Professional Development News |
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Alliance for Kids is here to support the needs of the Early Childhood Workforce! |
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The Pikes Peak SBDC's LEADING EDGE™ for Child Care Providers assists child care providers in strengthening business practices when coping with the challenges of COVID-19 and the ever-changing landscape of the Colorado workforce.
In partnership with the Alliance for Kids and Early Connections, the SBDC is launching this 6-week impactful course with the goal of enhancing business owner skills. This 6-week course will be designed for home-based child care providers and start-ups. We will have a course for center-based providers later this year. The course will be held on Saturdays from 9 am to noon, beginning March 27th. Click HERE to register.
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Click Here for Continuing Education Unit (CEU) Information
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The Institute for Racial Equity and Excellence (IREE) is presenting the second webinar in their Equity in Early Childhood series. The event will feature Jada Dixon, Executive Coach. To register, click HERE.
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Registration is wrapping up for the Free Learning Series designed to support you in meeting the social-emotional and behavioral needs of children in your care.
If you missed Session 1-4, click HERE for a flyer with details on watching a recorded session and taking a short survey to receive a certificate for one hour of social-emotional training.
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Designed specifically for early childhood providers, this ACES Learning Series explores how a child’s early experiences, both positive and negative, impacts early brain development and life outcomes. This four-part series helps caregivers better understand how childhood adversity can affect their own interaction with children, families, and co-workers.
The curriculum examines the Adverse Childhood Experience Study (ACEs) and the broader context of trauma. It addresses how these early experiences impact neurodevelopment and what this means in the early childhood classroom, secondary trauma and self-care. Additionally, it provides the foundational understanding of social-emotional learning and classroom strategies. Cohort begins April 13th - click HERE for details and registration ($25).
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UPDATED: Three-session cohorts of Conversations with a Consultant will start in March! It's a time for child care providers to discuss what they are experiencing in their work right now with an Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant. These online groups will provide a safe place for the workforce to vent frustrations, discuss COVID-19 challenges, and ask advice about children’s challenging behavior. Consultants will act as a sounding board and create a trusted group that can support each other through this difficult time. For cohort dates, times, and registration, click HERE for the flyer.
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The FREE Program connects caregivers in El Paso and Teller Counties through monthly meetings where participants will focus on their personal self-care. For additional information or to join the program, please contact Kim Santaniello at 719.650.3736. View FREE Program Flyer for details.
*A caregiver can be a grandparent or other family member, friend, neighbor, or nanny providing regular care for young children.
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Alliance for Kids, in partnership with The Resource Exchange, is offering a new Free Learning Series designed to support you in meeting the social-emotional and behavioral needs of children in your care. The series is open to all early childhood programs and families, and seeks to strengthen resiliency in children, parents, and care providers in times of stress.
If you missed sessions 1-4, click HERE for flyer with details for watching recorded sessions to earn 1.5 hours in PDIS (Social-Emotional) for each of the sessions.
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Exciting Pathway to ECT Qualification! |
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The Child Care Development Specialist Apprenticeship allows job seekers and early learning professionals to choose their own path to become Early Childhood Teacher/Director qualified while learning on-the job skills with on-site support. To find out if this unique program is the pathway for you, download our Apprenticeship flyer HERE. You'll learn how the program works, how you'll be supported throughout the process, and more about the benefits of Apprenticeship. To sign up for a 1-hour information session, please click on the date you prefer:
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The CDA credential is a key stepping stone on the path of career advancement in Early Childhood Education. Scholarships applications are now open for this program for teachers not yet ECT qualified. For more details, go to rrcc.edu/childcareinnovations and click on the CDA Program tab, or download the flyer HERE.
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Early childhood professionals interested in submitting a CDA Observation Waiver application should use this link to submit a CDA Observation Waiver Application. For more information on the CDA Observation Waiver, including background, process, and eligibility, click HERE. Also, please remember that CDA observations should not be occurring in person during this time.
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Due to recent events, the Council for Professional Recognition is extending the deadline for the CDA Renewal Amnesty Program to June 1, 2021. The CDA Amnesty Program will allow anyone with a lapsed CDA certification to renew their CDA without starting the entire process over again. More information on the Program is available HERE.
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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.
Next Five-Day Virtual Session
Rules, Regulations & Business Rules for Family Child Care Homes
This course for exempt providers is offered on the first three days of each quarterly Pre-Licensing session. Register HERE for the April 26-28th session ($90).
Additional Pre-Licensing dates for 2021 are July 26-30 and October 25-29.
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 and 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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Quick Links for PDIS
Email Erica Evans or call 719.233.0770 for more details.
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ITERS/ECERS-3 Versions
These versions are put on hold for Colorado Shines ratings due to COVID-19. Programs that would be going through a rating should continue using the ERS-R version of the scale. Please note that this information is subject to change until CDC guidelines change. If you need support with this new tool, contact TDixon@jointinitiatives.org (719.313.8913) to set up coaching or to answer questions.
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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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Click the boxes below for more information. |
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Dynamic Coaching Systems in collaboration with the University of Colorado at Denver offers a program for earning a Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Coaching! The certificate program provides experiential learning in best coaching practices for teacher-leaders, coaches, directors, principals, home child care providers, early interventionists, special education staff, or anyone looking to enhance their coaching skills. To learn more, 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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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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NEW Graduate Certificate Program at UCCS!
The UCCS Inclusive Early Childhood Education program is excited to launch our new part-time, online, 4-semester ECE/ECSE Graduate Certificate program starting Fall 2021! This state-authorized program is designed to advance early educators’ professional knowledge and skills and leads to CDE licensure in birth-8 (ECE) and endorsement in birth-8 special education (ECSE), with a condensed schedule allowing completion in December 2022. This certificate program can also be extended into an MA in SPED with 3 additional courses. The cohort model allows for deeper faculty-student connections and a 30% reduction in overall cost. Please see the program flyer for more details, and add your name to this interest list (below) to be invited to our virtual information session and Q&A happening in mid-March.
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The Pikes Peak Small Business Development Center offers training and consulting and is a great resource for early childhood education program owners and directors to connect with consultants, workshops, and resources related to running a successful small business.
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CU Anschutz is pleased to announce the Well-Being Support Line (303-724-2500), a free service for healthcare workers and educators -- statewide. The support line is available via call or text from 8 AM to 8 PM, seven days a week. For complete details, including who can call and what to expect when you contact the line, click HERE.
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Supporting Young Children & Families During a Pandemic is a FREE early learning training series for today's challenges brought to you by ABCD. Let's shine a light on the important work of early learning providers during an extraordinary time in our world. We will discuss how to identify red flags,build resilience, and seek support despite the limitations this pandemic has created. Concrete resources and activities will be provided during these interactive virtual trainings. Register HERE. View flyer HERE.
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A workforce transformation is happening due to the current health crisis. Thousands of people are unemployed. Business is being disrupted and workforce demands are shifting. The Pikes Peak Workforce Center is proud to announce the ROAD TO RECOVERY campaign that offers resources funded through the CARES Act to support both workers and employers in our community. The EMPLOYER TOOLKIT is a specialized toolbox full of strategies for EMPLOYERS to hire, recruit, upskill and/or retrain their workers or locate services through the Pikes Peak Workforce Center. The PPWFC also offers VIRTUAL JOB FAIRS, hiring resources and can even host private classrooms to train a group of co-workers within an organization. The Pikes Peak Workforce Center’s ROAD TO RECOVERY campaign, funded through the CARES Act, is for the whole community! Please visit our website at ppwfc.org or call 719-667-3814 to talk with our Business Resources Group about how the PPWFC can support your organization.
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Session Capacity Increased for the Virtual 2021 RMECC! We've added space in all of the sessions! If one of the sessions you wanted was full, find instructions for editing your schedule here. If you haven't registered yet, get online now and reserve your spot. The session capacity will not be increased again. Deadline to register is March 19th or whenever all of the sessions are full. For details, visit the conference website.
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Strategies for Making Distance Learning Work: Over the course of the next few months, you’ll learn from Teaching Strategies and their partners in the field about how to get started, effective strategies, and the latest research on distance learning. Learn more about this series HERE.
Self-Care for Educators: Educators always have a full plate of responsibilities. But now, many educators feel overwhelmed with the added weight of teaching during a pandemic. It is imperative that you have strategies in place to help prioritize your typical responsibilities and new distance learning tasks, while still taking the time for self-care and reflection. Register HERE to access the recording.
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Colorado CPR & Safety Professionals will be offering Medication Administration (Part 2) virtually on every other Tuesday evening. For more information, view their Calendar.Complete Part 1 online as usual at Colorado Shines PDIS.
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Sign up for their newsletter HERE.
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Healthy Child Care Colorado promotes and support best practices by providing grants, professional development, technical assistance, and advocacy. Visit their Jobs Board or visit their website.
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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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Tools for strengthening responsive caregiving in ECE, supporting positive behaviors, and nurturing children’s learning and development. ECE Formula is an online platform for learning; training meets PDIS requirements for ongoing professional development.
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Nature Explore has New Online Sessions for Educators! This opportunity offers engaging, inspiring and research-based sessions to support you and your team during this trying time. Nature soothes the soul and finding hope in your daily life can too. Join us as we continue to explore concepts and plan for nature-rich experiences for children and the adults who support them. Learn more about upcoming sessions HERE. |
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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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