What Is Happening at CCAoNH?
Hello Providers,

We extend our best wishes for a wonderful 2022! Here at Child Care Aware of New Hampshire, a program of Southern New Hampshire Services, we are kicking off the new year with some opportunities to focus on Self-Care, new social media goals and engaging special events coming up. Please note, we will be closed on Monday, January 17th in observance of Martin Luther King Jr Day.

The Child Care Resource and Referral Outreach Specialists have been busy on the phone lines with families looking for child care options. If your program has vacancies, please reach out to an Outreach Specialist by calling (603) 578-1386 ext. 2531 to update your program's information. As a reminder, you may also use the NHCIS "Child Care Program" tile to keep your profile up to date. If you have questions about the fields in the "Child Care Program" tile you can reach out to our Child Care Resource and Referral Specialists.

The Training and TA Specialists are preparing to help programs to learn more about "Granite Steps for Quality" NH's Quality Recognition and Improvement System. They will be partnering with the Bureau of Child Development and Head Start Collaboration to help connect you to the information you need to improve your program quality. We are offering a variety of professional development opportunities that are detailed in this month's E-Newsletter which will help you attain any new goals in the delivery of quality programming. If you are interested in attending one of our PD Trainings, please remember to register through NHCIS and confirm the correct times in the PD Connections Guide. We are also getting ready for the Keys to Quality E-Conference taking place on January 22.
 
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.
CCAoNH Updates
The Credential Challenge Is GOING ON NOW
Are you and/or your staff looking to apply for their Credentials?

Do you and your staff need to renew their Credentials?

Are you interested in receiving raffle tickets to win some really cool prizes?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, the Credential Challenge is for you! We are officially accepting applications and the Challenge runs until March 15, 2022.
Incentives:
All participants will receive professional development hours for the technical assistance they receive and for attending the Celebration.
Team Challenge Raffle Prizes:
  • $500 to a program to support Self-Care and/or Professional Development of staff
  • $250 to a program to support Self-Care and/or Professional Development of staff
  • Revive and Thrive Trainings (2)
  • $100 Gift Card towards a Staff Lunch
Individual Challenge Raffle Prizes:
  • $250 to support Self-Care and/or Professional Development
  • Fitbit
  • $100 Spa Finder Gift Card
  • $50 Amazon Gift Card
NEW ProSolutions Training Collections
Child Care Aware of NH is excited to provide two (2) new Virtual Training Collections through ProSolutions, the Coaching 101 Training Collection and the Family Child Care Training Collection. Our current training collections, NH Cares Training Collection and the NH Business Management and Director Training Collection have been redesigned to meet your needs. Click on any of the fliers for more information or visit the "Trainings and Recorded Webinars" page.
Q-Ready Environment Rating Scales Cohort
We are proud to announce that the following programs have successfully completed the Q-Ready Environment Rating Scales Cohort:

  • Crystal's Place
  • Great Bay Kids Company at Pease
  • One Step Ahead Daycare
  • Rochester Child Care
CCAoNH Employment Opportunities
Join the Child Care Aware of NH team!
We have open positions.

  • Training and Technical Assistance Specialists
  • Child Care Resource and Referral Outreach Specialist
Starting The Conversation
How Do We Build Resiliency in Children?
Reducing the effects of significant adversity on young children’s healthy development is critical to the progress and prosperity of any society.

In the link below, are three videos and a PDF on how to develop and strengthen resiliency in children to get your conversation started.
CCAoNH Professional Development Opportunities
Professional Development Training Reminders
Trainings are available to register for in the NHCIS Training Tile. You will find the accurate training times in the Trainings At-a-Glance Calendar, as times are currently listed incorrectly within NHCIS. Please see instructions on page two (2) in this Calendar on how to register for these trainings.
January 2022 Events
Child Care Aware of New Hampshire, a program of Southern New Hampshire Services, is proud to offer our 2nd “Keys to Quality”: Unlocking Your Professional Development E-Conference. The 1st “Keys to Quality” E-Conference was offered in October 2021. Both E-Conferences are full-day conferences, devoted to quality professional development to assist child care programs, early childhood professionals and administrators in enhancing as well as improving their practices.
Participants will partake in the Keynote Presentation, Inspired Work: Showing Up & Shining Bright with Erin Ramsey of Living Inspired, LLC. Participants will then have the opportunity to select three (3) additional trainings from a wide range of training topics. These conferences will engage participants in a stimulating day in gaining new knowledge, skills and networking.


The NH Early Childhood Winter Leadership Summit previously scheduled for January 27th is being rescheduled. The new date is to be determined. As more details emerge about this event we will keep you up to date in our Newsletters and on the website.
Early Childhood Focused Collaboratives
Collaborative Highlight of the Month

Family Engagement and Communication Collaborative Topic:
This month, New Hampshire Family Voices (NHFV) will be joining us. They will be highlighting their work championing for children with disabilities or chronic illnesses, telling us about exciting ways they work to support families and helping us to understand the many ways they can help child the lives of the children of NH. This is also a chance to learn about all the wonderful year-round programming NHFV offers and for them to hear all about our experiences within Early Education settings. 

CCAoNH is also offering nine (9) other virtual Early Childhood Focused Collaborative Meetings for Directors, Administrators, Teachers and other Early Childhood Professionals. Check out the other topics by clicking on the button below.
Progressive Training and TA Program
Apply to be a Progressive Training and TA Program when it works for your program! You will find the application on the Technical Assistance page or by clicking the button below.
This month's Progressive Training and TA highlight

Business Management Practices: 
Supports Program Administrators and Directors through assessment and goal setting to support and cultivate quality business management practices.

We have many Progressive Training and TA topics that may fit your Program's needs. Click on the flyer to the right to view the current Progressive Training and TA topics.
CCAoNH has open enrollment for the Progressive Training and TA Program!
Want to know more?

Contact us at
ccrrta@snhs.org,
(603) 578-1386, ext. 2526 and ext. 2532
or on LiveChat.
Monthly Health And Safety Resources
The resources found in this section can help support providers and families in planning for emergencies. You can find additional resources on the NH Connections Emergency Planning Page.
Immunization Survey Is Complete
A Message From The NH Immunization Program

Thank you for the taking the time to fill out the Annual Childcare Immunization Survey. There were many changes to the survey this year and we hope that you found the changes helpful in acquiring the information easier. We understand the amount of time that it takes to fill out the report and the difficulties in acquiring the data. We will continue to support you in this process and again Thank You!
It’s not too late to get the Flu Vaccine!
With the holiday season now upon us, so is Influenza. Influenza viruses typically circulate annually in the United States, most commonly from the late fall through the early spring. Most people who become ill after influenza virus infection recover without serious complications or sequelae. However, influenza can be associated with serious illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths, particularly among older adults, very young children, pregnant women, and persons of all ages with certain chronic medical conditions. Influenza also is an important cause of missed work and school.

CDC states in this week’s “Flu View”:
· Influenza activity is increasing, with the eastern and central parts of the country seeing the largest increases and the western part of the country reporting lower levels of influenza virus circulation at this time.
· Hospitalizations for influenza are starting to increase.
· The percentage of outpatient visits due to respiratory illness has trended upwards in recent weeks and is now above the national baseline. Influenza is contributing to levels of respiratory illness, but other respiratory viruses which are also circulating. The relative contribution of influenza to respiratory illness varies by location. For more information visit the CDC website, here.

It is not too late to get the protection needed for influenza. Encourage your students to get vaccinated!

The NH Immunization Program wishes all of you Wonderful wishes for a great 2022!
Other Early Childhood News And Updates
Important Information From The Bureau of Child
Development And Head Start Collaboration
The NH DHHS Bureau of Child Development and Head Start Collaboration is pleased to introduce you to our new Quality Recognition and Improvement System, Granite Steps for Quality (GSQ).

This program supports NH’s early childhood and Out-of-School Time programs on their path to enhanced quality so that children thrive and succeed in school and beyond. The GSQ replaces the Licensed Plus Program and focuses on helping programs enhance their quality through self-study, professional development, coaching and other technical assistance.

It is time to get recognized for all you do and become one of New Hampshire’s “recognized” quality programs as a Granite Steps for Quality awardee. To get started take some time to review our Granite Steps for Quality Guidebook, the GSQ application and other informational and instructional pieces included on the "Granite Steps for Quality" page.
Upcoming Webinars with The
Bureau of Child Development And Head Start Collaboration
NEW QRIS: Granite Steps for Quality Introduction and Overview Webinar

Please join us for a webinar overview of the new Quality Recognition and Improvement System – Granite Steps for Quality (GSQ). This important webinar will give you an overview of the system and introduce you to the application, award and incentive processes. This presentation will include a Q & A option in the chat and be the basis for the development of the GSQ FAQs. The recorded session, FAQs, the GSQ Guide and application will be available on NH Connections.

Trainer: Dianne R. Chase, Assistant Bureau Chief
Date: Tuesday, January 11, 2022,
Time: 12:30-1:30 PM
State of NH Child Care Series, Session Three: The Business of Child Care Webinar

This session will focus on the operational side of child care along with the key role that families and businesses play in equitable, affordable and sustainable child care across the State.

Trainer: Dianne R. Chase, Assistant Bureau Chief
Date: Wednesday, January 12, 2021
Time: 5:30-7:00 PM
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Absent Due to Covid Update
In mid-December, the Bureau of Child Development and Head Start Collaboration (BCDHSC) announced an important update to the Absent Due to COVID temporary policy change. This includes an extension of some programs and updated guidance.

You will find the notice and updated Absent due to Covid Spreadsheets on the Financial Resources page under, "Absent Due to Covid" tab.
Do You Have Open Positions?
Check Out Our Job Board
Now found on the front page of our website, is the link to the Child Care Job Board. Feel free to post your open positions and let perspective educators know about what makes your program unique. Posting is FREE and your position will stay up for six (6) months or until you take it down!
Important Message From The Child Care Licensing Unit
The following message was sent from Melissa Clement, Chief of the Child Care Licensing Unit on December 20th.

Attached you will find the updated licensing coordinator town assignments with contact information. Erin Fitzgerald has moved on to another position in DHHS, and we wish her the best! Her last day with CCLU was Thursday, December 16. She most recently covered Bedford, Hooksett, and Manchester.

For programs in those towns, please send all inquiries you normally would have sent to Erin to our DHHS Office email: ccluoffice@dhhs.nh.gov, as we want to be sure you receive a timely response! And of course you can call the office at 603-271-9025.
Eco-Healthy Child Care® - Protecting Children's Environmental Health
There is a NEW offering for Child Care Providers courtesy of the Bureau of Public Health Protection and the State's Environmental Health Coordinators on ProSolutions. The Eco-Healthy Child Care® - Protecting Children's Environmental Health training will be FREE, when you apply code: NHECO at check out.

This course provided by Choose Safe Places is fun, educational and captivating. Learn why children are uniquely vulnerable to common environmental health hazards found in the early learning environment (e.g., lead, pesticides, household chemicals, unsafe plastics), and receive practical and no-to-low cost strategies for preventing children’s exposures to toxins.
Child Care Aware of New Hampshire is a Child Care Resource and Referral Program powered by Southern New Hampshire Services. The preparation of this document was financed under a Contract with the State of New Hampshire, Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Economic and Housing Stability, Bureau of Child Development and Head Start Collaboration with funds provided in part by the State of New Hampshire and the US Department of Health and Human Services.