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Office of Early Childhood & Out-of-School Learning |
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Recall of Gerber Soothe N Chew® Teething Sticks
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Gerber Products Company initiated a recall on January 31 to discontinue all batches of Gerber Soothe N Chew® Teething Sticks due to a potential choking hazard for babies and young children.
Remove these products if they are available at your child care program and feel free to share this recall information with families.
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Help Shape Early Childhood Education
The Child Care Resource and Referral (CCRR) Network is actively involved in local coalitions and statewide early childhood education initiatives. The CCRR Network is hearing a clear message — community groups want to hear from child care providers like you. Your day-to-day experience and expertise are essential to driving real, positive change in our local communities.
Reach out to the CCRR Network to learn how you can join these coalitions and contribute your unique insights. Whether you're advocating for better resources or shaping the future of early childhood education, your voice belongs at the table.
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Attend the 2025 Indiana Summit on Out-of-School Learning
Join the Indiana Afterschool Network (IAN) April 29-30 at Indiana's premier conference for out-of-school time (OST) professionals.
The Indiana Summit on Out-of-School Learning is your chance to gain practical strategies, fresh ideas, and valuable connections that will help you strengthen your program and better serve youth. With engaging sessions, expert speakers, and networking opportunities, this event is designed to equip, inspire, and energize OST providers across the State.
Don't miss out. Early bird registration pricing is open through February. Secure your spot today and invest in the future of your program and the students you serve.
When: April 29-30, 2025
Where: Embassy Suites | Plainfield, Indiana
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Review Pay by Enrollment Updates
Excessive Absence Policy Reminder
The Excessive Absence Policy has changed to 40 occasional absences in an enrollment year. This applies across all programs children with vouchers may attend in an enrollment year. Vouchers will be terminated when a child reaches 40 occasional absence days (or 20 consecutive absence days). Once vouchers are terminated, the family must wait 90 days to reapply that child for the waitlist. Please remind families about the importance of consistent attendance and how it benefits children and programs.
Please note, if a child already had 40 or more absences prior to this week, the case was terminated back to their 40th absence day. However, providers should have still been paid through February 8, 2025 for services rendered (if the child was still attending and did not already have 45 days). We are working on getting this corrected and adjustments will be added to the February 27 payment.
Back-up Attendance Requirements
You should keep a back-up attendance method in addition to what is submitted in the portal. This can be done through your Child Care Management System (CCMS), another electronic tracking system, or paper attendance sheets. Food program menus cannot be used as your back-up method.
These records must be recorded or signed by the parent and must match what is submitted in the portal. State auditors have started contacting providers to review submissions. If you are contacted, they will request your back-up attendance records. Make sure you are checking your submissions carefully and immediately reporting any errors or overpayments to the State.
Additional Pay By Enrollment Reminders
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It is your responsibility to check your roster accuracy weekly and report any children who are not attending to the eligibility office to be removed from the roster.
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If a child no longer attends a program, their start date changes, or they enroll but never attend, contact your local eligibility office to update your roster within five (5) business days to avoid an overpayment.
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If a child is out for more than two weeks at a time (i.e., summer break), either modify their voucher to show a gap of no payment or get parent consent to use absences for the entire period.
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Children with 20 consecutive absences will be removed from the program.
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If you receive payment for children who are no longer enrolled, report it immediately to paymentquestions@fssa.in.gov to process a repayment.
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Failure to report roster changes will result in an improper payment, and the State will recoup funds from a future payment.
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Intentionally submitting incorrect attendance periods is considered an Intentional Program Violation (IPV) and will result in repayment and termination from the voucher program.
Get Pay by Enrollment Help
For more Pay by Enrollment provider support, call the SPARK Help Desk at 1-800-299-1627 or visit indianaspark.com. Families can get support by calling Indiana 211 or their local eligibility office.
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Join a SPARK Provider Support Group
You care for others every day, let SPARK Learning Lab care for you. Join a Provider Support Group. Connect with fellow providers and get support during weekly sessions.
Participants can share issues, discuss ideas, and celebrate victories all in a safe, confidential online setting with peers and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). SPARK Provider Support Groups are facilitated by Amanda Kinnaird (LCSW) and Stephan Viehweg (LCSW).
Weekly sessions are available at the following times:
- Tuesdays from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. ET
- Wednesdays from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. ET
- Miércoles de 6:00 a 7:00 p.m. ET (en Español)
Have questions about SPARK Provider Support Groups? Contact the SPARK Help Desk at 1-800-299-1627, help@indianaspark.com or use the 'Chat with an Expert' feature on IndianaSpark.com.
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Get Professional Development Support from INAEYC
The Indiana Association for the Education of Young Children (INAEYC) has several upcoming opportunities for child care providers:
50th Anniversary Amnesty for CDA® Renewals: The CDA Council announced the CDA Amnesty Program as part of the 50th Anniversary. Email pd@inaeyc.org to see if you are eligible to renew your CDA credential. The Amnesty grace period extends back to January 1, 2020. This program is available February 1 through July 31, 2025.
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Explore SPARK's Group Coaching Opportunities
Invest in your program with Group Coaching from SPARK Learning Lab. Group Coaching is a unique environment for like-minded ECE professionals to develop skills, navigate challenges, and experience professional development.
Mark your calendar for these upcoming opportunities (all times in ET):
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Active Supervision for Facilities: Tuesdays at 10 a.m. from February 11 to March 25
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Supervisión Activa (en Español): miércoles a las 4 p.m. 12 de febrero a 26 de marzo
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PTQ Nivel 3 (en Español): jueves a las 6 p.m. 13 de febrero a 27 de marzo
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Infant Toddler for Facilities: Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. from February 20 to March 20
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PTQ Level 3 Advancement for Homes: Mondays at 1:30 p.m. from February 24 to March 31
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Infant Toddler for Homes: Tuesdays at 1:30 p.m. from February 25 to April 1
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PTQ Level 3 Advancement for Facilities: Tuesdays at 1:30 p.m. from February 25 to April 8
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Active Supervision for Homes: Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. from February 27 to April 3
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Attend Upcoming SPARK Learning Lab Trainings
Explore upcoming training opportunities through SPARK Learning Lab. See a full list of upcoming face-to-face training, live webinars, and live resources, plus read training descriptions and find registration instructions at IndianaSpark.com/training.
In-Person Training
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