Connecting
The Newsletter of the Bennington County Child Care Association

 Winter 2010

Professional Development Update

Link to sections: Newsletter Home | Parents Page | Provider Resources

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EARLY CHILDHOOD COMMUNITY
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CALENDAR

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Registration is required for all sessions. Please click here for a registration form (requires Acrobat Reader) For more information, please call Pam/BCCCA @ 802-447-6485! All workshop sessions are $5.00 for BCCCA members & $10.00 for non-members unless otherwise noted. Be sure to include the correct fee with your registration!! Please only register for sessions listed in this section of Connecting. No refunds given for “no shows”. Starting Points Support Networks: Meet Monthly Southshire. Contact Brenda Schramm @ 802- 447-0906 Northshire:  Contact Alyson Ruby-Grzyb @  362-6108 Directors:    Contact Carol Barbierri @ 802-375-6039 These network groups meet monthly and are open to all early care providers. Call one of the facilitators today to find out how you can be part of one of these great support networks!!

CORE COMPETENCIES CODES Child Development, Families and Communities Teaching and Learning, Healthy and Safe Environments ProfessionalisM and Program Organization S (Basic Specialized Care Training) & N (Nutrition).   H (Higher Education- college course, G (Graduate college course), O (Other). The third letter/space will indicate if the subject relates to a specific age group: I (Infants & Toddlers), A (After school aged children), P (Preschool; children), V (Variety of ages).  Visit the Northern Lights website for more info about Core Competencies: www.northernlightscdc.org

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Join the Vermont School Age Care Network! The Vermont School Age Care Network (VSACN) invites you to become a member. There are many benefits to joining VSACN including national benefits from the National AfterSchool Association. This will link you to your peers throughout the country, as well as to high quality professional development and technical assistance, both locally and nationally. Member benefits for VSACN include: Our online newsletter, The Networker Notice of trainings in your area Membership in the National Afterschool Association Scholarship opportunities to National and State conferences Training and technical assistance for your program Networking opportunities through VSACN's NING page Regional training and networking events, starting Spring 2010 There are three membership levels to consider: Full Membership: $60 per year Associate membership: $25 per year Friend of Afterschool: Free For more information regarding benefits for each level of membership and for an application, please go to: www.mjccvt.org/home-page/vsacn-membership/. We look forward to hearing from you!	The Child Care Business Development Center (CCBDC) provides free, one-on-one technical assistance to child care providers, both home- and center-based, who are seeking to improve their business. Additionally, those seeking to start a child care business are also welcome. The BDC provides a variety of technical assistance in the areas of business and financial planning, budgeting, market analysis and marketing, forms and contracts, handbooks, assistance with grant writing, and STARS application completion, facility design, and more. Even if there are no specific issues with their business, the BDC can meet with providers to explore the direction their business is taking and how it can continue to meet with the providers' business goals. Feel free to contact Barbara Petrie at 223-4425 or barbara@vclf.org with any questions.
	SVSU COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENTS If you have not already done so, please return The Provider Surveys, Rosters, and Parent Surveys ASAP ~ it is not too late even though the original date has passed.  Contact Brenda Schramm @ 447-0906 or @ baschramm@comcast.net with any questions, if you need more forms, or if you’d like her to pick up your forms.
MOTHER GOOSE CARES ABOUT SOCIAL STUDIES Mother Goose Cares About the Early Years is a free, college-level program designed for early childhood professionals.  It explores social studies concepts such as personal development, families, friendship and communities. All participants receive a program guide, 18 outstanding children’s books and studies materials. The guide provides nearly 40 new social studies explorations and information about using picture books to encourage conversation and learning. Two (2) Vermont College of the Union Institute credits (undergraduate or graduate) are available for this course. This course will be offered at: Li’l Peeps Playschool, Shaftsbury Vermont, January 30, February 27 and March 27, 2010, 9 am – 4 pm. Lunch will be provided. You must commit to attend all 3 sessions. There will be a $25 registration fee.  Additional tuition fees apply if you choose to take this for credit.  Financial aid may be available.  Registration materials will be sent upon request. To obtain registration materials, contact Program Coordinator Pam Torres - Resource Development Specialist @ BCCCA  802-447-6485 or at pam.bccca@comcast.net. Register soon as there is a 20 person limit.
STARS is the Vermont Child Development Division’s (CDD) initiative designed to expand the ways providers are recognized and rewarded for program quality. The STARS program adds to the many efforts the CDD has established to improve the quality of care for Vermont’s children.  Programs that participate in STARS are stepping ahead, going beyond the regulations to provide professional services to meet the needs of children and families. STARS is now in its sixth year and there are over 400 programs who have submitted STARS applications and almost 270 listed on the STARS website (these numbers subject to change).  Programs can participate at all star levels (from 1 to 5) and two-thirds of the participants have been in STARS for more than a year, renewing their participation and increasing their star levels.  All types of programs participate, including centers, homes, preschool and after school programs and they come from all regions of the state.       Any program regulated through the Child Development Division may apply for STARS recognition. Recognized providers are eligible to receive different types of incentives including a one-time incentive payment, differential subsidy rates and a certificate acknowledging their achievement.  More information, application materials and a list of recognized providers are available at www.STARSstepahead.org.  Many providers have questions about the goals of STARS, how it works and how to apply.  Answers to questions, technical assistance and STARS applications are available through the contracted administrator for STARS, Learning Partners (802- 479-5261 or learningpartnrs@aol.com).  Visit the STARS website at www.STARSstepahead.org.    Assistance is available to those needing help with their STARS applications. Contact Heather Sandquist @ 802-447-6938 for more information, or Barbara Petrie (See above box)
~ BCCCA’S LENDING LIBRARY ~ A FREE resource for BCCCA members!!! Our complete inventory list is found on our website www.bccca.net/library.htm . Items include gross motor equipment – rocking cone, balance beams, rocking boat, tactile discs, parachutes, play house, sensory balance board, flying turtles, tumbling mat, jungle tunnel –assorted blocks, flannel board kits, diverse family groups, animals, puppets, instruments (including bongos, xylophone), simple machines, and books - both teacher/parent resource materials and children’s books.  We also have 3 sets of multi-books to practice “A Book in Hand” as presented by Megan Lambert at the 2008 Annual Conference (Owl Babies, Mr. Gumpy’s Outing, and Blueberries for Sal ). There is no fee to use these materials.  You just need to be a BCCCA member and you can borrow materials for up to 30 days! A great inexpensive way to enhance learning opportunities for the children in your care!!  Call any BCCCA staff person at 802-447-3778 to arrange pick up of materials.
News from Licensing… As many of you may know, Sherrie Ober is no longer our local licensor.  CDD/Licensing Division has reassigned licensors and Nancy Robinson is back in Bennington County officially as our licensor. Welcome back Nancy!! We would like to remind Registered Family Home Providers of some regulations that seem to be overlooked lately.  Please pay attention to these details because not following these directives has led to violations. Please be sure that you have an admission form for each child enrolled that includes the following  (Regulation: IV3): Prior to admission, the registrant shall assure the following are recorded in writing. The child's name and birth date; The date of the child's admission; Acknowledgement that, if tobacco is used in the registered home but not in the presence of children the parent is aware of this usage; A permission statement signed by the parent authorizing the registrant to obtain emergency medical care for the child in the event of illness or accident; A permission statement signed by the parent authorizing their child to participate in swimming and or wading pool activities if offered; The preferred health care providers, including dentist if any, and phone number; A brief health history, including current special dietary requirements, allergies, current medications, and other identified needs, etc.; The child's parent or guardian's name, home and work site addresses and home and work site telephone numbers; A list of names of persons who are authorized to pick up the child; If transportation is to be provided, a signed form authorizing transportation along with a general description outlining the types of trips, frequency and general destination where the child might be taken; The name and telephone number of an emergency contact person, other than the parent or guardian; Evidence that the child has had all immunizations appropriate for the age or medical status of the child, or a statement that immunizations are medically contra-indicated or against the religious or moral beliefs of the parents; Acknowledgement that a general description of religious activities, if any, has been given to the parent; Acknowledgement of a discussion held between parent and Registrant explaining the typical daily schedule and activities, walking and car trips. Emergency Evacuation Plan (Reg. No. V 21): There must be an emergency evacuation plan posted at each exit consisting of a simple, clear drawing which shows evacuation routes.  This plan must be practiced monthly and a written record of each drill must be kept on file.  This record must include the dates and times of drills, #’s of children present and the amount of time it takes for all children to safely exit.  It is fine to include this with your attendance sheet. Attendance: Daily attendance records, listing dates of attendance for each child shall be kept on file for a period of at least 12 months. (Reg. No.: I7) Please be sure to keep accurate attendance records, with no lapses in documentation.  Each child’s arrival and departure time must be noted on the attendance sheet as they arrive and depart.  It is also advisable to ask the person responsible for picking the child up to initial the times. Administering prescription medications (Reg. No. IV 7): Prior to giving prescription medication to a child, written permission from the parent shall be obtained specifying reason for medication, dosage, content and schedule. (Reg. No.: IV7) Hand washing: The caregiver and children shall wash their hands with soap under warm running water after diapering, toileting and before meals and snacks. (Reg. No.: V1a) Babies’ hands need to be washed after diapering also, and try to set up your changing area to be near the bathroom sink.  If this is impossible, you may use the kitchen sink for hand washing after diapering only if you disinfect faucets and sinks with a bleach/H2O solution after each use.  However, you mat not change diapers in the kitchen.  Even though the regulation doesn’t specify, please be sure that hands are also washed after touching ANY bodily fluids, i.e. blowing/wiping noses, coughing etc…It may seem as though that’s all you do all day, but with the worry about the Swine Flu etc it is imperative that good hand washing is being practiced. It is a good idea to have children wash as they arrive and before and after messy play as well. Do not substitute anti-bacterial hand gel for hand washing.  Substitutes: Any one who assists with the care of children or who is regularly present while children are in care must undergo a Records Check through CDD.  It is advisable and best practice to be sure that all parents and children are familiar with any one who is not the registrant who may be caring for children. Television/Video Viewing (Reg. No. II 8): Television viewing or participation in video games shall: be educational; designed for children; and will not exceed 2 hours per day. Because of recent Brain Development studies, licensing recommends that it is not wise to permit children under 3 to view television and or videos. Television viewing hurts the development of children under 3 years old and poses a certain number of risks, encouraging passivity, slow language acquisition, over-excitedness, troubles with sleep and concentration as well as dependence on screens. AND…please be sure to have working Carbon Monoxide detectors as well as smoke detectors in the sleeping areas of your program.  The battery operated CO detectors only work for awhile (5years for most) so be sure to keep record of the installation dates and be sure to replace batteries in all every 6 months.

FUNDING FOR THIS NEWSLETTER IS PROVIDED BY THE CHILD DEVELOPMENT DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, BENNINGTON’S SUCCESS BY SIX, AND THE BENNINGTON COUNTY CHILD CARE ASSOCIATION

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B.C.C.C.A.
P.O. Box 829 – 226 Union Street
Bennington, VT 05201
(802) 447-3778