Volume 7 | Summer 2020
Quality Care Connections Quarterly
Professional Development Services for Lane County's Early Learning Workforce
Hello from Quality Care Connections!
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The Covid-19 pandemic has hit many families extremely hard, especially those that work for or own a small business such as child care. QCC would like to thank you for your efforts and dedication to children and families during these challenging times.

We hope you enjoy our summer newsletter. We strive to provide you information that helps you stay up to date on current happenings in Oregon's child care community. Be sure to review the training calendar and register for classes. We have some great online professional development opportunities scheduled for the next few months.

To reach us during the Covid-19 closure, please call or email us at any time! We are continuing to work from home, but we check our voicemail and email several times daily. In most cases, we will call you back within 24 hours. Please note that our summer schedule is now in place and our office will be closed on Fridays until September 4. As always, please feel free to reach out to us for support and resources. We are here for you!
Phase 2 Child Care Grant is Now Available!!
The Early Learning Division (ELD) announced Phase 2 of the Emergency Child Care (ECC) grants. Applications are available now and are due by July 10, at 5 p.m. Grant awards will vary by provider type and may range from $700 to $9,360. All applicants who qualify will receive the grant!

The Phase 2 grant is available for all licensed providers and exempt family providers who receive DHS payments. You must also be an approved ECC provider, or apply to be an ECC provider by June 30. Recorded preschool and school-age programs and providers who have already received funding from the Phase 1 grant are not eligible for this grant.

Frequently Asked Questions to address grant applicant questions are available on the ELD’s COVID-19 webpage at the link below. Applicants can also submit questions by email to ECCgrants@state.or.us. For more information about the Phase 2 grant and how to apply, click the link below to register for a webinar on Saturday, June 27th, from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Phase 1 Grant Recipients!!
Don't forget to submit your follow-up grant report as soon as possible! You should have received this report as a DocuSign form sent via email on June 15. The report was due this past Monday, June 22. You may not receive your second grant payment if you forget to submit this important document!
Quick Look: Summer 2020 Trainings
Quality Care Connections' Webinars

In response to the challenges presented by the current state of emergency, Quality Care Connections has compiled a variety of options for you to obtain training hours this term. Recognizing many people are facing financial hardship at this time, we are offering these trainings at a reduced rate.

Please register online for these trainings by clicking here . For support in registering, please contact us via email at qualitycareconnections@lanecc.edu or leave a voice message at 541-463-3300. For more information and class descriptions, click here for the Summer Training Bulletin.
Quality Care Connections Webinars

Wednesday, July 15, 6-9 p.m.
  • Child and Family Well-being Protective Factor: Parental Resilience

Thursday, August 1, 6-9 p.m.
  • Child Development Happens Before Birth

Tuesday, August 18, 6-9 p.m.
  • Observing Children- Looking and Learning

Thursday, August 27, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
  • How to Peter Pan your Lost Boys

Tuesday, September 15, 6-9 p.m.
  • Using Values to Guide Practice

Thursday, September 24, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
  • Teaching Social Skills While Social Distancing
Annual Autism Workshop

Developing Early Childhood Education Settings to Support Students with Autism and Other Delays

Tuesday, July 21, 4-6 p.m.
Wednesday, July 22, 4-6 p.m.
Thursday, July 23, 4-6 p.m.

 *Please note this workshop is the same content as our previous Set 1 workshop, but has been modified to meet Set 2 standards. If you have attended this workshop before, it will not be new content. Must attend all sessions for certificate. Presented by Oregon Program for Autism Training Sites & Support (OrPATS).
To register, click here .
Statewide CCR&R Webinars

These webinars have been made available by collaborative partnerships between Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agencies throughout the state. Please note you may only register for these webinars through the CCR&R agency in the county in which you live.

Each course is a Set Two and costs $20.00. For more information and class descriptions, click on the link above for the Summer Training Bulletin. To register, email qualitycareconnections@lanecc.edu or leave a voice message at 541-463-3300 and we will get back to you to complete the registration process.
Tuesday, July 7, 6-9 p.m.
  • Exploring Music to Support Child Development  
Tuesday, July 14, 6-9 p.m.
  • Visual Supports in Early Childhood: More than a Daily Schedule!
Monday, July 20, 6-9 p.m.
  • Exploring Techniques to Minimize Burnout
Tuesday, July 28, 6-9 p.m.
  • Social Studies in Early Childhood: Celebrating Diversity & Social Justice with Children's Books
Thursday, August 6, 6-9 p.m.
  • The Appropriate Use of Assessments and Developmental Screenings
Monday, August 10, 6-9 p.m.
  • Supporting Recovery and Resilience: Mitigating the Impact of Stress and Trauma of COVID -19
Thursday August 20, 6-9 p.m.
  • Sensory Processing Challenges- Meeting Needs/Managing Meltdowns
Saturday, August 22, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
  • The Impact of Environment on Brain Development
Wednesday, August 26, 6-9 p.m.
  • Development Milestones vs Delayed Milestones for Toddlers
Wednesday, September 2, 6-9 p.m.
  • Using the ASQ-3 as a Tool to Support Programs and Families
Wednesday, September 16, 6-9 p.m.
  • Exploring Science & Engineering with Ramps and Pathways
Tuesday, September 22, 6-9 p.m.
  • Promoting Infant Attachment to Parents and Ourselves
Wednesday, September 30, 6-9 p.m.
  • Implicit Bias- Exploring the Influence of Personal Family Culture
Free, Online Safety Set Courses
The required online safety set classes are all offered free by the Oregon Center for Career Development and the Early Learning Division. Click here for a Safety Set Flier from the Office of Child Care or here to access and register for these classes.

  • Recognizing/Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect
  • Introduction to Child Care Health and Safety
  • Prevention is Better Than Treatment
  • Safe Sleep
  • Food Handler Certification
Important Information about CPR/First Aid Training

Completing the online only portion of the hybrid CPR/First Aid will satisfy the current Office of Child Care's (OCC) temporary requirement for licensed providers. Please be aware that the online-only CPR/First Aid training will be allowed only during the Oregon State of Emergency and will not be valid after the state of emergency is lifted.

Quality Care Connections can arrange for your online CPR/First Aid class through Medic First Aid. The cost of this class is now $15. To register, email qualitycareconnections@lanecc.edu or leave a voice message at 541-463-3300 and we will get back to you to complete the registration process.

Please note: Because Medic First Aid, the company that owns this course, requires that you complete the in-person portion of the course within 90 days of completing the online portion, there is a possibility you will have to retake and pay for the entire course.

For more information from the Office of Child Care regarding CPR/First Aid training options, click here.
Introduction to Registered Family Child Care

There are two parts to the Introduction to Registered Family Child Care class. The required Part One class is available online by clicking this link: http://campus.educadium.com/OCCD/

Part Two is a required in-person class you must attend after completing Part One. Because LCC's campus is currently closed, we are not able to offer this training at this time.
DHS Child Care Orientation

This class gives you information on DHS Child Care Programs. It helps you understand the listing and billing process. You will learn how to become eligible for the DHS Enhanced Rate. To schedule a one-on-one remote training, email qualitycareconnections@lanecc.edu or leave a voice message at 541-463-3300 and we will get back to you to complete the registration process.
Other Professional Development Opportunities
Register Now for These School-Age Trainings Coming This Week on June 25 and June 30!
OregonASK is a collaboration of public and private organizations and community members which seek to support, expand, and educate on quality expanded learning opportunities for children, youth, and families throughout Oregon.

Click here to learn more about OregonASK's professional development opportunities and to register for the upcoming trainings listed below. Each two-hour training is Set 2 and costs $20. For informational fliers, click here.
Thursday, June 25 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Leadership in After-School

Thursday: June 25; 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Fostering Grade Level Reading

Tuesday, June 30; 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Growth Mindset
Why Do We Keep Asking About Your Vacancies?
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Early Learning Division (ELD) is requiring us to survey all Emergency Child Care providers on a weekly basis to determine the number of vacancies you have per age group in your program.

We know this process seems redundant and unnecessary, particularly if you have no openings to report. However, by regularly updating vacancies in the child care parent referral database, it is easier for parents to find care that meets their needs. This data also helps state administrators make informed decisions about how to support families and child care providers and our communities.

Over the past few years, 211Info has contacted child care programs for updates. However, Quality Care Connections staff will once again manage this task. You can expect to receive a survey link sent weekly via email for vacancy checks and annually for a full program update. Please help us keep an accurate database by responding as soon as possible.

Vacancy surveys have already been emailed out this week. If you are currently running an ECC program and it has been more than a year since your last program update, please click here to to complete and submit an Annual Program Update Survey. We really appreciate your support and cooperation!!
Lane County's Child Care Vacancy Data

As of June 23, Lane County has capacity to serve up to 2,730 children in child care programs and there are currently 579 vacancies. This means that we are at 78.79% of capacity.

To see additional vacancy data for Oregon and Lane County click here and then scroll to the Emergency Child Care Dashboard.
Join the Summer 2020 NAP SACC Cohort Now!
Since 2013, hundreds of Lane County child care providers have participated in NAP SACC, a national program designed to build healthy eating and physical activity habits in children. This research-based program can help you develop a deeper understanding of children’s nutrition and physical activity needs and learn how to help the children in your program grow up healthy.

As a NAP SACC participant, you will receive 8 hours of free online training, plus coaching and individual support from a QCC specialist. You will also get incentive funds to use towards nutrition and physical activity supplies! To participate, you must complete three nutrition and physical activity assessments and attend four online Set 1 trainings. Additionally, in lieu of site visits due to Covid-19 restrictions, you will be expected to engage in individual coaching over the phone and/or online using photos and video of your program in action.

All webinars take place via Zoom. You must attend all four webinars to participate in the program and receive the incentive funding. For more information or to register, email Kristen Helton at heltonk@lanecc.edu or call 541-463-3308.
NAP SACC Training Schedule

Tuesday, August 18, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Childhood Obesity

Thursday, August 20, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Child Nutrition

Tuesday, August 25, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Physical Activity

Thursday, August 27, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Communicating with Families
and Personal Health
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Covid-19 Resources and Supports
Click the buttons below for links to Covid-19 resources for child care providers.
Congratulations,
Mandy Johnson and Rachel Turner!!
Quality Care Connections would like to extend a huge congratulations to Mandy Johnson of Silly Billies Child Care and Rachel Turner of Hazelwood Outdoor Kindergarten for submitting their portfolios and receiving their star rating recently! Mandy's program received 4 stars and Rachel's was awarded 5 stars! Both worked very hard throughout the Spark process. We are so proud of their commitments to high quality care for Lane County's children. You did it!!

Let us know if you are ready to begin your quality improvement journey and be recognized for the excellent care you provide children in Lane County! The initial enrollment process is easy, AND you can earn $1,000 to $2,000 for program improvements! Contact Kristen at heltonk@lanecc.edu or by phone at 541-463-3308.