New Timeframes for Licensing & POC Webinars Announced

Recently the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) issued a bulletin regarding timeframes for child care provider licensing effective October 1, 2019.

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This bulletin provides guidance and a consistent timeline for steps in the licensing process, including: issuing licensing inspection summaries and receiving; reviewing and approving plans of correction; and direction to licensed entities on how plans of correction will be verified.

Plan of Correction

To prepare for the upcoming licensing changes, training is available for all DHS-licensed child care providers on completing a Plan of Correction (POC). It is recommended that center and program staff who are repsonsible for completing the POCs attend one of the following webinars. The webinars are free and last approximately one hour.

• Tuesday, July 23
  11:00 a.m. - Noon

• Wednesday, July 24
  10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
  1:30 - 2:30 p.m.

• Thursday, July 25
  9:30 - 10:30 a.m.

To register for a POC webinar, visit this website and choose one session. Once registered, a link to connect to the webinar will be e-mailed. Spaces are limited and offered first-come, first-served. If providers are unable to attend one of these trainings, a self-paced format will be offered in late July 2019.

Ensuring Quality

Licensed providers play a critical role in providing services to individuals with varying needs and in different settings across the Commonwealth. Through this guidance and the upcoming training for providers on developing a plan of correction, OCDEL is trying to ensure that providers are able to implement these changes in a timely manner to achieve ongoing and independent regulatory compliance. By meeting this compliance, Pennsylvania child care providers can better ensure the safety and well-being of the young children in their care.