What is Happening at CCAoNH?
Hello Providers,

Are you ready for a busy November full of cooler weather and new helpful resources? Here at Child Care Aware of New Hampshire, a program of Southern New Hampshire Services, we are preparing for Special Events, connecting families to Vroom and sharing information about the Strengthening Families Approach. Please note, we will be closed on the following dates in the month of November: Thursday, November 11th, Thursday, November 25th and Friday, November 26th.

The Child Care Resource and Referral Outreach Specialists are preparing to share Vroom and STEAM activities with families for Family Engagement Month. See how you and your families can get involved by checking out the information below. The Outreach Specialists have also recently seen a need for child care in the greater Nashua area. 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.

The Training and TA Specialists are gearing up for the Credential Challenge. They are busy preparing Professional Development (PD) opportunities and resources to help NH professionals receive their credentials. Check out more information about the Challenge and its prizes below. We are offering a variety of professional development opportunities that are detailed in this month's E-Newsletter. 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. Training and TA Specialists are hoping to see many Family Child Care Providers at the upcoming Family Child Care Institute on November 13th. Check out information about other Special Events below. We are also continuing to provide quality coaching to Providers through our open enrollment Progressive Training and Technical Assistance Program, Cohort options and Early Childhood Focused Collaboratives.
 
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 Starts Today
Are you and/or your staff looking to apply for their Credentials?

Do you and/or a lot of 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, 2021.
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
It's Time to Celebrate Family Engagement Month
Today is the official start to Family Engagement Month here at SNHS, Child Care Aware of NH! We are collaborating with Vroom all month long to bring you resources to share with your families. To start, check out the *NEW* Family Engagement Page on the NH Connections Website by clicking the button below.
If you have ideas related to family engagement that you would like to feature on this page, please reach out to outreach2ccrr@snhs.org or by clicking the button to the left.

We are looking for ideas related to:
  • Open Door Policies
  • Family Surveys
  • On-Site Resource Areas
  • Cover Page of Your Family Directory
  • Partnerships with your Local Family Resource Center 
Vroom has also provided a variety of information on how families, providers and businesses can support brain building and early learning. Check out a few examples below.
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 You Incorporate STEAM Into Your Curriculum?
During Family Engagement Month, Vroom is also supporting families and providers with sharing activities related to STEAM. STEAM refers to science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics. This article from NAEYC features three (3) ways providers can incorporate STEAM into their curriculum. They can do so by STEAMing with projects, STEAMing with problems and STEAMing with play.
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.
CCAoNH's Special Events
Family Child Care
Training Institute
on Saturday, November 13, 2021
with Tom Copeland,
the Nation’s Leading Expert on the Business of Family Child Care.
This year, CCAoNH is offering nine (9) Special Events. These Special Events range in length and vary in cost from free to $25.00 per event. Most Special Events require registration through Eventbrite unless otherwise noted on the informational flyer.
Early Childhood Focused Collaboratives
Collaborative Highlight of the Month

CCAoNH News and Updates
Topic: This month, participants will partake in a discussion, Hiring Headaches: Let’s Talk Marketing and Hiring. During this meeting, participants are asked to bring a resource to share with other participants to take back to their programs. Examples may include a job posting, a job description, or websites you have had success in hiring with. This topic is an extension of the 2021 Fall Leadership Summit. Registration is open to everyone.

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 to the left.
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.
We have several Progressive Training and TA topics that programs can choose from this year. Click on the flyer below to view the current Progressive Training and TA topics.
CCAoNH has open enrollment for the Progressive Training and TA Program!

The Progressive Training and Technical Assistance Program is an opportunity for your program to participate in focused and facilitated teambuilding that promotes professionalism and program quality.

Want to know more? Contact us at
 (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.
Have you turned on your heat yet?  
 
Caring for our Children (CFOC) recommends that everyone utilize Carbon Monoxide (CO) detectors if your home “uses any sources of coal, wood, charcoal, oil, kerosene, propane, natural gas or any other product that can produce carbon monoxide indoors or in an attached garage”.

There are several things that you can do to mitigate the danger of carbon monoxide poisoning:  
  • Install a battery-operated or battery back-up CO detector in your home.
  • Have your heating system, water heater and any other gas, oil or coal burning appliances serviced by a qualified technician every year.
  • Never use a generator inside your home, basement, garage or less than 20 feet from any window, door or vent.
  • When using a generator, use a battery-powered or battery backup CO detector in your home. 
  • Never run your car or truck inside a garage that is attached to a house even with the garage door open.
Other Early Childhood News and Updates
Important Information from the Bureau of Child
Development and Head Start Collaboration
State of NH Child Care Series

Session Two: The Quality of Child Care
Date: Wednesday, November 10, 2021
Time: 5:30-7:00 PM
This session will look at the importance of investing in quality child care across the State. The newly envisioned Quality Recognition and Improvement System, known as “Granite Steps for Quality”, will be explored and its potential impact on children and families.
Session Three: The Business of Child Care
Date: Wednesday, December 8, 2021
Time: 5:30-7:00 PM
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.
This report details how the ARPA Discretionary Fund Survey results were analyzed and identifies the top five final priority recommendations for the ARPA Discretionary Funds.
November 15-19 is National Apprentice Week! 
The Early Childhood Apprenticeship Program is designed to recruit early childhood educators and connect them with apprenticeships that support investing in education while providing on-the-job experience.

Upon completion of this 1.5-year program, apprentices will:
  • Earn college credit through the Community College System of New Hampshire or Granite State College.
  • Have a recognized apprenticeship experience leading to a Child Care Development Specialist Certificate from the Department of Labor and the New Hampshire Bureau of Child Care Licensing and a credential to teach in a child care center.
  • Increase their earning potential through higher wages.
Have You Viewed the Market Rate Survey Results?
The Market Rate Survey included 35 questions regarding program type and size, program schedule, quality indicators, enrollment, attendance, CCDF scholarships, rates by child age, average staff wages, and COVID-19 impacts. The results of this survey can be found by clicking on the button below.
Childcare Immunization Reporting Season is Here
The 2021 Childcare Immunization Report was released on October 6th and it is due November 15, 2021. If you have questions or need assistance with completing your report, you may call 603-271-4482.

You can also view the recently released New Hampshire Child Care Provider’s Guide to Immunizations for assistant with your report, requirements for immunizations and recommendations for families.
Early Childhood Tuition Assistance Grant
Are you looking to take an ECE course this winter term?

Applications for the Early Childhood Tuition Assistance Grant opened on October 26, 2021. Applications will be reviewed as received. Applications fill fast so apply early. Money is awarded at 100% tuition for your first Early Childhood Education course or 50% tuition for subsequent Early Childhood Education courses. For more information and to start the approval process fill out the inquiry form at info.granite.edu/ecta.
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.