This section highlights newly featured training at the top, followed by additional training in order of when they are offered. | |
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ADVANCING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS PROGRAM
Joint Initiatives for Youth + Families (JI) is excited to partner with Pikes Peak State College to offer a new program that includes $500–$800 in funding for YOU (depending on the track); monetary incentives for completion of credits, CEUs, and PDIS levels; personalized career navigation; and coaching to work in the field of Early Childhood Education. This program can take you from your unique starting point and get you on track to a rewarding career in early childhood!
Check out the informational flyers and APPLY TODAY:
Funding to launch this program was awarded to Joint Initiatives for Youth + Families by the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) as a recipient of the Opportunity Now Colorado grant. To learn more about this award, click HERE.
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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.
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LEADING EXCELLENCE: EMPOWERING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION LEADERS
This training delves into the vital aspects of leadership within early childhood education. Attendees will learn how to develop a vision for the organization and how to identify and recruit talented individuals who align with those values. Participants will explore effective strategies for mentoring and guiding educators to excel in their roles, fostering a nurturing environment for staff and students. Additionally, the course will cover professional leadership principles, empowering participants to cultivate a culture of continuous learning and growth within their educational communities. With practical insights and actionable techniques, this class equips aspiring and seasoned leaders alike with the skills and knowledge to drive positive change and elevate the quality of early childhood education programs. This free training is offered by JI in partnership with Pikes Peak State College.
May 7 | Instructor: Laura Zyonse, MA (PPSC Professor)
🔗 Register HERE
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BUILDING A BRIGHT FUTURE:
Nurturing Staff Retention and Creating Positive Workplace Environments in Early Childhood Settings
This training session is designed to empower early childhood educators and administrators in fostering environments that support staff retention and cultivate positive workplace dynamics. Through interactive discussions, practical strategies, and collaborative activities, participants will explore the essential elements of creating a nurturing and supportive workplace culture. Topics will include effective communication techniques, team building exercises, recognizing and addressing burnout, promoting work-life balance, and implementing strategies for professional growth and development. Whether you're an educator, supervisor,
or administrator, this training will equip you with the tools and
insights needed to cultivate a thriving and resilient early childhood
community. This free training is offered by JI in partnership with Pikes Peak State College.
June 4 | Instructor: Kassy Lopez, PhD (PPSC Professor)
🔗 Register HERE
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BRAINWISE
BrainWise provides a comprehensive package of ideas, providing a framework and tools to help teachers teach what children at a young age need to possess the social, emotional, and critical thinking skills necessary to analyze and respond to complex situations and to recognize, understand, and appropriately manage their own emotions. This training will offer strategies for supporting children in controlling impulsive behavior, accurately identifying choices, assessing the consequences of actions, and making responsible decisions.
June 13 | Instructor: Paula Hergert, M.A. Ed.
🔗 Register HERE
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UNDERSTANDING RESILIENCY IN YOUNG CHILDREN
Children and youth with special healthcare needs (CYSHCN) experience childhood adversities and trauma at a much higher rate (2X) than children without special healthcare needs. CYSHCN are more susceptible to trauma for a variety of reasons. Join us to learn about trauma and resiliency in CYSHCN and how to help them gain skills to face future adversities. You will have the opportunity to walk through examples of how to help this population to develop or reinforce resiliency.
June 20 | Instructor: Kyrsten Hall, MPH
🔗 REGISTER HERE
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QUARTERLY PRE-LICENSING
July 22–25
9:30 am – 1:30 pm | Online
Instructor: Gwen Madrid
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.
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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.
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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. 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.
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PD CATALOG + CALENDAR
MAY EDITION AVAILABLE MAY 3RD at NOON!
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. Check out the PD Calendar page for events and the May PD Catalog after 12 pm on May 3rd!
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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!
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LIVE VIRTUAL + IN-PERSON TRAINING EVENTS
View Upcoming Live Virtual and In-Person Training Events HERE to learn about professional development opportunities happening during June. 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.
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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.
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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.
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ECSE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM
The UCCS College of Education is pleased to announce its new ECSE Apprenticeship program. Federally- and state-registered apprenticeships are a nationally recognized work-based learning model that provides workers with job experience, mentorship, supportive services, and wage increases for credential and degree attainment. Learn more HERE.
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COACHING CREDENTIAL SCHOLARSHIP
The Early Childhood Council Leadership Alliance still has scholarship funding to support professionals wanting to take the training required to obtain their initial Coaching Credential.
Learn more HERE.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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
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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.
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See the information linked below for details.
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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.
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COMMUNITY TRAINING + EVENTS | |
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EARLY INTERVENTION PROVIDER SURVEY
Early Intervention providers, including SLPs, OTs, special education teachers, Head Start teachers, and others, are invited to participate in an interesting study being conducted by a University of Wyoming graduate student in speech-language pathology. Your insights are invaluable to research efforts, and each participant will receive a $20 Amazon gift card as a token of appreciation. To participate, email Grace at gvillal1@uwyo.edu for the link. Your involvement will greatly enrich the understanding of the use of social media in Early Intervention programming.
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CENTERING BELONGING FOR MEN IN EARLY CHILDHOOD
This dynamic training session is designed to deepen your understanding of the unique challenges men face in early childhood education. Through interactive discussions and real-world examples, you'll explore the gender disparities in our profession, understand common perceptions of men in early childhood settings, and uncover the specific hurdles they encounter. Most importantly, you'll learn practical strategies to foster a sense of belonging for men, ultimately creating more inclusive and supportive environments for all. This session will be facilitated by Cameron Fall, a member of ECCLA’s Justice, Equity, and Belonging Collaborative and COAEYC’s Board Treasurer.
🔗 Register HERE
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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.
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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.
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FAMILY CHILD CARE RESOURCES | |
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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!
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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
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With the launch of the Colorado Department of Early Childhood and preparation for Universal Preschool in the 2023-24 school year, there is a lot happening in early childhood! To stay connected sign up for newsletter or follow on social! | |
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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:
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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. | | | | |
