PFCCA of GA Quarterly Newsletter The VOICE of Family Child Care in Georgia
Winter 2017
PFCCA of GA The Professional Family Child Care Alliance of GA - Promoting Quality Child Care
PFCCA.org
404-421-3985
UPCOMING 2017 PFCCA BOARD MEETINGS March 17th April 21st May 19th June 23rd July 21st August 18th September 15th October 20th November 17th December 15th
PFCCA Town Hall Meeting, Save the Date—Saturday, March 18, 2017 Building and Improving Relationships between Family Child Care and DECAL Join us for a Town Hall-style conversation about developing constructive relationships between Family Child Care Learning Home providers and DECAL. It is sponsored by the Professional Family Child Care Alliance of Georgia (PFCCA). Representatives of DECAL will participate. We will discuss what is working well and what is not working well between providers and DECAL. We will also generate suggestions for professional interactions, which build respect, trust and cooperation on both sides. Main topics will include: Background check requirements (COGENT), cost, and processing Training requirements including the new health and safety orientation class Communication issues and deadlines for 2017 requirements Time will also be devoted to CAPS, Quality Rated, Licensing visits, the new Refutation process and other questions suggested by providers.
The PFCCA Board meets the third Saturday of each month at the Cheshire Bridge Publix in their 2nd
Where: Our Lady of the Americas Catholic Mission (gym facility) 4603 Lawrenceville Highway, Lilburn, GA 30047
floor Public Meeting Room. Members are warmly welcomed, but only Board Members may discuss or vote on issues. Call us at 404-421-3985 for directions and to let us know you are coming.
Inspirational Quote Tell me and I’ll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I’ll understand.” Chinese proverb
When: Saturday, March 18, 2017 (9 am – noon) SAVE the DATE! Registration begins at 8:30 AM. This event is FREE for current PFCCA members. Nonmembers pay a $5 registration fee (or may join PFCCA for one year: $15). This will cover materials and a coffee break.
A NOTE FROM
Lynn Manfredi/Petitt Your PFCCA of GA President Message from your PFCCA President – Winter Newsletter ‘17 This has been an exciting couple of months! I don’t know about you, but between the rollercoaster weather, political ups and downs, my personal life (I DO have one) and the new requirements from Bright from the Start GA DECAL, I am just barely keeping up. As many of you know, there has been some anxiety and confusion about the New Health and Safety Orientation, various deadlines and requirements for COGENT fingerprinting of providers, subs, helpers and family members in family child care learning homes. DECAL’s phones have been ringing off the hook and their email boxes are full of questions and concerns from more than a few of us. At our last PFCCA Board Meeting, we decided that it would be helpful to gather our membership and talk with DECAL as a group. Joe Perreault, chair of the Public Policy committee is working with DECAL and the PFCCA Board to design the program. It will give family child care learning home (FCCLH) providers and other FCC stakeholders from across the state a chance to ask questions and all hear the same answer. The best part is that they WANT to work with us to build relationships and improve customer service. This is a very big deal! Save the DATE: Saturday, March 18th (9 am – noon). We are hoping for a crowd, so set up a carpool and join us at Our Lady of the Americas Catholic Mission (gym facility) – details are on the front page of this newsletter. I hope you have made yourself familiar with HB166! Thanks to Sheryl Buncic, our PFCCA Jury Exemption Task Force Chair, we have a BILL in the GA House of Representatives that is taking on speed! Joe has been working on spreading the word to our support organizations about this. The PFCCA Board and I are busy alerting providers. Please join us! Your child care parents, neighbors and friends can also help. Please check out the information in this newsletter, support HB 166 and spread the word. We only have about 6 weeks to get it voted on in the House and in the Senate, so contact your GA Representative and Senator, ask them to vote YES for HB166! Ask others to do the same. Legislators consider 10 calls or letters from constituents a landslide. Make it SO! Family child care is a complex business. A recent phone call with a former child care center director reminded me that even those who work in the child care industry have a limited under-
between 6 am – 7 pm), some programs are also open evenings and other untraditional hours; some open weekends. Plenty offer lovingly care for children of traveling parents or deployed military parents for overnights or weeks at a time. Ages of the children range from newborn through elementary school. Most take the youngest children and/or mixed ages. Over time, we become quiet experts in child development as well as in early education. Many of us work alone for as much as 12 hours a day. Some have family members or close friends who volunteer or work with us for pay. Yes, there is nothing “typical” about our work. In the best of worlds, we offer a home away from home to young children – and their parents - as well as age-appropriate learning programs. We often become like family and build relationships that can last a lifetime. This loving longevity benefits children, parents and providers alike. Needless to say, only those who love this work stay. If you are like me, you rarely sit or slow down – except to feed and rock a baby or read your email for a minute or two. Our work is all-consuming. We are organized, dedicated and BUSY from morning until night. I don’t know any provider who has an administrative assistant; most don’t have helpers and only a few take time off –with the most trusted of subs. When we do leave, we leave our homes, the children and the well-being of our businesses in their hands. That is not a choice. Closing is a last resort that disrupts the lives of working parents – our clients – and can cause us to loose their business. So we are often between that rock and hard place, when we have to take time away. With the new regulations, it has become harder. A majority of providers are also parents (or grandparents of live-in children). They must dedicate their evenings to their family obligations. Some also go to school and attend evening classes or work on line. Studying and homework adds another obligation to juggle – usually late at night or early in the morning… I am getting tired just listing it all… So when we are suddenly expected to add more to our load, we can’t imagine how or where to fit it in. Even making short phone calls during the day to deal with a new wrinkle in our professional lives can be a challenge. What’s a provider to DO? Fortunately I have my husband, Bob, to help with the children and I often catch a second wind in the wee hours to do thinking work before my brain shuts off. This allows me to write a letter like this one, or help organize the newsletter, or create a board meeting agenda or send out a blast to GA providers with some coherency. I don’t have a young family anymore and my Bob, helps out in big ways, so I am fortunate beyond imagination --and I am grateful. As an experienced, professional family child care learning home provider and your PFCCA President, I am dedicated to finding ways to cheer my colleagues on and help us solve problems– in our home businesses, our family lives and with our professional obligations. But I can’t do this important work alone. I need YOU! Together, we can BE the voice of family child care, identify what needs fixing or changing and make things work more smoothly for everyone – personally and as an organization. Thanks to our Professional Family Child Care Alliance of GA (PFCCA) Board of Directors and Committee Chairs, our voice is gaining strength and respect across the state. It is an exciting time to be involved! I look forward to meeting many of you at our Town Hall meeting with DECAL. It not one you want to miss… Please join your voice with ours as PFCCA. The best is yet to be!
Proposed Legislation Exempts Family Child Care Learning Homes from Jury Duty - HB166 —background House Bill (HB) 166 was introduced into the Georgia Legislature by Representatives Price: 48th; Ehrhart: 26th; Clark: 98th; and Nix: 69th Districts. The bill proposes to amend the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to exemptions from jury duty, so as to provide for an exemption from jury duty for operators of family child care learning homes. The bill is currently being reviewed in the House Judiciary Committee, Chaired by Representative Willard, 51st District. The legislation originated because of the experience of one family child care learning home provider, Sheryl Buncic. She was not excused from jury duty and she and the parents she served experienced significant financial and personal hardships. Sheryl took up the crusade to change this situation and has been a tireless worker for this cause as the PFCCA Jury Duty Exemption Task Force Chair. Sheryl gathered examples of hardships experienced by other providers due to jury duty service, talked personally to over 150 providers, secured numerous signatures on a petition and talked or wrote to legislators. Sheryl also talked to DECAL Commissioner Amy Jacobs and secured her comment: ”I’ve read over the legislation
and don’t have any concerns. We will monitor the bill’s progress and provide any input if asked. We understand the need for this exemption and the hardship jury duty can cause for FCLHs. Best of luck.”
Regarding: MARCH 18th TOWNHALL MEETING
(see front page story) Family Child Care Learning Home Providers, Helpers and Support Staff from related organizations from across Georgia are warmly welcomed to attend. Find out what is going on and how to work with DECAL’s new requirements. Add your voice to make the Professional Family Child Care Alliance a clear voice from providers across the state.
STAND UP FOR HOUSE BILL 166! EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR FCCLH PROVIDERS: Bill Number HB166 Stand up and let your voice be heard!! NOW is the time…the bill is in committee!! Since FCCLH providers are primary caregivers who work alone teaching and training children under age 6 in a home environment while parents work, we are not just another group wanting an exemption, but our roles are remarkably similar to those already exempt (homeschool teachers & primary caregivers). Do you really want a jury duty exemption. If you do, then please….. Google House of Representatives (GA); click Find Your Lawmaker, Click Open States, type your address, city, state and zip….you now have your Rep and Senator’s name, number, and email. Please take a few minutes to contact them. Relay this information to your parents….the more constituents who contact their legislators, the more the legislators understand our issue come time to vote! Let’s stand together so OUR VOICES ARE HEARD. Now is the time…..the bill is in the House Judiciary committee. Sheryl Buncic
PFCCA Jury Duty Task Chair
FOLLOW HB166 To follow our House Bill, #166, please go to House of Representatives (GA), look under legislation, click on Betty Price and look at her 7th bill on the list. As you will see, there are several legislators cosponsoring the bill with Mrs. Price from differing districts (David Clark from the 98th, Sharon Cooper, 43rd, Earl Ehrhart, 36th, and Randy Nix 69th, legislators from differing districts) and she used the term, family learning home providers. You can read a copy of HB 166 and learn about its progress thru the legislature by contacting the Georgia General Assembly website at: www.legis.ga.gov .
When you reach that page, go to House of Representatives, then Clerk’s Office/Legislation, then search by bill number: HB166.
To find out who your state Representative or Senator is or how to contact him/her, go to the Georgia General Assembly webpage at:www.legis.ga.gov. At the top is an option for “House of Representatives.” Select that option. You will then see a menu on the left with a choice for “Find Your Legislator.” Choose that option and you will see a list of all GA representatives. By clicking on your representative’s name, you will see their e-mail address (Note by choosing the “Both Chambers “option, you can see both House and Senate members). For additional information contact Joe Perreault, PFCCA Legislative
Please contact your GA Representative and GA Senator as soon as possible. It must be voted in by the House and then by the Senate before the end of March. Ask them to vote YES on HB166.
Quick & Yummy Cinnamon Crisps Provided by Sandy Byrd, provider Prep Time: 5 Minutes Cook Time: 15 Minutes Servings: 8 Servings
Ingredients - 1 stick Butter, Melted - 3 whole Flour Tortillas (small Size) - 1 cup Sugar - 1 Tablespoon Ground Cinnamon Instructions Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Join Kroger Rewards Program and Give Back to PFCCA!
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Mix together the sugar and cinnamon.
FREE MONEY TO PFCCA!
Brush butter on one side of the flour tortillas. Sprinkle generously with the cinnamon sugar. Flip tortillas to the other side, then sprinkle on the cinnamon sugar.
PFCCA has been signed up for Kroger Community Rewards Program (for nonprofits only). This is done through the Kroger Plus Card Rewards Program. To be able to get cash rewards for PFCCA members must open an account for a Kroger Rewards Program account with their Kroger Plus card. It will then open a box link to “community rewards.” This will open a link in “Pro” and PFCCA will pop up (or you can
Bake for 15-17 minutes until very crisp. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely. Break into pieces and eat as snacks...or serve with ice cream!
put in our number, which is # 68265). This will put cash money in PFCCA’s pocket with a quarterly check! This will not affect personal points! Let’s all do this and earn FREE money for PFCCA! Several of us have already done this. It’s really easy, so the board is asking everyone to spread the word. You don’t have to be a member to participate! Ask parents and friends to join us!
PHILADELPHIA INSURANCE & ASSURE CHILD CARE SAFETY TIPS Carbon Monoxide Awareness and Detection
CREATIIVE CALZONES FOR KIDS Provided by The Learning Village, LLC Dianne Coggin, Director
Kids can help: Filling the dough and crimping edges.
Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless and colorless gas than can kill. It is known as “The Silent Killer”. Everyone is at risk of CO poisoning. Infants, children and people with breathing weaknesses (asthma, etc.) are more prone to getting sick from carbon monoxide. Short exposure to CO can lead to lightheadedness, headaches, dizziness, flu-like symptoms, and even loss of consciousness. A longer or more extreme exposure to CO can result in brain damage or even death. CO poisoning can be prevented with awareness and detection in the child care facility.
1 tsp salt
Sources of carbon monoxide in homes include: Water heaters Gas stoves and ovens Fire places (wood and gas burning) Furnaces and/or boilers Gas clothes dryers Vehicles in use in the garage Smoking
3 Tbsp olive oil
Detection
For the dough: 1 pkg yeast 1 Tbsp sugar 1 cup warm water
1 ¾ cup white flour 1 ¼ cup whole wheat flour For the filling: Mozzarella cheese Marinara sauce Turkey pepperoni
Combine yeast, sugar and warm water and let set for 5 minutes. Mix remaining ingredients and then add yeast mixture. Let dough rise, in a warm place, for about 1-2 hours, until double in size. Roll out a small portion of the dough at a time, cutting two equal sized hearts. Fill middle with a thin layer of marinara sauce, turkey pepperoni, and cheese and then layer the top with another heart and crimp the edges together with a fork. Set on baking tray. Bake at 400 for 10-15 minutes until lightly browned. Test to make sure dough is done baking. Serve with marinara sauce for dipping.
Carbon monoxide detectors should be placed throughout the facility or home for appropriate detection coverage. Specific areas to cover would be one on each floor, in rooms where children play/sleep, and have one within 10 feet of each sleeping room. As for placement on the wall (height above ground), please read the manual that comes with the detectors as they differ by manufacturer. Normal smoke detectors do not detect carbon monoxide. There are combination detectors (smoke and CO detection) that are available but having separate detectors for each smoke and CO allows both to function best. Smoke and CO detectors should be tested for functionality monthly. The lifespan of a CO detector ranges from 5-7 years but follow the manufacturer’s manual for replacement years. Prevention On top of detection there are some prevention methods that can reduce the risk of CO poisoning like having preventive maintenance done on furnaces, appliances, heating system and chimneys. Make certain there is appropriate ventilation for your appliances (cooking, heating, furnaces, etc.). Do not run vehicles in closed garages and do not block exhaust flues or ducts for appliances. Resources
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/carbonmonoxide/basics/definition/con-20025444 http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/indoorair/co/
Effective Organizations Understand leadership is a service performed for the good of the whole group. Submitted by Sandra Byrd , Provider
Highly effective boards develop effective organizations by thinking about the "people". One of a board's functions is to find followers with the capacity to catch our vision. When we talk to people about the future, we want their eyes to light up. We want them to ask the right questions about what we're talking about. We should ask them to come and help us build something great?"
This is how we gather people around the purpose of the organization with a long-term commitment to work towards the ultimate purpose, not a short term task. We should treat committee members like a team and build team spirit and commitment. Make sure everyone understands the big picture-what the committee is doing and why--and identify a role for each person. If you're the chair, think about how to organize efforts and divvy up tasks so that everyone has meaningful work to do “for the team”. Also know if and/or when it's time to change the vision Measure the vision and see if it is still giving the desired results. Churchill was famous for saying, "Never, never, never, never give up." But it is just as true to know that "when the horse is dead --- dismount!"
Volunteerism Keeps Proving Its Value According to the experts at Independent Sector, every hour of volunteerism is now worth $23.56. This is an increase of 2% from last year and is up $1 from 2013. Bottom line, the trend line is moving in a positive direction! If you aren’t volunteering, it’s time to make a change. Here are 3 reasons why it’s time to volunteer.
Your investment of a skill and time can make a lasting impact on a nonprofit’s sustainability. By investing time helping, you can make an impact almost immediately, an impact that lasts. And that’s what it’s all about, right?
You will gain immeasurable satisfaction from doing meaningful work. Volunteerism is about helping other people, giving of one’s self. But everyone who does it knows that it’s also a huge endorphin rush, a positive jolt to the system that helps us truly feel like citizens active in making our world what we want it to be. And who doesn’t want that?
You will grow, learn and become a more capable professional in the process. And here’s the one that’s kind of ironic. Giving your skills makes you better. It gives you perspective that helps you be more human, more aware, more experienced…and a better world citizen. When you give, you gain expertise that equips you to do everything at a different level.
So why not jump in with your skills? Why not think about what you have to offer that’s unique and valuable and work with your professional contacts and friends to identify where your needs are a match? Make it a personal mission to not just give $23.56 an hour in value. Make it something much, much bigger but instead make a commitment to Georgia's children in family child care.
Make a commitment to Professional Family Child Care Alliance of Georgia.—visit. Pfcca.org
Baby Talk: Resources to Support the People Who Work With Infants and Toddlers Issue No. 68 January 2017 An Infographic Guide to Your Baby’s First Year While every child develops at his or her own rate, this depiction of first year milestones may be a helpful resource to family members or others who are less familiar with the sequence. http://www.mentalfloss.com/article/86808/infographic-guide-your-babys-first-year
Infants Develop Early Understanding of Social Nature of Food Infants develop expectations about what people prefer to eat, providing early evidence of the social nature through which humans understand food, according to a new study conducted at the University of Chicago. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found infants expect people to share food preferences unless they belong to different social groups. Their understanding changes when it comes to disgust toward a food, with infants expecting such reactions to transcend the boundaries of social groups. Even before infants appear to make smart choices about what substances to ingest, they form nuanced expectations that food preferences are fundamentally linked to social groups and social identity. There is more information at this link: https://news.uchicago.edu/article/2016/08/22/infants-develop-early-understandingsocial-nature-food
Turning Down The Background Noise Could Help Toddlers Learn Loud background noise may make it harder for toddlers to learn language, according to a recent study (http:// onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cdev.12559/abstract). Other studies (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ pmc/articles/PMC3757288/) have already found that background noise can limit children's abilities to learn. Television noise, in particular, is ubiquitous in American homes and may negatively affect a child's ability to concentrate (http:// www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2012/10/01/162097132/researchers-say-kids-are-exposed-to-startling-amounts-ofbackground-tv).
Milestones in Action Photo and Video Library The "Learn the Signs. Act Early" project has developed a free library of photos and videos demonstrating developmental milestones from 2 months to 5 years of age. The Milestones in Action library (https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/ milestones/milestones-in-action.html) was created to help family members, early care and education providers, and healthcare providers identify developmental milestones in very young children and recognize any areas of concern. No permissions are needed to use the photos and images in this library for educational or awareness-building purposes.
Creating Playgrounds Where Babies Learn to Talk A campaign to encourage brain development is using parks to deliver its message to children and their caregivers. Mixed in among the bright primary colors of the structure are white panels plastered with whimsical illustrations and phrases like “let’s talk about the sunshine” and “let’s talk about food.” They’re not a random addition; the panels are a deliberate attempt to foster early language and brain development in babies and toddlers. The basic idea is that family members and other caregivers can use the panels (they’re image-heavy so that parents who aren’t literate themselves can still participate) to spark conversations with their kids while they play. Read the article to learn more. http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2016/12/the-playground-where-babies-learn-to-talk/509420/
Baby Talk is a free, one-way listserv that is distributed monthly. Each issue features resources that are high quality, readily available and free. To join the listserv, send an email with no message to subscribe-babytalk@listserv.unc.edu Past issues are archived at http://fpg.unc.edu/resources/baby-talk-archive To suggest resources, please contact Camille Catlett at camille.catlett@unc.edu
Public Policy Committee Report by Joe Perreault, PFCCA Public Policy Chair QR Policy on Return of Equipment. This question came up at the recent Professional Family Child Care Alliance board meeting and Joe contacted Pam Stevens, BFTS GA DECAL’s Quality Rated Director to find the answer: What is supposed to happen to equipment/supplies a provider receives as part of a QR incentive/grant if the provider stops caring for children? Pam’s Response: “We expect providers who no longer care for children to give their bonus package materials to other providers. If a provider doesn’t know another family or center provider close by, our help desk can help to identify one. Our policy manual doesn’t currently address this issue, but we will add it. Please let me know if you have additional questions.” DeKalb County Family Child Care Partnership Addressing Local Restrictions Quality Care for Children (QCC) has initiated a plan to share policy issues with its board, funders and community leaders. The first policy paper included a description of problems involved for providers in meeting local regulations (zoning, business permits etc.) and its’ impact on the decline in the number of providers. QCC is aware the paper was reviewed by the President of the Valdosta-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce who also serves on the Early Education Empowerment Zone (E3Z) for that community. She asked community planners to review the paper to see if this concern applies to her area. If we have members in the Valdosta area, they should contact the DECAL E3Zone staff to
share their concerns about zoning, business permits etc.
Are you looking for new menu ideas? COMFY
HOUSE
PFCCA 2017 Executive Officer ELECTION Results are in! Rose Marie Allen and Sandy Byrd, Nomination Committee Co-Chairs, are please to announce that Vice President DiAnne Coggins and Secretary Francine Kravitz, were re-elected for their 2nd terms on the PFCCA Executive Committee. Congratulations! Are YOU interested in serving as an Officer on the PFCCA Board? Now is the time to start coming to board meetings and learn how things are done! FYI: Terms of Elected Positions President and Treasurer a will be elected in even years (2016 - 2018). Vice President and Secretary will be elected in odd years (2017-2019). All terms will be two-year terms. Each officer may serve 2 consecutive terms. Nominees for the Executive Committee shall have served on the Full Board for at least two (2) years prior to taking office.
SUPPORT HB 166 Please contact your GA Representative and GA Senator as soon as possible. It must be voted in by the House and then by the Senate before the end of March. Ask them to vote YES on HB166. This is a BIG deal for GA Providers. Help make it happen!
Thankyou to you to our Sponsors
ACTIVITIES FOR THE SEASON Groundhog’s day may have passed, but it is always a good time to explore SHADOWS! by Lynn A. Manfredi/Petitt The Creative COMFY Day School @ Lynn's HOUSE
Take a moment when the sun is shining brightly to notice SHADOWS! Help the children notice that shadows move when we move, like they are attached! Focus on finger movements. Make simple animals: bunny ears, fish with a thumb & finger eye, check out ideas on the internet.
Keep it simple. Let the children explore big body movements and copy you – and each other. On the way back from a walk, observing winter trees, my family child care group and I spontaneously played with our shadows for 10 or 15 minutes. It was a simple and scientific learning moment that keeps coming up on sunny winter days and inside, with flashlights!
Me and My Shadow Robbie Williams, Jonathan Wilkes (1927) You can use the internet to learn the tune. Just a couple of verses is enough…
Me and my shadow Strolling down the avenue Me and my shadow Not a soul to tell our troubles to And when it's twelve o'clock We climb the stair We never knock For nobody's there… Just me and my shadow…
Presidential COIN-matching GAME FOR 3-5 year olds Adapted from a Valentine’s matching game from Sheryl Buncic
To create the game: Use double stick tape to attach matching coins to stiff card stock paper – cut to business card size. Add each President’s name and the name of the coins above and below the coin to make it print-rich. Make 2 or 4 of each: quarters/George Washington, dimes/Ike Eisenhower, nickels/Thomas Jefferson and pennies/Abraham Lincoln To play: Place the cards face down. Children take turns turning one card and then a second, looking for matches. As they turn them over, talk about the name of the coin and the president whose face is on each. Children can place matches in a pile in front of them. When all are matched, if children are interested, help each add the amounts. Then turn the cards over and play again.
BEAT THE COLD WEAHTER WITH A PRETEND VACATION! by Lynn A. Manfredi/Petitt The Creative COMFY Day School @ Lynn's HOUSE
When the weather wont permit outside play, pretend to travel to a tropical vacation spot. Turn up the temperature in the place, change into warm clothes and play on the beach!
FUN BUILDING TOWERS During the winter holidays there are plenty of reasons to have boxes around—from mailing and receiving packages to love ones! Use those extra boxes to build towers! Children can hone their balancing skills, stretching both their bodies and their imaginations.
Georgia Health & Safety Orientation Training Available Online
Chocolate Almond Butter Energy Bites Provided by Sheryl Buncic , The Outer Limits
1/2 cup of almond butter 2 teaspoon of raw honey 2 tablespoon of cocoa nibs 3/4 cup of chocolate protein powder (natural, not sweetened) 1 teaspoon organic, alcohol free vanilla 2 tablespoon crushed nuts (raw almonds) Mix all together in bowl and then form into 1 inch balls, refrigerate or put in freezer in airtight glass container. Enjoy as a sweet, nutritious snack
As part of the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Act of 2014, rules were adopted to help strengthen the foundation of health and safety for children in out-of-home environments. In October those rules went into effect in Georgia for all licensed child care programs. The revised rules require: All staff with direct care responsibilities to complete Health & Safety Orientation training plus CPR & First Aid training (if not currently certified). New staff members hired on or after October 1, 2016 must obtain the Health & Safety Orientation and CPR/First Aid training within 90 days of employment. Staff that were hired before October 1, 2016 must complete the Health & Safety Orientation training and CPR and First Aid training (if not currently certified) by June 30, 2017. DECAL is providing a free online module for the Health & Safety Orientation through Pennsylvania State University that is available now at http://extension.psu.edu/youth/ betterkidcare/on-demand . To access the training, sign in to the On Demand option, and choose the module called “Georgia Health and Safety Orientation Training (for Georgia child care providers only)” . You can also find additional training options at: https:// www.training.decal.ga.gov/ (search for “Health & Safety Orientation”). The new Health & Safety Orientation training: does not replace the initial staff orientation or first year training topics (“basic 6”), which are still required by the rules; however, some trainers and agencies may offer an ‘Orientation Plus’, training that meets Orientation and First Year Basics requirements. only has to be completed one time (does not have to be renewed); and can be used toward meeting the requirement for annual training hours. Here is the link that was posted to the BFTS GA DECAL website on 12/12/16. http://decal.ga.gov/documents/attachments/ HealthSafetyBasics_GA.pdf Thanks to www.leapccrr.org for allowing us to share the following
information, posted in their Winter 2017 Newsletter.
Professional Family Child Care Alliance of Georgia Promoting Quality Child Care
www.pfccaofga.org ~ PFCCA Phone: 404-421-3985 Dedicate ~ Educate ~ Appreciate
Current PFCCA of GA Board of Directors and Organizational Leaders Updated 1/8/17 by lamp ☺
Executive Committee Officers: President: Lynn A. Manfredi/Petitt (until 5/18) Vice-President: DiAnne Coggins (until 5/17) Treasurer: Delia Gonzalez (until 5/17) Secretary: Francine Krawitz (until 5/18) Administrative Advisor: Sandy Byrd (on-going)
Standing Committees Organizational Development Committees ! By-Laws/Policies & Procedures: Chair: Joe Perreault (with Sandy Byrd) ! CARE & Appreciation: Chair: Karen Nomura ! Membership Coordination: Chair: Delia Gonzalez ! Member Recruitment: Chair: Rose Marie Allen Regional Reps: PFCCA of GA regions are the same as GA CCR&R (see map)
• • • • • •
Region 1 North: Janette Rogers Region 2 Metro: Myra F. Abdus-Saboor Region 3 Central: Brenda T. Davis Burns Region 4 Southwest: (open) Region 5: Southeast: (open) Region 6: East Karen Nomura
! Group Home Statewide Liaison: Doreen Holmes Ladson ! Finance/Fund Development: Chair: Sandra Ramsey ! Nomination/Elections (January 2017): Chair: Rose Marie Allen (with Sandy Byrd)
Professional Development & Communication Committees ! Communication & PR: Chair: DiAnne Coggins ! Conference (Spring 2018): Co-Chair: Sandra Ramsey & Sandy Byrd ! Newsletter: Editor: Charmaine Minniefield ! Public Policy: Chair: Joe Perreault • Jury Duty Exemption Task Force Chair: Sheryl Buncic
! Spring Festival (March 18, 2017): Chair: Francine Krawitz (with Sandra Ramsey) ! Website & Creative Design: Chair: Trecisa Brown
Founding Advisors: Pamela M. Fields (1st Elected President) Sandy Byrd (past Steering Committee Chair) Julie Phillips (Leap) Patricia Sullivant (QCC)
Who(ARE(we?!! PFCCA of GA Quarterly Newsletter The VOICE of Family Child Care in Georgia
Who(ARE(we?!!
Who we are
Fall 2016
Professional Family Child Care Professional Family Child Care Alliance of Georgia Alliance of Georgia (PFCCA GA) (PFCCA ofof GA) www.pfccaofga.org
www.pfccaofga.org
Our Vision
Our Vision Working together to increase quality child care for Georgia’s future. Working together to increase quality child care for Georgia’s future. Our Motto Dedicate ~ Educate ~ Appreciate Our Motto !
Our Slogan
Dedicate ~ Educate ~ Appreciate We are the VOICE of Family Child Care in GA
!
Our Slogan Our Mission improve lives ofChild children in Georgia We are the To VOICE ofthe Family Care in GAby promoting professional, high quality family child care through the encouragement of training, education and national accreditation.
Our Mission
Our Goals
To improve the lives of children in Georgia by promoting professional, high quality • Advocate for quality child care and early education for all children in Georgia.! family child care through the encouragement of training, education and national • Provide on-going quality training, networking opportunities and mentoring of family child accreditation. care providers to improve the well-being of the children in their care.! Develop and/or support local associations and partners dedicated to improving the quality of child care for all children in Georgia. ! • Offer family child care provider incentives, benefits and on-going training for professional development credentials, such as GA Quality Rating (QR), NAFCC Accreditation and Advocate for quality care orand earlyin education for all children in Georgia.! college levelchild certificates degrees ECE.! •
Our Goals • • • •
Provide on-going quality training, networking opportunities and mentoring of family child care providers to improve the well-being of the children in their care.! 2015.PFCCA of GA, Decatur All rights reserved. Originally developed for PFCCA of GA Develop and/or support local ©associations andGA. partners dedicated to improving the by Chris Cross, Sandy Byrd and Lynn Manfredi/Petitt 2011Revised by PFCCA Board/lamp ☺, SB, & LDG 2/1/15 quality of child care for all children in Georgia. ! Offer family child care provider incentives, benefits and on-going training for professional development credentials, such as GA Quality Rating (QR), NAFCC Accreditation and college level certificates or degrees in ECE.!
© 2015.PFCCA of GA, Decatur GA. All rights reserved. Originally developed for PFCCA of GA by Chris Cross, Sandy Byrd and Lynn Manfredi/Petitt 2011Revised by PFCCA Board/lamp ☺, SB, & LDG 2/1/15
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Professional Family Child Care Alliance of Georgia We are the VOICE of Family Child Care in GA: Promoting Quality Child Care across the state Dedicate ~ Educate ~ Appreciate
www.pfccaofga.org 404-421-3985
PFCCA Membership Registration (good for one year) Date: ________________ First Name: ___________________Last Name: _________________________Birthday___/___ Organization/Business Name (If applicable): _____________________________
mo/day
Address:________________________________________________________________________ City: ______________________________ State: ____________________ Zip: ______________ County: _______________
Email: _______________________________________
Phone: _________________________________ Cell Phone: ____________________________
Family Child Care Provider Survey: Are you a Family Child Care Provider? Are you GA Quality Rated?
Yes Yes
Are you a member of NAFCC?
No
Yes
No If so, for how many years? _________ No If so, what is your rating? _________
NAFCC Accredited? If so, for how many years? ______
CDA? If so, for how many years? ____
Please circle your highest ed diploma or certificate: HS/AS/TCC/BA/BS/MS/MA/PhD in _____________
INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP $15*: (There is power in numbers when we speak for providers! Add your voice today.) FCC PROVIDER (or former provider): $15 per year [*All categories are good for one year from the month you joined.] PARENT: $15 per year. (Parents who have/had children in family child care and want to support the work of PFCCA) ADVOCATE: $15 per year (Individual ECE professionals who work to support Family Child Care Learning Home Providers) CCR&R staff Program staff Military staff other _______________________
SPONSORSHIP: $250 - $500 (and up) annually Sponsors are businesses, corporations, groups or individuals who want to support the work of PFCCA & receive quarterly newsletters. Contact PFCCA for information about annual sponsorship levels by email: pfccaofgeorgia@gmail.com or by phone: 404-421-3985
Please make checks or money orders payable to: PFCCA and mail to: Delia Gonzalez, PFCCA Treasurer: 3480 Ansley Park Dr. Suwanee, GA 30024 ~ 678-446-6135 ~ pfccamembership@yahoo.com
TOTAL AMOUNT ENCLOSED: Questions? Need more information? Interested in volunteering? •
To learn more about our work, sign-up as a member, join a committee and/or pay on-line, visit our website:
•
PFCCA phone 404-421-3985 or email: pfccaofgeorgia@gmail.com
www.pfccaofga.org We are an all-volunteer, 501c3, non-profit organization. Your time and talents are welcome! Join us today! form updated: 2/7/17 lamp ☺