SAVE THE DATE! MSCCA Annual Fall Leadership Symposium Advocacy begins with YOU!
Value YOUR Voice!
Date:
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Time:
7:30 am to 3:30 pm
Place:
The Slayton House
10400 Cross Fox Lane
Columbia, Maryland
Attention Community Partners!
I am reaching out to you, asking for help in spreading the word about Priority Partners.
Health presentations:
Priority Partners offers no cost Health presentations. Our presentations are great for all groups; including church groups, summer camps, and community organizations.
All presentations are available in English and Spanish. Attach is a list of topics that are available.
Onsite Support:
Once a year members must renew their Maryland Medicaid benefits and Priority Partners provides onsite support. We can help our members with completing re-enrollment application to renew their healthcare benefits. For dates and locations where our members can find a Community Health Advocate visit our website: www.ppmco.org
Seeking Events in Your Community:
Do you know of any community events or health fairs going on in your community? If so, please let me know so that Priority Partners can reach out to your community with important health information.
Announcing the MSCCA annual Fall Leadership Symposium "Let Your Voice Be Heard, Advocacy begins with YOU! Value YOUR Voice!" on Thursday, October 24, 2013 in Columbia, MD.
Registration will be available on website by June 30th.
MSCCA Business Advisory Committee Meeting Schedule 2013
1. Friday, March 22- 10:30 am to 12:00 pm at Slayton House- 10400 Cross Fox Lane, Columbia, MD. (Breakfast provided)
2. Friday, June 21- 12:00-1:30 pm at Rams Head Tavern- 33 West St., Annapolis, MD. (Lunch provided) NEW LOCATION
3. Friday, September 27- 11:30 am to 1:00 pm at Amicci's in Little Italy- 231 High Street, Baltimore, MD. (Lunch provided)
Maryland EXCELS opens for statewide participation on July 1, 2013.
View Photos From Our Conference By the Sea!
Please take a moment to view this informative video compiled to assist parents, caregivers and families on how to talk to our youngest population, infants and toddlers.
Maryland EXCELS Branch
Maryland EXCELS (EXcellence Counts in Early Learning and School-age Child Care) is a voluntary Tiered Quality Rating and Improvement System that recognizes the accomplishments of early childhood and "school-age only" programs and providers through a set of standards with 5 levels that offer a pathway to high-quality. Maryland EXCELS provides information to families on choosing high-quality child care and education programs and articulates to the public the level of quality in early and school-age only child care and education programs. More than 30 states have developed quality rating and improvement systems and most states are in some phase of development.
The Maryland State Department of Education, in partnership with the Johns Hopkins University Center for Technology in Education, has developed the Maryland EXCELS website http://www.marylandexcels.org/.
The website serves a variety of purposes:
Programs use the website to register and apply for participation;
Participating programs use the website to upload documentation to verify they meet the criteria in the standards and to connect with their assigned Program Coordinator who assists with the process;
Resources and supports for participating programs are available through the website;
Families use the website to search for high-quality programs when choosing child care. In addition to the website, a mobile app will be available to families to help them identify participating programs in their local area;
The public and community partners use the website to find, collaborate with, and support programs in their local area.
New Listing!
ANNE ARUNDEL CHILD CARE CENTER FOR SALE
LOCATED AT 225 BROCK BRIDGE ROAD, LAUREL, MD, IS FOR SALE INCLUDING:
BUILDING, BUSINESS, REAL ESTATE, FURNITURE, FIXTURES and EQUIPMENT.
LICENSED FOR 87 CHILDREN AGES 2 YRS TO SCHOOL AGE. CURRENT ENROLLMENT IS 67. FULLY EQUIPPED INSIDE AND OUTSIDE. THE BLDG IS 3,500 SQ.FT. and HAS BEEN BEAUTIFULLY MAINTAINED.
ZONED C-4. PLENTY OF PARKING. CONVENIENT TO MAJOR ROADS.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT RUSS MORGAN
410-279-3403.
A Day Without Child Care
MSDE Announcements
Revised Maryland EXCELS QRIS Standards for Centers, Family and School-Age Only
News and Updates explaining the revisions to the standards, field test progress and contact information for Quality Assurance Specialists
Incentives for Centers, Family Child Care and Large Family Child Care Homes
Many Parents Still Desperate for Child Care Subsidy.
Thanks to all of our efforts and thanks to MSDE, Maryland Child Care Subsidy program has opened 5 more levels of assistance. There are a total of 8 out of 10 levels of child care subsidy NOW open as of mid March 2013. We are told that this will assist at least 2300 more families in Maryland who are in need. We still have work to do to revise eligibility standards and co-pays, but more money is secure in the state budget for subsidy. This positive news brings some relief to parents and providers.
Sherri Lynn, of Montgomery County, is one of the thousands of low-income parents still frozen out of the Child Care Subsidy Program. Sherri has been able to stay at her job only because a Good Samaritan is temporarily paying child care tuition for Malik, age two, and Jordan, age 4 months. "I am so grateful," says Sherri, "but I don't know how long this generosity can last."
Governor O'Malley and State School Superintendent Lowery took an important step in mid-November by opening enrollment in the Child Care Subsidy Program for some of the lowest-earning families eligible for the program. However, the "thaw" didn’t reach Sherri or thousands of other eligible families.
Join us in calling on Governor O’Malley to extend a helping hand to Maryland's working families as he completes his budget. Ask him to find a way to fund full reopening of the Child Care Subsidy Program for all eligible parents.
Many of Maryland's hard-working parents are waiting desperately... and hopefully.
Multiply your impact by forwarding this email to friends and posting it to Facebook and Twitter!
COME ONE, COME ALL JOIN THE MARYLAND APPROVED ALTERNATIVE PREPARATION PATHWAY - EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION (MAAPP-ECE) THIS FALL
Who: Teachers interested in obtaining Maryland teacher certification in Early Childhood Education
To qualify for entry into the MAAPP-ECE Pilot...
Educators with a Bachelor’s degree or higher in ECE,
Special Education, and/or Child Development
Educators with a Bachelor’s degree or higher in any other field
Praxis I: Reading, Writing, and Math
(Must have proof of passing composite score of 527) http://www.ets.org/praxis/md
Praxis I: Reading, Writing, and Math
(Must have proof of passing composite score of 527) http://www.ets.org/praxis/md
Praxis II: EC Content Knowledge
What:
A FREE opportunity to earn a standard professional certificate in Early Childhood Education without leaving your place of employment. The 4-6 week internship* can be completed in your classroom. The cost of this program is covered by MSDE under the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge Grant.
*Two weeks must be completed in a public school setting. MSDE will cover all sub costs associated with the internship.
When:
Weekend (Saturday) courses that cover Instructional Design and Delivery as well as Classroom Management and Culture begin on January 5th. Sessions are from 8:00-3:15pm two Saturdays per month
Where:
Columbia, MD
Why:
Earning Maryland certification in Early Childhood Education is another way to:
Validate your instructional practices for the children and families you serve
Supplement your current teaching practices and add new strategies to your repertoire
Open doors that will allow for more professional growth and development
Connect with a cohort of teachers from across the state who are as passionate about education as you
Show parents that your are committed to providing the best care for their children
If you are interested in participating in joining the first cohort of the MAAPP-ECE Pilot Project starting in January, contact JENAYA SMITH, 410-767-0602 or jmilfort@msde.state.md.us .
Please take a look at the video below of Founder of Celebree Learning Centers and MSCCA member, Richard Huffman on the Channel 11, WBAL news this past weekend. Richard spoke about child care changes over the last several years and about a special event his centers are having to promote Breast Cancer Awareness month!
It is an honor to have such wonderful people part of our Association that are recognized and sought out to discuss child care issues.
Welcome to the Maryland State Child Care Association!
The Maryland State Child Care Association (MSCCA) is the premiere professional association for licensed child care and early learning centers operating in Maryland and for associated businesses and individuals that support the mission of the Association. Our members are committed to providing the highest levels of cognitive, social/emotional, and physical development in safe and secure environments for the children entrusted to their care. We truly believe that we care for Maryland’s most important natural resource,
our children.
As a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) trade association of child care centers, MSCCA provides professional development for the staff of member centers and educational outreach to the general public on matters related to early childhood education. MSCCA is actively engaged in the public policy arena to ensure that the laws and regulations governing our members are consistent with quality for the children and affordability for their parents and guardians. MSCCA Chapters in regions across Maryland provide our members with information, resources, and networking opportunities that are accessible on a local basis.
MSCCA is the official state affiliate of the National Child Care Association. Additionally, Board members participate actively with a variety of other organizations including, Maryland Family Network (MFN), Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), Governor’s Council for Children and other organizations that share our members’ commitment to high quality, affordable child care and early learning.
More information about membership opportunities for MSCCA is available on our website (www.mscca.org). Interested child care centers, businesses serving the industry and individuals are encouraged to call or email the Executive Director or MSCCA Board members with any questions or for assistance.
More information about membership in the MSCCA is available under the section on Membership Applications. Interested child care centers, affiliates, businesses serving the industry, and individuals are welcome to call our offices at (410) 820.9196 or (877) 820.9196, toll-free in Maryland.
The Maryland State Child Care Association does not endorse any commercial product, process, child care facility or enterprise, by trade name, service mark, manufacturer, provider with current membership in the MSCCA, or otherwise. Links to other websites and reference to any commercial product or enterprise are provided solely for your convenience, and do not constitute or imply MSCCA endorsement, recommendation or exclusive approval thereof. Accordingly, MSCCA does not endorse or assume responsibility for the content provided by any third-party website to which we are linked. The MSCCA website may contain links to website operated by third parties (“Facebook”, “Twitter”). MSCCA does not have any control over Third-Party Websites, each of which may be governed by its own terms of service and privacy policy. MSCCA does not warrant or endorse your use of any Third-Party Website or the content appearing thereon. By visiting or using the Third-Party Websites available through the MSCCA website you assume all responsibility and liability for all resulting harms, whether to You or to any third party, including without limitation as resulting from Your downloading or use of any content, software of other materials available therefrom.
SAVE THE DATE!
MSDE Announcements
