SIMPLE GIFT SCHOLARS ENRICHMENT TRAINING

Join us in January at the City Auditorium! Get 2023 off to a great start with a morning of networking and enrichment training featuring the music and literacy programming of the early childhood Simple Gift Series on PBS. Launched here in Colorado Springs, this unique program works to quiet the world around every child, while honoring the power of human connectedness and gratitude for all life's Simple Gifts! Join Linda Weise, the creator of the program as she shares original songs and books, and teaches how you can bring these elements to your classroom while utilizing the program as an additional teaching tool. Download and/or share flyer with all the details HERE. Important! This training is offered on several different dates, and date must be selected when registering.

Dates + Registration

CHILD DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE PLUS (CDA+)

Are you tired of not finding teachers?

Do you have teacher aides/assistants that want to become teacher qualified?

Pikes Peak State College Workforce Development is offering a Child Development Associate Plus (CDA+). CDA+ is an Earn + Learn model offered during the workday, allowing professionals to become qualified during the traditional workday and eliminating the need to attend professional development outside of work time. CDA+ completion will translate into eleven (11) hours of college credit through Pikes Peak State College, and it eliminates the need for continual CDA renewal due to college credit translation. Employers gain access to a high-quality pathway that allows their employees to become qualified for Early Childhood Teacher (ECT).

To attend a half-hour information session on December 15th via Zoom from 1 – 1:30 pm, register HERE.
To enroll in this opportunity, click HERE.

EARLY CHILDHOOD TRAUMA TRAINING — PART 1 AND 2

Part 1: A basic introduction to Early Childhood Trauma, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and resources to help adults and children in a classroom setting be successful. This training is a requirement to take the advanced the Early Childhood Trauma Training Part 2.

Part 2: This training offers more research-based facts and resources to help children and adults in their environments feel successful. This advanced training will go over helpful tools to help children and adults with triggers that lead to anxiety. Both are offered on multiple dates — visit our PD Catalog or PD Calendar for details and registration.

COMPASSION FATIGUE

This training includes a discussion on compassion fatigue and secondary trauma and provides resources to help.

Dec. 12: Register HERE

March 6: Register HERE

MAKE MORE, SPEND LESS:

A RECIPE FOR SUCCESS

Learn how to develop your Family Child Care Business through a seven-session series beginning on January 14, 2023. Areas of focus include assessing the marketplace, managing costs, pricing services, working with families, networking with other providers, and accessing needed community resources. For dates, the complete list of modules, click HERE.

NEW! CPR+AED+FIRST AID

and/or MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION

JI is excited to offer CPR+AED+First Aid ($69) and/or Medication Administration ($59) training in-person at its offices on a quarterly basis. Register HERE for January training.

January 28, 2023

9–11 am: CPR/FA

11 am–12 pm: MA Part 2

CAREER NAVIGATION

Want to meet a Career Navigator in person? Joint Initiatives/Foundations has two Career Navigators available to help you determine the best early childhood career pathway, provide PDIS support, assist with college enrollment, answer CDA questions, offer portfolio support, and more!

Walk-in Office Hours: Office hours will be available on during the second Thursday of the month from 9 am to 3 pm. Download our Navigator Flyer for details for visiting our offices.

CLICK HERE! NEW PD CATALOG ON OUR CALENDAR PAGE!

Includes more training scheduled for December 2022 through April 2023!

COMMUNITY TRAINING

PYRAMID WINTER SESSION

Early Childhood professionals and other working to improve the social emotional health of children Birth-5 years; including administrators, coaches, trainers, teachers, ECMH Consultants, EI Providers and other health professionals are encouraged to attend. Sessions are Fridays from 8 am - 2 pm. Cost is $375. Register HERE.

NEW FREE VIRTUAL TRAINING FROM CLAYTON EARLY LEARNING

For details, click on the topic or download flyer HERE:

ECERS-3 Overview - January 7, 9 am-12 pm
Math Is Here To Help – January 12, 5:30-7:30 pm
Non-Traditional Gender Roles in ECE - January 26, 5:30-7:30 pm
ITERS-3 Overview – January 28, 9:00 am-12:00 pm
The Benefits of Free Play – February 2 at 5:30-7:30 pm

ECE WORKFORCE RESOURCES

SCHOLARSHIP UPDATE

JI/AFK Applications are closed and will reopen at a future date TBD. Joint Initiatives/AFK Career Navigators are here to help students navigate the path toward advancing their education and finding other state scholarship funding.

ECE EDUCATOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT

For scholarships for ECE students to pursue dedicated coursework, certificates, and degrees up to a master’s degree, check the list of colleges and universities that receive a block grant from CDHE to distribute to current and new students who qualify (ECE Block Grant Scholarships School Contacts 2022). You need to contact them directly to find out more. Download the Stipends/Scholarship/Loan Forgiveness flyer HERE.

ECE EDUCATOR SCHOLARSHIPS

Pikes Peak State College (PPSC) has an ECE Educator Scholarship through the ECE Educator Funding Opportunities! This scholarship is for those seeking ECE classes, ECE certificates, and or ECE Associates. Make sure to include all the general education courses (e.g., Math, English, etc.) required for the ECE degree plan. No funds can be awarded without a completed form. If your schedule/courses change, complete another form with updated information. If you have any questions please email Deborah Palarino at Deborah.Palarino@ppcc.edu. This scholarship application is through PPSC – download form HERE.

CDA SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS

Red Rocks Community College, CDA Scholarships Application will be open and available in January 2023.The scholarship covers new candidates, CDA application/test, and renewals. For application and details, click HERE.

ECE RECRUITMENT + RETENTION SUPPORTS

ECE 101 + 103 | FREE COURSE WORK FACT SHEET

EARLY CHILDHOOD PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIAL VERSION 3.0

For guidance on scoring and additional supports for early childhood staff new to the field, click HERE.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCE GUIDELINES

Child care licensing qualifications — as well as the Early Childhood Professional Credential 3.0 — are determined based on different components of an individual’s professional history. To learn more, click HERE .

COLORADO SHINES

LIVE VIRTUAL + IN-PERSON TRAINING EVENTS

For the Training Alignment Process (TAP) Upcoming Training Events for December, click HERE. The announcement includes information on connecting with trainers for Relationship-Based Care and Trauma-Responsive Care training and a couple of other TAP-recognized eLearning opportunities available through PDIS.

Visit Available TAP Recognized Training to view a list of training you may arrange for your program. To contact the Training Alignment Coordinator, email Mary Heffernan.

FAMILY CHILD CARE RESOURCES

NEW FREE SUPPORT FOR FAMILY CHILD CARE HOMES

Two new Family Child Care Home Navigators are here to help you

Access available program benefits and consultative supports
Provide technical assistance in completing applications for grants
Stay up-to-date on government changes that impact your business
And more!

They also support individuals seeking to open a Family Child Care Home business, and can answer any questions before or after completing Pre-Licensing training (see dates below).

Contact a Navigator Today!

Renee Sasse | 719.381.4806

Aldria Mann | 719.381.4813

QUARTERLY PRE-LICENSING

January 23–27 | Register HERE

$150

Rules, Regulations & Business Rules for Family Child Care Homes

This Pre-Licensing course for exempt providers is offered on the first three days of each Pre-Licensing session.

January 23–25 | Register HERE

$90

Save-the-Date

April: TBD

Questions? Contact Us!

Amber Pickens | 719.684.6195

CDEC UPDATES

With the launch of the Colorado Department of Early Childhood and preparation for Universal Preschool in the 2023-24 school year, there is a lot happening in early childhood! To stay connected sign up for newsletter or follow on social!

The Colorado Department of Early Childhood is excited to share two new Business Guides. Each guide focuses on relevant information on the operational functions of a small business for providers depending on the type of setting they use to provide early care. The Business Guides include information on: