Have you started exploring Granite Steps for Quality, NH's new Quality Recognition and Improvement System?

It is time to get recognized for all you do and become one of New Hampshire’s “recognized” quality programs as a Granite Steps for Quality awardee. To get started take some time to review the Granite Steps for Quality Guidebook, the GSQ application and other informational and instructional pieces included on the "Granite Steps for Quality" page.

We hope to see you at our upcoming Intro and Overview sessions, before we take a short break for the summer. Child Care Aware holds trainings from September through June, starting in July we will be preparing for our 2022-2023 training season. We urge you to plan ahead and sign up for our upcoming sessions if you need them to satisfy the Granite Steps for Quality requirements.

Offered through Child Care Aware of NH, this training is designed to provide an introduction and overview of The Pyramid Model; a conceptual framework of evidence-based practices for promoting young children’s healthy social and emotional development.

Date: Thursday, June 2nd, 2022

Time: 6:15-8:15 PM

This training is an introduction and overview of the Environment Rating Scales. The training will provide basic information on the Environment Rating Scales, how to use the tools and the benefits of using the tools in your classrooms and program.

Date: Monday, May 9, 2022

Time: 12:30 - 2:30 PM

Date: Monday, June 6, 2022

Time: 6:15 - 8:15 PM

The GSQ online application has several places in which there are staff roster pick lists. We have discovered that many program’s staff rosters are in need of updating. While we work to update your

rosters we ask that you follow these steps in order to successfully complete your program’s GSQ Application:

In recognition of programs entering the GSQ system, programs will be receiving lanyards with their GSQ Quality Step Certificates in the mail. The Bureau of Child Development and Head Start Collaboration will be sending the number of lanyards based on the reported number of staff credentialed within a GSQ Application.

Check out the GSQ Frequently Asked Questions document found on the "Granite Steps for Quality" page on NH-Connections. It is fueled by the questions coming from providers all around the state, and is updated frequently. The Bureau of Child Development and Head Start Collaboration, Child Care Aware of New Hampshire and ACROSS NH are actively collecting your questions in order to get you all the information you need.

Join the monthly GSQ call with the Bureau of Child Development and Head Start Collaboration

You'll find any guides, resources and announcements on the "Granite Steps for Quality Page" on NH-Connections.

With the newly adopted QRIS System, 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.

Join Annmarie Censullo, NH Credentialing Specialist for virtual office hours to have your questions answered concerning the NH Early Childhood Credential Process.

Date: Tuesday, June 28 , 2022

Time: 1:00-2:00 PM

If your program needs more hands-on assistance with Credentialing consider applying for our Q-Ready Staff Qualifications Progressive Training Program.

For more information about New Hampshire's Early Childhood Professional Development System, please visit the "Credentialing" page of our website. If you have questions about the Credentialing process or documents please reach out to us at ccrrta@snhs.org.

Are you looking for blank score sheets, USDA guidelines, procedures or other valuable resources for the ERS tools?

You'll find them on the ERSI Website! Just click the tool you are using on the right hand side of the screen, and click on "Supplementary Materials" within the left menu.

Join us for any of our upcoming Intro and Overview of Environment Rating Scales opportunities or apply to participate in the Q-Ready Environment Rating Scales Progressive Training Program.

For more information on the ERS or how you can begin to explore this important tool check out our "Environment Rating Scales" page of our website.

If you have questions about exploring the ERS tool please reach out to us at ccrrta@snhs.org.

Are you looking for ways to boost your Family Engagement Strategies, and help families to connect to positive strategies for managing challenging behaviors at home?

Check out the "Backpack Connection". The Backpack Connection Series was created by Technical Assistance Center on Social Emotional Intervention for Young Children (TACSEI) to provide a way for teachers and parents/caregivers to work together to help young children develop social emotional skills and reduce challenging behavior. Teachers may choose to send a handout home in each child’s backpack when a new strategy or skill is introduced to the class. Each Backpack Connection handout provides information that helps parents stay informed about what their child is learning at school and specific ideas on how to use the strategy or skill at home. This series was developed in collaboration with Pyramid Plus: The Colorado Center for Social Emotional Competence and Inclusion and Bal Swan Children's Center in Broomfield, Colorado. (NCPMI, n.d).

Join us for any of our upcoming Intro and Overview of the Pyramid Model trainings or apply to participate in the Q-Ready Pyramid Model Intro and Overview Progressive Training Program.

For more information on the Pyramid Model or how you can begin to explore this Social Emotional Learning Framework you can visit our "Social Emotional Development and Learning" page.

If you have questions about exploring the Pyramid Model Framework reach out to us at ccrrta@snhs.org.