July 2024 ECEAP Reminders and Links

Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families sent this bulletin at 07/02/2024 12:56 PM PDT

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ECEAP is Washington’s pre-kindergarten program that prepares 3- and 4-year-old children furthest from opportunity for success in school and life.

July 2024 Issue

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ECEAP Updates

ELMS Update

2024-25 ELMS Data Entry

Beginning July 1, ELMS opens the 2024-25 school year.

  • Remember to switch back to 2023-24 to complete the June Monthly Report (due by July 10) or enter end-of-year data.
  • All 2023-24 data entry must be completed by July 10.

Please check the ELMS News page for information and updates.

FY24 Contract Due Dates Reminder

Complex Needs final report (if applicable) due July 10, 2024.

All ELMS monthly reports for FY24 are due July 10, 2024.

All A19 invoice vouchers for FY24 are due July 10, 2024.

Deliverables templates can be found on the DCYF ECEAP Contractor webpage and can be submitted to the ECEAP inbox at dcyf.eceap@dcyf.wa.gov.

MyTeachingStrategies® Archive Update

Between May and August, DCYF pauses the automatic archival of child records in MyTeachingStrategies® as they are exited in ELMS. Children will continue to appear in MyTeachingStrategies® as active until August. This is to allow for teaching staff to complete spring assessments for children who are enrolled through the end of the school year, even if classes end before June 15th.  Teaching Strategies will do a mass archival of all ECEAP records for children who are not enrolled at the end of summer. No action is needed from ECEAP staff regarding this pause, or the archival later - Just complete GOLD assessments for all children who were enrolled in ECEAP for the spring checkpoint period. DCYF and Teaching Strategies will handle the rest!

Early Achievers

Grantee/Contractor Role

Accurate contact information in MERIT is key to ensure a smooth experience on your Early Achievers journey. Please take a moment to review your Grantee/Contractor roles and ensure they are up to date. If you would like to add or remove a Grantee/Contractor to your program, please have the current Grantee/Contractor contact QRIS@dcyf.wa.gov with the name and STARS ID of the person you would like to add/remove.

In This Issue:

Important Dates:

July 1

Contractor/Subcontractor/Site and classes in ELMS for Working Day classes.

July 10

Final ELMS monthly report 

All remaining A-19 Invoices for FY 24

Final Complex Needs Funds Report

Questions?

Email questions about newsletter topics to eceap@dcyf.wa.gov or your Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Specialist.

For additional information about ECEAP or the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), please visit our Contractor webpages.

DCYF Training Opportunities and Support

Tribal Early Learning Fund (TELF) Grant

The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), Office of Tribal Relations is excited that the 2024-2025 Tribal Early Learning Fund (TELF) grant is now live. The TELF grant is intended to support tribal children, ages prenatal to five, who are currently enrolled in early learning programs throughout Washington state. This is a reminder that we will be hosting our second Technical Assistance office hours on:

  • Tuesday, July 2, 2024 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. via zoom.
  • Join here
  • Passcode 954373

The application deadline is Wednesday, July 24, 2024 by 5:00 p.m.  Please note: All TELF grant materials can be found online: https://www.dcyf.wa.gov/tribal-relations. If you have any questions, please contact Polo Hernandez, Tribal Early Learning Fund Specialist, email: apolonio.hernandez@dcyf.wa.gov.

ELMS Administrator Training

These trainings are for new ELMS Administrators who have the ELMS super-user role for their B-5 ECEAP contractor.

  • August 8, 2024 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (In-Person Training) 1500 Jefferson Street SE, Olympia, WA 98501
  • August 13-15, 2024 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (3-day Virtual Training)
  • August 27-29, 2024 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (3-day Virtual Training)

Mobility Mentoring® Monthly Webinar

  • Second Thursday of each month from 9-10:00 a.m., September through May.
  • Next meeting is September 12, 2024
  • Register here

Family Support Staff Check-In

  • Third Thursday of each month from 9-10:00 a.m., September through June.
  • Next meeting is September 19, 2024
  • Register here

Las Platicas De El Puente

This monthly check-in is offered in Spanish only.

  • Third Tuesday of each month, from 3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
  • Next meeting is September 17, 2024
  • Register here

Mobility Mentoring® Online Foundations Course

This course if available for all family support staff to access at no charge. It is designed for learners to see Mobility Mentoring® in action, learn about intentional practice, and prepare them to use the coaching approach. The course is broken into four modules that take between 8-10 hours to complete. If you are new to the platform, you must first click the button that says, “sign up”.

Mobility Mentoring® Foundations Monthly Reflection Session

Completion of this session is mandatory to receive STARS credit and to be eligible for Trauma-Informed Care incentives. After successful completion of the Mobility Mentoring® Foundations Course, you need to attend one reflection session to receive STARS credit.

  • Fourth Monday of each month at 1:30 p.m., September through June
  • Next session is September 23, 2024
  • Register here

B-5 ECEAP Coach Check-In

  • First Friday of each month from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., September through June.
  • Next meeting is September 6, 2024
  • Join here

Health Coordinator Check-In

These occur the third Wednesday of each month. Join us for the Health Coordinator check-ins as we discuss trends, share resources and plan for the coming year.

  • Third Wednesday of each month (no meeting in July 2024)
  • Join here

Teaching Strategies ECEAP Office Hours

Register to attend Teaching Strategies ECEAP Office Hours. Register in advance and attend to get answers to your specific questions about any of your Teaching Strategies digital resources. 

  • Second and Fourth Wednesdays of the month
  • Registerhere

ReadyRosie for ECEAP - How to Get Started

Join us to learn how to get started with ReadyRosie! This session is for administrators and educators new to ReadyRosie or those needing a refresher. In these sessions, we'll cover: What is ReadyRosie? How to invite families to join, share customized content, communicate with families, and read data.

  • Second Thursday of each month from 10-10:45 a.m.
  • Register here

Trainings, Seminars and Resources Offered by External Partners

A Calm Brain is a Thinking Brain: Designing calm, engaging early learning environments

Playful interactions in an environment that supports brain development build security, confidence, and resilience and open opportunities for learning. Learn why it’s important to harmonize the 3 levels of the brain (survival, emotions and thinking) to ensure calm thinking and playful learning.

  • Thursday, August 8, 2024 from 11:00am – 12:30pm
  • Register here.

Equity, Child Development, Education and Health

WA SUN Bucks Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program

In December 2022, the federal government authorized a new permanent, nationwide Summer EBT program – also known as SUN Bucks – to support children who lose access to free and reduced-price school meals during the summer months.

SUN Bucks is separate from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and provides $120 in food benefits to each eligible child. This amount may be adjusted annually. Similar to SNAP, SUN Bucks is a flexible food benefit that families can use to buy food to help offset rising food costs. Click here to learn how children can receive SUN Bucks. For more information visit the WA SUN Bucks Summer EBT Program.