Monthly Minutes
December 2017
A Message from Child Care Aware of NH
Hello Providers,

We hope that you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your friends and families! December has finally arrived, and soon the hustle and bustle of the month will be upon us. Before it gets too busy, take a moment to look at what is happening at Child Care Aware of NH.

The Child Care Resource and Referral Outreach Specialists have been busy helping families find child care through visits to the District Offices, NH Employment Programs, Workplace Success Programs and general phone call inquiries. Meanwhile, they are diligently updating the database with program updates that are still coming in. There is a current need for infant care throughout the state, if your program has infant openings or is about to, please keep us informed. In addition, Child Care Resource and Referral Outreach Specialists have attended two events recently, the Baby and Mama Expo and an Adult Learning Center event to help promote our services and work with families that are need child care.

Our Training and TA Specialists are hard at work with individual programs that participated in the Progressive Training and TA Program. Check out our Facebook page, to see pictures of programs that have already completed their Progressive. Congratulations to all the folks who worked hard to finish their Progressive Program! Way to go! In addition to the work the Training and TA Specialists are doing with the Progressives, they are also working with team and individual providers who are taking advantage of the Credentialing Challenge. Keep getting those credentials in!

We have two events coming up. On December 9th, the Infant & Toddler Institute will be held in Concord. This is a full day event with Cheryl Hovey that focuses on infants & toddlers and how sensory challenges can be helped through nature. Please note that registration closes on December 6th at 4:30 pm. On January 27th, The Caring for Our Children: Health, Safety, Nutrition and Wellness conference will be held in Keene. Please see below for more details. You won't want to miss these training days!

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for everything you do for families and children. We hope that you enjoy this month's edition of Monthly Minutes. 
Our Latest News and Updates
Closed Monday, December 25th
CCAoNH will be closed on Monday, December 25th in observance of Christmas. We will reopen on Tuesday, December 26th with normal business hours.
What is NEW on CCAoNH's Website!
Get ready for some exciting changes coming soon!
We are about to add three new pages to the website. These pages are under the final steps of construction. There will be a Health and Safety Resource Page under the Provider tab, an Emergency Planning Page under the Provider and Family tabs, and a Wellness and Safety Page under Family Tab.
These pages will be live soon. Be on the lookout!

Coming In January...
Starting in January, there will be an employment opportunities page on the website. Programs can add employment opportunities and providers will be able to look for employment right on our website. This new edition will replace the Employment Opportunities section of our e-newsletters. There will be a how to guide in the December At-A-Glance e-newsletter to help Programs and Providers with this new exciting change.

Still more ...
Starting in January, CCAoNH will be changing the platform for Child Care Aware Training Academy. We will still link folks to the Smart Horizons platform that we were using; but now, we will also have a link to the new Child Care Aware Training Academy on the Cypherworx platform. While we are making the change, providers will not be able to purchase  new   training classes online through the Training Academy. However, if you already earned Training Academy credits or certificates on the Smart Horizons platform, not to worry—your credits on the old Training Academy platform will be honored and you will still be able to access your current trainings as well. If you have already purchased a course on Smart Horizons, you can finish the course or Child Care Aware® of America will help you find an equivalent course on Cypherworx, the new platform, at no extra charge. You can email them directly for hands-on support: learnmore@usa.childcareaware.org .
The Facebook Challenge is on!

Thank you to all the providers that went out and liked our Facebook Page after the Thanksgiving email last week. Our "like" numbers had a great boost and we are so close to winning the Facebook Challenge.

We have to reach 1000 likes.

Now, after your awesome support we are at 910 likes.
Help us get the last 90 likes. Tracy Pond has challenged us, we need to get there!
I know last week it was busy because of the holiday; but before the December rush comes, get on Facebook and like us...Probably, not while working :).

Remember that if you are the 1000th like,
you get free admittance into one of our conferences.

Don't miss your chance 'Like" us today!
Training Opportunites and Upcoming Events
The 2017-2018 Annual Training Calendar
The Annual Training Calendar is a great tool to plan for professional development. It shows all of the trainings that CCAoNH will host from September 2017- June 2018.
“Life is like a compass. When you set your goals correctly, it will take you to the RIGHT direction.” - Anonymous

Click here or on the cover to view the 2017-2018 Annual Training Calendar.
Infant & Toddler Institute
Hurry, Hurry...Registration closes on December 6th at 4:30 pm.
Don't miss out!

Saturday, December 9, 2017
8:30 AM – 3:00 PM

The Grappone Center
70 Constitution Avenue
Concord, NH 03301

Register through Eventbrite.
$50 - Registration fee includes training and lunch buffet.

Click here or on the flyer for a printable copy.
Caring for Our Children: Health, Safety, Nutrition and Wellness Conference in Keene
The conference brochure is almost ready!
Be on the lookout!

January 27, 2018
8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Keene State College
229 Main Street
Keene, NH 03543
Register for trainings with no cost on the NH Professional Registry by clicking on the "R" icon. 
Register for trainings with a cost through Eventbrite by clicking on the "E" icon.
Register for Live Webinars by clicking on the "W" icon.
Training Registration Policies

Individuals attending trainings offered through Child Care Aware of New Hampshire are expected to adhere to our registration policies. When you register for a training, you agree to follow the policies and procedures listed below, including but not limited to:
  • Registrants are required to arrive prior to the advertised start time of the training.
  • Training registration fees are non-refundable.
  • Training registrations are non-transferable.
  • Pre-registration is required. Participants must be enrolled.
  • A minimum of 10 registrants are required to hold a training.
  • Training registration is the 1st of each month.  
  • Child Care Aware of NH will be adding trainings taken through Eventbrite into the NH Professional Registry

For a complete list of our training and registration policies, please see pages 2-5 in the 2017-2018 Annual Training Calendar. Click on the button below to access the Annual Training Calendar.
Leadership Collaboratives
Leadership Collaboratives
Child Care Aware of NH offers collaborative meetings for Directors, Administrators, and other Early Childhood Leaders from September to June each year . These meetings are designed by each group in the region to reflect area needs and interests and to provide program leaders with Child Care Aware of NH program updates, essential local and state information, along with professional development opportunities. Registration can be completed online through the NH Professional Registry. The registration window does not need to be open for registration to begin. Information on topics and trainings being covered varies based on group interests. Please see below for topics, dates, times and location to find a meeting near you. 

1st Week of the Month

Greater Concord Collaborative
  • Wednesday, December 6th, 9:30-11:30 amGranite State College, 25 Hall Street, Concord, 03301, Topic: Learn and Share.

Eastern Monadnock Collaborative
  • Thursday, December 7th, 6:30-8:30 pm, Monadnock Community Hospital, Parmelee Building, Conference Room 3, 452 Old Street Road, Peterborough, 03458, Topic: The Foster Grandparent Program with guest speaker, Nancy Paul, from the Friends Program.

2nd Week of the Month

Greater Derry Collaborative
  • Wednesday, December 13th, 9:30-11:30 am, Marion Gerrish Community Center, 39 West Broadway, Derry, 03038, Topic: Prevention in Parental Support Services with guest speaker, Lisa Vasquez.

Greater Manchester Collaborative
  • Wednesday, December 6th, 9:30-11:30 am, Early Head Start, Conference Room, 160 Silver Street, Manchester, 03103, Topic: Who Am I Anyway? Helping Infants & Toddlers Develop an Understanding of Themselves and Others. *Please note date change due to host site availability.
Click here or on the NH Professional Registry icon to sign-up for a collaborative near you .

3rd Week of the Month 

Lakes Region Collaborative   
  • Tuesday, December 19th, 9:30-11:30 am, Lakes Region Community Services, 719 North Main Street, Laconia, 03246, Topic: Children's Literature and Library Engagement with Gail Drucker of Laconia Public Library.

Strafford Collaborative
  • Wednesday, December 20th, 9:30-11:30 am, Granite State College, 35 Industrial Way, Rochester, 03867, Topic: Labor Laws with Guest Speaker, Administrator Small.

Greater Nashua Collaborative
  • Thursday, December 21st, 9:30-11:30 am, Nashua Community College, Room 229, 505 Amherst Street, Nashua, 03063, Topic: Top 10 Labor Violations with NH Department of Labor's Administrator Small.

River Valley Collaborative
  • Thursday, December 21st, 6:30-8:30 pm, Moody Building, Second Floor Conference Room, 24 Opera House Square, Claremont, 03743, Topic: One-4-All Family Space with guest speaker Cathy Pellerin.

4th Week of the Month

North Country Collaborative
  • Tuesday, *December 19th, 1:30-3:30 pm, Passumpsic Bank, 117 Main StreetLancaster, 03584, Topic: Chapter 1 of the book Team Teaching in Early Childhood by Uniit Carruyo. * Date change due to holiday. New date for this month only is December 19th.

Western Monadnock Collaborative
  • Wednesday, November 15th, 9:30-11:30 am, Bentley Commons, 197 Water Street, Keene, 03431, Topic: Tuition Assistance Program and the new Infant & Toddler Certificate Program.

White Mountain Collaborative
  • Thursday, November 16th, 6:30-8:30 pm, Tri-Country CAP Building, 448 White Mountain Highway, Tamworth, 03886, Topic: Chapter 1 of the book Team Teaching in Early Childhood by Uniit Carruyo.
Resources to Share with Families
Have you checked out Vroom's Facebook Page?
Vroom's Facebook page is a great place to:
  • Get Vroom Activity Tips
  • Share your Vroom Story
  • Find out what other people are doing with Vroom
  • Watch the Vroom videos
  • Share as a resource with families
"Everyone has what it takes to be a brain builder!"
Check out thier website at: www.joinvroom.org
Check out thier Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/joinvroom/
December is Safe Toys and Gifts Month

Below is the link to the Safe Kids Worldwide Product Recall page.


Share this page with families so that they can stay up to date on current recalls.
December 6th is Mitten Tree Day!
Use this day to have some fun with the children in your program.
  1. Read a fun mitten story.
  2. Collect mittens for those in need.
  3. Do some mitten art-have children wear mittens while painting or better yet have them use mittens to apply paint.
  4. Have the children practice cutting out mittens.
  5. Play a matching mittens game.
Other Early Childhood News & Updates
The Quality Investment Initiative
Southern New Hampshire Quality Investment Initiative is back!
Click here or on the flyer for more details.
The  Children's Literacy Foundation (CLiF)  is now accepting applications for our At-Risk Children grant. This free grant opportunity is open to social service providers, early childhood education programs, childcare centers, school-based programs such as ELL classrooms and afterschool programs, family centers, community organizations, shelters, low-income housing and other programs throughout Vermont and New Hampshire that serve low-income or at-risk infants and children up to age 12 (or a segment of that age range). 

The grant includes a professional storytelling presentation, brand new, high quality books for children to choose at the event and take home to keep, and an onsite library for the organization. Many sites also choose to include a parent literacy discussion as part of their event to help families learn the importance of sharing books with children and strategies to do so, even if the parents are not strong readers themselves.

Eligibility : See their website  for details and a list of our recent grant partners. If you have recently received an At-Risk grant, your site is eligible to reapply after three years (although if your program operates multiple sites you may apply on behalf of a different site location).  

Deadline : December 6, 2017


If you have questions please contact:
Jana Brown
Program Manager
(802) 244-0944
Children's Literacy Foundation
1536 Loomis Hill Road
Waterbury Center, VT 05677
Social & Emotional Early Development Training

A special, free training for early childhood care professionals.

Multiple dates to choose from.
check it out!

Click here or on the flyer for more details and a printable copy.
2018 Unsung Hero Award
Click here or on the flyer for a printable copy.
The Credentialing Challenge Is On!
Get Ready for this Year's Early Childhood Credential Challenge!

Click here or on the flyer for a printable copy.

Please note, these are not multi-series trainings. 

“It's Virtually Possible! Applying for your Credential Online”
  • January 16, 2018, 6:15-7:45 pm

“ Using the NH ECE Workforce Specialized Competencies to Develop a Professional Development Plan”
  • January 23, 2018, 6:15-7:45 pm 
Save the Date
20th Annual Celebration of Early Childhood Professionals
Click here or on the picture for a printable copy.
Employment Opportunities
Job opportunities are included as a courtesy to programs requesting that information be shared and disseminated. Please note that Child Care Aware of NH will disseminate this information once through the next available e-newsletter depending upon the date sent. Submissions must be email ready and should be sent to  outreach2ccrr@snhs.org . Submissions received by the 7th of the month will be placed in the "At-A-Glance" e-newsletter and submissions received by the 25th of the month will be placed in the "Monthly Minutes" e-newsletter.
Child Care Aware of New Hampshire has open positions.  

A Bilingual Support Specialist:
  • Provides bilingual support services and consumer education for families in selecting child care.
  • Facilitates trainings and provides targeted technical assistance to early childhood professionals.
  • Assesses each regional area to meet cultural needs and to promote cultural competency.
  • Provides interpretation in second language as necessary. 
  • Position is in the Main Office in Nashua.

The Professional Development Support Coordinator:
  • Facilitates and coordinates professional development opportunities.
  • Recruits and engages Trainers for professional development opportunities.
  • Manages training registration, preparation of training documents, and attendance documentation of professional development opportunities in collaboration with the Training and TA Specialist.
  • Coordinates with CCR&R Program Manager in establishing professional development needs throughout the state.
  • Statewide position.

A Training and Technical Assistance Specialist:
  • Facilitates training opportunities.
  • Provides targeted technical assistance to early childhood professionals.
  • Provides support services and consumer education for families in selecting child care.
  • Statewide position.

For more information about each position or to apply, please go to   http://snhs.org/jobs  to fill out an online application.
Child Care Aware of New Hampshire 
Contact Information
We hope you've enjoyed this edition of "Monthly Minutes". Look for future editions at the beginning of each month! Items for submission for the "Monthly Minutes" must be sent to  outreach2ccrr@snhs.org  before the 25th of each month with the subject line "Monthly Minutes". 

Thank you,
Child Care Aware of NH Team


Need Help? Support? Call our Training and TA Lines
Main Toll Free Line: 1-855-393-1731
Bilingual Support Line: 1-855-393-1731 x 28
Child Care Aware of NH Outreach Offices:
Southern/Main Regional Office
Eastern Regional Office
Concord Regional Office
Western Regional Office
Northern Regional Office 
Child Care Aware of NH Training & TA/Help Line:
(603) 578-1386, x 32
(603) 330-0961
(603) 227-6383
(603) 903-0830
(603) 752-1327 or (603) 323-7091
Child Care Aware of NH, a program of Southern NH Services, offers Free & Confidential Child Care Resource & Referral Services to families and early childhood professionals.
Copyright © 2017 All Rights Reserved

The preparation of this email was financed under a Contract with the State of New Hampshire, Department of Health and Human Services, Division for Children, Youth and Families, Child Development Bureau with funds provided in part by the State of New Hampshire and the US Department of Health and Human Services.