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B8HfDSmFengkQm1sdWxubTdxTXM



· The most important thing to think about is having an formal, written agency wide policy regarding social media      Within that policy address

What are your goals/what do you want to share about your center by using a social media site

Will you be posting pictures: create a parent release form and have parents review and sign it every year.

 Be clear with your teachers what they can/cannot post on their own social media sites: have teachers read and sign your social media policy form

Be clear what parents can/cannot post on their social media sites.

Make your centers social media page fun and interesting, some things you can include are

1. Tips for parents (shows your expertise in the field)

2. Less promotional, more personality of your center

3. Photos: new toys, playground, classrooms. Do not tag photos



What resources are available in your community?

1. Debra S. Fish Library

Librarian Cathy Clair presented about library resources please contact her about How to use the Debra S. Fish Library and resources available 651-641-3544

2. Introducing the Minnesota Child Care Credential and CDA scholarships.
Learn more about opportunities for your staff to apply for The Minnesota Child Care Credential and CDA scholarships.

http://www.mnchildcare.org/credential/index.php

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B8HfDSmFengkblJkQUFaZ0ZJMXc


State legislative update –
Cisa Keller from MCCA

 Main Child Care Outcomes in the 2012 Session:
Accreditation Standards Improved.
Creates a process for approval by the Department of Human Services of organizations that provide child care accreditation. These accrediting bodies must have standards that review how the child care setting supports the physical, emotional, social and cognitive development of children.

Bill passed by the Legislature and signed by Governor Dayton.
Accreditation Differential Increase.
The House Health and Human Services (HHS) omnibus bill included a 1% increase in the reimbursement accredited child care providers receive for providing services within the Child Care Assistance Program.

The provision was not included in the final HHS omnibus bill enacted into law.
Child Care Affordability Act
The Child Care Affordability Act was introduced in both the House and Senate, but did not receive a hearing in either body, despite many requests from constituents and the bill authors. Senate and House authors tried to amend it on to the HHS omnibus bill, but the amendments were defeated. Specifically the bill sought to fully fund Basic Sliding Fee child care assistance, increase eligibility for child care assistance, and restore grants that went to the statewide child care resource and referral network. The bill also included professional development funding for child care providers.

Introduced but no hearings granted.
Restore Absent Days
The House Health and Human Services omnibus bill included a provision to restore the number of absent days families on child care assistance can use per year. As of January 1, 2013 this number will decrease from 25 days/year to 10 days/year for licensed child care providers and to 0 days for legally unlicensed providers. Despite bipartisan support in the House, full restoration of absent days was not maintained during conference committee negotiations. A smaller provision allowing exceptions for teen parents with children in school-based child care was included in the final HHS omnibus bill.

Restoration to 25 absent days/year for teen parents with children in school-based child care programs was included in the HHS omnibus bill enacted into law.

Cribs
Need to be purchased and documented for licensing by December 28th, 2012

Legislative changes regarding Background Studies
Changed from 45 days to 90 days.


Risk Reduction Plans
Sample Risk Reduction plan link:
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B8HfDSmFengkdlE4UVJMczlFT3M

The changes that were supposed to occur by August 1st will not happen in till January 1st. Alerts to these changes will be sent out by October.

The biggest change to the risk reduction plan is the elimination of the first section which you were to assess the risk with vulnerability of children.

What will be added is Safety and Supervision during transition times, in hallways, special emphasise on naptime, crib rooms, drop off and pick up, outdoor play, and neighborhood walks.

Early Childhood Center Directors

Networking Meeting

July 12th    -   10:00 AM - noon 

Think Small, West Office - 2021 E. Hennepin Ave., Mpls

Presentation:  Addressing Social Media Concerns in you Child Care program:

Speaker: Kat Kempke, Senior Policy Advocate for Think Small will guide directors through the world of social media for child care.

Issues highlighted will be focused on specific needs addressed by directors.  If you have specific questions/concerns to be addressed please email them to nschelitzche@thinsmall.org by July 6^th.

What Resources are available in your community?

Do you know about the wealth of free resources available to your child care center?   Think Small is home to the Debra S. Fish Early Childhood Library. Join us for a brief overview from our librarian Cathy Clair to find out more about this great resource.

Introducing the Minnesota Child Care Credential and CDA scholarships.

Learn more about opportunities for your staff to apply for The Minnesota Child Care Credential and CDA scholarships.  Application process will begin for the September Cohort.

State legislative update –

Follow up Discussion: Risk Reduction Plan.  Updates from Chris Breva Erikson from Child Care Works and Cisa Keller from MCCA

Updates and Networking

Directors’ dialogue on what’s working in your program and your questions for other directors. Come share with colleagues your examples, ideas and challenges on orienting staff, building mutual respect, sharing decision-making, ensuring staff know and comply with Rule 3 and program standards, and nurturing a learning community for adults as well as children.

All center directors and assistant directors are invited to attend the EC Directors Group. We meet on the second Thursday of the month from 10 AM – Noon at Think Small offices at 2021 Hennepin Ave. E., Mpls.

Come join us!

July 12th Meeting Agenda

1.   Welcome

2.   Presentation:    Addressing Social Media Concerns in you Child Care program with Kat Kempke, Senior Policy Advocate for Think Small

3.   Information Share:  What resources are available in your community?

·       Cathy Clair: Debra S. Fish Library 

·       Professional Development: MNCCC and CDA applications

4.   State legislative update: Follow up Discussion: Risk Reduction Plan.  Updates from CCW and MCCA

5.    Updates, and networking

PARENT AWARE INFO SESSION

Immediately following the EC Directors meeting, from Noon – 1:00 PM, a Parent Aware Information Session will provide center directors with everything you need to know to apply for the Parent Aware quality rating group.  This will be an information session only.  If you are a currently rated program and want to learn about the changes in Parent Aware since the pilot, please direct questions to the contact below.  Parent Aware ratings for programs in the Parent Aware pilot will expire by December 31, 2012. The July cohort is the last opportunity to ensure that your program will not have a lapse in your rating. Please call Brandi baker at 651-233-2264 to RSVP.  Questions?  Contact Carol Stromme 651-641-6664 or cstromme@thinksmall.org

June 14th Networking Meeting

Early Childhood Center Directors

June 14^th    -   10:00 AM - noon 

Think Small, West Office
2021 E. Hennepin Ave., Mpls

Discussion Topics: 

Rule 3: What Do Your Teachers Know?

Examples of Risk Reduction Plans

Are you using social media to attract qualified teachers and assistants for your center?

Join us for a directors’ dialogue on what works in your center to ensure that staff know and comply with Rule 3, examples of Risk Reduction Plans that pass muster with licensing, and how to tap into social media for staff recruitment. What questions do you have for other directors?  Share your examples, ideas and challenges with colleagues.

Come join us!

All center directors and assistant directors are invited to attend the Early Childhood Directors Group. We meet on the second Thursday of the month from 10 AM – Noon at Think Small offices at 2021 Hennepin Ave. E., Mpls.

           June 14^th Parent Aware Information Session

Is your program considering joining the next Parent Aware cohort?

Applications for the July – December cohort of Parent Aware are available at the Information Sessions and are due JUNE 20^th.

Immediately following the June 14th Early Childhood Directors meeting,  a Parent Aware Information Session  from noon – 1:00 PM for center directors only will cover everything you need to know to apply for the July – December  Parent Aware quality rating group.

Dates/times/places for more Information Sessions are available on the Parent Aware website at:   http://www.parentawareratings.org/en/content/information-sessions

There have been changes in Parent Aware since the pilot and currently rated centers as well as centers new to Parent Aware are encouraged to attend an Information Session.  Ratings for programs in the Parent Aware pilot will expire by December 31, 2012. The July cohort is the last opportunity to ensure that your program will not have a lapse in your rating.

Please call Brandi Baker at 651-233-2264 to RSVP.  Questions?  Contact Nancy Johnson at 651-233-2260 or njohnson@thinksmall.org

NEW Resource for Caring for Our Children

Health Policies and Issues - FREE Resource from the AAP 

The American Academy of Pediatrics has published national health and safety recommendations and guidelines for children in family- and center-based child care programs in Caring for Our Children: National Health and Safety Performance Standards; Guidelines for Early Care and Education Programs, 3rd Edition and Preventing Childhood Obesity in Early Care and Education Programs along with the American Public Health Association and National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care.

Caring for Our Children can be an overwhelming publication. Where do you start and how can you implement the standards?


To help child care providers and child care health consultants successfully implement the Caring for Our Children standards, we will be focusing on one standard each month. With a team of experienced pediatricians, child care health consultants, child care directors, and family child care providers, we collected stories, ideas, and strategies that support "The Standard of the Month".


To subscribe to our listserv to receive "The Standard of the Month", click here.

As a subscriber to this list you will receive brief quarterly newsletters focusing on important health and safety topics in child care, with a link to available resources. This is an activity of the AAP Child Care and Health Partnership program. If you would like to learn more about the program, please visit our Web site at http://www.healthychildcare.org . You may also contact us at childcare@aap.org or call 888/227-5409.

For additional materials to help you implement health and safety standards, visit the Resource Library.

MAY 10th Meeting Notes

Notes from Early Childhood Center Directors Meeting
May 10th    -   10:00 AM - noon
Think Small, West Office - 2021 E. Hennepin Ave., Mpls

Meeting Notes

1. Presentation:   Preventing Legal Flare-Ups in Early Childhood Programs    

Speaker:   Tom Copeland, J.D.,  licensed attorney specializing in legal and business issues for early childhood programs. A national trainer, advocate and author of nine books published by Redleaf Press, Tom worked at Resources for Child Caring (now Think Small) for 28 years and served on the board of directors of First Children's Finance. Tom’s forthcoming book, Preventing Legal Flare-Ups in Early Childhood Programs for child care centers with co-author Holly Elissa Bruno will be available Fall 2012.

Tom provided scenarios highlighting legal dilemmas that arise in child care centers:

• Reducing Conflicts with Parents: Using Contracts and Policies Effectively
• Building Partnerships with Families: Preventing Sticky Situations and Promoting Clear Expectations
• Balancing Minority and Majority Needs in Our Programs
• Privacy and Confidentiality in the Age of the Internet

Notes from discussion of Legal Dilemmas:
1) Prospective parent asks center not to celebrate Christmas or children’s birthdays because they are Jehovah’s Witnesses. What do you do?

Federal law prohibits discrimination based on religion. You can’t say “No” to enrolling their child but you can still enforce your program’s rules.

Suggestion to consult NAEYC’s Code of Ethics for welcoming and seeking to accommodate all children and families.

2) You turn to the center director sitting next to you and ask, “Will you be raising your rates this year?” Have you broken the law? If so, how can you collect rate information?

It is illegal to discuss rates or any component of your rates with another competitor. It is legal to check other programs’ website or even to call a program and ask what their rates are as long as you don’t identify that you are from “X” center.

The Child Care Resource and Referral Network and local CCR&Rs, including Think Small, publish annual rate survey results on their websites.


3) Your contract says that parent’s must pay the last two weeks of tuition at the time of enrollment. A prospective parent, who is a Muslim, asks if you will accept one week’s tuition instead. She also says her son has certain food requirements. What do you do?

There are no federal or state restrictions on the fees you charge. However, if you are flexible with one family, you need to be flexible with other families.

If the child’s food requirement is allergen related or if the child has a disability, you must do whatever you can to meet their needs unless it would require an “undue burden” such as  significant expense.

4) One of the parents in your program doesn’t want the father to pick up their child because: a) the father lost his drivers license, b) she’s afraid the father will kidnap the child as they are in the middle of divorce proceedings, c) she doesn’t feel that the father is a safe driver. What do you do?

In your policies, you can require that parents who are picking up a child have a valid drivers license. You can not restrict the rights of a biological parent. The mother must have a court order showing that she has sole physical and legal custody to bar the father from picking up the child.


5) Father shows up to pick up his child and the teacher smells alcohol on his breath. When the teacher mentions that she thinks he has been drinking, he replies, “Are you accusing me of being drunk? I’m not. Don’t argue with me about taking my child or I will sue you for slander.” What do you do?

The teacher has a duty as a mandated reporter to protect the child’s safety. The teacher can say to the father: You can wait for a cab, take the bus, or I will call 911. 

6) A parent wants the addresses of the other parents in your program so she can invite them to a church sale. What do you do?

You can not share personal information of parents or children. You can suggest that she invite them personally.

7) A teacher tells you that another staff member has taken a picture on her cell phone of a child and sent it to the child’s parent. What do you do?

You must have prior written permission from parents to take pictures of children. Develop a media policy and educate staff and  parents on how to protect children’s privacy in the age of  social media. List the family events where you will encourage picture taking and get prior permission from parents.  If you want to put children’s drawings up in hallways where the public can see them, don’t put children’s names on them. The safest policy is to bar personal cell phones from the classroom and only allow photos for name tags, assessment documentation, etc., using a camera owned by the program so that you can control who can see the pictures.

2. Discussion Topic:    What Do Teachers Need From Their Director re: Orientation?

Directors’ shared suggestions with each other for orienting new staff and refreshing current staff’s knowledge of center values, policies and procedures:

• Takes 3-4 hours to orient new staff
• Checklists of Center Handbook and Rule 3 requirements, staff have to sign off on each item
• Short “pop” quizzes
• Scavenger hunt to learn where everything is kept
• Staff Retreat Day paid for by the program to revisit the vision and mission of the center and teachers to set individual goals 
• Show and discuss ECERS DVDs at staff meetings
• Relate what teachers do to your program’s Business Plan and the opportunities to contribute

3. Legislative Update

Mary Nienow, Child Care WORKS -  25 Absent Day Rule was only restored for teen moms receiving CCAP subsidies. 10 day maximum Absent Day Rule goes into effect January, 2013. CCW reports study that found private pay parents use 23 – 24 absences/year.
Next Early Childhood Directors group Meeting is June 14th, 2012

NEWS YOU CAN USE

          New Marketing Tools Available Online

http://www.tomcopelandblog.com/2012/05/new-marketing-tools-available-from-first-childrens-finance.html
          T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship Applications Due July 1st

T.E.A.C.H. offers scholarships and support for child care providers and educators pursuing a higher education degree or National Child Development Associate Credential. Fall applications are due by July 1.
For eligibility information or to apply today, please call (866) 807-6021 or visit www.mnchildcare.org.


          Directors Webinars for In-service Hours

Eager-to- Learn offers live, interactive webinars that allow you the opportunity to learn from and engage with experts in the field. Our experts come to you with a wealth of relevant experience. Eager-to-Learn has selected topics that support the work of child care center directors, administrators and child care business owners.
To register visit Upcoming Courses and Registration or contact brianw@mnchildcare.org
~To view full course descriptions and register, visit http://eagertolearn.org
~For more information: Contact Cory Woosley at coryw@mnchildcare.org