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Scholarships Now Available for Earning a Child Development Associate® (CDA) Credential
The Indiana Non-Formal Child Development Associate® (CDA) Project is pleased to announce scholarships for the upcoming Child Development Associate® (CDA) Credential course. Scholarships are available for those in or around Northwest Indiana and Marion County.
Beginning in September, classes will meet virtually and in-person every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 6:15 to 9:15 p.m. ET. Days and times are subject to change.
To be eligible for the scholarship, you must meet the following criteria:
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Be a resident of Indiana who is at least 18 years of age
- Have a high school diploma or High School Equivalency (HSE)
- Be employed in a child care center, home, or ministry that is licensed, registered, or certified by OECOSL as an LLEP CCDF provider
- Work at least 25 hours per week in Indiana
- Earn at least $25 an hour as a teacher or teacher assistant, family child care owner, or director/administrator
- Have a current criminal history and background check on file with the Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning
- Have a computer and reliable internet access
To learn more, join a class registration specific to your area. Program directors, owners and administrators must attend class registration with their staff. The meetings will cover important information on course requirements, eligibility, and expectations. Please email Rachael Grissom at rgrissom@inaeyc.org with questions.
Marion County Class Registration:
August 21 at 6:30 p.m. ET
Register here
Northwest Indiana Class Registration:
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Upcoming Changes to CCDF Reimbursement and Family Eligibility
Two changes to CCDF reimbursement rates and eligibility are underway, which affect payments scheduled for August 30.
New CCDF Reimbursement Rates:
Indiana is using a new cost-based approach to set CCDF reimbursement rates that reflect the current costs of providing care across specific settings, geographies, seat types, and quality levels. You may choose to align your rates with the new reimbursement rates, but you are not required to do so. This is a business decision for providers to make. You will still receive the new reimbursement rate, regardless of what you charge to families. New rates went into effect on July 30. Providers should expect to see the new rates applied during payments scheduled for August 30.
Expanded Income Eligibility for CCDF and On My Way Pre-K Assistance:
As of August 1, the State has expanded income eligibility for child care assistance to 150% of the federal poverty level from 127%. Eligible families seeking CCDF or On My Way Pre-K assistance may apply under the newly expanded guidelines.
You can share this information with your program's enrolled or prospective families using this toolkit. Learn more about upcoming changes and review updated FAQs by clicking the button below.
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Vanderbilt University is Recruiting for Study on Support for Students with Visual Impairments
Researchers at Vanderbilt University are recruiting participants for a research survey to understand the experiences and training of early childhood education (ECE) teachers across the United States. The survey seeks to understand ECE teachers' level of preparedness in supporting young children with disabilities, particularly children with visual impairments.
Teachers and care providers are encouraged to participate, regardless of their experience or training in visual impairments. If interested in this opportunity, complete a brief screener survey.
Please take the screener survey if you fit the following guidelines:
- Are a classroom teacher (lead or assistant, educational assistant, etc.) in an infant, toddler, or preschool program
- Provide direct care for students 0-5 years old
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Taught in the 2021-22, 2022-23, or 2023-24 school years in the United States
Those selected to participate will receive a link to complete the survey, which takes about 15-25 minutes. After completing the survey, you can enter a raffle for one of 10 $25 gift cards to Amazon or Target.
Please consider sharing this opportunity with your network. This study is being conducted with the oversight of the Vanderbilt Human Research Protections Program, which can be reached at 615-322-2918.
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Mental Health Matters Every Day!
Secure your premium access to the Calm app, courtesy of SPARK! Visit indianaspark.com to download the app on mobile or desktop. Next, go to your profile and enter 'Spark' in the group code field.
Family mental health and emotional well-being can significantly impact childhood development. Children of all ages can be sensitive to their caregivers' and family's emotional state. When you take care of your emotional health and support the families in your program, you help the children in your care. Learn strategies to aid social-emotional health in children, read this article from Colorín Colorado.
You can also enjoy these free professional development opportunities:
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Join Upcoming SPARK Learning Lab Trainings
There are several virtual and in-person training opportunities available during the month of August! To register for a session, sign into I-LEAD and click the links below to access the registration pages.
In-person opportunities:
For all Lakeshore® training opportunities, a meal will be provided and attendees will receive a Lakeshore® materials kit after the training!
Virtual Opportunities:
See a full list of upcoming in-person trainings and live webinars, read training descriptions and find registration instructions by clicking the button below.
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