Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Winter 2022

Center Spotlight The children and staff at Corporate Kids in Kansas City, MO made decorations and showcased their best fan gear to celebrate the Chief's Super Bowl win.  They held their own parade chanting "Go Chiefs" through the halls of the Richard Bolling Federal Building for parents and other tenants.  Fun was had by all! For more information about Corporate Kids click here

THANK YOU to all our partners who participated in the fun celebrations!

Holiday celebrations at Early Day Learning Center at Ft. Harrison in Indianapolis, IN with a special visit from the GSA service center staff.

GSA Child Care Training Program Are you a director new to GSA or in need of a refresher?  We're rolling out our virtual training plan for the year. Sessions include child care background checks; new GSA director; and preparing for a NAEYC accreditation visit. Please let your GSA child care program manager know and we'll get you connected.

Partnership Opportunities

Providers and boards in our child care network are partnering with local state and governmental agencies to make child care accessible and affordable for more families. The COE supports exploring these partnerships to increase enrollment and providers’ ability to hire and retain quality staff- both real challenges compounded by the pandemic.

Some exciting partnerships that may help federal workers with affordability include:

• In New York City many federal families are eligible for free preschool at Jamaica Kids, Brooklyn Bridge, and Fed Kids through the NYC Pre-K for All Program.  
• Sound Start in Philadelphia PA is involved in the PA Pre-K Counts program for children who are from families earning up to 300% of the federal poverty guidelines; and have a first language other than English, a disability or developmental delay, or other factor that puts them at higher risk.  
• Stars and Stripes in Battle Creek MI stays full with multiple partnerships; the Michigan Great Start Readiness Program; the Battle Creek Shared Service Alliance; and the Michigan Tri-Share Affordable Child Care program. Additionally, they partnered with two neighbors, the VA Hospital and Grace Health, to allow use of employer child care subsidies at the center.

Please let us know if your center has information about a partnership opportunity that you would like to share. 

GSA Child Care National Strategy for Hunger, Nutrition, and Health

GSA aims to provide safe and healthy child care environments and recently launched an initiative to promote health and nutrition for childrens and staff in GSA Child Care Centers. Preventing Childhood Obesity in Early Care and Education Programs (Caring for Our Children: National Health and Safety Performance Standards; Guidelines for Early Care and Education Programs, 3rd Edition) encourages engagement in daily physical activity that promotes movement, motor skills and the foundations of health-related fitness. Physical activity is important for overall health and overweight and obesity prevention. Studies show when teachers are physically active and engaging in healthy eating habits, children in their classrooms engage in the same healthy behaviors. The GSA Child Care Program sends out weekly “Quick Tips” to our network of child care providers offering ideas for promoting improved nutrition and physical activity, as well as lifelong healthy habits. If you are interested in joining the email list for these “Quick Tips”, please email sandra.axelrod@gsa.

Have interesting news to share? The Child Care Center of Expertise invites you to send your story ideas, photos, and article suggestions to Child Care News e-newsletter. Submit your news tips, photos and article suggestions to childcaremailbox@gsa.gov and share what’s happening in your child care program.

For more information about the GSA Child Care Program click here