Upcoming Events
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In-Person.
Hybrid.
Welcome to Iowa Child Care Connect
Child Care Connect (C3) is Iowa’s integrated solution to understanding near real-time child care availability from providers and demand from Iowa families. Join us to hear from the state, university, and partners on how they made this vision a reality.
You can see the system in action here: https://childcareconnect.iowa.gov/
Speakers: Adam Lucas, Technology Consultant, Opportunities Exchange; Wendy Hoogoveen, Child Care Policy Bureau Chief and CCDF State Administrator, Iowa Department of Health and Human Services; Tami Foley, Policy Program Planner, Division of Family Well Being and Protection, Child Care Bureau, Iowa Department of Health and Human Services; Heather Rouse, Associate Professor of Iowa State University, Director of Iowa's Integrated Data System for Decision Making (I2D2) and Amy Smigelski, Senior Consultant, Resultant
Thursday | December 5, 2024 | 12:30pm-1:30pm EST | 11:30am-12:30pm CST
Register HERE
2024 Shared Services Technical Conference
Connect the Dots
The early care and education system in the U.S. is in a pivotal moment. New resources are urgently needed, but far too many opportunities are missed when we fail to harness the power of modern technology, re-think the traditional business model and leverage existing resources in powerful and innovative ways. This conference will highlight what’s possible when we make critical connections to create a “greater whole”.
Health Insurance for the Early Childhood Workforce: Strategies for Leveraging the Affordable Care Act and More
Join us for this discussion of Opportunities Exchange most recent Issue Brief to explore how the early childhood workforce can leverage the Affordable Care Act resources to catalyze change in the child care sector, and ensure that all ECE educators have health insurance and access to benefits that support their well-being. Tuesday, August 13, from 12-1 (EDT)
Hosted by:
Sharon Easterling, Opportunities Exchange
Ashley LiBetti, Pillars Research and Strategy
Second Annual MONTANA CHILD CARE BUSINESS CONNECT SUMMIT (MCCBC)
Johanna Borden and Karla Houghtalin will present at the Montana Child Care Business Connect Summit in Helena Montana on August 7-8, 2024.
At the summit, providers can network with fellow professionals, learn from industry experts, and gain valuable insights into the latest trends and best practices. Through engaging workshops and panel discussions, attendees can deepen their knowledge, expand their skills, and discover innovative strategies to enhance the quality of care they provide.
But the summit is not just about professional development—it’s about fostering a sense of community and collaboration. We believe that by bringing together individuals from different backgrounds and areas of expertise, we can create a collective impact that positively influences the future of child care in Montana.
Delta Hotels by Marriot (Helena Colonial)
2301 Colonial Drive
Helena, MT 59601
PH: 406-443-2100
State and Territory Child Care Administrators Meeting (STAM)
Adam Lucas and Johanna Borden will be at the 2024 State and Territory Child Care Administrators Meeting (STAM) at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Reston VA on July 30—August 1, 2024. Registration for this event is free. Adam and Johanna are available for one-on-one meetings while in attendance, so don’t hesitate to reach out if you want to touch base.
The Office of Child Care’s (OCC) annual State and Territory CCDF Administrators Meeting (STAM 2024) will take place from Tuesday, July 30, through Thursday, August 1, 2024. Note: An invitation-only Territory Administrators meeting will take place on Friday, August 2nd. Each State or Territory are invited to bring a team of five attendees; please do not make travel arrangements for additional attendees until you have approvals from OCC.
STAM will take place at the Hyatt Regency Reston in Reston, Virginia. We strongly recommend that you fly into Dulles International Airport (IAD), which is located within 15 minutes of the hotel.
Virtual participation options will be available for those participants unable to attend in person. When completing your registration, please make sure to select whether you will be attending in person or will be participating virtually.
Hyatt Regency Reston
1800 Presidents Street
Reston, VA 20190
National Child Care Innovation Summit
Louise Stoney is excited to be a speaker at the first-of-its-kind National Child Care Innovation Summit, presented in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. This groundbreaking summit will bring together leaders from the public and private sector to discuss the vital role of child care for U.S. economic competitiveness.
The event will spotlight the need for investment in child care and explore child care solutions, including creative care models and policies, emerging employer approaches, and dynamic public-private partnerships aimed at tackling the child care crisis head-on.
This summit will inspire action from the private sector as a partner and force multiplier to the public sector, and drive state and local policy initiatives that promote child care as a vital component of a thriving workforce and strong economic infrastructure.
Note: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation will host a separate reception for all attendees immediately following the event.
The Great Hall at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
1615 H St NW
Washington, D.C. 20062
FamTech Presents: Tech-Driven Transformation in Early Childhood Education: A Roadmap to State Partnerships
Unlock the secrets of partnering with state governments at our next FamTech Virtual Event, featuring Louise Stoney, Co-founder of Opportunities Exchange.
Discover how their groundbreaking partnership with Iowa is transforming the early education and care technology landscape. Gain meaningful insights into understanding a state’s unique context and mindset, identifying entry points, and perfecting pitches for this specific audience.
Please save the date + time!
Thursday | April 11, 2024 | 3:00-4pm EST | 12pm-1:00pm PST
Register below (Promo Code: FamTechMember)
Slide presentation will be available at OppEx.org following the session.
Measuring What Matters: Impact Data Collection in Wisconsin's Shared Services Network
This webinar, offered in collaboration with the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association and Luminary Evaluation, explores the relationship between program implementation and data collection and how the two can be pursued simultaneously. Attendees will learn about the Wisconsin Early Education Shared Services Network's (WEESSN) unique, data-driven approach, including the evaluation design process, engaging business coaches as data collection partners, key evaluation findings, articulating program impact and opportunities, and plans for future enhancements.
Please save the date + time!
Thursday | February 22, 2024 | 1:00-2:30pm EST | 10am-11:30am PST
Presenters:
Alison LaRocca | Luminary Evaluation
Chanel Clark, Kelly Matthews, Paula Drew | Wisconsin Early Childhood Association (WECA)
Slide presentation will be available at OppEx.org following the session.
Retirement Savings for Early Childhood Educators: Shared Services Alliances/Networks Can Make it Happen
Retirement benefits are an important part of compensation, yet this benefit is rarely available in child care settings. Supporting retirement plans can expand the educator pipeline, increase educator retention and build individual wealth. They also provide an opportunity to leverage invested funds through a variety of business credits. Shared Service Alliances and other intermediaries can be key resources for providers to help them start retirement plans for their staff and for themselves. This webinar explores ideas and resources to help providers cost-effectively build their retirement savings.
Guest Presenter: Gary Romano, Civitas Strategies
Tuesday, April 4, 2023 2-3:30 (ET)
Beyond Wages and Benefits: What Makes Teachers Stay, Grow, and Thrive? (session 3 of 3)
Wages and benefits are necessary, but not sufficient, if we want a stable, qualified workforce with the ability to support children and families. What makes teachers feel empowered to engage in reflective practice and view themselves as the professional educators they are?
Tuesday, December 13 1-2:30 (ET)
Employee Benefits: A New Framework and Tools to Get us There (session 2 of 3)
Years of scarcity in ECE has created a sense of hopelessness about staff benefits, but the world has changed and quality, free or low-cost health insurance is now within reach of everyone who works in ECE. How can program leaders leverage this and other resources to change the script about benefits?
Tuesday, November 22 1-2:30 (ET)
Raising Wages in ECE: A Roadmap for Change (session 1 of 3)
Recruiting and Retaining a Qualified Workforce has always been a challenge in ECE, but the post-pandemic economy has brought us to a new level of urgency. The session will explore strategies, particularly those for which a Shared Service Alliance is most suited, for moving the needle on salaries and share examples of successful case studies.
Thursday, November 3 1-2:30 (ET)
How Minding the Business of Child Care can Increase Program Quality with Amy Friedlander of Opportunities Exchange
Child care owners/directors manage both business and educational matters. Using principles such as the Iron Triangle of ECE Finance and automating invoicing and collections, human resources management, compliance and other systems can assist busy owners/directors to focus on a few key business metrics and spend more of their time coaching teachers. Many automation tools support both “sides of the house”—with functionality around family engagement and communication, lesson planning supported by state standards, and other features. Through a deeper understanding of the ways that business and pedagogy impact one another and how systems can be aligned to support both areas, owners/directors can more intentionally focus on business as a means to program quality.
Re-invent vs Re-build: Let’s Fix the Child Care System with Louise Stoney of Opportunities Exchange
COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on the ECE sector. Ensuring that high-quality programs, especially those serving vulnerable children and families, not only survive, but thrive is crucial. This workshop will explore key lessons, identify action steps that could be game changers for the field, and outline how industry leaders can work with the public and private sector to champion a “Child Care Come-Back Plan”.
How Minding the Business of Child Care can Increase Program Quality with Amy Friedlander of Opportunities Exchange
Child care owners/directors manage both business and educational matters. Using principles such as the Iron Triangle of ECE Finance and automating invoicing and collections, human resources management, compliance and other systems can assist busy owners/directors to focus on a few key business metrics and spend more of their time coaching teachers. Many automation tools support both “sides of the house”—with functionality around family engagement and communication, lesson planning supported by state standards, and other features. Through a deeper understanding of the ways that business and pedagogy impact one another and how systems can be aligned to support both areas, owners/directors can more intentionally focus on business as a means to program quality.
Re-invent vs Re-build: Let’s Fix the Child Care System with Louise Stoney of Opportunities Exchange
COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on the ECE sector. Ensuring that high-quality programs, especially those serving vulnerable children and families, not only survive, but thrive is crucial. This workshop will explore key lessons, identify action steps that could be game changers for the field, and outline how industry leaders can work with the public and private sector to champion a “Child Care Come-Back Plan”.
Using Business Intelligence to Make Smart Decisions
Details coming soon.
Presenter: Virginia Marsh, Hampton Roads Small Business Development Center, Amy Friedlander, OppEx
NOTE: This session is open to all individuals who are registered for the 2022 Opportunities Exchange Conference. To learn more or register for the conference visit: Opportunities Exchange 2022 Conference.
To Register for this workshop, please contact: meredithpflora@gmail.com
All times are EST.
Teacher Compensation and More: Creating Great Work Environments in ECE
Recruiting early childhood teachers has always been challenging —but the "Great Resignation" has hit the ECE sector especially hard. In this session, OppEx's Louise Stoney interviews veteran leader Diane Price (Early Connections, CO) on staffing strategies that helped stabilize their program during the pandemic and reflects on innovative practices as we move forward.
Presenter: Diane Price, Early Connections, CO and Louise Stoney, OppEx
NOTE: This session is open to all individuals who are registered for the 2022 Opportunities Exchange Conference. To learn more or register for the conference visit: Opportunities Exchange 2022 Conference.
To Register for this workshop, please contact: meredithpflora@gmail.com
All times are EST.
Shared Leadership: Transforming the ECE Hierarchy
When an emergency sidelined Regional Director Lisa Polk, her agency faced a crisis of leadership. Was there a better way to grow leaders internally while stabilizing operations? Drawing on the principles of shared services, Lisa describes how they dismantled traditional organizational hierarchy to transform their leadership structure.
Presenter: Lisa Polk, Leapfrog Early Learning Academy, Union City GA
NOTE: This session is open to all individuals who are registered for the 2022 Opportunities Exchange Conference. To learn more or register for the conference visit: Opportunities Exchange 2022 Conference.
To Register for this workshop, please contact: meredithpflora@gmail.com
Beyond Business Training
We know that providers struggle to manage their businesses, but is training the answer? Come learn about how various regions are pairing training with software onboarding, business coaching and peer networking to better support provider business leadership.
NOTE: This session is open to all individuals who are registered for the 2022 Opportunities Exchange Conference. To learn more or register for the conference visit: Opportunities Exchange 2022 Conference
A New Day for Health Care for the ECE Workforce
There are new resources coming to the Early Care and Education sector in the wake of pandemic support and recovery. One important development is the significant increase in subsidies for the health insurance available through the Affordable Care Act Marketplace. Learn about this and other exciting resources that can ensure that no one who works in the child care sector needs to go without access to health care.
NOTE: This session is open to all individuals who are registered for the 2022 Opportunities Exchange Conference. To learn more or register for the conference visit: Opportunities Exchange 2022 Conference
A New Day for Health Care Options
Very few child care centers can afford to offer employee benefits like health insurance and retirement plans. This workshop will explore ways that recent investments from the American Rescue Plan Act and other pandemic recovery measures may be used to expand access to employee benefits. Strategies such as tapping the Affordable Care Act health care exchange, Health Savings Accounts, and Telehealth resources will be discussed. This workshop will also explore state level policy options for investing new federal dollars into staff compensation and benefits.
Learning Objectives:
ECE directors, owners and administrators will understand how they can offer employees affordable health care by accessing new resources made available by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) along with supplemental health care resources
Tech-Driven Transformation in Early Childhood Education: A Roadmap to State Partnerships
Unlock the secrets of partnering with state governments at our next FamTech Virtual Event, featuring Louise Stoney, Co-founder of Opportunities Exchange.
Discover how their groundbreaking partnership with Iowa is transforming the early education and care technology landscape. Gain meaningful insights into understanding a state’s unique context and mindset, identifying entry points, and perfecting pitches for this specific audience.