Hear From Our Staff for AOK Updates!

Child Tax Credit

For the first time since July, families with children did not receive expanded Child Tax Credit payments last month. Expanded monthly payments were enacted for six months as part of emergency pandemic relief with the expectation that they would be extended through Build Back Better. Families will continue to receive a smaller Child Tax Credit once a year when they file taxes. 

Special Note: Families that did not apply for the expanded Child Tax Credit last summer can still receive it in one lump sum, but they must file taxes to receive it. Ask an All Our Kin staff member at your site where you can obtain free assistance with tax preparation. 

Build Back Better

With two Democratic Senators blocking passage of Build Back Better, the Biden Administration is exploring alternate ways to pass the child care and pre-k sections of the bill. Although they don’t know how long this will take, they remain optimistic that child care funding will be approved. Stay tuned for more information.

Care4Kids

The OEC sent a reminder for child care providers who have not yet completed the Health and Safety Orientation Professional Development requirements necessary to serve families receiving Care 4 Kids funding. Providers who were active prior to October 31, 2021 should refer to the linked documents to better understand requirements and next steps. These forms are also available in English and Spanish on the Care 4 Kids website and on the OEC website.

Watch the OEC and DPH Covid-19 Health & Safety Guidance Webinar

On January 14th, OEC Commissioner Beth Bye and Dr. Lynn Sosa from the Department of Public Health led a webinar about the latest COVID-19 health and safety guidelines for child care. You can now review the powerpoint presentation here or watch the webinar here.

Updated OEC Memos

The Office of Early Childhood updated memos #37 and #45 to offer new guidance regarding isolation, quarantine, and reporting.

ECCP Service

The Early Childhood Consultation Partnership (ECCP) is a statewide Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation program that addresses the social-emotional needs of children birth to age five.

Deepening Relationships with Parents

This conversation is intended to inspire Family Child Care Educators as they continue to strengthen relationships with parents. Explore how the dreams that parents have about parenting shape their confidence and behaviors in profound ways, and brainstorm all the amazing opportunities these dreams create for developing and engaging in rich strategies for deeper relationships.

Certificates will be issued for 2 hours of professional development. 

Tuesday, February 15th

6:00-8:00pm

Offered in English with simultaneous interpretation in Spanish

Share Your Knowledge and Experience at an AOK FCC Educator Panel

Since the start of the pandemic, All Our Kin has shifted much of its support online and has developed new programs as well. While we can’t wait to see you face to face again soon, in the meantime, our FCC Educator Panels have been a great way for educators across our communities to share ideas, knowledge and experience in a virtual space. The AOK Professional Development team is working on a new series of panels, and we’re looking for participants! If you love what you do and want to share your ideas with fellow educators, we invite you to become a panelist.

You'll receive support and compensation through gift cards. The expected time commitment is approximately three hours. If you're interested, please complete the interest form here.

Help us Celebrate The Power of Creative Play

The All Our Kin Communications team wants to recognize the amazing work of our family child care educators and the power of creative play! Help us celebrate across social media by sharing photos of your children participating in these national days:

Friday, January 28th - National Lego Day

Saturday, January 29th - National

Puzzle Day

Monday, January 31st - National Backwards Day

Share your best shots of your children building legos, putting together puzzles or wearing a backwards shirt! Please remember: All photos of children must be accompanied with a signed release form (here is our latest!). Please email photos to communications@allourkin.org with the name of your program on any or all of these days, and we'll post them on the same day!