Monday Must Know — April 29

Indiana Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning sent this bulletin at 04/29/2024 11:00 AM EDT

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Monday Must Know. Office of Early Childhood & Out-of-School Learning

Attend Child Care Management System Webinars

Learn about the CCMS program

SPARK Learning Lab is here to support you on your Child Care Management System (CCMS) journey. Join SPARK for an introductory webinar to learn the basics of CCMS. The session will introduce you to the CCMS vendors: Alliance CORE powered by Early Learning Ventures, brightwheel, and Playground. 

Register for one of two sessions: 

If you still have questions about CCMS vendors, check out detailed resources on My SPARK Learning Lab. You can also review CCMS FAQs and follow SPARK Learning Lab on Facebook and Instagram for program updates. To learn more about the individual vendors, visit their websites: 

Still have questions? Contact SPARK Learning Lab by calling their Help Desk at 1-800-299-1627, by emailing BusinessSupport@indianaspark.com, or by visiting IndianaSpark.com.

 Learn About CCMS

Celebrate Mental Health Awareness with SPARK

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and SPARK Learning Lab has a wealth of tools and resources available for your program's use. Here are several popular options:   

  • My SPARK Learning Lab Mental Health Resources
  • SPARK training opportunities
  • Free subscription to Calm Premium App
  • Quarterly Provider Support Groups
  • Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC)
  • K1ds Count Therapy 

Mental Health Resources

Join Learning Lab for Assessment Opportunity

Are you looking for a tool to identify children's strengths, uncover gaps, and support instructional plans to prepare children and families for kindergarten? The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) is providing the ISPROUT early learning assessment to any interested early childhood program beginning July 2024.  

  

This voluntary opportunity provides a snapshot of children's abilities in all early learning 

domains for children ages three through five. Learn more by joining IDOE's Office of Kindergarten Readiness in two live sessions in the Indiana Learning Lab:  

You must have a Learning Lab account to register. Email IDOE's Office of Kindergarten Readiness at kreadiness@doe.in.gov with any questions. 

Join Learning Lab

Help Families Find the Support They Need

Family Resource Navigator

Has a family ever approached you, concerned about paying for care because of the cost of utilities or food? The Family Resource Navigator on Brighter Futures Indiana is a social network platform powered by findhelp.

This tool connects families directly to organizations offering the resources they need, including, but not limited to:

  • Food pantries
  • Job training
  • Diaper banks
  • Health resources

A new video explains the resources available to families. Please watch the video linked below and share these important resources with the families in your network.

Share the Video

Attend the Building Foundations Series

Building Foundations Series

Attend the Building Foundations Series hosted by the Indiana Department of Education, beginning May 16 at 1:30 p.m. ET in Indiana Learning Lab. Discover how play is instrumental in the way young children develop the foundational knowledge that aligns to the Early Learning Standards. You'll also learn ways to adapt your activities for special populations.  

 

Join fellow educators and administrators from around the State. Register for the sessions below: 

Email the Office of Kindergarten Readiness at kreadiness@doe.in.gov with questions. 

Final Chance: Take the Reimbursement Rate Survey

Reimbursement Rate Survey

The Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning (OECOSL) wants your input to inform the transitional CCDF rates. In this year's survey we have added questions related to 2022 or 2023 costs.

Take 20 minutes to complete the Subsidy Reimbursement Rate Survey. If you need assistance, you can consult the survey guide, review FAQs, or contact the SPARK Help Desk at 1-800-299-1627. You can also schedule time with a SPARK Business Coach or watch this recorded webinar to learn more about the survey process.

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¡La encuesta también está disponible en español! Haga clic en el botón de abajo para comenzar.

Complete the Survey

Attend SPARK Learning Lab Trainings

SPARK Training Opportunities

Explore the SPARK Learning Lab Training Calendar to expand your professional development for your high-quality program. See a full list of upcoming face-to-face trainings, live webinars and resources, read training descriptions, and find registration instructions by clicking the button below.

  

Virtual Training 


New Leadership Series Opportunities

Join Calm and SPARK Learning Lab to establish a peer network with current and future leaders. Engage in training sessions focused on enhancing leadership skills through personal and professional well-being practices, business concepts, and communication skill building. Sessions are scheduled for the first Tuesday of every month, and the start times rotate between morning, afternoon, and evening.

Stay Connected To OECOSL

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