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Recognition
ECE Recognition Program
Florida’s HEROs ECE Recognition is a voluntary recognition program. It is open to all early care and education centers in Florida that are licensed by the Florida Department of Children and Families. This program recognizes ECE centers for integrating the following best practices:
- Provide Healthy Food
- Offer Healthy Beverages
- Support Breastfeeding
- Increase Physical Activity
- Limit Screen Time
ECE providers play a vital role in the development of our state’s children. The goal of the recognition is for Early Care and Education (ECE) providers to take proactive, voluntary steps to improve their program’s practices and policies related to encouraging healthy behaviors among the children and families they serve. Implementation of best practices in the ECE setting will pave the way for healthy lifestyle choices in youth, continuing into adulthood. Join ECE providers across Florida in the movement to integrate best practices focused on physical activity and nutrition into their programs.
Application Requirements
- The ECE must be a Florida licensed/registered early care and education (ECE) program. This includes those programs that are center-based (to include multi-site programs), family child care homes, and/or early head start/head start programs (to include grantees with multiple site locations).
- The ECE program director must complete the required trainings outlined in the application.
- The recognition application must be completed in its entirety and include supporting documentation such as photos or policies.
Recognition Program Incentives
Opportunities for CEUs
Kaplan Monetary Award
Marketing Materials
Technical Assistance
If you are the director or provider at a Florida Early Care and Education (ECE) program, we want to support you on your journey towards providing a healthier environment for the children and families you serve. We work with stakeholders across the state to provide free technical assistance and trainings that will prepare your program to apply for the recognition. Technical assistance is optional and can be accessed by submitting an interest form using the link below. Once your interest form is submitted, you will be connected with one of the technical assistance consultants listed below. Our technical assistance consultants will help you assess which FL HEROs best practices you are meeting and create action steps to improve best practices you do not meet through the Go NAPSACC website. Go NAPSACC is a set of easy-to-use online tools and an online library of helpful videos, activities, and flyers.
Certified Go NAPSACC Technical Assistance Consultants
Name | Organization | County | |
| Alexis Fedrick | Alexis.Fedrick@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health in Hernando County | Hernando |
| Amanda Evans | amanda.evans@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health in Health Lee County | Lee |
| Amy Daneman | amy.daneman@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County | Sarasota |
| Anastasia Peele | anastasia.peele@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health in Manatee County | Manatee |
| Andrea May | andrea.may@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health in Hendry and Glades County | Hendry, Glades |
| Anushka Banerjee | Anushka.Banerjee@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health in Alachua County | Alachua |
| Ashley Niederriter | ashley.niederriter@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health in St. Johns County | St. Johns |
| Ashley Thomas | ashley.thomas@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health in Hernando County | Hernando |
| Candice S. Roberson | candice.roberson@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health in Osceola County | Osceola |
| Carmen M. Hernandez | Carmen.Hernandez@FLHealth.gov | Florida Department of Health in Citrus County | Citrus |
| Carol Kazounis | Carol.kazounis@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health in Putnam County | Putnam |
| Caroline Bartha | caroline.bartha@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health in Broward County | Broward |
| Catherine Hart | maryhart@ufl.edu | University of Florida IFAS Extension Family Nutrition Program | Clay, Duval, Nassau |
| Chelsea Marshall-Hirvela | camhirvela@ufl.edu | University of Florida IFAS Extension Family Nutrition Program | Calhoun, Franklin, Gulf, Leon, Liberty, Wakulla, Santa Rosa |
| Debbie Walter | debrah.walter@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health in Lake County | Lake |
| Eleanor Hoffman | Eleanor.Hoffman@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health in Putnam County | Putnam |
| Emily Grant | emily.grant@ufl.edu | University of Florida IFAS Extension Family Nutrition Program | DeSoto, Hardee, Manatee, Sarasota |
| Erica Kammer | Erica.Kammer@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health in Duval County | Duval |
| Esther Rowan | esther.rowan@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health in Gadsden County | Gadsen |
| Ethel Smith | ethel.smith@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health in Seminole County | Seminole |
| Frankie Walker | Frankie.Walker@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health in Escambia County | Escambia |
| Gloria Wright | g.wright@ufl.edu | University of Florida IFAS Extension Family Nutrition Program | Broward, Martin, Palm Beach, St. Lucie |
| Hillary Miller | hilmil@ifas.ufl.edu | University of Florida IFAS Extension Family Nutrition Program | Pasco, Pinellas |
| Inez Williams | Inez.williams@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County | Palm Beach |
| James Bolger Hemingway Jr | James.Hemingway@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health inf Charlotte County | Charlotte |
| Jasmine Selph | jasmine.selph@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County | Okaloosa |
| Jason Barela | jason.barela@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health in St. Lucie County | St. Lucie |
| Jeannie M. Necessary | jnecessary@ufl.edu | University of Florida IFAS Extension Family Nutrition Program | Statewide |
| Jennifer Jordan | jennifer.jordan@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health in Walton County | Walton |
| Jennifer Lefelar | jennifer.lefelar@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health in Monroe County | Monroe |
| Jennifer N Waskovich | jennifer.waskovich@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County | Hillsborough |
| Jessie Driggers | jessie.driggers@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health Marion County | Marion |
| Jill Taufer | jill.taufer@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health in Volusia County | Volusia |
| Joanna Morillo | joanna.morillo@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County | Hillsborough |
| Josette Sykes | josette.sykes@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health Osceola County | Osceola |
| Joshua Tait | joshua.tait@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County | Hillsborough |
| Kathleen Morales Perez | kmoralesperez@ufl.edu | University of Florida IFAS Extension Family Nutrition Program | Charlotte, Collier, Lee |
| Katrice Davis | Katrice.Davis@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health in Jackson County | Jackson |
| Kelly Wilson | kelly.wilson@ufl.edu | University of Florida IFAS Extension Family Nutrition Program | Charlotte, Collier, Lee |
| Kenice Taylor | Kenice.taylor@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health in Nassau County | Nassau |
| Kiarabet Quintana | kiarabet.quintana-ramos@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health in Brevard County | Brevard |
| Kourtney Oliver | kourtney.oliver@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health in Alachua County | Alachua |
| Kristian Angelica Emamdie | Kristian.Emamdie@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health | |
| Leigh Miles | leigh.miles@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health in Leon County | Leon |
| Lora Howell | lora.howell@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health in Jackson County | Jackson |
| Mandy Chan | mandy.chan@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County | Hillsborough |
| Martine Young | martine.young@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health in Taylor County | Taylor |
| Mary Catherine ‘Molly’ Steinwald | mary.steinwald@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health in Indian River County | Indian River |
| Mary Kauffman | mary.kauffman@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health in Flagler County | Flagler |
| Marybeth Pena | Marybeth.Pena@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health in Health Martin County | Martin |
| Melody Coggin | melody.coggin@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health in Baker County | Baker |
| Paige Wesley | paige.wesley@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health in Manatee County | Manatee |
| Pam Crain | pamela.crain@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health in Highlands County | Highlands |
| Patrick Zayas | pazayas@ufl.edu | University of Florida IFAS Extension Family Nutrition Program | Orange, Osceola, Volusia |
| Patsy Lindo-Wood | patsy.lindo-wood@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health in Martin County | Martin |
| Peace Nwagbo | pnwagbo@ufl.edu | University of Florida IFAS Extension Family Nutrition Program | Miami-Dade |
| Petra Maddens | petra.maddens@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health | Okaloosa |
| Phillip Carter | phillip.carter@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health | |
| Rob Thomas | Robert.Thomas@FLHealth.gov | Florida Department of Health Sarasota County | Sarasota |
| Shanecia Williams | shanecia.williams@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health in Clay County | Clay |
| Sonja Davis | Sonja.Davis2@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County | Pinella |
| Sydney Harper | sydney.harper@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County | Okaloosa |
| Tara Gage | tgage@ufl.edu | University of Florida IFAS Extension Family Nutrition Program | DeSoto, Hardee, Manatee |
| Tatiyana Badal | tatiyana.badal@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health in Pasco County | Pasco |
| Tiffany Torres | tiffany@agtag.org | Florida Ag. In the Classroom | Statewide (Farm 2 ECE Focus) |
| Tracy Toms | tracy.toms@flhealth.gov | Florida Department of Health in Union County | Union |
Frequently Asked Questions
General
Any licensed early care education center or family home/large family home center can apply for recognition.
ECEs must complete all sections of the application. If the application requirement does not relate to their center, centers should indicate this by selecting the age groups they serve in the program information section of the application. ECEs will not be scored based on sections that are not applicable to their site.
The recognition is valid for two years.
The requirements for the FL HEROs recognition program are updated regularly to stay up-to-date with current industry best practices and guidance from the FL HEROs Stakeholder Committee. Therefore, recognition criteria may be revised prior to recertification. To recertify, please submit the most up-to-date FL HEROs Application with supporting documentation from the past 12 months and associated staff training certificates.
There are a number of benefits to becoming recognized.
- Implementing best practices helps create a healthier environment for the children your facility serves.
- All centers that apply for the recognition program have access to free trainings that provide continuing education units for staff.
- Recognized ECE programs are eligible for Kaplan monetary incentives.
- Recognized centers receive marketing materials to display at their center.
- Recognized ECE programs are featured on the ECEs4HealthyKids.org statewide website.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. All applications are reviewed 3-4 weeks after initial submission.
COVID-19 Modifications
The in-person UF/IFAS Healthy Kids Healthy Future Workshop is currently being offered virtually, Go NAPSACC offers on-demand trainings for each best practice, and the ABCs of a Healthy Me Training is a self-paced online training.
We understand that things have changed or been adapted due to COVID, so we are committed to making this process as convenient as possible for ECEs during this time. Since the recognition is good for 2-years, it will be best to use pre-COVID practices. However, if it is not an additional burden, it would be beneficial if ECE providers can highlight which best practices have been adapted or put on hold due to COVID-19 by making an addendum to their policy or sharing how this update was shared with a parent.
- For example, during a recent virtual conference, other states shared how ECE providers have shifted to individual self-serve options to promote motor skills development and maintain some of the family–style dining elements.
A live, virtual workshop or class for parents on a particular topic, with flyers, event announcements, or handouts that display the topic and credentials/title of the presenter. Flyers, newsletters, emails, or handouts to parents with information or resources about any of the five best practices from credible topic experts at government agencies, educational institutes, or health foundations.
- This benchmark has not been modified due to COVID-19. The FL HEROs Benchmarks were developed based on the Preventing Childhood Obesity in ECE Program 3rd Edition Guidelines, which is a component of the Caring for Our Children National Guidelines. These national guidelines state that child care centers should limit educational screen time to 30 minutes per week of commercial-free programming, teachers should supervise this screen time, and teachers should always talk with students about what they are seeing during screen time. If this is typically the case we ask that a policy addendum be attached that reflects the typical policy and how it had been changed due to COVID-19.
- We also understand from our calls with ECE programs that some preschoolers may be getting closer to 150 minutes per week or 30 minutes per day of screen time due to testing and literacy requirements and that some are offering Pre-K virtually. We will discuss this with our stakeholder committee to see if modifications or exceptions are needed.
Training Requirements
ECE providers can participate in the six-session ABCs of a Healthy Me Training or connect with a certified Go NAPSACC Consultant to access FREE on-demand trainings, which both qualify for the pre-requisite training requirements.
Yes, as long as centers are licensed once they apply for the recognition they can begin the training process.
The “director position” at each site is the person that oversees the operation of the child care program and providers staff trainings. Please contact FloridasHEROs@gmail.com if your program structure would require someone else to take the training in place of the director. A lead teacher is considered the main teacher the plans lessons for a class and directs classroom activities of each classroom. If your program’s structure does not have a lead teacher the training requirement applies to all classroom staff.
The in-person UF/IFAS Healthy Kids Healthy Future Workshop is currently being offered virtually, Go NAPSACC offers on-demand trainings for each best practice, and the ABCs of a Healthy Me Training is a self-paced online training.
ABCs of a Healthy Me training reports are reviewed on a monthly basis. If you completed the last quiz of each session you will be emailed a certificate of completion for the sessions you completed. Once you have completed all SIX sessions, your information will be sent to Palm Beach State College’s Institute of Excellence in Early Care and Education and you will be awarded one free corporate & continuing education childcare. You will be mailed a physical CEU certificate to the mailing address you reported on the last question of each training video. If you have any questions, concerns, or need to update your mainlining address please contact FloridasHEROs@gmail.com.
- Note: In 2020 we had a glitch and a few of our training reports were being sent to our training developer and were not captured in our records. Therefore anyone who completed the training in 2020, but did not receive an email please contact us.
Multi-Site Applications
If you are applying as a center that has multiple locations, only one application that lists all locations is required. All site locations must meet the criteria you are applying for, and supporting documentation must be submitted for each site.
Documentation that is used across all sites such as policies, curriculum, monthly menus, parent handbooks, and parent handouts can be included once. Site-specific photos or parent engagement workshop flyers and sign-in sheets must be included for each site.
Yes each site will be eligible for a recognition certificate, Kaplan credits and will be listed on the FL HEROs website
Best Practice & Supporting DOcs
Early care and education centers must complete all sections of the application. If the application requirement does not relate to their center, centers should indicate this on the application.
ECEs programs can use resources and information about any of the five best practices from credible topic experts at government agencies, educational institutes, or health foundations.
Requirements are prorated for programs that are part-time (less than 8 Hours) programs. Both the full-time and part-time program should meet best practice requirements