Care4Kids Update

The Care4kids has a projected deficit again. In August, the program was closed to new Priority Group 4 applicants.  That means the only remaining option to save money, is to reduce the caseload.  The most likely way this would happen would be by not renewing certificates when they come up for redetermination.  Under state law, Care4kids has to post a notice on their web page 30 days in advance of such a change.  So far this has not happened.  The Alliance is doing all that we can to prevent it from ever happening.  If you haven’t already, please sign the petition, then share the video and petition link with your networks. Also please talk to your legislators.  Finally, we are looking for parents whose C4K certificate is up for renewal in the first half of 2017 to record a short video answering the question, “What will happen if you lose your Care4Kids?” Two articles came out late last week in CT Mirror and CT NewsJunkie discussing the current Care4Kids situation. 

LIVESTREAM NOW on Cost and Quality of Child Care

NPR is currently livestreaming a panel discussion on cost and quality of child care, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. To watch, click HERE. 

OEC Listening Tours on QIS

Jennifer Johnson, Director of the OEC Quality Improvement Division, is embarking on a listening tour regarding the development of CT’s Quality Recognition and Improvement System (QRIS).  Your input is needed as a Quality Recognition and Improvement System is being developed.  This system will help families and communities recognize quality early learning environments in their local communities. Most importantly they want to know:

1) How do we recognize, understand and promote quality;

2) What aspects of quality are most important to you; and

3) How do we best support early childhood community and family programs to improve quality?

Dates and Locations:

10/27/16  -  5:30 – 7 p.m.   Middletown, 25 Industrial Park Road, Middletown, CT  

11/10/16  -  6 – 7:30 p.m.  Education Connection, 4 Mountainview Terrace, Suite 201, Danbury, CT

12/1/16  -  6 – 7:30 p.m.   Torrington City Hall, 140 Main Street, 2^nd Floor Auditorium, Torrington, CT

12/14/16  6 – 7:30 p.m. – All our Kin, 414A Chapel Street, Suite 100, New Haven, CT

To pre-register, click HERE. 

OEC Creating FAQ on Care4Kids

Do you have burning questions regarding Care4Kids and suspect others might have the same question? The Office of Early Childhood is developing a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) to capture questions received during the Care 4 Kids Information Sessions conducted this fall.  The OEC has created an email address for anyone to submit questions for clarification regarding changes to the Care 4 Kids Program. 

The email address is: [email protected]

Questions submitted to the email address will be included in the FAQ and posted on the Care 4 Kids website following the last Care 4 Kids Information Session on October 20th. The FAQ will be updated regularly as new questions are received via the email address.

You can also register for the remaining Care4Kids information sessions on October 13 (New Haven), October 15(Middletown) or October 20 (New London). If you cannot attend the information sessions, you can listen to the recorded PowerPoint presentations in English or Spanish. The most up-to-date Care4Kids information can be found HERE. 

Listen to "Where We Live" Thursday Morning: Child Care Discussion 

Tune into WNPR's "Where We Live" on Thursday morning at 9 a.m. Merrill Gay, CT Early Childhood Alliance Executive Director, will be a guest. The topic will be child care and Merrill will discuss the recently-released New America report, discussing cost, quality and access. If you're not able to listen, we'll make sure to include the link in the next memo.

CCDBG Regulations Released

The Administration for Families and Children recently released the CCDBG regulations. The regulations clarify the goals of the law, improve the health, safety and quality of child care; support the early childhood profession; and make child care assistance more accessible and stable for families. 

Some highlights of the final rule include the following requirements for states to:

• Establish minimum twelve month eligibility periods (which leads to much-needed consistency for children, families and educators).
• Establish a graduated phase-out of subsidies for families who, at eligibility redetermination, exceed initial State income thresholds but still have modest incomes. (This allows families to say yes to a small raise, without worrying that accepting the increase would result in losing their child care because of it).
• Describe policies to prevent suspension and expulsion of children birth to age 5 in child care and other early childhood programs.
• Improve important provider payment practices, including: base payments to providers on child attendance rather than enrollment; take the cost of providing quality child care into account when setting provider subsidy payment rates; show how base payment rates enable providers to meet health, safety, quality, and staffing requirements; and use valid methodologies to update rates at least every three years.

Middlesex Coalition to Host Candidate Forum 

On Thursday, October 13, from 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m., the Middlesex Coalition for Children will host a candidate forum. This is a chance to hear from many of the candidates running for State Senate and State Representative to represent parts of Middlesex County.  Each candidate will have a chance to speak, have time for a Question & Answer session and wrap up with open 'meet & greet' time at the end. Confirmed candidates include: Dante Bartolomeo, ​Paul Doyle (for part), Ted Kennedy, Matt Lesser, Art Linares, Anthony Moran, Earl Roberts, Joe Serra, Len Suzio, and Linda Szynkowicz. More candidates are expected to be confirmed participants before October 13. Vincent Candelora, Noreen Kokoruda, Len Fasano, Devin Carney, Melissa Ziobron, and Emil "Buddy" Altobello are all running unopposed this election year, so it is unnecessary for them to attend the event. 

Alliance Honoring 29 Children's Champions 

We've certainly been busy over the past two weeks! Alliance staff has been crossing the state to honor 29 legislators as Children's Champions. Every year, the Alliance recognizes legislators for their leadership on issues that impact the well-being of Connecticut’s young children in the areas of healthy development, early care and education, nutrition, and safety. Although the budget took center stage this past session, there was some important legislation introduced. Among the items passed this year: Repeal of the sales tax on diapers, which was included in the budget implementer and is set to take effect July 1, 2018; and House Bill 5466, which requires background checks and notice of convictions for any household member in a family child care home or group child care home. Important issues raised included paid family and medical leave, childhood obesity prevention, increased access to early childhood programs for homeless children, and recruitment and retention of the early childhood workforce. 

Our "Legislator of the Year," Rep. Kelly Luxenberg, was honored at The Diaper Bank's "Rock Your Baby" event on September 15, at Amarante's Sea Cliff in New Haven. To see the photos of our honorees thus far, click HERE to see the album on our Facebook page. You don't have to have an account to see our pictures. 

This year's honorees are:

Legislator of the Year: Rep. Kelly Luxenberg 

Representatives: Cathy Abercrombie (D), Tim Ackert (R), Juan Candelaria (D), Michelle Cook (D), Jeff Currey (D), Andrew Fleischmann (D), Noreen Kokoruda (R), Gail Lavielle (R), Matt Lesser (D), Kelly Luxenberg (D), Patricia Billie Miller (D), Gayle Mulligan (R), Robyn Porter (D) Christine Randall (D), Bobby Sanchez (D), Diana Urban (D), Toni Walker (D).

Senators: Dante Bartolomeo (D), Toni Boucher (R), Beth Bye (D), Len Fasano (R), Mae Flexer (D), Terry Gerratana (D) Ed Gomes (D), Art Linares (R), Martin Looney (D), Marilyn Moore (D), Gail Slossberg (D), Gary Winfield (D).    

Early Childhood Education Positions of the Presidential Candidates

Over the last few weeks, early childhood education has become a topic for both major party candidates for president and was widely covered in the media. Are you wondering where your candidate of choice stands on the issue? You can find their position statements here, as well as a report from the Ms. Foundation:
Hillary Clinton 
Donald Trump
Ms. Foundation Report

Care4Kids Meetings Scheduled Across State

In order to understand changes made to Connecticut's Care4Kids program through the re-authorized federal CCDBG (Child Care Development Block Grant), a number of resources are being made available to parents and providers - one of which is meetings in several towns across the state. The meetings will be held September 14 in Hampton, September 19 in Danbury, October 6 in Torrington, October 13 in New Haven, October 15 in Middletown and October 20 in New London. Seating is limited and reservations are needed. To register, click HERE. In the "options" section, click the drop-down menu to find "Care4Kids Information Sessions." Click "book" to register for the meeting of your choice. 

Other resources available include the Care4Kids website, information flyers in both Spanish and English (also found on the website) and this week, a recorded Powerpoint presentation highlighting the important changes.

Alliance Honoring 29 Children's Champions 

The CT Early Childhood Alliance is honoring 29 legislators as Children's Champions. Every year, the Alliance recognizes legislators for their leadership on issues that impact the well-being of Connecticut’s young children in the areas of healthy development, early care and education, nutrition, and safety. While much of the session was focused on filling holes in the budget, there was some important legislation introduced. Among the items passed this year: Repeal of the sales tax on diapers, which was included in the budget implementer and is set to take effect July 1, 2018; and House Bill 5466, which requires background checks and notice of convictions for any household member in a family child care home or group child care home. Important issues raised included paid family and medical leave, childhood obesity prevention, increased access to early childhood programs for homeless children, and recruitment and retention of the early childhood workforce. 

This year's honorees are:

Legislator of the Year: Rep. Kelly Luxenberg

Representatives: Cathy Abercrombie (D), Tim Ackert (R), Juan Candelaria (D), Michelle Cook (D), Jeff Currey (D), Andrew Fleischmann (D), Noreen Kokoruda (R), Gail Lavielle (R), Matt Lesser (D), Kelly Luxenberg (D), Patricia Billie Miller (D), Gayle Mulligan (R), Robyn Porter (D) Christine Randall (D), Bobby Sanchez (D), Diana Urban (D), Toni Walker (D).

Senators: Dante Bartolomeo (D), Toni Boucher (R), Beth Bye (D), Len Fasano (R), Mae Flexer (D), Terry Gerratana (D) Ed Gomes (D), Art Linares (R), Martin Looney (D), Marilyn Moore (D), Gail Slossberg (D), Gary Winfield (D).    

September Alliance Meeting

Our next Alliance meeting will be Thursday, September 1, at the Graustein Memorial Fund, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Please RSVP if you plan to attend.   

Early Childhood Affordability, Teacher Compensation in the Media Spotlight   

Dr. Myra Jones-Taylor Leaving OEC 

The CT Early Childhood Alliance would like to take a moment to thank Dr. Myra Jones-Taylor for her dedication to Connecticut's young children as the first commissioner of the state's Office of Early Childhood. We wish you the best in your future endeavors. Dr. Jones-Taylor will leave her post as Commissioner effectiveSeptember 1. To read more about her departure, see articles in CT Mirror, Hartford Courant and CT NewsJunkie. Click HERE to read the Governor's press release.  

No August Alliance Meeting  

There will be no meeting of the Alliance membership in August. We will resume with our monthly meetings in September (9/1). Watch for more details in the coming weeks. 

Federal Children's Budget Webinar on August 4 

Child Care Aware^® of America will co-host a webinar with First Focus on Thursday, August 4, at 1 p.m., to discuss the children’s budget. The webinar will include:

• The status of the FY 2017 appropriations process, and
• A summary of First Focus's 2016 Children's Budget

The presenters for the webinar will be Jay Nichols, Director, Federal Policy and Governmental Affairs with CCAoA, and John Monsif, Vice President, Government Relations with First Focus.

Webinar will be recorded for those who cannot attend. Click HERE to register. 

Care4Kids Update 

REMINDER as we close the month of July. The Care4Kids program will close to most new applicants on August 1. Currently, families who are 30% SMI and under can apply through the end of July. If you know families who should be applying for Care4Kids, encourage them to do so before August 1. Even if they're in the 31-50% SMI range, it should help establish a waiting list.  

On Where We Live Monday morning, Helene Figueroa, CSEA/SEIU's Director of Family Child Care Team, spoke to the upcoming changes to the Care4Kids program (closing to most new applicants as of August 1). Interview starts around the 36th minute.