February 2022
We hope you find the resources in this month's "E-News You Can Use" issue helpful to access the most important information from CCAoNH, the Bureau of Child Development and Head Start Collaboration, the NH Child Care Licensing Unit and other collaborative partners.
Quick Links to Important News
News from CCAoNH
Step Towards "Quality" with CCAoNH
  • Are your Program Practices committed to Quality Improvement for your children, families and staff?

  • Does your program have experience with Credentialing, Pyramid Model Practices or the Environment Rating Scales?

  • Have you heard about the upcoming Quality Recognition and Improvement System (QRIS): Granite Steps for Quality?

With the upcoming QRIS, the team here at CCAoNH is prepared to help programs start taking Steps for Quality. We have created new programming, offerings and resources to help Early Childhood Programs and Family Care Providers begin aligning their practices towards the standards within the QRIS: Granite Steps for Quality.

If you'd like to explore what that may look like in your program we invite you to contact us at ccrrta@snhs.org with questions or start your process by taking our Quality Readiness Pre-Assessment Survey.
2022 Infant & Toddler
Institute
NH Early Childhood
Spring Leadership Summit
News From The Bureau of Child Development
and Head Start Collaboration
Absent Due to COVID News
In late January, the Bureau of Child Development and Head Start Collaboration (BCDHSC) announced an important update about policy clarification pertaining to Absent Due to COVID.

The latest Absent Due to COVID spreadsheet was also uploaded to
Pay by Enrollment Data Pilot 
The Bureau of Child Development and Head Start Collaboration has been working to keep you all updated on the new Pay by Enrollment Program. You can find these updates under Financial Resources within the "Pay by Enrollment" Tab.

To learn more about the program we invite you to watch the recording of the 2/15/22 CCDF Enrollment Based Payment Data Pilot which is an Intro and Overview on the CCDF Enrollment Based Payment Data Pilot as well as web-billing specific training.
You may also utilize the new Office Hours dedicated to this program, by clicking here for more info.
DHHS State of NH Child Care Series Webinars
Upcoming NH Child Care Series Sessions
Please join the NH Department of Health & Human Services for the Third State of New Hampshire’s Child Care Series: New Hampshire’s ARPA Discretionary Funds

This 90-minute workshop will cover the recently announced DHHS plan for utilizing the ARPA Discretionary funds for long-term stabilization, expansion and quality of the NH child care industry.

Trainer: Dianne R. Chase, Assistant Bureau Chief
Date: Wednesday, February 16, 2022
Time: 5:30-7:00 PM
Core Knowledge Area: Developing as a Professional
This session will award 1.5 hours of Professional Development
The Bureau of Child Development and Head Start Collaboration is rescheduling the State of NH Child Care Series, Session Four: The Business of Child Care (formally session three) from February 16, 2022 to March 16, 2022, due to the addition of the New Hampshire’s ARPA Discretionary Fund session. All previous registrations have been transferred to the new date.

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. Guest speakers will include employers in partnership with child care programs as well as a child care business operations and small business advisor with key areas that providers need to consider in their daily operations.

Date: Wednesday, March 16, 2022
Time: 5:30-7:00 PM
Core Knowledge Area: Developing as a Professional
This session will award 1.5 hours of Professional Development
News Families Can Use
New Hampshire Community Action Partnership (NHCAP)
The New Hampshire Community Action Partnership (NHCAP) is a collaboration of the five (5) Community Action Agencies in the state:
  • Community Action Partnership of Strafford County
  • Community Action Program Belknap-Merrimack Counties, Inc.
  • Southern New Hampshire Services, Inc.
  • Southwestern Community Services, Inc.
  • Tri-County Community Action Program, Inc.
Local Community Action Programs (CAP) can help connect families to important resources such as: Rent Assistance, Emergency Food, Weatherization, Energy Assistance, Finding Housing, and Affordable Child Care.
News That Keeps You Healthy and Safe
Continuity of Operations Planning
A Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) is an important component of emergency operations and response planning. COOP helps to ensure businesses can continue to operate in a timely manner after an event occurs that disrupts normal business activities. This is required for all licensed child care providers and for license-exempt providers who are enrolled to receive NH Child Care Scholarship, and it is recommended that you review and update your plan at least annually.

If you need additional support or technical assistance in creating or reviewing your plan, please feel free to contact CCAoNH at 1 (855) 393-1731 ext. 2532 or ACROSS NH at (603)-206-6800. In addition, you can contact the Bureau of Child Development and Head Start Collaboration for assistance at (603) 271-8167. If you have questions regarding the Child Care Licensing Rules around COOP, please contact the Child Care Licensing Unit at (603) 271-9025.
Child Care Aware of NH is a statewide Child Care Resource and Referral Program of Southern New Hampshire Services. The preparation of this email 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.