Summer SCOOP!

The SCOOP

	4th Annual BEST of Lorain County

	4th Annual Best of Lorain County event is next week - July 17 at LCCC from 6 -9 p.m. Tickets are only $20 and you will definitely get your money's worth. Food, products and entertainment will be available from all the nominees. This is where you come to vote for your favorite: florist, caterer, fitness center, landscaper, dry cleaner, preschool, personal trainer - just to name a few! Last year over 500 people attended this great event, do NOT miss out this year. Click the link and purchase tickets today!

	SPREAD THE WORD!

	Make sure everyone who cares for your baby knows the ways to reduce the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related causes of infant death. Remember: Babies sleep safest on their backs, and every sleep time counts!

T.E.A.C.H Ohio - Active Scholars

T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood^® OHIO is a compensation and retention program for child care professionals. T.E.A.C.H is designed to address education, compensation and turnover issues that affect the early childhood field. Assistance is available for the cost of tuition, books, and related education expenses.

The following programs are actively participating in T.E.A.C.H Ohio:

County Program

Erie	Sandusky Head Start
Lorain	Little Lighthouse Learning Center
Lorain	Oberlin Early Childhood Center
Lorain	Fireland Community Day School
Lorain	Laura's Learning Treehouse
Lorain	Park Place Early Learning Center
Lorain	Rockin Round the Clock Family Child Care LLC
Lorain	Small Scholars University Inc.
Lorain	Wee Care Community Childcare, Inc.
Lorain	The Next Generation Child Development Center
Lorain	Le Chaperon Rouge
Lorain	Leaps & Bounds Child Care Inc.
Lorain	Southside Horizon Activities Center
Lorain	Faith House Day Care/Preschool
Lorain	Good Kids Child Care
Sandusky	Rainbow Magic Day Care

ODJFS letter to Child Care Providers - application deadline

Dear ODJFS Provider,

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) will be transitioning Step Up To Quality (SUTQ) from the current 3-Star system to a 5-Star system on October 1, 2013.

Therefore, if you are applying to be rated for the first time under the 3-Star system, your application will need to be received by July 31, 2013.

We encourage you to work with your local child care resource and referral agency (www.occrra.org) to ensure your program is fully prepared to submit your application to be rated. If you are interested in applying under the new 5-Star system please visit www.earlychildhoodohio.org to view information regarding the 5-star system and to register for information sessions in your area which will provide an overview of the new 5-Star program standards. Programs that are not currently rated will be able to submit their application to be rated under the 5-star system on October 1, 2013. If currently rated programs have questions regarding this transition or your renewal, please contact your Step Up To Quality Licensing Specialist.

	Child Abuse Training...Communicable Disease....First Aid and CPR

	Need training on Child Abuse...Communicable Diseases...First & CPR? The Child Care Resource Center is offering the 6-hour and 3-hour review classes for all of these for you. If you need them before the end of 2013, make sure you sign up for these trainings now. We will not offer them again until 2014.

	State Funds Lorain County RSG Pilot in New Budget

	A local idea that pairs Elyria Schools with preschool programs to craft a standardized preschool curriculum is getting state recognition in the form of money in the biennial budget. Ready, Set, Go...to Kindergarten is a partnership between the Elyria City Schools and Horizon Education Centers. "According to David Smith, executive director of Horizon Education Centers, The RSG program has already helped almost 700 at-risk preschoolers and with these funds we will be able to provide more direct support to children during the pilot. Armed with more data and success from the pilot, we hope to expand RSG to other high-risk school districts". Ohio's state biennial budget provides for $50,000 each year for the partnership.

State Funds Lorain County RSG Pilot in New Budget