Updates from Northern Lights 

March 2016
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Get the latest news about professional development for early childhood and afterschool professionals in Vermont.


What's New?
On the Northern Lights website


 

* Fill-able Career Ladder Certificate applications

on the side bar of this page    HERE

Type and save, then print or send to the email at the top of the application page.  Don't forget to send your current IPDP and education documents too, if they are not already in your BFIS Credential Account.


 
How do I go from a CDA to college credit - and move up the Career Ladder?  

Learn about your options on the NEW page of our website HERE

 

New Online training available 

Early Sprouts has a new 6.5 hour module available fully online, called Active Play Everyday.  There are hundreds of on-line approved trainings!  Find the link to this and the other sponsors of online training, to meet your annual training hours HERE

 

Over 1300 Early Childhood Career Ladder
 certificates have been issued
Do you have one?
  • A Career Ladder Level Certificate recognizes YOU as a professional. 
  • You may earn a Recognition Bonus from the Child Development Division, after you earn your Career Ladder certificate.
  • Even if you have a degree in another field, you can use the credits you have earned to be recognized as an early childhood professional.
  • The Career Ladder describes a pathway for your ongoing success!
Learn all about it HERE

Can I take an online course
to become a Specialized Care Provider?
Here is the an swer to your question...





NO    You need to take the 6 hour, face to face, Basic Specialized Care training and meet other requirements to become a specialized child care provider.
YES  Once the Child Development Division recognizes your program as a Specialized Care Provider,  you may take online classes or courses to meet the advanced specialized care provider training requirements, which you need in order to maintain your status as a specialized care child care provider.  
 
An online course needs to meet 2 requirements to count as advanced specialized training:
a) either it is a college course or it is an online course sponsored by an organization Northern Lights has approved. See the list of approved online sponsors  HERE 
AND
b) the content is approved by your regional RDS or the CDD office to meet the advanced specialized care criteria.
 
P.S. Coming soon: a new fully online 2.5 hour mandated reporter training- with great information - free of charge!  This will help meet the requirement for all professionals who work with children and families and need this training.

Sign up now for the Spring or Summer Sessions
Are you in the Instructor Registry?  Do you want to be? 

Instructors in the Instructor Registry who have  not taught higher education coursework, need to have formal training in adult learning and instructional design. Northern Lights offers a 4 week, fully online training that meets this requirement. Cost is $50 and scholarships are available. 
Two sessions are planned: One begins March 21 and another May 2, 2016.
  • Get your name on the course list by completing the online survey HERE (HINT: look in the side bar for the link)
  • Priority goes to those in the Instructor Registry, or applying to join. Learn more HERE

Who do I call?
2-1-1   to reach the NEW Help me Grow phone line 

Help Me Grow Vermont  has Child Development Specialists on call to answer parent and caregiver questions about children's behavior and development. They can also  connect families to resources and services
in their community.  Reach Help Me Grow Vermont by dialing 2-1-1 between 9 a.m. - 6 p.m., Monday-Friday.  Contact Elizabeth Gilman at elizabeth@unitedwaysvt.org with questions or to receive informational posters for your school or program. 

 


What you said:
A Program Director learns about the Career Ladder



"I am actually pretty excited about helping the staff through this process (of getting their career ladder certificates), and I think it will give them another place to feel good about the hard, but satisfying, work they do every day ."



TS Gold Training is here again!
Introductory and Advanced

Introductory TS Gold 
These 12 hour training sessions are split into 2 days; you must attend BOTH days to complete the training. Space is limited to 25 per session. See the list below to register and click on the appropriate link.
 
RUTLAND - April 2nd (Howe Ctr, 1 Scale Avenue, Rutland) and April 9th (Rutland Regional Medical Ctr, 160 Allen Street, Rutland)
Instructor: Linda January; Register HERE
 
BARRE - March 14th &15th 2016 at Quality Inn, 173 South Main Street, Barre
Instructor: Linda January;  Register HERE
 
WHITE RIVER JUNCTION - April 23rd & 30th at Comfort Inn, 56 Ralph Lehman Drive, WRJ
Instructor: Linda January; Register HERE

 
TS Gold  - Step 2
If you have completed TS GOLD Introductory and have been working with TS GOLD for a year or more, you are eligible to take this training.  Training is  Saturday, March 5th from 8:30 - 3:30 at Lamoille South SU, Morrisville. Space is limited to 25.
Register   HERE