The Professional Development Update is an Alliance for Kids monthly e-newsletter providing training, event, and other professional development opportunities.
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ECE Help Line: 719.205.2691
M-F | 8 am - 4 pm
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Alliance for Kids would like to share
a special THANK YOU
with our child care workforce for stepping up each day to provide care for our youngest learners.
You are ESSENTIAL
now - and always - to our children and families, to our community and economy, and most especially to all the essential workers depending on child care in order to be at their jobs!
Please enjoy the video and know that we APPRECIATE you!
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In an effort to take every precaution and prioritize health and safety, Alliance for Kids/Joint Initiatives for Youth & Families is providing alternate platforms for training.
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Gain specific knowledge and coaching to better your family child care business practices. Learn about and get support in developing your skills in the areas of:
- Business and strategic planning for small businesses
- The basics of budgets and bookkeeping
- Taxes: What you need to know for success
- Financial Planning and Retirement
Limited space available! Register now to secure your spot!
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ECERS-3 is the first major ECERS revision since 2005. ECERS-3 introduces innovations in both the content and administration of the scale while retaining the continuity of the two principal characteristics of the ECERS, namely its comprehensive or global definition of quality and the reliance on observation as the primary source of information on which to base assessment of classroom quality.
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ITERS-3 focuses on the full range of needs of infants and toddlers and provides a framework for improving program quality. Further, the scale assesses both environmental provisions and teacher-child interactions that affect the broad developmental milestones of infants and toddlers, including: language, cognitive, social-emotional and physical development, as well as concern for health and safety.
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Do you ever wonder if you are providing children with the early language and literacy skills needed to be ready for kindergarten and beyond?
FREE coaching
specific to helping children develop these essential skills is available. Contact
Erika Cincotta
, Early Learning & Literacy Specialist, at 719.466.9562 to help you reach your goals!
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Click Here
for Continuing Education Unit (CEU) Information
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Pre-Licensing Classes & FREE Supports
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Are you thinking of becoming a licensed child care provider? AFK is here to support you every step along the way.
Quarterly Pre-Licensing Classes
Each quarter, AFK offers a course for becoming a licensed provider. See our two options below. Cost is $150.
NEW! Virtual Session
Next Three-Day Session
Rules, Regulations & Business Rules
for Family Child Care Homes.
This one-day course for
exempt providers is offered on the first day of each quarterly Pre-Licensing session.
To help you along your business journey, AFK offers FREE services!
- Where to start and what is important to consider when exploring the possibility of opening a family child care home - call us first if your considering enrolling in the Pre-Licensing classes!
- Assistance with zoning needs
- Assistance with HOA needs
- Support with completing the licensing application
- Technical assistance and on-site support for setting up your learning environment
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To help the Office of Early Childhood begin planning courses for the upcoming year, they want to hear from YOU! Use their quick survey to share what you see as needs for online coursework offered through the Colorado Shines PDIS.
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ITERS/ECERS-3 Versions
These versions will be utilized for Colorado Shines ratings beginning in July. If you need support with this new tool, contact
Geanina Brown
(719.651.3484) to set up coaching or to answer questions.
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PDIS Courses |
Log In
HERE
- Positive Guidance Sequence This course sequence consists of three courses and counts towards social-emotional and Level 2 training hours.
- Infant and Toddler Care Sequence: Courses on individualization, inclusive care, and culturally responsive care are available. The last three courses will be published in early 2020.
- Supporting Children and Families Experiencing Homelessness (The Colorado-focused course, Supporting Children and Families Impacted by Homelessness is still available.)
- Standard Precautions: Course includes Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases and Immunizations. A Spanish version of the course will be available in the Spring of 2020.
- Spanish Version of Preventing Abusive Head Trauma. This course - Prevención del traumatismo craneoencefálico por maltrato o síndrome del bebé/niño sacudido - is available for free from the Colorado Shines PDIS. This is a one-hour, pre-service and orientation course.
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Credential Levels Update
The Colorado Office of Early Childhood has announced that they will no longer issue Level 2 and 3 Coaching Credentials beginning March 1, 2020. Those who have current Level 2 & 3 credentials will stay valid until they expire. New coaching credential applications will be evaluated for the Level 1 Coaching Credential.
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Get training aligned and approved through PDIS
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New Ongoing Professional Development (OPD)
Documentation Requirements
For more information, an optional training certificate template, a requirements checklist, informational flyer with FAQs and a multi-use article, click
here
.
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Transitioning to Virtual Coaching
As we adapt to these unexpected and challenging times, coaches around the world are making the transition to technology as a medium to support our work with educators. Connecting with coachees through video platforms may look different, but is still relevant and critical to support educator resilience and increase educator confidence as they support children and families.
The Office of Early Childhood's coaching team knows this leap into virtual coaching can present its own challenges and has pulled together a toolkit to support coaches during this time.
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Click on the boxes below for more information.
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Please Note: Webinars, workshops, and training opportunities listed here are NOT facilitated by Alliance for Kids. For questions or to register you must contact the person or organization running the program directly.
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Zero to Three Virtual Event!
You Matter: Promoting Professional Resilience During Collective Crisis
12:00-1:00 p.m.
To build others up, we need a strong foundation. Today, we all stand on unfamiliar ground. In fact, it feels as if the ground is shifting continually beneath us. Social distancing and sheltering have dramatically changed personal and professional lives and brought on a whole new set of stressors for everyone. New working environments, new technology platforms, unrealistic expectations for ourselves and from employers, job losses, children at home…the list goes on and on. The toll this stress can take is real. And there are self-care, reflective practice, and mindfulness techniques that can help combat and prevent negative effects. To learn more about other virtual events,
click here.
Note: To register, you must have a ZERO TO THREE account. The registration page includes a link for creating an account
.
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Colorado CPR & Safety Professionals will be offering Medication Administration (Part 2) virtually on every other Tuesday evening. The next one is scheduled for May 19th.
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Healthy Child Care Colorado promotes and support best practices by providing grants, professional development, technical assistance, and advocacy. To learn more, click
HERE
.
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The Pikes Peak Small Business Development Center offers training and consulting with local business experts for existing businesses as well as those looking to start businesses. This is a great resource for early childhood owners and directors to connect with consultants, workshops, and resources related to running a successful small business.
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SBDC Friday Lunch Series: Recovery & Resilience Workshops
The Pikes Peak SBDC launched its new "Friday Lunch Series: Recovery and Resilience" on May 1st! This is a no-cost online series designed to help small businesses improve recovery and resilience as part of the Colorado SBDC Preparedness and Continuity Program.
The Office of Economic Development (OEDIT) released the
COVID-19 Business Survey
earlier this week. Your insights are valuable and will help the State make informed decisions. Your responses are confidential. Thank you to all businesses who have completed the survey!
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Early Childhood Investigations offers
free webinars
to early childhood educators. The series is produced by Engagement Strategies, LLC., and presented by leading authors, experts, and leaders. Now, you can participate in conference-quality training without leaving your home. Subscribe to Blog for updates
HERE.
To view ALL Early Childhood Investigations recordings,
click HERE.
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NAFCC will be holding a virtual conference this year on July 17-18, 2020.
Learn more
here
.
Webinars:
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Social Emotional Learning through Trauma-Informed Practice
Register Now for 50% off!
Tools for strengthening responsive caregiving in ECE, supporting positive behaviors, and nurturing children’s learning and development.
Course Details & Registration
ECE Formula
is an online platform for learning, training meets PDIS requirements for ongoing professional development.
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Supporting Children with Disabilities in Early Childhood Environments -
A FREE Virtual Professional Development Community
Are you an Early Childhood Professional seeking:
- A supportive community of professionals that you can access from anywhere?
- Ideas for how you can promote inclusion in your school or program?
- Professional advice on challenging issues and topics?
If you answered yes to the above questions, join our ECHO!
ECHO participants collaborate with other educators in a case-based learning environment in order to learn about evidence-based practices and develop advanced skills.
For full details on joining this Professional Development Community, click
HERE
.
Learn more about
University of Denver’s Project ECHO.
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October 13, 2020
Due to COVID-19, the conference has been rescheduled to October 13, 2020. Registrations for this event are transferable but non-refundable. Please click
HERE
to learn more.
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T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® COLORADO Scholarship Program
is administered by the Early Childhood Council Leadership Alliance. Contact
Shannon
or call (720) 899-3047 or visit
ECCLA’s website
for program eligibility and application opportunities.
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Need more assistance? Contact AFK!
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