December 2023

Here's "The Scoop" on Preparing for Emergencies and Winter Safety!

Hello Providers,

Welcome to The Scoop, your winter wonderland of resources, ideas, and inspiration tailored for your expertise in early childhood education. We're here to be your guiding star through these frosty months. Your dedication as early childhood educators is truly remarkable, and we're committed to being your support system.

Wishing you a delightful December filled with warmth and joy through the winter wonder!

With warmth,

Child Care Aware of NH

What topic are you interested in learning more about?

Business Management Practices

Infant & Toddler Care

NH Early Learning Standards

Program Emergency Preparedness and Response

Staff Qualifications

Strengthening Families, Strengthening Care

Got something specific on your mind that you'd like us to cover? We're all ears! Your thoughts and ideas shape this newsletter, so send us an email at outreach2ccrr@snhs.org.

Child Care Aware of NH News & Updates

2023-2024 Early Childhood Credential Challenge

Are you up for the challenge?! Child Care Aware of NH, a program of Southern NH Services, and the Bureau of Child Development and Head Start Collaboration are thrilled to announce this year's Early Childhood Credential Challenge! We are so excited to celebrate the dedication and expertise of all of NH's Early Childhood Professionals.

This year's challenge is scheduled from December 1, 2023, to February 29, 2024! We recommend submitting your application as early as possible.

Are you ready to apply? Find your individual or team commitment form application at the link below, and discover all the individualized and team support CCAoNH provides along the way! Here's to celebrating YOU in the new year!

Credentialing - NH Connections

View the Credential Challenge Flyer

Credential Professional Development and Virtual Office Hours Flyer

Team Credential Commitment Form

Individual Credential Commitment Form

Child Care Aware of NH News & Updates

TA Tip: Dressing for Outdoor Play Builds Independence Skills

Getting children ready to go outside can be challenging but getting children ready to go outside in the winter months can be laborious, especially if you are the only adult getting them ready. Working with a diverse group of peers teaches all students that skills can be developed with practice over time.

One of the benefits of multi-age childcare is both younger and older students have a chance to develop a growth mindset by observing multiple years of the learning process in one classroom.

The older children can model and assist with getting the younger children into their winter gear. The younger children look up to their older friends and look forward to reaching their level of ability. The older children watch the younger students progress in their skill level of getting their snow pants and boots on which teaches them the value of practice and hard work.

Children don’t always remember or understand that they have vastly different skills and capabilities than they did a year or even a few months ago—but the mixed-age classroom makes that developmental progression very apparent.

Watching the weather is part of a child care provider’s job. Planning for playtime, field trips, or weather safety is part of the daily routine. The changes in weather require the child care provider to monitor the health and safety of children. Read more the Child Care Weather Watch resource.

This TA Tip was graciously shared by Connie Davis,

Family Child Care Support Specialist.

Child Care Aware of NH is here to assist you! To learn more about how we can support your Infant and Toddler Practices, please refer to our Services and Supports Guide .

2023-2024 Services and Support Guide

Spotlight on Professional Development-Winter 2023/2024

2023-2024 Winter Trainings-At-a-Glance Calendar

Professional Development - NH Connections

Resources for Providers

Technical Assistance on Program Emergency Preparedness and Response

The Progressive Training and Technical Assistance Program (PTTAP) offers child care programs an opportunity to participate in focused and facilitated training and technical assistance. This program provides individualized technical assistance to improve program quality.

Technical assistance, coaching and consultation is provided via the phone/email, virtually and/or onsite.

More Information on Technical Assistance

Program Emergency Preparedness and Response: Supports Programs further develop their Emergency Operations Plan and Continuity of Operations Plan, as well as practice the Emergency Response Drills to help them be more equipped for an emergency. Are you ready to strengthen your programs emergency plans? Complete an application below to get personalized assistance from one of our Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) Specialists!

2023 PTTAP Application

Please email application to ccrrta@snhs.org.

Early Childhood Focused Collaboratives

The Family Engagement & Communication Collaborative is held on the first Wednesday of the month from 1:00-2:30 PM. Join us next for our next monthly training on Wed. January 3rd.

Participants will have an opportunity to meet Darlene Avery and Christine Conlon, Licensing & Evaluation Coordinators, from the Child Care Licensing Unit. They will share common concerns families have when they contact the Child Care Licensing Unit. They will also discuss simple things providers can do to foster strong and trusting relationships with families with open, honest, and transparent conversations about licensing rules and/or statement of findings. Darlene and Christine will end with time for questions

You can register for this collaborative and others through your NHCIS account.

2023-2024 Early Childhood Collaboratives

Caring for Our Children: National Health and Safety Performance Standards; Guidelines for Early Care and Education Programs (CFOC)

This resource can be overwhelming, but it is a great website to add to your web browser bookmarks for those times you need to research topics related to health and safety. We hope the information here will give you the confidence you need to make informed health and safety related decisions. Check it out!

Caring for Our Children (CFOC)

CFOC - Emergency and Evacuation Drills Policy

CFOC - Disaster Planning, Training, and Communication

CFOC - Playing Outdoors

Resources for Families

Vroom

Looking for a way to expand your programs emergency preparedness efforts further than the walls of your program? Our friends at Vroom share this perfect handout to share with families emphasizing brain building tips for children to develop skills to help them feel safe and secure in preparing, responding or recovering from an emergency.

Preparing for Emergencies: Tips for Families with Young Children

Preparación Ante Emergencias: Actividades Para Familias con Niños Pequeños

Be Prepared! ReadyNH.gov

Ready NH - Family Emergency Plan

Ready NH - For Families

Ready NH - For Kids & Educators

Ready NH - "I'm Ready!" Activity Book

Parents should discuss Emergency Preparedness with their children what emergencies might occur and what actions the family would take to protect itself. Children should also be given age-appropriate roles in carrying out the emergency plan. This information is designed to familiarize children with emergency planning and help to demystify disasters.

News & Resources from Our Collaborative Partners

New Hampshire Connections Information System (NHCIS) Updates & Improvements

This message is being sent as a courtesy to our collaborative partner, the Bureau of Child Development and Head Start Collaboration (BCDHSC)

The Bureau of Child Development and Head Start Collaboration (BCDHSC) has been making updates and improvements to the New Hampshire Connections Information System (NHCIS). The latest changes were made on December 4th, focusing on providing more details about the Background Record Check (BRC) process.

The NHCIS User Guide has been updated to show these changes. You can find the guide on the DHHS website, NH-Connections website, and the ACROSS NH website. If you have questions about how to use NHCIS, check the guide, and you'll see the "Last Updated" date on the bottom of the first page.

We're planning to make NHCIS even better by adding features like Provider Enrollment, Credentialing, GSQ, and Training. Sometimes, when NHCIS is updated and improved, there might be unexpected problems. If you come across any issues, please tell us by submitting a help desk 'Support' ticket. Remember, the support functions in NHCIS are for technical problems. If you have other questions, contact BCDHSC, Child Care Licensing, Child Care Aware of N.H., or ACROSS NH.

Child Care Aware of NH is a Child Care Resource and Referral Program of Southern New Hampshire Services. The preparation of this (report, document, etc.) was financed under a Contract with the State of New Hampshire, Department of Health and Human Services, with funds provided in part by the State of New Hampshire and/or such other funding sources as were available or required, e.g., the United States Department of Health and Human Services.