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Kindergarten Registration Webinars for Families
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Share with your Families: Kindergarten Registration Webinars
PHLpreK wants to help families register for kindergarten. Join us for one or all of the four webinar sessions to understand the process and the options. Special guests include: School District of Philadelphia, Children's Scholarship Fund of Philadelphia, Great Philly Schools, and Institute on Disabilities at Temple University. Families will be guided in selecting the right school, can explore funding for private school options, ensure specialized services continue and successfully register for kindergarten. Have them register to attend these webinar sessions today. These sessions are open to any family with a child that will be eligible for Kindergarten on or before September 1, 2021.
Click here for an informational flyer about all four webinars.
How to Register for Kindergarten - Thursday, January 21 from 3pm-4pm
This 1-hour webinar will be led by the School District of Philadelphia (SDP). Families will receive a tour of the SDP website which includes how to videos that are very helpful to view before registering online. Families will learn about the registration process and will be able to ask any related questions. Deadlines will be shared and how to secure an official registration.
Children’s Scholarship Fund - Tuesday, February 9th from 3pm-4pm
This 1-hour webinar will be led by Children’s Scholarship Funds Philadelphia (CSFP) and will alert families to funds available for their child’s schooling.
Selecting the Right School - Tuesday, March 16th from 3pm-4pm
This 1-hour webinar will be led by Great Philly Schools. Families will gain support in selecting the most appropriate school for their child.
Language Support and Early Intervention Services - Tuesday, April 6th from 3pm-4pm
This 1-hour webinar will be led by Institute on Disabilities at Temple University. Families will be supported on how to navigate language barriers and how to ensure continuity of care for specialized services.
*After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
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FY20 NIEER Report Meetings for Providers
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NIEER Year 4 Report Meetings for Providers - Register Now!
The NIEER Year 4 Evaluation Reports are available. PHMC is hosting group meetings to discuss the findings and how the data from the reports will be used to create a system-wide Continuous Quality Improvement Plan. The meeting will include review of the highlights from the aggregate data, explanation of how to understand the CLASS tool and how it relates to your report and small group Q&A breakout rooms. Registered programs will receive an electronic copy of their program report to review before their scheduled session. These sessions for providers in all Hubs that will contracted to provide PHLpreK in FY20.
Registration in advance is required. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting and a copy of your NIEER Evaluation Report. Providers should have a copy of their NIEER report accessible during the NIEER Year 4 Report Meeting.
NOTE: New providers do not need to register for these meetings since they were not part of the NIEER research for PHLpreK in FY20.
Friday, February 5, 2021 (1:30-3:30pm)
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://phmc-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAvfu6hrDosEtLsHOUQ6Y7prJMXPWDdnU70
Friday, February 12, 2021 (1:30-3:30pm)
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://phmc-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJItdu6pqT4iEtcOHbQdRPvOiQ_e8ivMhnFg
Wednesday, February 17, 2021 (5:30-7:00pm)
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://phmc-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIlfu6grz8vEtUs1Iapcf908zDXTagFVCLf
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Updated PDPH COVID-19 Guidance
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Philadelphia Department of Public Health COVID-19 Guidance Updates*
Click here for updated ECE guidance from the City of Philadelphia.
Click here for a resource guide for schools and child care operators during COVID-19.
The resources include:
- The new guidance informs the sites of what to do after hours to empower them to make decisions.
- Under Food Safety Measures, mealtimes are one of the most common times we have seen staff-to-staff transmission of COVID-19.
- Exposure: If a staff member or child has been exposed to anyone with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the past 10 days, they should return or remain home. The Health Department has developed a sample letter to be given to caregivers explaining why the child is being dismissed and criteria for returning to the facility.
- Learn about calcuating isolation and quarantine period.
- Definitions of: isolation, quarantine, probable case, and infectious period
- Definition of what the PDPH defines as “close contact” in a school or ECE setting.
- Inclusion of thresholds for closures
- Resources for locating testing sites
For more information, please visit the City of Philadelphia- Safer at Home site and CDC - preventing illness.
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OCDEL Pandemic Relief Award for Child Care Workers
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OCDEL Offering Pandemic Relief Award for Child Care Workers
The Office of Child Development and Early Learning is providing a one-time award of $600 to employees within the child care industry using federal Child Care Development Fund quality dollars and remaining CARES Act round one and two funding.
This announcement provides information on the Child Care COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Award application. The one-time award of $600 is paid to eligible child care employees and child care support staff of Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) certified child care providers. This award is paid through Early Learning Resource Centers (ELRC) on behalf of Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) directly to eligible certified child care providers. DHS certified child care provider’s owner/operator/director will apply on behalf of their eligible child care employees and child care support employees currently working directly with children for a minimum of 20 paid hours a week and employed at the child care agency as of Jan. 1, 2021. Holiday, sick or other approved time off will not be considered when determining the eligibility criteria of working a minimum of 20 paid hours a week. This requirement pertains to the employees regularly scheduled work week. The child care eligible employees will be paid directly by the DHS certified child care provider’s owner/operator/director.
Certified child care providers can begin to apply on behalf of all their eligible, certified child care employees starting Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021. All applications must be sent to the provider’s ELRC using their preferred contact method (PDF) and received by Friday, Feb. 12, 2021.
Click here to view the application and supporting documents.
Click here for more information.
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FREE COVID-19 Testing and Flu Shots for ECE Staff
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Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium Offering Free COVID Testing and Flu Shots
The Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium, with funding from the William Penn Foundation and in collaboration with Early Learning Resource Center Region 18, is providing free COVID-19 testing and flu shots to ECE staff. The dates/locations for January are as follows:
- Tuesday, January 19, 2021 from 12pm-4pm @ New Covenant Church, 7500 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19119
- Thursday, January 21, 2021 from 3pm-7pm @ Mastery Charter School, Wister, 67 E. Bringhurst Street, Philadelphia, PA 19144
- Saturday, January 23, 2021 from 10am-2pm @ Salem Baptist Church of Abington, 2741 Woodland Road, Abington, PA 19001
- Monday, January 25, 2021 from 10am-2pm @ SEPTA Suburban Station, 16th & JFK
- Tuesday, January 26, 2021 from 12pm-4pm @ Esperanza Health Center, 4417 N. 6th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140
- Thursday, January 28, 2021 from 3pm-7pm,@ Mastery Charter School, Cleveland, 3701 N. 19th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140
If possible, please e-mail your program name, list of staff and date participating to dgetzinger@caringpeoplealliance.org.
IMPORTANT: Please be certain to indicate on the test form that you are a childcare worker, as this will help to ensure that grant funds will continue to support access to free COVID-19 testing for ECE staff. Your identification as a childcare worker will not impact your employability.
No registration required. Walk-up or drive-thru. First come, first served.
Please be sure to check the BDCC website (www.blackdoctorsconsortium.com) as dates/locations may be subject to change due to inclement weather, etc.
For questions or additional information, please call (267-504-4179) or e-mail (dgetzinger@caringpeoplealliance.org).
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Fund for Quality Application
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2021 Fund for Quality Application for High Quality Child Care Expansion
Fund for Quality (FFQ) applications are currently being accepted on a rolling basis. Due to the current conditions that exist for the ECE sector, as a result of the novel Coronavirus, FFQ is looking to partner with other technical assistance or facility funding programs to help us identify potential high quality expansion projects or high quality expansion projects that are currently underway and experiencing a funding gap in Philadelphia.
Providers with an upcoming or proposed expansion are encouraged to view eligibility criteria on the Fund for Quality website.
If you know of an organization planning a high quality expansion project for 2021 that meets FFQ eligibility requirements, please contact Jenine Moore, FFQ Project Coordinator, directly at fundforquality@phmc.org.
For Interested Applicants - Online Application Process
Interested applicants must complete the FFQ Contact Sheet to provide information about their proposed child care expansion project prior to the application submission deadline of 1/31/2021.
Please complete the Contact Sheet in the Reinvestment Fund’s grants management platform, Smart Simple, with instructions attached here. A Word version of the Contact Sheet may be provided upon request.
For questions regarding FFQ eligibility or application status please email fundforquality@phmc.org or call Jenine, FFQ Project Coordinator, at 267-773-4399. For questions regarding the FFQ Smart Simple platform please email teri.bell@reinvestment.com.
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Family Engagement: Ongoing Strategies for Communication
The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting childcare in many ways. During these challenging times, childcare facilities are shifting and reframing their connections with parents and families in order to continue providing quality care for young children. In this webinar, we will discuss ways to effectively engage parents and families to strengthen a true partnership bond and continue to build mutual trust and respect while ensuring a meaningful early learning experience for their children. We will identify some of the barriers to this work and highlight strategies to deepen the relationships with parents and families, while keeping them actively involved in their children’s learning in the midst of this health crisis.
- What: Family Engagement: Ongoing Strategies for Communication
- Date: Thursday, January 21, 2021
- Time: 1pm-3pm
- Where: Zoom
- Register Here
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Racism and Community Violence as Trauma: Supporting children, families, and staff with PTSD
The recent incidents and community protests related to the unjust murders of African American residents, such as Walter Wallace, have created a greater need for conversation and healing. In this session, we will open the floor for discussion around the trauma that communities are facing in the city of Philadelphia. Together, let’s think of ways to strengthen brotherly love and sisterly affection in our city.
- What: Racism and Community Violence as Trauma
- Date: Monday, January 25, 2021
- Time: 1:30pm-3:30pm
- Where: Zoom
- Register Here
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Family Child Care Community of Practice, Session #1
In this first community of practice session, we will spend some time creating a safe platform for discussion and brainstorming. In the community of practice, we will address the current climate around the pandemic, stressors and challenges specific to family childcare, and strategies that can help support the programs within the PHMC hub. This small group session will allow opportunities to discuss specific solutions around continued implementation of quality programming in the family childcare setting at this time.
- What: Family Child Care Community of Practice Session
- Requirement: Not Required, Designed for PHLpreK Family Child Care providers
- Date: Thursday, January 28, 2021
- Time: 6pm-7pm
- ***The link for this opportunity will be shared directly to the PHMC FCC providers via email, from their QA specialist***
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Upcoming ChildWare Trainings
ChildWare 2.0 Trainings
- ChildWare 2.0: Attendance Tracking, Attendance Reports, Site Closures, and Exploring Exports
- Requirement: Required for New PHLpreK Providers
- Date: Wednesday, February 3, 2021
- Time: 10am-12pm
- Link to Register
- ChildWare 2.0: Child Record, Developmental Screenings, Outcomes, IEP, CCW, KT
- Requirement: Required for New PHLpreK Providers
- Date: Friday, February 5, 2021
- Time: 2pm-3pm
- Link to Register
- ChildWare 2.0: Application, Enrollment, and Discharging Children
- Requirement: Required for New PHLpreK Providers
- Date: Wednesday, February 10, 2021
- Time: 10am-12pm
- Link to Register
- ChildWare 2.0: Staff Entering, Editing, and Discharging
- Requirement: Required for New PHLpreK Providers
- Date: Wednesday, February 17, 2021
- Time: 10am-11am
- Link to Register
- ChildWare 2.0: Child Record, Developmental Screening/Outcomes, IEP, CCW, KT
- Requirement: Required for New PHLpreK Providers
- Date: Wednesday, February 24, 2021
- Time: 10am-11:30am
- Link to Register
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Teaching Strategies GOLD, Part 1
The needs of all children need to be met and the preschool to prison pipeline systematically limits the success of African American children. This training will identify what the pipeline is, and how it directly impacts the children that we serve. This session will touch upon implicit bias, supporting the ways children learn, developmentally appropriate expectations, and developing a cultural connection. Educators will discuss strategies to mitigate the negative impacts that the pipeline has on children in our society.
- What: Teaching Strategies GOLD, Part 1
- Date: Thursday, February 18, 2021
- Time: 9am-12pm
- Where: Zoom
- Register Here
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Teaching Strategies GOLD, Part 2
This overview session addresses the objectives for development and learning, conducting objective observations of children, determining what children know and can do, and using assessment information to plan developmentally appropriate experiences. This course guides teachers and caregivers to thoroughly explore the 38 research-based objectives for development and learning that describe the path they will take with children and help them plan each day with the curricular objects in mind.
- What: Teaching Strategies GOLD, Part 2
- Date: Friday, February 19, 2021
- Time: 9am-12pm
- Where: Zoom
- Register Here
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Exploring How Creative Curriculum Supports Diversity
Is Creative Curriculum appropriate for children of color? Through this training the participants will learn how Creative Curriculum supports all children’s learning from different racial, religious and cultural/ethnic backgrounds. This training will also demonstrate how teachers can utilize Creative Curriculum to teach diversity. Furthermore, this session will address how the Creative Curriculum meets the individual differences of children in our programs.
- What: Exploring How Creative Curriculum Supports Diversity
- Date: Monday, February 22, 2021
- Time: 1pm-3pm
- Where: Zoom
- Register Here
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Community of Practice: Menu Review and Menu Planning Ideas
This PHLpreK community of practice session will be an opportunity to discuss nutrition-related topics including highlights from the PHLpreK menu review and menu planning ideas. Space will be provided for participants to share past or current successes and challenges as well. Our first meeting will be held on March 5th, attendance is not mandatory, and participants can drop in to one or more sessions.
- What: Community of Practice: Menu Review and Menu Planning Ideas
- Date: Friday, March 5, 2021
- Time: 2pm
- Where: Zoom
- Link to Attend the Zoom
- Meeting ID: 890 670 1043
- Password: 2000
- One tap mobile
- +13126266799,,8906701043# US (Chicago)
- +19292056099,,8906701043# US (New York)
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FY21 Remote Learning (Last Updated 12/15/20)
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Submitting a New or Updated Remote Learning Waiver
Remote Learning Guidance
PHLpreK programs seeking to offer Remote Learning in FY21 must submit a waiver using the outlined process and receive OCF approval prior to implementing the remote model. PHLpreK programs seeking to modify an existing remote model also must submit an update to their waiver using the outlined process, prior to implementing changes to the remote model. For programs with more than one PHLpreK location, a waiver and supporting documents should be submitted for each site location.
Click Here for more information about PHLpreK Service Options 11.16.20.
Submitting a New Remote Learning Waiver
Programs that missed the deadline to submit a NEW remote learning waiver should email phlprek@phmc.org to gain access to the remote learning waiver form .
Submitting a Revised Remote Learning Waiver
Providers are able to, at any time, request an update to their approved remote learning waiver. Providers revising their approved Remote Learning model will need to speak with their Hub regarding the plans and then make a request by completing this form and then emailing the completed form to phlprek@phmc.org
OCF and the PHLpreK team will inform you if your revised waiver has been approved.
Families and Remote Learning
PHLpreK families should be notified only after the remote model has been approved by OCF. Any requests for virtual service options must consider the needs of the PHLpreK families enrolled at the location. All revised service plans should be clearly communicated to families. Families should not be forced into remote learning. If they need traditional face-to-face care, please refer them to the PHLpreK Enrollment and Intake line 1-844-745-7735.
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Remote Learning Attendance
Providers will need to compile documentation of engagement with families for children participating in remote learning. Some examples include:
- Logs of phone calls to families about remote curriculum
- Family check-in meetings with teachers
- Webinar platform attendance logs
- Sign-in sheet for families who pick up or receive remote learning packets
Providers may also use the Family communication tools within TSG online to document family engagement.
Hubs may request documentation at the time of invoicing as verification for Remote Learning Engagement for individual families.
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Documenting the Learning Model for All Children
Document the learning model being offered to children at your PHLpreK location using the below outlined steps. All PHLpreK locations will be asked to document this for all PHLpreK enrollments even if your location does not have an approved remote learning waiver.
- Childware 1.0 and SDP Users: indicate remote learning type for all children (not just remote learners) when reconciling enrollments with PHMC or provide updates by emailing phlprek@phmc.org
- Childware 2.0 Users: Document learning type for all children (not just remote learners) by following the steps in the remote learning tip sheet. Click here for a tip sheet on how to tag children in ChildWare 2.0.
- And you can click here for a tip sheet on how to pull an advanced export and view children who have been tagged in ChildWare 2.0.
- All enrollments should have a learning type documented, whether there is an approved remote learning waiver for the location or not.
- When a program receives approval from OCF to change their remote learning model or there is a temporary approval for remote learning, programs must update the documentation of the learning type for all enrollments during the period that remote learning is being provided.
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Remote Learning Lesson Plan Template
Remote Learning Lesson Plans
For programs using Creative Curriculum for FY21, planned activities for the remote learning day must be documented using the template provided by PHLpreK. Below are links to the required Remote Learning Template for Creative Curriculum Classrooms.
Programs may also opt to review, edit and use the written remote learning lesson plans included below developed by PHLpreK. These lesson plans will be archived in the newsletter for the duration of the FY21 Program year.
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Creative Curriculum Sample Remote Learning Lesson Plans
In preparation for the remaining Creative Curriculum teaching studies, complete remote lesson plans are available below for each Creative Curriculum study for programs implementing one day of remote learning. These lesson plans have activities that are appropriate for synchronous and asynchronous learning and reflect all domains of learning. Instructional coaches will follow-up with programs to explain how these complete remote lesson plans can be adapted for multiple remote learning days.
Please click here for the article about these studies.
For completed remote lesson plans for the remaining studies of the year, please click here.
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Remote Learning FAQ (Updated 12/8/20)
The following guidance is in response to Provider questions regarding the impact of remote learning options in meeting specific contract deliverables.
Information includes details about various remote learning models and documenting attendance for invoicing, along with other information related to remote learning.
This guidance will be updated periodically as additional questions and clarifications are received.
Click here for Remote Learning FAQ info, which was updated today, December 8, 2020.
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NIEER Evaluation 2020-21 (Updated 12/8/20)
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NIEER Evaluation 2020-21
The evaluation of Philadelphia's PHLpreK program is designed to capture the program’s impact on children's learning and development. During FY21, research activities have had to adapt to the programming changes that have emerged due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The linked letter is to inform you about what to expect as this year’s research activities are carried out.
What to expect starting in December:
- NIEER team will reach out to program lead teachers with a survey regarding their classroom practices and COVID-19 accommodations.
- NIEER team will also reach out to a random sample of providers to schedule a short interview regarding practices and supports during the COVID-19 pandemic.
What to expect Spring 2021:
NIEER team will reach out to programs to be recruited for remote CLASS observations which will be used to gauge general practices across the program.
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NIEER Remote Classroom Observation
Starting in February 2021, the NIEER team will work with volunteer lead teachers to use teacher self-captured videos or a live observation via Zoom (not recorded) to have some insight into classroom processes this year. Teachers will complete two (2) recorded 15-minute cycles during a whole or small group activity. The observations will occur during the first 3 hours of the school day. We are offering $50 to participating lead teachers.
- Click here to review the remote classroom observation letter.
- Click here to review the what to expect letter for Winter 2021.
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Staff Qualifications in the PD Registry
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Staff Qualifications in the PD Registry
PHLpreK has partnered with the PA Keys to coordinate and integrate the verification of PHLpreK staff qualifications in the PD Registry. Use of the PD Registry to verify PHLpreK Staff Qualifications will be phased in over the next several months. To fully implement this process a few things will need to occur.
- All PHLpreK staff must have a PD Registry Profile and current Career Pathway Placement (application has been approved, Career Pathway Level has been assigned)
- PHLpreK classrooms must be set up in the PD Registry and staff assigned to classrooms. You can click here for a tip sheet with instructions on how to do this.
If your PHLpreK staff have not already created a profile and applied for Career Pathway Placement you should create a plan to ensure that staff will have a current Career Pathway Placement by April. Below are links to step-by-step tip sheets for creating a profile and submitting for Career Pathway Placement. Hub staff will be checking in with you to support you in these tasks.
PHLpreK will also be hosting separate trainings for Directors and Teachers on these topics. Each training is scheduled to be 1.5 hours long. Please see the options below for registration:
Directors, please register for a training webinar at one of the following dates/times linked below:
- All the Director trainings have now passed
Teachers, please register for a training webinar at one of the following dates/times linked below
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Mid-Year Expense Reconciliation
Per the FY21 Provider contract, the Administrative/Hub Agency will perform biannual (twice/year) Desk Reviews of invoiced activities of all Providers using the Expense Report form initiated at the close of quarter 2 (December) and quarter 4 (June). Hubs will be reaching out to you to provide the template for documenting expenditures for the first half of the year (July – December) and the timeframe for submitting. Justifications are required for spending in line items above or below 10% of the original budget amount.
Be sure to save copies of receipts and other documentation of expenses in the event your site id selected on the 10-15% sample for Hub Review of Fiscal Adherence.
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Monthly Invoices
Providers must submit verified monthly invoices to the Administrative/Hub Agency by the 10th of the month following the month of service. If the 10th of the month falls on a weekend or holiday, the invoice must be submitted the next business day. The invoice must indicate the highest number of PHMC approved enrollments on the latest day in the program month as recorded in ChildWare, but cannot exceed the contracted number of slots. The invoice total amount is calculated by multiplying the number of approved enrollments by the monthly rate of $875/child, as long as the child received service in that month. The invoice must be accompanied by the list of approved enrollments as generated from ChildWare, along with the monthly attendance detail as generated from ChildWare.
It is the provider’s responsibility to ensure that enrollments are correct in ChildWare and a weekly review of enrollment and attendance data in Childware is recommended to ensure accuracy. The Administrative Intermediary should be notified immediately of enrollment /attendance discrepancies and all discrepancies must be corrected prior to submission of an invoice.
At the time of invoicing, all approved enrollments must also have required application and eligibility documents in the child file and these documents must be verified by the hub in accordance with the FY21 Enrollment Policy.
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Monthly Monitoring: Updates Related to the Impact of COVID-19
All PHLpreK Hub touch points with providers will continue to be conducted virtually and not in-person until further notice and will take into account the varying capacity of providers to participate in virtual activities based on availability of site location staff. To support virtual monitoring activities programs may upload documents in ChildWare. Please take the time to familiarize yourself with the ChildWare Document Upload Protocol and the List of Documents that can be Uploaded in ChildWare.
Ongoing monitoring Activities:
- Enrollment Eligibility and Staff Qualifications: Hubs will continue FY21 enrollment eligibility and staff qualifications verification activities. Please ensure that you have all eligibility documentation for children prior to entering them into ChildWare. Please note that all children must be verified prior to invoicing and all staff must be verified prior to the classroom opening. Please Note: Residency eligibility documentation must be dated within the last 12months for children re-enrolling or new enrollments.
- Developmental Screening will continue to be monitored as needed for children who are approaching 45 days of enrollment or who did not have a developmental screening at the time of initial monitoring.
- Health Assessment: will continue to be monitored to gather information about the status of current (within 12 months) physical health assessment with immunizations. Physical health assessments should be collected for all children enrolled in PHLpreK (in-person and remote learners). Providers should be reaching out to families that have not submitted a current health assessment to understand challenges families are facing and to ensure they are able to keep up with well visits.
Upcoming monitoring activities:
- Kindergarten Transition Meeting (February 26th): The second kindergarten transition activity will be due at the end of February. For children transitioning to kindergarten in September, Providers are to complete a kindergarten transition meeting with families to discuss education options for kindergarten by February 26th. Documentation must be in the child’s file and a kindergarten transition meeting notes must be entered into ChildWare.
- Program Audit (Winter): This year in lieu of the Program Audit providers will receive two progress reports based on the monthly compliance monitoring data submitted by Hubs to the Intermediary at the end of quarter 2 and quarter 3. This data will be analyzed to produce a progress report for each provider location. The first progress report is expected to be available to providers at the end of February.
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Technical Assistance Services
Technical Assistance
All Hubs are available to provide technical assistance regarding developmentally appropriate practices, routines, transitions, teacher-child interactions, DHS compliance, classroom arrangement and more! Please contact your Hub Manager to access these services:
UAC: Luanda Morris, lmorris@uac.org
1199C: Teresa Collins, tcollins@1199ctrainingfund.org.
SDP: James Cupit, jhcupit@philasd.org
PHMC: Apply for Technical Assistance here
Child Care Health Consultation
Do you have a classroom full of children with runny noses? Are you worried that the children you serve need vision or dental screenings? Are you having a hard time with personal care routines? Do you need more support on health and safety practices? PHLpreK's Child Care Health Consultant can help!
Read more about the services from the Child Care Health Consultant here. Apply for Child Care Health Consultation here.
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COVID-19 Social Needs Response Team
If you are experiencing distress, have safety concerns, or need assistance with resources, such as food, transportation, or medications, the Penn Medicine COVID-19 Social Needs Response Team can help. Please click here for more information and please share this information with your families.
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Scheduling Health Assessments
Click here for a link to an article on the American Academy of Pediatrics website encouraging families to stay connected with the child’s health care provider especially during this time of Flu season and COVID-19. The article states that, “Pediatricians have seen a huge drop in patient visits because of the pandemic. This means that many children are missing vaccinations, physical exams, screenings, and other needed care.” Pediatricians want to see their patients and are taking precautions to make office visits as safe as possible for their families.
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Updated Asthma Care Plan Guidance
Research shows that the primary way that COVID-19 is transmitted is by respiratory droplets that spray when we talk, sneeze, cough, sing, etc. The CDC explains that use of a nebulizer has an aerosol generating mist that can more easily spread the droplets that carry COVID-19. While a child who is experiencing an acute asthma flare should not attend school during the pandemic, the CDC recommends the use of a metered dose inhaler (MDI) with a spacer instead of administering nebulizer treatments for a child experiencing an asthma flare. Asthma care plans may need to be updated by the child care provider to indicate this change in treatment and should be kept on file in the child care facility.
This link explains in more detail how and why the use of a nebulizer in a child care setting should be discontinued during this time.
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Smile Mobile PA Dental Services
During the August provider meeting, PHLpreK programs were introduced to the new dental services vendor: Smile Mobile PA. It is anticipated that dental services will begin in January. Smile Mobile PA will begin to contact PHLpreK programs shortly to tentatively schedule site visits. Once the site visit is scheduled, Smile Mobile PA will send a link specific to the PHLpreK program for parents to complete the consent form. Smile Mobile PA will also send the programs hard copies of the consent upon request.
Please click here for a brochure about Smile Mobile dental services and click here for a COVID FAQ sheet.
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PA Key Health and Safety FAQs During the Coronavirus Pandemic
PA Key has developed this document in response to FAQs and includes CDC Guidance, OCDEL Announcements, DHS Certification Regulations, additional resources, and best practices for keeping programs, staff, and children safe and healthy during the pandemic.
When you click on the topics listed in the index, it takes you straight to that page so that you don’t have to search through the document. This is a very helpful tool as the information changes regularly. Please be advised and refer to this document as often as necessary.
Click here to view the document.
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No Touch Thermometers
Providers have expressed concerns about the malfunction of the no touch thermometers with the change in temperature. Click here for a link where ECELS offers some suggestions on how to remedy this issue.
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PA Key Hosting "Holding Space" Sessions for ECE Directors, Teachers, and Families
The PA Key is hosting a series of sessions called "Holding Space for the Early Childhood Community: Coping with Challenges of COVID 19" for directors, teachers, and families. Connect and gain insights about how to cope and support our children during COVID-19 and the challenges of 2020. There are separate sets of the series geared individually to directors, teachers, and families. Each set of sessions is held on different dates, and they all begin these week.
- Click here for details about sessions for directors
- Tuesdays from 11:30-12:30p - Jan 19
- Click here for details about sessions for teachers
- Thursdays from 1p-2p – Jan 21
- Click here for details about sessions for families
- Wednesdays from 7p-8p – Jan 20
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Early Intervention Services During COVID-19
Tele-intervention services are available for children with special needs. Services are available by phone and/or video technology. Please click here for more information.
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Family Navigation Support Services
Do you have families in need of support navigating the Early Intervention and Behavioral Health system? Are there families in your program in need of accessing medical assistance, housing resources, food assistance, etc? The PHLpreK Family Navigator can support families in these areas and more.
Please click here to complete the Family Navigator Request Form.
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Instructional Coaching Video Release Form - for Families to Sign
As the Instructional Coaching entities prepare to provide a virtual platform for coaching, it is essential that parents/caregivers given written consent for children to be included in the video recordings.
Please click here for a video release form to be distributed to families in preparation for utilizing the virtual platform provided by your Instructional Coach. Instructional Coaches will follow-up with teachers to provide strategies on the best way to share this form with families.
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Health & Safety Tip of the Month
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Health & Safety Tip: #CHOOSEWATER
#CHOOSEWATER
Water is the best choice to hydrate our bodies. In accordance with best practice, both Caring For Our Children and Philadelphia Nutrition Standard guide PHLpreK service deliverables concerning water consumption maintaining that early childhood centers are to “Ensure clean, safe drinking water is offered and freely available at all times of the day to children. Present water in appealing ways to promote consumption: in pitchers, garnished with fresh fruit or vegetable slices, etc.”
An article by the American Academy of Pediatrics, reinforces that children need to stay hydrated to improve, mood, memory, and attention! AAP encourages everyone to #choosewater
Take special note of the signs of dehydration in children and encourage them to drink water throughout the day!
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Document Uploads in ChildWare
PHLpreK contracted providers are able to upload documents in ChildWare to support with online file management and virtual contract monitoring activities, including but not limited to enrollment verification, screening, health assessments, kindergarten transition activities, etc. All PHLpreK ChildWare 2.0 and 1.0 users have access to this feature.
SDP Providers should contact Sharai Cunningham shcunningham@philasd.org for information about their procedure.
Tip sheets:
Note: Our IT team is currently working to increase the size for you to be able to view large uploaded documents in ChildWare 2.0. In the meantime, you can click “view” for smaller documents, and you can click “download” to view any large documents - you will only be able to download large documents in order to view them at this point. We will be sure to let know when the size requirement has been updated. If this doesn't work, contact the helpdesk at helpdesk@phmc.org
If you have any question about uploading documents contact PHLPreK@phmc.org , if you have any technical difficulties with uploads, contact helpdesk@phmc.org.
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Submitting a ChildWare Ticket: Guidelines
In order to better service your needs when submitting a ChildWare ticket, please ensure the following information is in each ticket request you submit:
- Full Name and Today's Date
- Your contact information - Phone Number & Email
- Agency/Site where you work
- Are you a PHLprek provider?
- Detailed description of your issue:
- What is going on?
- How long has this been going on?
- Screenshot of the issue if possible
- If the error is occurring with a specific child, please include the child's name and ID number if known.
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Kindergarten Transition News and Connections!
Kindergarten Registration Webinars
Click here for the list of kindergarten registration webinars that PHLpreK is putting on in the coming months!
Kindergarten Transition Compliance
Programs are recommended to demonstrate 100% of Meeting Compliance via a Kindergarten Transition note in Childware by February 26, 2021:
How many of your students are transitioning to Kindergarten? Identify them today, develop relationships, and connect further with them if you have not already!
- Use an opportunity this week to speak and meet with families and review school selection, school applications, and provide additional resources (see below for Apply Philly Website)!
- Early Intervention opportunities - Discuss IEP needs and opportunities to support children transitioning to kindergarten with the Philadelphia School District
- Final step: If you have conducted a meeting with a child's family, complete a note in Childware to ensure you meet the meeting compliance requirement.
Please feel free to reach out any time if additional information is needed or if you would like support in your kindergarten transition. Keep up the amazing work and thank you to programs who demonstrate 75% of meeting compliance via a kindergarten transition note in ChildWare!!
Kindergarten Registration Begins Today: Tuesday, January 19, 2021
Please Click here to Register Online or Visit the Registration Portal here is where you can choose your preferred language and begin the application process!
Please see the following link for more information with Kindergarten Registration, ways to register, and addition support Student Placement and Enrollment
School Selection Update: School District of Philadelphia
School Selection Results can be reviewed on January 15th. The results of the lottery, special school admissions, and other notifications will be available at 5pm via student portal or email! Once you receive your decision from the schools, you will need to respond if an approval is received. If no approval or a wait list decision is received, no response is needed.
Schools fill their available seats with students from their wait lists January through Early February.
January 29, 2021: Approvals will change to “Decline- No response” if the student does not confirm an acceptance.
- Click here for more information on the School Districts School Selection
- Once you receive your decision from schools, you will need to respond if an approval is received. If no approval or a wait list decision is received, no response is needed.
Apply Philly Charter
Apply Philly Charter Applications submissions are due by January 25th!
Visit Apply Philly Charter Website you can review the application, participating schools, and Information: One website, application, and opportunity to fill in each charter school selection for your children!
- Don’t forget Children’s Scholarship Fund Philadelphia is still enrolling for their 2021-2022 Scholarship year! Apply today for scholarship funding with Catholic and many other School options!
Children Scholarship Fund
CFSP has opened the second round of the Emergency Tuition Fund, and will distribute emergency grants on a rolling basis up to $1,000 for families who need it most. Click here to learn more about the scholarship opportunities.
The representatives of the Children's Scholarship Fund can help answer any of your questions or speak to you and your families. You can contact them about this opportunity via email.
Virtual Philly K-8 School Fair
Support families in understanding their options for K-8 schools in the Greater Philadelphia area, including public district, charter and private schools.
Click here, to explore the application timeline, how to apply to various school types, and school selection resources.
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Registration for Building Bridges Event on February 12, 2021 Is Now Open!
Registration for Virtual Building Bridges Open Now!
The Office of Early Childhood is looking forward to Virtual Building Bridges for Pre-K and Kindergarten Transition Planning. This professional development meeting will take place virtually on Friday, February 12, from 1:00-3:00 PM. This year, Building Bridges will look a little different. On this day, pre-k and kindergarten staff will come together virtually in a Zoom meeting to create a transition plan for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year.
Your team will work collaboratively via Zoom with kindergarten teachers on a framework that will enhance your students' transition into kindergarten, tailored to the individual needs of your families. A smooth transition to kindergarten improves students' future academic success, and you have an essential role in making this happen!
Registration for Virtual Building Bridges is open now!
Please fill out the form by January 8 -- it only takes a few moments. Click here to register your pre-k team.
Questions? Contact Shelley Crognale at scrognale@philasd.org.
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SPIN Parkwood Spotlight
Pictured below are photos of PHLpreK children at SPIN Parkwood doing a tree study!
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PHLpreK Spotlight News - Now Accepting Submissions
The PHLpreK Spotlight News is a new opportunity for PHLpreK providers to share the good things that are happening in PHLpreK classrooms throughout the city of Philadelphia! Submit a blurb, a short narrative or a photo with captions that highlight examples of high-quality, developmentally, and culturally appropriate practices in your PHLpreK classrooms. Let’s shine a spotlight on the great work that is happening in PHLpreK classrooms and show the ways you are making a positive difference in the lives of children and families.
Email your submissions of PHLpreK successes, achievements, and accomplishments to phlprek@phmc.org. This is an ongoing opportunity so that PHLpreK Spotlight News can be featured at the upcoming provider meetings. PHLpreK is creating more positive outcomes for children and families throughout the city of Philadelphia, let’s highlight this positive news!
*If you are submitting photos, please also email the completed photo consent release form.
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Free Contract Tracing Course at John Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University is offering a free contact tracing course – with a certificate of completion. Click here to view course information and learn more about how to enroll.
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Dept of Commerce Launches Business Resource Tool
The Department of Commerce recently launched a new resource tool that can help connect local business owners and entrepreneurs with organizations that offer guidance on starting, running, and growing a business. On the Business Resource Finder, users can search for free or low-cost services available to Philadelphia businesses, including funding opportunities, legal assistance, workshops, and more.
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Get Healthy Philly's (GHP) Shared Services Work Group
The Shared Services Work Group will meet to explore shared services related to health and nutrition. Sample topics of discussion include: Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), group purchasing, local food procurement, record-keeping strategies, etc. The time commitment for this opportunity will range from 6 - 9 virtual meeting hours with the opportunity for virtual discussion and assistance in between meetings. At this time GHP anticipates being able to support 15-20 programs through the Shared Services Workgroup. Stipends will be provided for time and participation.
Click here for the link for the Shared Services Workgroup application.
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