Providers

APRIL 6, 2020 5:00PM UPDATE

Important Message from the Early Learning Coalition of Brevard County:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
 
April 6, 2020
5:00 p.m.
 
Dear Early Learning Providers,
 
The Florida Chamber is hosting a webinar tomorrow regarding resources for small businesses. The link to register is below. Time: Apr 7, 2020 11:30 AM in Eastern Time (US and Canada) REMINDER: You must register for this event
 
Topic:  Small Business Council Webinar - How to Apply for Financing - Your Questions Answered
Description: Join the Florida Chamber Small Business Council for a webinar featuring SBA Region IV Administrator Ashley Bell and SBA lenders as we answer your questions on the Economic Injury Disaster Loan, Paycheck Protection Program and other financing.
Time: Apr 7, 2020 11:30 AM in Eastern Time (US and Canada) REMINDER: You must register for this event
This could be a good opportunity for providers to hear of available options to protect the future of their businesses.

Stay Well,
Laura Gambino
Executive Director
 
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Important Message from the Early Learning Coalition of Brevard County:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
 
April 6, 2020
10:00 a.m.
 
Dear Early Learning Providers,
 
With over 30 states implementing stay-at-home orders, childcare is a central concern for many working parents, especially in essential industries, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation is committed to helping the childcare industry weather this storm. 
 
To provide more information for childcare businesses struggling to stay afloat, the Chamber Foundation will host a webinar on Monday, April 6 to discuss COVID-19's impact on the childcare industry, the federal legislative response, resources available to small businesses, recommendations on how childcare providers can leverage loan programs, and more.  
 
Below is the link to the website. You must register for the event.
 
https://www.uschamberfoundation.org/event/federal-resources-early-childhood-education
 
 
Stay Well
 
Laura Gambino
Executive Director
 

APRIL 1st UPDATE

Important Message from the Early Learning Coalition of Brevard County:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
 
April 1, 2020
2:00 p.m. 
 
Dear Early Learning Partners:
 
The Paycheck Protection Program prioritizes millions of Americans employed by small businesses by authorizing up to $349 billion toward job retention and certain other expenses.
 
Small businesses and eligible nonprofit organizations, Veterans organizations, and Tribal businesses described in the Small Business Act, as well as individuals who are self-employed or are independent contractors, are eligible if they also meet program size standards.
 
• For a top-line overview of the program CLICK HERE 
• If you’re a lender, more information can be found HERE 
• If you’re a borrower, more information can be found HERE 
• The application for borrowers can be found HERE 
 
U.S. Treasury Department 
Office of Public Affairs
 
Press Release: March 31, 2020
Contact: Treasury Public Affairs, (202) 622-2960
 
With $349 Billion in Emergency Small Business Capital Cleared, Treasury and SBA Begin Unprecedented Public-Private Mobilization Effort to Distribute Funds
 
WASHINGTON – Following President Trump’s signing of the historic Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza and Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin today announced that the SBA and Treasury Department have initiated a robust mobilization effort of banks and other lending institutions to provide small businesses with the capital they need. 
 
The CARES Act establishes a new $349 billion Paycheck Protection Program. The Program will provide much-needed relief to millions of small businesses so they can sustain their businesses and keep their workers employed. 
 
“This legislation provides small business job retention loans to provide eight weeks of payroll and certain overhead to keep workers employed,” said Secretary Mnuchin. “Treasury and the Small Business Administration expect to have this program up and running by April 3rd so that businesses can go to a participating SBA 7(a) lender, bank, or credit union, apply for a loan, and be approved on the same day. The loans will be forgiven as long as the funds are used to keep employees on the payroll and for certain other expenses.”
 
“This unprecedented public-private partnership is going to assist small businesses with accessing capital quickly. Our goal is to position lenders as the single point-of-contact for small businesses – the application, loan processing, and disbursement of funds will all be administered at the community level,” said Administrator Carranza. “Speed is the operative word; applications for the emergency capital can begin as early as this week, with lenders using their own systems and processes to make these loans. We remain committed to supporting our nation’s more than 30 million small businesses and their employees, so that they can continue to be the fuel for our nation’s economic engine.” 
 
The new loan program will help small businesses with their payroll and other business operating expenses. It will provide critical capital to businesses without collateral requirements, personal guarantees, or SBA fees – all with a 100% guarantee from SBA. All loan payments will be deferred for six months. Most importantly, the SBA will forgive the portion of the loan proceeds that are used to cover the first eight weeks of payroll costs, rent, utilities, and mortgage interest.
 
The Paycheck Protection Program is specifically designed to help small businesses keep their workforce employed. Visit SBA.gov/Coronavirus for more information on the Paycheck Protection Program. 
• The new loan program will be available retroactive from Feb. 15, 2020, so employers can rehire their recently laid-off employees through June 30, 2020.
 
Loan Terms & Conditions
• Eligible businesses: All businesses, including non-profits, Veterans organizations, Tribal concerns, sole proprietorships, self-employed individuals, and independent contractors, with 500 or fewer employees, or no greater than the number of employees set by the SBA as the size standard for certain industries
• Maximum loan amount up to $10 million
• Loan forgiveness if proceeds used for payroll costs and other designated business operating expenses in the 8 weeks following the date of loan origination (due to likely high subscription, it is anticipated that not more than 25% of the forgiven amount may be for non-payroll costs)
• All loans under this program will have the following identical features:
• Interest rate of 0.5% 
• Maturity of 2 years 
• First payment deferred for six months 
• 100% guarantee by SBA
• No collateral
• No personal guarantees
• No borrower or lender fees payable to SBA
 
Visit treasury.gov/cares  for more information on SBA’s assistance to small businesses. 
 
####
 
Stay Well,
 
Laura Gambino
Executive Director
 

MARCH 30th UPDATE

Important Message from the Early Learning Coalition of Brevard County:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
March 30, 2020
3:30 p.m.

Dear Early Learning Community;
 
Please see the  information below that OEL sent us on Friday. We will do our best to answer questions and address this new information at tomorrow’s Town Hall meeting. 

EFS Modernization Guidance for COVID-19 
As of March 27, 2020 
 
Providers 
1. For the SR Program, mark absences for open days in the Provider Services Portal per usual. For absences related to COVID-19, choose the “Absence due to Disaster” reason; comments and a document are not required. Then, submit the completed attendance roster to the early learning coalition in April. 

2. For the VPK Program, mark absences for open days in the Provider Services Portal per usual and submit the completed attendance roster to the early learning coalition in April. 

3. Communicate with your early learning coalition to inform them of any temporary closures that occurred in March before attendance is submitted. 

4. Don’t change your 2019-2020 provider profile “Closures Calendar” tab due to COVID-19. Temporary closures outside of your normal operating business hours and dates should be communicated to your early learning coalition. All absences and temporary closures in March 2020 will be paid. 

5. Don’t change your 2019 VPK Provider Application class calendar due to COVID-19 at this time. All absences and temporary closures in March 2020 will be paid. 

6. Expect additional guidance regarding 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 SR contracts. In the meantime, continue efforts to complete your 2020-2021 provider profile in the Provider Services Portal and submit for approval. 

7. Continue efforts to complete your 2020-2021 VPK Provider Application and VPK-20 Statewide Contract in the Provider Services Portal and submit for approval. 

8. Don’t collect parent copayments beginning April 1, 2020. 

Stay Well,
Laura Gambino
Executive Director

MARCH 26 UPDATE

NEW:   Child Care Aware Updates
 
 

March 25 Update

Important Message from the Early Learning Coalition of Brevard County:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
 
March 25, 2020
4:30 p.m.
 
 
Dear Early Learning Community;
 
We will keep this message short as we know everyone is getting information from so many sources.  Thank you for participating in the Town Hall Zoom meeting this past Monday.  We sent out questions that were captured and are continuing to record ideas and questions daily.  
 
I wanted to let you know we are working hard on a program to assist with undue financial hardship, closures and losses. And we are continuing to monitor and gather data from our state-wide association and OEL for specific guidelines and effective dates.  Please keep watching emails and check our website for information and updates as well – www.elcbrevard.org.  And, as always, email or call us with any questions. 
 
Below are some helpful resources from various organizations to help our educators and families stay healthy and informed during COVID-19. We will continue to update this list as we receive additional information.
 
Appreciate everyone’s commitment and dedication to the children of Brevard county. 
 
Laura Gambino
Executive Director
 
• PBS Kids - Hang out with your favorite characters all while learning. 
• Coronavirus (COVID-19): How to Talk to Your Child (kidshealth.org) 
• Managing Stress and Anxiety When Navigating a Health Crisis (CDC) 
• What You Need to Know About COVID -19 in Florida (Florida Health) 
 

March 20 Update: Resources for Providers

Resources for the Coronavirus
Resources for Families

March 19 UPDATE:

Important Message from the Early Learning Coalition of Brevard County:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
March 19, 2020
Update 10:30 am
 
Dear Providers:
Thank you for all your patience during this tough time.  We know there are a lot of questions and a need for more specific information regarding closures and operations.  Please know we are working very hard to get, gather and disseminate the information as fast we get it and we, too, are asking for specifics on your behalf.  Below is the most up-to-date information the ELC’s have received from the Office of Early Learning to providers:

***Providers will be paid/reimbursed VPK and SR for additional absences of active enrollments or temporary closures due to COVID-10.  This is supported by Governor and Commissioner of Education. 
***EFS Mod team is working to make changes to implement these provisions (i.e., submission of provider attendance, eligibility redetermination timelines and notices, waiving of parent fees, etc.).
***Strongly encourage providers to adhere to the CDC’s guidance which limits gatherings of students and employees to no more than 10 people in an occupied space.  This is a tough decision for child care operators and DCF is working on this question about age groupings. 
***An Executive Order is expected today or tomorrow that will have specifics related to SR and VPK programs as well as guiding principles that support families, teachers and providers. 

We will continue to send updates daily and respond to your calls and emails in a timely fashion.  
 
Thanks – Laura Gambino, Executive Director 

Important Message from the Early Learning Coalition of Brevard County: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

Dear Early Learning Provider, 
 
At a time when information is vital to operations, we believe it is best to share what we have, when we have it. 
 
Shortly after Governor DeSantis held a press conference, we had a call with Dr. Eric Hall, Chancellor for Innovation at Department of Education, and Shan Goff, the Executive Director of the Office of Early Learning. 
 
In short, support is coming. 
 
Here's what we know as of right now: 
• VPK and School Readiness will be reimbursed regardless of attendance or school closure. 
• There is a plan to suspend School Readiness and VPK Assessments. 
• Schools/Programs are free to make the individual decision to stay open or close. 
• Here is a decision tree to help review the considerations for school closure written by the Centers for Disease Control. Click here. 
 
 
For programs that choose to stay open and can continue to be a community resource, we encourage you to continue to take all steps necessary to ensure the highest level of cleanliness and sanitation is maintained. 
 
As more details are shared, we will continue to update you. 
 

Spotlights

FSU Center Launches Certification for Early Childhood Educators

  
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

NEW CHILD DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENING

Please click on the link below for additional guidance about how families can complete their child's developmental screening.