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Office of Early Childhood & Out-of-School Learning |
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Prepare for CCDF and OMWPK Eligibility Expansion
Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) and On My Way Pre-K (OMWPK) income eligibility is expanding for employees of regulated child care programs on September 30. This expansion allows more workers to qualify for child care assistance. This change is a result of Indiana Senate Enrolled Act 2, which passed earlier this year.
The income eligibility threshold for child care workers will increase from 150% of the federal poverty level (FPL) to 85% of State median income (SMI). For reference, 150% FPL for a family of four is $3,900 per month, while 85% SMI is $6,756 per month. View the SMI chart.
Prepare to Apply for Expanded Assistance
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Newly eligible child care employees must be referred to the Eligibility Office by their employer or by a registered program administrator/supervisor at the site where they work.
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To be ready for this change, child care administrators should ensure employee rosters in I-LEAD are updated and all employee contact information is correct.
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Potentially eligible employees must have a completed background check, consent form, and current fingerprints on file to be referred to the Eligibility Office.
This assistance is limited and provided on a first-come, first-served basis by region. The Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning (OECOSL) recommends that providers make referrals and employees complete applications within the first two weeks of the application opening.
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Upgrade Your Digital Literacy Skills with Northstar
Northstar Digital Literacy is an online learning program helping educators to develop and strengthen their digital literacy skills. With Northstar, programs can assess and enhance their team's digital skills with the free, easy-to-use online modules.
By setting up a free learner account, educators can access self-guided modules covering essential computer and software skills as well as using technology in daily life. Educators can move at their own pace and complete the assessments anytime.
Sign up as a learner online at the SPARK Northstar site. Click 'Sign up as a learner' to access free online assessments and practice skills.
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Learn About Pay by Enrollment Updates
There are several important reminders for providers with active
Reporting
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Report any enrollment changes to the eligibility office every week. Failure to do so will result in improper payment, and these amounts will be deducted from your next payment.
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If you have requested children to be removed from your roster and it is taking some time to complete, mark them with 'Off Days' instead of 'Absences' until they are removed. This will keep families from being terminated from the program for excessive absences.
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Attendance must be submitted every two weeks, either through the provider portal or through your Child Care Management System (CCMS). This does not happen automatically. Failure to do so before the deadline may result in interruption to payment.
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Check your reporting carefully and report any errors to the eligibility office immediately. Each enrollment year, absences are tracked against a 45-day Excessive Absence Policy. Vouchers are terminated when the child reaches 45 days absent, and the family must wait 90 days to reapply for services.
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School-age children can be assigned vouchers for care before and after school as well as vouchers for school breaks. School break vouchers only cover full-week breaks, such as winter, spring, and summer breaks. These do not cover single days out of school.
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If a child needs break vouchers, notify the eligibility office immediately to arrange these. Do not use break vouchers for children who are not attending your program.
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'Off Days' should only be used for children who do not attend full time and must be on the same days each week. Full-time children should always be marked 'Absent' when they do not attend, whether the absence was planned or not.
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Providers are paid for all active vouchers. You must mark any children with active vouchers who are not in attendance as 'Absent'. Vouchers cannot be assigned just in case a parent needs to use them.
For more provider support with Pay by Enrollment, call the SPARK Help Desk at 1-800-299-1627. Families can get support by calling Indiana 211 or their local eligibility office.
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Join INAEYC for Professional Development Opportunities
The Indiana Association for the Education of Young Children (INAEYC) has several ongoing opportunities, including:
INAEYC Non-Formal CDA Project: Child Development Associate (CDA®) credential courses are now available through the Indiana Non-Formal CDA Project. These courses are provided at no cost, thanks to funding from The Child Care Development Fund and the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD). INAEYC is recruiting providers that work in the following counties with openings:
- Monroe and surrounding counties
- Parke and surrounding counties
- Jennings and surrounding counties
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Washington, Scott, Clark, Floyd, Harrison, and Crawford counties
To learn about eligibility requirements, visit the Indiana Non-Formal CDA Project. If you are interested in applying or want more information, email pd@inaeyc.org.
CDA Resource Event: If you're a family child care provider, early childhood teacher, or student preparing to apply for a CDA credential, join your peers at an upcoming CDA resource event. Join us at 10 a.m. ET on Wednesday, September 25 for Elevate Your Education: A CDA ® Resource Event. Learn more and register now.
Career Coaching, Taking on Turnover, and Indiana Trainer Opportunities: Program leaders who want extra support to implement professional development plans with staff, pursue higher education, or take the next step in their careers can contact a Workforce Coordinator to explore career coaching opportunities.
If you'd like to gain strategies for attracting and retaining staff, join a Taking on Turnover Session in September or October.
Learn more about the Indiana Trainer and Training Approval System by registering for an online orientation on October 3 at 10 a.m. ET.
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Get Assistance Through the SPARK Help Desk
SPARK Learning Lab offers a variety of resources you can use to improve your program. Whether you're looking for trainings, Paths to QUALITY™ opportunities, or if you're thinking about joining a cohort, the SPARK Help Desk is here to help.
Here are three ways to connect with the Help Desk:
The Help Desk is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET Monday through Thursday and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET every Friday. Take advantage of this opportunity. Talk to real people who can help you determine which opportunities are best for you.
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Train with SPARK Learning Lab
Explore valuable training opportunities through SPARK Learning Lab. See a full list of upcoming in-person trainings, live webinars, and live resources, plus read training descriptions and find registration instructions at IndianaSpark.com/training.
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