December

Including All Children and the ADA Virtual 

Wed. December 6 / 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM / $5

E. Benemerito / 3 SN

This course provides child care providers with the tools for understanding positive partnerships with parents/guardians/family members. It is designed to help providers select a variety of ways for families to be represented in their classrooms so that the children feel comfortable and to stay connected to their families and community while they are in the child care setting.

Eat, Learn, Grow Virtual

Wed.December 6/ 1:30 - 2:30pm

Wed. December 6 7:00 - 8:00pm

Children’s books lend themselves to lots of creative and developmentally appropriate activities. Join us virtually December 6, 2023, as we explore children’s picture book titles and planning for a variety of extension activities based on those books. The group will focus on literacy and art exploration to engage children’s critical thinking skills and creativity, as well as create classroom learning opportunities for young children to find meaning in the world around them and engage in self-expression. Participants will be able to share their ideas and favorite book titles as well as boost lesson plan content. Sessions are free, and participants may earn 1 Professional Activity Unit (PAU). All PAU letters will be emailed within 10 business days. A participant who attends a chat session can receive only 1 PAU within the same calendar year.

Basic Health & Safety Training with Supporting Breastfeeding in Child Care In Person

Mon. December 11 / 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM / $5

K.Reel 3 HSN

Basic Health & Safety Training with Supporting Breastfeeding in Child Care

Engaging Indoor Activities for Inclement Weather In person

Wed. December 13  / 6:30 – 8:30PM / $5 

L.Hendricks 3 CUR 

How do you keep children learning and engaged when the weather is bad? This training will review the teachable moments that exist when children cannot go outside; learn how to choose and plan for a variety of indoor classroom activities. Try out some fun large and small group activities!

Story Stretchers for Infants and Toddlers Virtual 

Wed. December 13 / 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM / $5

N.Pontoriero / 2 CUR 

Infants and toddlers are naturally curious about the world around them, children’s literature is a great tool to enhance this curiosity. In this workshop we will look at various children’s books and extension activities to help our youngest learners gain a better understanding of the story.



Gender Identity in Early Childhood Education (New) Virtual

Thur. December 14 / 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM / $5

G.Ferentinos 2CUR  

During this workshop we will discuss gender identity with specific attention to children who are gender fluid or transgender. We will discuss language to use, some statistics and share some stories of children. We will also share how we can change our language, curriculum, materials in the environment, songs we sing and books we share with children to develop an inclusive environment for children whose gender is fluid. Finally, we will offer participants several scenarios related to gender, children who are transgender, how to work with other families and teachers on these issues and changing policies.

Small World Play: Building Imagination in Children In Person 

Mon. December 18 / 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM / $5

M.Hill / 3 CUR

Little learning opportunities can go a long way. With a bit of imagination, play on a miniature scale or small world play can support children’s development and boaster their imagination, self-confidence and problem-solving skills. This workshop explores the wonderful world of small world play.



Time for Referral: Tips for Talking with Families Virtual

Wed. December 20 / 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM / $5

G.Ferentinos 2 COM

You’ve completed the developmental screenings on the children in your care-now what? It is always best practice to discuss score results, whether or not there are concerns, with the child’s parents to learn about the child’s development and promote healthy behavior and development. This workshop will give providers strategies for talking with parents especially if there are concerns about a child’s development and/or the need for a referral.

MSDE has updated the CPR and First Aid Trainers. Please click HERE for more information.

This in-person event is scheduled Sunday, January 28, 2024, from 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM at the North Laurel Community Center, 9411 Whiskey Bottom Rd, Laurel, 20723. This annual Fair gives Howard County parents of young children an opportunity to learn about preschools, child care programs and community resources in one single location

Registration is now open and will continue until all tables are sold. We anticipate hosting approximately 45 programs. The fees are as follows -

Exhibitor Fees:

For Profit Organization - $75

Non-Profit (501c3) - $50

To Register click Here

The CCRC wants to hear your input as we are developing and planning our trainings for 2024! Please take the survey below to give us your feedback!

Need help applying for the MD Child Care Credential or guidance on increasing your qualifications beyond the requirements of state licensing and registration regulations? The CCRC will offer weekly Virtual Office hours between 1:30 – 2:30 starting in April. Meet one on one with our Early Childhood Program Specialist; they will walk you through the process from start to finish; offer support with gathering training certificates, PAU’s and completing the application. Virtual Office Hours are open to all Center Based and Family Child Care programs, including those new to the MD Credential. Each session will have a specific focus, however, call in with any questions.

All sessions will be held between 1:30 – 2:30.



December Dates

Thursday December 14 and Tuesday December 19 - Program Overview; First Time application/Core of Knowledge Training/PAU 

Now also offering on-site Credential Office Hours directly in your program. Our Early Childhood Program Specialist will come to your program between 1:00 – 3:00 pm and assist your staff with the application process, review certificates and training hours as well as answer any questions about the Maryland Child Care Credential Program. Contact the Office of Children and Families Child Care Resource Center (CCRC) Early Childhood Program Specialists, Lisa Hendricks, lhendricks@howardcountymd.gov or Marissa Hill, mhill@howardcountymd.gov.

The Council for Professional Recognition, Maryland State Department of Education and Maryland Family Network have partnered to offer funding to help you earn or renew your Child Development Associate® (CDA) credential. And now, fully funded CDA® training is available for Maryland early childhood educators! Training options are available for CDA candidates and renewal applicants. Maryland ECE leaders, we encourage you to share this exceptional career pathway with your staff of ECE professionals. Don’t miss out on this exciting professional development opportunity.

Welcome new children and families to your programs with all the programmatic supports you need! Enhance educator skills around transitions, daily routines/schedules, welcoming new children to the program, and child/teacher social emotional interactions. Prevent challenging behaviors before they start! Coaching and mentoring around program enhancements such as room arrangement, lesson planning, curriculum implementation, and overall classroom management also available. Contact the Office of Children and Families Child Care Resource Center (CCRC) Early Childhood Program Specialists, Lisa Hendricks, lhendricks@howardcountymd.gov or Marissa Hill, mhill@howardcountymd.gov

Don’t wait until challenging behaviors become unmanageable! 

To better serve the educator community and offer more comprehensive support services for early childhood educators and children, the CCRC has increased is capacity with the addition of the IECMH Program team. The expanded team includes behavior consultants who work directly with teachers and individual children to support programs in managing and reducing challenging behavior, as well as supporting children’s social emotional development. The behavior consultants offer, developmental and classroom screenings; onsite behavior observations; goal setting and practice-based coaching, and resource and referral information. The Behavioral Consultant team works collaboratively with the Early Childhood Program Specialists to offer comprehensive services. For more information, please contact the Care Line, 410-313-CARE.

MD EXCELS, Maryland Child Care Credential and Maryland Accreditation individualized support services available. Work with the CCRC to enhance and improve program quality and increase educator professional qualifications. Contact the Office of Children and Families Child Care Resource Center (CCRC), 410-313-1940 or email Lisa Hendricks, lhendricks@howardcountymd.gov or Marissa Hill, mhill@howardcountymd.gov

The updated Resource Room features a Lending Library to enhance your reading centers, lesson plan ideas and materials, new die cuts, laminating services, and a computer lab (internet access and printing available). Children’s books are organized by theme (5 to 6 books per theme) and can be checked out for a 2-week period. No appointment necessary.  View the list of books here

Looking for Training? Search the Maryland Child Care Training Calendar. Lists of trainers, training organizations and online training organizations.

For new and approved, expanded workshop offerings that meet Maryland child care requirements, coaching and support on all aspects of owning and operating a child care in Maryland, visit -www.prosolutionstraining.com/md(English portal) and https://www.prosolutionstraining.com/md-espanol (Spanish portal).  Courses are available through the MCCRN, a program of Maryland Family Network. Do note, any previous eLearning content purchased through Smart Horizons will still be accessible; training must be completed by June 30, 2022.  Please contact Maryland Family Network with any questions, MCCRNinfo@marylandfamilynetwork.org.

For additional Early Childhood Education and Provider news, and updates in and around the State of Maryland, checkout Tuesday Tidbits

Maryland Family Network is offering the 45-hour Coaching and Mentoring series both in English and in Spanish. 

The English-language series will begin on February 1, 2024. Class meets two times per week (with one week off in April) and each session is held virtually from 6:45 pm – 9:15 pm.

The Spanish-language series will begin on February 20, 2024. Class meets two times per week (with one week off in April) and each session is held virtually from 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm.

This series supports those providers who are or are seeking to become leaders in the field, building individual capacity to support others through a coaching and mentoring model. This series requires that participants engage in reading and reflection papers outside of scheduled sessions and participants are expected to be highly engaged during the sessions. This series is approved by MSDE Office of Child Care for 45 hours of Core of Knowledge Professionalism and meets the requirement at Level 4 in the Maryland Child Care Credential program.

For more information and to register, please visit Coaching and Mentoring online. Registration is only accepted via the online portal. If participants intend to use a training voucher from the Maryland Child Care Credential program, they need to contact MFN at MCCRNinfo@marylandfamilynetwork.org. 

Are you interested in advancing your educational career by pursuing a college degree in the Early Childhood field?  Howard Community College is pleased to announce that the application period for the Child Care Career and Professional Development Fund (CCCPDF) will be open from January 1 to March 1, 2024.  The CCCPDF pays for the tuition, fees and books for those students pursuing either an AAS in Early Childhood Education (2-year degree) or an AAT in Early Childhood Education/Special Education or Elementary Education/Special Education (which allows you to transfer to a 4-year program).  To be eligible, the applicant must have a least one-year licensed childcare experience, work 10 hours per week minimum, hold a level 2 or higher Maryland Child Care Credential Certificate, and be willing to complete a service payback after their degree is completed.  

To learn more about the grant and its application process, HCC will hold a ZOOM virtual information session in November.  Attached is a flyer about the grant.  For more information or to RSVP to attend the information session, please contact Joan Johnson at jjohnson6@howardcc.edu

We are reaching out to individuals who have lived experience in the foster care system because we believe that your unique perspective and insights are invaluable to our efforts to improve racial equity in the child welfare system. Your experiences and firsthand knowledge can help us make meaningful changes that positively impact the lives of many.

We are excited to invite you to a special meeting where we will discuss and seek your input on various aspects of the child welfare system, with a specific focus on racial equity. Your time is valuable and we are also securing funding so we can provide $50-$100 to those with lived experience that attend.

This event is part of our commitment to creating a more just and equitable system for all children and families. Information from this event will be used to make recommendations to the Maryland General Assembly. Your voice is essential to this process, and we truly value your participation.

The session will take place at the Morgan State University Student Center on December 11, 2023, from 8:00 am-4:30 pm. You can register by clicking HERE

We’re excited to announce that Maryland Family Network will be hosting an informational webinar on December 7, 2023 on the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC). The ERTC is open to child care businesses who had W-2 employees in 2020 and 2021. The ERTC is a game-changer for child care businesses and many do not know that it is available. 

What is the ERTC?

The ERTC is a refundable tax credit designed for businesses that retained W-2 employees during the pandemic and experienced a reduction in operations or revenue. Unlike PPP loans, ERTC credits, received as checks from the IRS, can be a significant financial boom, offering businesses the flexibility to spend them as they see fit.

The Key Benefits:

• No constraints on spending
• Not a loan, but a direct credit
• Credits can range from 50%-70% of payroll costs from March 13, 2020, through September 30, 2021.

Click HERE to Register

The Family Support Center (FSC) offers comprehensive, family centered, community-based preventive programs for parents, caregivers, and their children ages birth to five. Parenting little ones is hard, the FSC is here to help! Visit https://www.howardcountymd.gov/children-families/family-support-center for more information. Contact FSC Director Kristin Reel at kreel@howardcountymd.gov

Howard County families can get one/one assistance with the Child Care Scholarship program application process by calling the Office of Children and Families Child Care Resource Center (CCRC), 410-313-1940 or emailing Amber Eash, the Family Resource Specialist directly, aeash@howardcountymd.gov or Carla Lunn, Resource and Referral Specialist, clunn@howardcountymd.gov.

New families joining your programs? The Office of Children and Families offers Family Workshops on topics ranging from challenging behaviors, potty training, immunizations to healthy eating? All this information and more can be found in our E-blast as well as our Parent Pages. Share upcoming Family Workshop Information with families as well as encourage them to sign up for our monthly Parent Pages newsletter - Subscribe to Parent Pages

Connect families to local information that supports parenting.

Share the November Parent Pages: www.howardcountymd.gov/parentpages

This month’s edition shares local resources, family workshops, connects parents to information to support infant's early brain development and ideas to take the stress out of family travel during the holidays. Also, find tips to handle a picky eater and navigate co-parenting after divorce or separation.

December

Parenting Apart: Navigating Co-Parenting through the Holiday Season and Beyond

The holiday season is a time of joy and togetherness for many families, but they can also be reminders of who and what we have lost. For those co-parenting during or in the aftermath of divorce, the holidays can bring unique challenges and disruptions to the usual routine. This presentation is tailored to parents who are going through divorce or separation and are eager to create a parenting plan that minimizes conflict and promotes stability and harmony for your children. Explore essential considerations when creating an access schedule that prioritizes your children's well-being throughout the year, but especially during the holidays. Gain insights into effectively managing common co-parenting issues that can arise. Learn valuable communication and co-parenting strategies to navigate this period of transition, and as well as resources for ongoing support and assistance.

Monday, December 4, 7:00 p.m. Free Virtual Workshop. Register here 

Managing Parenting Anger and Frustration

Parenting is an incredibly rewarding experience, but can also be challenging when our children don’t listen or have meltdowns. Frustration can build and it is normal to find yourself at your wit’s end. This workshop will provide tools to navigate anger and frustration and provide you with coping strategies when you are feeling elevated. Ask questions and leave with skills and resources that you can use to feel more confident in managing your own anger and frustration.

Thursday, December 7, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Free virtual workshop. Register here 

Navigating Your Child's Mental Health Journey

Whether it is knowing the best ways to support your child’s social emotional health, having concerns about your child’s behaviors, or feeling like something is seriously wrong, knowing where to go for answers is a top issue for parents. Those first steps of navigating mental health supports are a challenging and daunting task. Learn about the stages of mental health and the local resources and supports that will guide your understanding, provide you with choices, and help you learn the steps to start helping your child. Leave with tangible tools for education and intervention as well as where to go for assistance if you hit roadblocks to services.

Monday, December 18, 7:00 p.m. Free Virtual Workshop. Register here