This section highlights newly featured training at the top, followed by additional training in order of when they are offered.

LEADING EDGE™ FOR CENTER-BASED PROVIDERS

In partnership with Joint Initiatives for Youth + Families and the Pikes Peak Small Business Development Center, LEADING EDGE™ for Child Care Providers helps both licensed child care providers (center-based) and start-ups. The program assists child care providers in strengthening business practices when coping with the challenges of the ever-changing early childhood landscape.

🔗 Register HERE.

CONFLICT RESOLUTION WITHIN YOUR WORKPLACE

Whether a program would like to be prepared if conflict arises, or needs strategies to address current challenges, this training will offer information related to employee engagement and retention, workplace culture, and resilience.

April 18 | Register HERE

CHALLENGING BEHAVIOR IN CHILDREN

In a classroom environment, one of the biggest obstacles you may face is dealing with children with challenging behavior. All behavior is a form of communication, and this training provides information to help you understand the causes of challenging behavior and offers strategies to implement in your early childhood program.

May 2 | Register HERE

QUARTERLY PRE-LICENSING

April 22-25

July 22–25

9:30 am – 1:30 pm | Online

Becoming a Licensed Family Child Care Provider is an exciting career move that offers you the opportunity to provide appropriate care and guidance for other children in your community. Licensed Family Child Care Providers can earn income for their families while providing an invaluable service to the community.

NEW! Registration for Pre-Licensing is now through PDIS HERE. Make sure to fill out all the fields, including a personal phone number. Also, it is important to check on and update the email address listed in the My Profile>Personal area before requesting registration. Your registration cannot be approved if it is missing any information.

Register for April or July training in PDIS HERE | $50

For more information on building your career as a Family Child Care Provider, visit the JI website HERE.

NUEVA!

PRE-LICENCIA PARA HOGARES DE CUIDO INFANTIL FAMILIARES 

15-19 de Abril | 9:30 am – 1:00 pm

La capacitacion Previa a la Licencia para un Hogar de Cuido Infantil Familiar es una requerida de 15 horas. Los participantes deberán asistir los 5 dias y completar los 7 modulos para recibir el certificado de finalización.

Regístrese aquí en PDIS | $50

WOULD YOU LIKE OUR CAREER NAVIGATOR TO HELP YOU?

Joint Initiatives offers free career navigation 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! Download our Navigator Flyer for details or visit our BuildMyECECareer.com to schedule a free time to chat. If you know someone considering a career in early childhood education, this site has complete details for getting started, including inspiring videos highlighting those in the field! ¡Ofrecemos nuestros servicios en Español! For flyer in Spanish, click HERE.

EQIT REGISTRATION IS OPEN

The 48-hour Expanding Quality for Infants and Toddlers (EQIT) curriculum provides a solid introduction to infant and toddler development, with a focus on providing quality group care for our youngest children. The curriculum builds on the knowledge and experience of infant and toddler caregivers through interesting, interactive, and fun activities. EQIT Session D starts April 15th. Please note that when registering for an EQIT training through PDIS HERE, make sure to fill out all the fields, including a personal phone number. Also, it is important to check on and update the email address listed in the My Profile>Personal area before requesting registration. Your registration cannot be approved if it is missing any information. Details for how to register for EQIT through PDIS are available HERE. Cost is $50.

CHECK OUT THE PD CATALOG

Joint Initiatives offers a PD Catalog with icons for easy viewing of the training details, QR codes and buttons for easy registration, and NEW information for how to connect with us on social media and through our website. The catalog also details the supports offered by our Foundations team, includes staff contact information, and has a link to schedule a chat with our Foundations Career Navigator. The catalog is available on our PD Calendar page.

VISIT THE EARLY CHILDHOOD WORKFORCE PAGE

Visit the Early Childhood Workforce page of the JI website below for information on earning a Child Development Associate, becoming Early Childhood Teacher qualified, as well as connecting with scholarship opportunities, coaching, grants, training, Family Child Care Provider supports, and resources related to health and wellness, safety/emergency, kindergarten transition, Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation, and MORE!

LIVE VIRTUAL + IN-PERSON TRAINING EVENTS

View Upcoming Live Virtual and In-Person Training Events HERE to learn about professional development opportunities happening during May. All certificates are issued through your PDIS account so there is no need to upload a document into PDIS. Any applicable social-emotional hours are also automatically counted.

PDIS WEEKLY DEMOS FOR NEW LOOK!

The PDIS Help Desk team is holding weekly demonstrations of the PDIS's new look.  View the View the schedule of demos HERE to register.

El equipo de la mesa de ayuda de PDIS realiza demostraciones semanales de la nueva apariencia. ¡Vea el calendario de demostraciones para registrarse.

EARLY CHILDHOOD PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIAL VERSION 3.0

For guidance on scoring and additional support 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.

JI/FOUNDATIONS SCHOLARSHIPS

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

ECE EDUCATOR LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM

The Colorado ECE Educator Loan Forgiveness program is open right now! This program is open to actively employed full-time ECE educators, family child care providers, directors, and support staff with federal student loans. To complete the application, you will need to submit this employee verification form that has been signed by your employer. 

DEADLINE: CDHE will be accepting applications until April 15, 2024. 

Email ECEeducatorFunding@dhe.state.co.us with any questions.

CREDIT FOR PRIOR LEARNING

Do you have experience working in early childhood education? Learn more about an exciting opportunity for students involved in the Early Childhood Education profession: Credit for Prior Learning (CPL). This program offers a unique chance to leverage accumulated knowledge and skills in the field and PDIS Certificates to earn college credit. At Pikes Peak State College, you can earn up to 12 college credits for your work experience with their easy, prompt, no-cost process! Get program information HERE, view the flyer HERE, or reach out to Deborah Palarino to request information at Deborah.palarino@pikespeak.edu or 719.502.3463.

FREE ECE COURSES AT PPSC TO EARN CERTIFICATES AND ASSOCIATE DEGREES

Enroll in the Pikes Peak State College Career Advance Colorado program! The program includes tuition/fees/books for students in Early Childhood Education certificate AND associate degree programs. View the full Career Advance Colorado flyer HERE. View student requirements HERE.

PPSC certificates and associate degrees are outlined here: Early Childhood Education Degree Options | PPSC (pikespeak.edu). Students can pursue one or more ECE certificates or associate degrees to help them enter the field and upskill for new ECE roles. View the Associate of Applied Science flyer HERE.

Need guidance? Contact JI’s Foundations Career Navigator, Mel Lopez, at Mlopez@jointinitiatives.org. ¡Ofrecemos nuestros servicios en Español! 

FUNDING ASSISTANCE FOR TRANSCRIPT EVALUATION

Funding is available through the Colorado Department of Education’s (CDE) Career Navigation work to facilitate and pay for international transcript evaluations. At this time funding is available until September 2024. Their focus is on individuals in the ECE field looking into applying for an Early Childhood Professional Credential. This transcript evaluation may help providers receive a higher ECPS level; therefore, they will receive a higher tax credit. Transcripts are being transcribed from many different languages.

• International Transcript Evaluation Request form - English
• International Transcript Evaluation Request form - Spanish

T.E.A.C.H. EARLY CHILDHOOD COLORADO SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM OPPORTUNITIES

To learn more about all the scholarship models and eligibility guidelines click HERE.  For questions contact

Shannon Hall, Director of Direct Services, at 720.899.3047 shannon@ecclacolorado.org

TEACH COLORADO

Future Early Childhood Teacher Scholarships

TEACH Colorado will be awarding $1,000 to five future early childhood educators seeking early childhood teacher qualification or licensure in Colorado. Apply HERE by April 30th.

TEACH Colorado Classic Scholarships 

Year-round, TEACH Colorado offers a seasonal $1,000 scholarship to one individual who goes on to apply to a licensure program (Bachelor’s, Master’s, or alternative licensure) after creating a FREE account. Apply HERE by April 30th.

Not sure what pathway or program fits your needs? TEACH Colorado provides free 1-on-1 advising from early childhood experts who are trained to help you figure it out! Set up a free session HERE!

Other financial aid opportunities are available HERE.

BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING REQUIRED

Early childhood programs operating as an LLC must to register through FinCEN (Financial Crimes Enforcement Network) to report beneficial ownership information (BOI) to the U.S. Department of the Treasury. There is no charge to register with FinCEN. It takes about 10 minutes to register and is free. See the information linked below for details.

See the information linked below for details.

• Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting 
• Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting | FAQs
• FinCEN Website
• FinCEN ID Quick Reference Guide
• FinCEN ID Step-by-Step Instructions
• Tax Support Resources

THE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATOR TAX CREDIT

It’s tax season, and you and/or the families you serve may be eligible for thousands of dollars in tax credits! Help your families get their refunds and tax credits this tax season, including the TABOR rebate. Learn what’s new for tax season 2024, as well as quick and simple ways to refer families to free tax filing options at the Get Ahead Colorado/Hacia Adelante Colorado.

📣 GET ALL THE DETAILS HERE!

REMINDER: If you have an active Early Childhood Professional Credential (ECPC), you do not need an updated credential to receive the tax credit. However, you must file your 2023 taxes to be eligible for this credit. Early childhood educators who hold an active PDIS Early Childhood Credential (ECPC) in either Version 2.0 or 3.0 qualify for the tax credit. For more information, click HERE.

SOUTHERN COLORADO EARLY CHILDHOOD BUSINESS CONFERENCE

Elevate your business with insightful presentations, UPK updates, networking with industry leaders, and the opportunity to earn PDIS credit.:

April 27 | Register HERE

COMMUNITY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM EXPANSION

The Harris Program in Child Development and Infant Mental Health at the University of Colorado is pleased to announce the opening of applications for the 2024-25 Community Fellowship Program. Professionals with an interest in infant and early childhood mental health seeking to increase their knowledge and skills and become leaders and advocates in their communities are encouraged to apply by April 12th. Using remote learning technology, fellows will participate in a yearlong training program, while continuing to serve young children, families and providers in their community.

See Fellowship Program details HERE.

Questions? Email Kelly Glaze or Jordana Ash

SOUTHERN COLORADO EARLY CHILDHOOD BUSINESS CONFERENCE

Project Include provides training, support, and equipment to assist licensed Colorado family child care homes, child care centers, and preschools in developing learning environments and curriculums that are more inclusive for all children, including those with delays and disabilities. Learn more HERE.

PYRAMID TRAINING + COACHING PROJECTS CONTINUE

Healthy Child Care Colorado is excited to continue their partnership with the Colorado Department of Early Childhood to expand the accessibility of Pyramid Model training offered at no cost. Upon successful completion, participants will receive a stipend and teaching materials. Twenty programs/teaching teams will receive ten hours of coaching, TPOT or TPITOS observation, and teaching materials at no cost. If your program staff are interested, please fill out this interest form to be notified when training registration opens. Training is offered in English and Spanish through virtual, in-person, and hybrid formats. 

VIRTUAL OFFICE HOURS 

Every Wednesday, starting March 6, 2024, until June 26, 2024, The Family Child Care Navigators will host an Office Hours session from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm. Providers can ask questions and gain access to resources for your Family Child Care Home business. It will be held virtually via Microsoft Teams.

Download the flyer HERE with all of the links and details for joining!

FREE SUPPORT FOR FAMILY CHILD CARE HOMES

Two 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 Pre-Licensing dates above.)

Contact a Navigator Today!

Renee Sasse | 719.381.4806

Aldria Mann | 719.381.4813

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:

• Business Guide for Family Child Care Homes (Guía en español) 
• Business Guide for Child Care Centers (Guía en español) 

Joint Initiatives for Youth + Families is the Local Coordinating Organization (LCO) for Universal Preschool (UPK) in El Paso County. Learn more here and/or sign up for JI's UPK Newsletter HERE.