In This Week's ACROSS Your Desk:

• Celebrating Black History Month in Your Curriculum
• Earn an SEL Literature Kit for Your OST Program and Celebrate #SELday
• April 6th: 2024 NH OST Convention: Inspire, Lead, Thrive- Annual Celebration & Conference
• 2024 Market Rate Survey
• Help Shape NH's Digital Future- Take this Survey
• SEL Corner: An SEL-Connected Children's Literature Review Example
• Tuition Assistance for OST Providers
• Upcoming ACROSS NH Trainings:
• OSTB 2: Learning Environment and Curriculum: February 13th
• Intro and Overview of ERS and SACERS-U: February 14th
• How to Earn a GSQ Step in OST: February 15th
• ACROSS NH Mindful March Training Series
• How to Register for an ACROSS NH Training in NHCIS

Black History Resources for Providers

This Black History Month, Health and Human Services encourages all of us to commit to health equity nationwide. To achieve a healthier future, we need to dismantle health disparities and improve health outcomes for Black Americans. Black history is American history and should be taught throughout the year in our curriculum. Together, we can build a healthy future for everyone.

Here are some links for resources to implement at your OST program with school age children to build a healthy future for all children:

• The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration
• Black History Month Activities for Kids of All Ages- B&GC of America
• Teaching Black History in Culturally Responsive Ways- Edutopia
• We are Teachers- 40 Black History Month Activities for February and Beyond
• Parents.com The Best Black History Activities for Little Kids, Tweens, and Teens
• Celebrating Black Leaders- PBS
• Teachers Pay Teachers- Free Black History Activities

Do You Have a Favorite Children's Book with an SEL Connection?

Earn a Social and Emotional Learning-Connected Literature Kit for your OST program at no cost from ACROSS NH and help us to celebrate International #SELday on March 8, 2024. Follow the steps in the details below to see how you can send us your submission! Due date for your submission is March 1st! Questions? Email ACROSS NH SEL Coordinator, Abigail Blodgett Argentine, at ablodgett@acrossnh.org.

Those who contribute a submission will earn 3 Professional Activity (PA) units to use toward their Afterschool Credential application or renewal for "Participating in a statewide program that shares activities to help promotes SEL" !

Registration Opens Soon!

Save the date! ACROSS NH and the NH Afterschool Network are currently collaborating to bring you the 2024 NH Out of School Time Convention: Inspire, Lead, Thrive! Annual Celebration & Conference!

Mark your calendar! We hope you plan to attend the 2024 convention of celebration, trainings, networking, giveaways, vendors, breakfast, lunch, and raffle prizes. Registration is opening soon! We will be celebrating the 2023-2024 Afterschool Credential recipients, OST Programs that earned a Granite Step for Quality, Champions in OST, and also those who are Making a Difference in OST. Look for the announcement here in your weekly ACROSS Your Desk newsletter.

It's going to be an amazing day for the NH OST community- we hope you will join us!

Market Rate Survey: Your Voice Matters!

Dear Child Care Provider,

We hope this message finds you well and thriving in your important role as a child care provider. Your dedication to nurturing and educating the next generation is truly commendable, and we deeply appreciate the valuable contribution you make to our community.

We are reaching out to ask you to participate in the upcoming Child Care Market Rate Survey by February 28, 2024. Your insights are crucial in helping us understand the current landscape of child care services and ensuring that providers like you are fairly compensated for the essential work you do.

Why Participate? 

Fair Compensation:

Your input will directly contribute to establishing fair and competitive rates that reflect the true value of your services. This ensures that you receive the compensation you deserve for the outstanding care and education you provide to our community’s children.

Quality Child Care:

The survey results will help create a more accurate picture of the child care market, allowing us to advocate for policies that support high-quality child care. By participating, you play a key role in shaping the future of child care services in our area.

Community Impact:

Your participation goes beyond your individual center or program. It has a positive impact on the entire community by supporting the economic well-being of child care providers and enhancing the overall quality of child care services available to families. 

The survey will take place through the Child Care Profile tile in New Hampshire Connections Information System (NHCIS). Instructions are provided with screenshots on the NHCIS Guide. You can also download a worksheet to help you gather all the required information before you enter it into your profile. All information provided in the Market Rate Survey, Narrow Cost Analysis, and Work Force Development tabs are confidential and not posted on the public website. 

We ask that you update all sections of your Child Care profile through the following areas: Ages Served and Capacity, Other Information, Market Rate Survey, Narrow Cost Analysis, and Workforce Development tabs. Rates can be redacted from the public website if desired.

You also need to update your Staff Roster to reflect all active staff in their current roles. You can find your staff roster in the Background Record Check tile of NHCIS. Reference the NHCIS Guide for step-by-step instructions on updating your roster.

Sincerely,

Department of Health and Human Services

Bureau of Child Development and Head Start Collaboration

This message is shared on behalf of our funder, NH DHHS and BCDHSC.

This message is shared on behalf of our collaborating partner the NH Afterschool Network.

SEL-Connected Children's Book Review: An Example

Dear Social, Emotional, and Mindfulness in OST Community, 

As you likely are aware, ACROSS NH is celebrating international #SELDay with a collection of SEL-Connected Children's book reviews from the real experts-you! Below, I have created an example of an SEL-connected children's book review. Click here to learn more.

Check out, "I Am Love: A Book of Compassion," by Susan Verde, just in time for Valentine's Day! 

Why Do I Recommend This Book? 

Sample: This book is a great way to spark some pretty deep conversations with kids. Its language is uncomplex while its message is deep. The illustrations can serve as a vehicle for conversation with younger children where they may gain meaning through story-telling images over the written language. This book can really 'get to the heart' of Valentine's Day, exploring the theme of love and compassion in a deep and meaningful way. 

How Did I Use This Book to Support SEL In My Program?

Sample: At the beginning of February, a lot of children were talking about holidays that happened in February. The conversation around Valentine's Day covered what type of valentines some kids were going to send to their classmates and other ways they planned to celebrate the day. I was excited to capitalize on what was a highly anticipated experience for the children, I shared the book with the whole group while they ate snack the week before Valentine's Day. I put the book out for children to revisit and enjoy as they wished, and engaged the children in conversation about, "How can we 'after-schoolers' do something that would make our program loving and compassionate?" A fifth grader said, "We can do a special club and call it 'the compassion committee." We had our first meeting that day. The children are planning what it is that the compassion committee will do and when and for how long it will take place.

How to Access, "I Am Love: A Book of Compassion":

You can access the book read-a-loud by following this link: https://youtu.be/E2_R8kq7NhI?si=TlNqYiXaZyLo-fAS. Also, you can check in with your local librarians to see what SEL resources your community has to offer. You can also check on the variety of services your library provides; perhaps they can even do some of the legwork for you, setting aside titles and offering a drop-off/pick-up service. 

May you be well, 

May you have joy, 

May you have peace, 

Abigail J. Blodgett Argentine, B.S.; NH ASMP

ACROSS NH Social Emotional Learning Coordinator 

ablodgett@acrossnh.org

Tuition Assistance for OST Professionals

The Community College System of NH offers Granite Steps for Quality Tuition Assistance (GSQ) provides tuition awards for ECE courses for students working as preschool teachers, out-of-school-time (OST) workers, or elementary school paraprofessionals. Click here or on the flyer below for more details!

The UNH College of Professional Studies is pleased to offer eligible student applicants tuition assistance toward two courses per term. This effort is funded by the NH Bureau of Child Development and Head Start Collaboration through Early Childhood Tuition Assistance (ECTA) and Preschool Development Grants (PDG). Click here or on the flyer below for more details!

OSTB 2: Learning Environments and Curriculum

Tuesday, February 13th

6:30-8:30pm on Zoom

ACROSS NH is proud to provide free virtual and interactive Out of School Time Basics trainings on the National Afterschool Association (NAA) Ten Core Knowledge, Skills & Competencies. These trainings are provided at no cost to you thanks to funding from the NH DHHS and Bureau of Child Development and Head Start Collaboration.

Environments and curriculum are the foundation of your afterschool program! In this virtual interactive workshop, you will learn how to create engaging environments and prepare curriculum that provide fun and enriching activities. The session will also explore how children and youth learn through activities and play. You will leave knowing how to design and implement learning opportunities that include goals and objectives.

Introduction and Overview of ERS and SACERS-U

Wednesday, February 14th

12:00-1:30pm on Zoom

The Environment Rating Scales (ERS) are observational tools that assess process quality of child care programs. This virtual training provides an introduction and overview of the ERS and the School Age Care Environment Rating Scale-Updated (SACERS-U) tool. We will examine the benefits of using the tool for children and for programs. Participants will practice how to use the SACERS-U tool in an out-of-school time (OST) program. This training is intended for programs with school age children in OST. This training fulfills the required Granite Steps for Quality (GSQ) ERS Training for the SACERS Learning Environment Standard Rubric.

This training is provided by Cathy Hazelton, M.Ed.; NH ASMP WT, PC, IM, NH ADS 3 & LE 3 and SACERS-U Anchor. ACROSS NH can provide a copy of the SACERS-U tool to your program by request once you have completed the training. Please email your request to chazelton@acrossnh.org.

How to Earn a GSQ Step in OST

Thursday, February 15th

12:00-1:00pm on Zoom

This training is for out of school time (OST) programs, and early childhood programs with an OST component that are planning to apply for a Granite Step for Quality (GSQ). We will review the details of the GSQ OST Rubrics. We will cover the pre-requisites needed, and the the staff requirements & the learning environment requirements needed for applying for a step. Participants will also acquire resources from ACROSS NH to support their work including a self-paced checklist to help you get organized!

This training is provided by Cathy Hazelton, M.Ed.; NH ASMP WT, PC, IM, NH ADS 3 & LE 3 and SACERS-U Anchor. ACROSS NH can provide a copy of the SACERS-U tool to your program by request once you have completed the training. Please email your request to chazelton@acrossnh.org.

Social, Emotional, and Mindfulness Learning in Out of School Time:

A Hybrid Training Series

Why Social, Emotional, 'and' Mindful Learning?

Thursday, March 7, 6:30-8:30 pm on Zoom

Mindful Self-Awareness and Emotional Regulation

Thursday, March 21, 6:30-8:30 pm on Zoom

Mindful Social Awareness and Heartful Connecting

Thursday, April 4, 6:30-8:30 pm on Zoom

Social, Emotional, and Mindfulness Learning (SEML): Putting it into Practice

Saturday, April 6

In Person at the ACROSS NH Spring Conference (Location TBD)

Participants who complete all 4 sessions will receive a FREE SEML Materials Kit to implement into their program to celebrate and recognize their full participation in the training series! 

Registration is required in NHCIS for the first three individual trainings. The last session will be during the ACROSS NH Planning Your Summer Conference and will require a small fee to attend the conference. (Registration and information for the ACROSS NH Planning Your Summer Conference will be announced in February.)

Click here or on the flyer image to download the complete details!

Save your spots now and register for the sessions you choose in NHCIS!

How to Register for an ACROSS NH Training in NHCIS

Log into NHCIS. Go to your "training tile" and click on "take a training." Scroll down and click on "Month" view. Advance to the date of the training that you want to register for and click on the "training title." If you are having trouble registering for an ACROSS NH training in NHCIS, please email Cathy Hazelton at chazelton@acrossnh.org.

For more information about NHCIS,

go to https://www.nh-connections.org/providers/nh-professional-registry/.