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EEC to roll out family portal MyChildCareMA and unify educator tools with new StrongStart LMS
Summary
EEC announced a phased public launch of the family portal (branded MyChildCareMA) to migrate the waitlist and a plan to integrate a new StrongStart learning management system into a professional portal for educators; staff outlined training, multilingual access, and planned timelines in May and early April for vendor work.
EEC staff told the joint Workforce and Advisory councils that the agency will begin a phased public rollout of its family portal, branded MyChildCareMA, in early to mid‑May to allow families to self‑register on the waitlist, provide multilingual access and start application intake. Jesse Murray, EEC’s chief product officer, said the first release will migrate the existing waitlist and enable families to provide application information in a mobile‑friendly system; eligibility determination and referral tools will follow in later releases.
‘‘The first piece of our functionality that will be available to the public is scheduled for early mid‑May,’’ Murray said, adding that internal deadlines currently point to May 6 for an initial release and that subsequent releases will address eligibility workflows and referrals from DTA or DCF.
Separately, EEC staff described the professional portal (formerly the educator portal) and plans to integrate a new StrongStart learning management system so certification records, training completions and registry functions are accessed through a unified login. Joselyn (project staff) said the new LMS will be rolled out in phases so certifications and course histories from older systems travel to the new accounts and programs eventually can roster educators and access staff records.
Officials cautioned that the transition will be complex because multiple systems must interoperate and training for family access administrators and program staff is required. They said vendor work on the new LMS is expected to be complete in early April and that additional phases through the year will bring in registry functionality and credential supports.
Staff asked for patience during the migration and noted planned communication and training sessions. They also said program accounts will be connected to educator accounts over the next two to three years to enable rosters and employer support features. The agency plans outreach and documentation for users and a dedicated navigator role for the business front door to help close feedback loops on applicants and providers.
