Connecting
The Newsletter of the Bennington County Child Care Association

October – December 2008


Professional Development Update

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


EARLY CHILDHOOD COMMUNITY
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CALENDAR


Registration is required for all sessions.
Please click here for a registration form
(requires Acrobat Reader)

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”.

For more information, please call Pam/BCCCA @ 802-447-6485.

Please Note: Be sure to check subsequent issues for other professional development opportunities and updates.

Starting Points Support Networks: Meet Monthly
Southshire:  Contact Brenda Schramm @ 802- 447-0906
Northshire:   Contact Alyson Ruby-Grzyb @ 802-440-4504 or 362-6108
Directors:     Contact Carol Barbierri @ 802-375-6039

These meetings 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!!


Starting Points Support Networks
Meet Monthly

Southshire: Contact Brenda Schramm, 802-447-0906
Northshire: Contact Alyson Ruby, 802-440-4504
Directors Contact Carol Barbierri, 802-375-6039

These meetings are open to all early care providers. Call one of the facilitators today to find out how you can be part of one 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   

 The levels are hierarchical in nature, building upon each other.

 Level II (intermediate level) includes the competencies of Level I (foundational level), and so forth. The levels reflect differences across the domains in experience, depth of knowledge, capacity to work independently, and the breadth of impact personnel may have in their profession. One does NOT necessarily have to attend a Level I session before attending a Level II session.                              


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OCTOBER 2008

Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered (Professionalism & Program Organization)
Thursday, October 2nd , (6:30-8:30 pm), Head Start Cottage, North Bennington
This 2 hour discussion and reflection session is a rescheduled follow-up to the three-part series recently offered.  In this session we will explore issues relevant to participants:  building and working within a budget, providing an environment that supports children’s and staff growth, maintaining and enhancing quality, among others. Presented by Linda Dean Farrar, Director of Sunrise Family Resource Center. 2 hours training credit; CDA #5, #6; M, O, V.

Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid
Tuesday, October 14th , (6-9 pm), Bennington Rescue Squad, McKinley Street, Bennington
This class is intended for those involved in child care that have a duty to respond to a first aid emergency because of job responsibilities or regulatory requirements such as child care workers, teachers, foster care workers, camp counselors, youth organizations, and coaches for children's sports organizations.  It teaches how to manage illness and injuries in a child in the first few minutes until professional help arrives.  Topics include First Aid Basics, Medical Emergencies, Injury Emergencies and Environmental Emergencies.  The fee is $25 and is due prior to the training, so please make checks out to: Richard Scheffler and mail them to BCCCA, P.O. Box 829, Bennington, VT 05201 along with your registration form.  CDA #1; 3 hours training credit; Course ID: E.O.V.

 Brain Wonders I
Monday, October 20th, (6-9 pm), Head Start Cottage, North Bennington
The development of the brain begins at conception and continues across the life span.  Child care professionals support and promote very young children’s healthy brain development when they use relationships, respect, repetition, routines and responsive interactions (5 R’s).  In these 2 sessions, using the Parent-Provider Partnerships in Child Care, Zero to Three curriculum, participants will identify ways to purposefully use these strategies in their work with young children and their families. Presented by Lori Pinsonneault, Kelly Belville and Pam Torres.  Level II; 3 hours Advanced Specialized Care training credit; CDA #2, #8; Course ID: C, O, V.

Brain Wonders II
Monday, October 27th, (6-9 pm), Head Start Cottage, North Bennington
This is part 2 of the Parent-Provider Partnerships in Child Care, Zero to Three “Brain Wonders” curriculum.  Participants will identify relationships between the developing brain and other areas of child development, examine the use of the 5 R’s as ingredients for healthy brain development and identify the effects of positive and negative relationships on early brain development. Presented by Lori Pinsonneault, Kelly Belville and Pam Torres.  Level II; 3 hours Advanced Specialized Care training credit; CDA #2, #8; Course ID: C, O, V.

Starting Points Southshire Support Network
Tuesday, October 28th, 6 pm -???
Joint the Provider Support Group as they ‘tour’ each other’s sites/programs!  A great opportunity to network and gather some new ideas for your own program!  The evening will ‘wrap-up’ at Pizza Hut!  For more information and details about meeting location etc., please contact Brenda Schramm @ 802-447-0906 or baschramm@comcast.net .

 

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NOVEMBER 2008

BCCCA’s Annual Conference
Saturday, November 1st, (8:45 am-3:30 pm), MAUMS, 747 East Road, Bennington
See you at the Conference!!!!! ~ for brochure and registration – see separate mailing

BCCCA’s Annual Community Celebration!!!
Wednesday, November 12th, (6-8 pm), Old First Church Barn, Old Bennington
Complete spaghetti dinner and dessert celebration! We will be honoring the important work that you do as well as the work of community members who have supported the Bennington County Child Care Association throughout this past year. We will be announcing this year's recipient of BCCCA's annual Award for Outstanding Support to Young Children & Their Families at this time (Nominations still being accepted).
Please RSVP to Lori @ 802-447-6936.

Never Too Early
Thursday, November 13th , (6:30-8:30), L’il Peeps Playschool, Shaftsbury
The Vermont Humanities Council invites all early care and education providers to join in the fun of this training session. Participants will review the importance of reading to/with children, share activities to “bring books to life,” and receive free books to share with the children in your care!  Must also attend Early Birds & Bookworms on 11/20. *Registration priority is given to  providers who have not attended a NTE/EBBW (or who have only attended once) in the past, and only one set of books is available per site ( if more than one employee attends).   Take home ideas you can put to use immediately in your program, along with a free set of great books!   Level II;  CDA: #1, #2 or #5;  Course ID:  T, O, V.

Starting Points Southshire Support Network Meeting
Wednesday, November 19th, (5:30 pm), Madison’s, Main Street, Bennington
Dinner and a chance to network with other Providers. Barbara Petrie from Vermont Community Loan Fund will be present and sharing information about funding to provide technical assistance all over the state. For more information or to RSVP, please call Brenda Schramm @ 802-447-0906 or email her @ baschramm@comcast.netPre-registration greatly appreciated!

Early Birds and Bookworms
Thursday, November 20th , (6:30-8:30), L’il Peeps Playschool, Shaftsbury
The Vermont Humanities Council invites all early care and education providers who attended the “Never Too Early” training held on 11/13/2008 to join in the fun of this training session. Providers are encouraged to bring along a parent from their program (home or center) to also join in the fun.  Participants will  again review the importance of reading to/with children, share activities to “bring books to life,” and receive free books to share with the children in your care!  Level II;  CDA:#1, #2 or #5; Course ID:  T, O, V.

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DECEMBER 2008

Infant/ChildCPR
Tuesday, December 2nd ,  (6-9 pm), Bennington Rescue Squad, McKinley Street, Bennington
Richard Scheffler of the Bennington Rescue Squad will offer this CPR certification class to Early Care and Education providers.  Fee: $22.00. The fee is due prior to the training so please make checks out to: Richard Scheffler and mail them to BCCCA, P.O. Box 829, Bennington, VT 05201 along with your registration form. CDA #1;  Course ID: E,O,V.

An Introduction to Caring For Children & Families Experiencing High Stress:
Basic Specialized Care Service Training
Part I ~ Mandated Reporting
Thursday, December 4th, (6:30-8:30 pm), Head Start Cottage, North Bennington
This training is designed for providers who care for children under the category of Specialized Child Care. This training meets the Child Development Division licensing requirements for providers who care for families/children who are receiving funding for “Specialized Care.”  Providers need to take this training prior to providing care. Part I of this  training covers mandated reporting, in addition to other topics.  It is strongly suggested that every provider attend, especially for those providers new to the field. Training hours can be used toward the required six for providers that are not identified as Specialized Care Providers.  It is required that providers offering Protective Service Child Care, Family Support Child Care and Care for Children with Special Needs attend this training one time. Providers MUST attend both sessions to receive Basic Specialized care credit. CDA #s 1,2,3,5,8; Course ID: S,C,O,V   ~ 2 of the required 6 hours.

An Introduction to Caring For Children & Families Experiencing High Stress:
Basic Specialized Care Service Training
Part II ~ Child Development and the Impact of Abuse & Neglect
Saturday, December 6th, (9:00 am-1 pm), Head Start Cottage, North Bennington
This is the second part of the training described above and held on 12/4/2008.. Part II of this training covers child development and the impact of abuse and neglect on children’s development, in addition to other topics.  It is required that providers offering Protective Service Child Care, Family Support Child Care and Care for Children with Special Needs attend this training one time. Providers MUST attend both sessions to receive Basic Specialized care credit. CDA #s 1,2,3,5,8; Course ID: S,C,O,V   ~ 4 of the required 6 hours

Registered Family Child Care Home Orientation
Monday, December 8th,  (6 – 8 pm), Sunrise Community Room, 226 Union Street, Bennington
If you are a home child care provider, or are considering offering child care in your home, this informative session is for you!   Newly registered providers are required to attend an Orientation Session within 90 days of their registration… CDA #5, #4; Course ID: M, O, V.  

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EMP Trainings:
Act 165 requires landlords and early care & education providers offering child care in buildings built before 1978 to perform “EMP's” on their property annually. During this free session, you will learn what EMP's are and how to keep the children in your care safe from lead poisoning. The next local ‘FREE’ EMP training will be held on Wednesday, October 15th, 5-9 pm, at the Career Development  Center, 321 Park Street, Bennington, VT. Please contact Diane Mackay at 1-800-290-0527 or 802-828-5064 or email @ dmackay@vhcb.org to register or for more information

Friday, November 14th, Time TBA, Career Development Center, Bennington, VT

Nonverbal Learning Disabilities: From Diagnosis Through Interventions for Home and School
This presentation will provide participants with an overview of Nonverbal Learning Disabilities (NLD) and how this diagnosis can affect the student and their classroom setting. The discussion will include brain structure and functions, developmental manifestations, assessment/diagnosis, and will place particular emphasis on interventions for both home and school. Case studies will be presented and a question and answer session will be included. Each participant will receive handouts written by Dr. Mooney.

Presented by Dr. Dean Mooney of the Maple Leaf Clinic, Wallingford, VT, who works with children with a variety of abilities.

More information available soon at: www.asdvt.org

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 fifth year and there are close to 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 afterschool 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.  

 

Collaborative Training Grant ~

For more information about this grant and to view criteria, please visit :

        www.brightfuturesinfo.org and go to ‘Resources’.

This grant is for regional professional development events planned, sponsored, delivered and evaluated collaboratively between two or more organizations, to enhance the quality of child development, early education, and after-school services. Each region is only approved by the Child Development Division (CDD)  for one grant per year.  In order to make the application process more equitable for all those interested in accessing these funds, our Building Bright Futures/Early Childhood Council has developed a protocol for applying before the application goes to CDD.

  • all grants that require approval by the BBF Council must be submitted to Robin Stromgren local director of BBF at rstromgren@buildingbrightfutures.org
     
  • The grants will be vetted by a local team who has no vested interest in the grant. 
     
  • The first grant that will follow this process will be the regional collaboration grant for the January 15th deadline. 
     
    • I will need all grant proposals by November 28,2008
       
    • The committee will make sure that the BBF Council has the grant proposal by it; 12-10-08 meeting
       
    • The grant will be approved at 1-14-08 meeting
       
  • All grants will follow this procedure.
 
News from Community Partners

Go Green and Become an Eco-Healthy Child Care Program!

Improving Indoor Air Quality at Your Workplace

Many factors contribute to decreased air quality in the workplace. Formaldehyde, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and ozone all contribute to degraded air quality. Poor indoor air quality can result in flu like symptoms including headaches, sore throats, itchy eyes, or in limited scenarios, chronic illnesses such as cancer. Sources of air pollution in offices include off gassing from furniture, carpets, cleaning products, and photocopy equipment.

To improve air at work, when possible:

• Open windows to allow for natural ventilation • Choose mild, non-toxic or biodegradable

• Choose non-toxic pest control methods, especially indoors cleaning products

• Choose furniture made from solid wood and ground • Avoid wall-to-wall synthetic carpet

coverings made from natural fibers • Avoid air fresheners

• Make sure high moisture areas are well ventilated • When remodeling choose low- to no-VOC paint

to avoid mold and mildew (Source: Oregon Environmental Council at www.oeconline.org )

Research increasingly shows that the first years of a child’s life are critical to shaping their future health and development. As a child care provider, small changes you make can have a big impact on the children in your care. By reducing toxins, such as chemicals in certain cleaning products and weed killers, you help prevent illnesses like asthma, certain learning disabilities, and even some forms of cancer. For these reasons providing an environmentally healthy, low toxic, setting is particularly important in the places children spend the majority of their time.

There is help for child care providers

For those who want to make environmentally healthy choices, the Eco-Healthy Child Care (EHCC) is a free, voluntary endorsement program available to child care providers throughout the nation. Center- based, family child care, licensed or non-licensed providers are welcome to participate. The goal of

the program is to educate and empower child care providers to reduce toxic substances in their child care facilities and to encourage parents to choose ‘eco-healthy’ products and practices. The EHCC program helps child care settings be healthy, safe and green, by providing training and

resources to child care providers as they make simple choices that benefit the health and well-being of all children in their care.

How to apply

Child care providers apply to become endorsed by filling out a 25-item checklist, available in both English and Spanish. The checklist addresses issues like phthalates in toys, formaldehyde in furniture, pesticides used on lawns or inside buildings, mold, mildew, poor indoor air quality, lead-based paint

and mercury-containing thermometers. Facilities that comply with 20 of the 25 items, including two mandatory items, receive a certificate and poster announcing their Eco-Healthy endorsement.

Once endorsed, each facility’s contact information is listed on the EHCC website. Thousands of parents visit the website each year looking for endorsed Eco-Healthy Child Care. Parents are increasingly seeking child care facilities that provide a safe and healthy environment that goes beyond seat belts. Finally, the Eco-Healthy Child Care Program works to have endorsed eco-healthy providers covered by local media.

What are the benefits of becoming an endorsed EHCC facility?

  • Endorsed providers are able to promote the extra health and safety steps they are taking to the families of the children they care for. This helps providers respond to increasing demand from parents looking for facilities that are providing a low toxic environment.

  • Eco-Healthy Child Care programs also receive free marketing through an online directory and media stories.

  • Qualified facilities receive materials and educational resources to promote their eco-healthy practices to parents and other community members. They also receive regular tips on how to continue improving the environmental health of their child care program.

  • Most importantly, endorsed providers reduce the number of toxins in their child care facility, and, as a result, provide a healthier, safer and more environmentally friendly setting for children. In this way, they help prevent illnesses, diseases and disabilities linked to chemicals of concern.

Currently more than 270 facilities, serving over 8,873 children, have already qualified as Eco-Healthy. This project, created for Oregon child care providers, is going national, and looks forward to supporting child care providers throughout the country!

Visit EHCC’s website at www.oeconline.org/kidshealth/ehcc  or contact Hester Dooley at 503-222-1963, ext. 119 or hesterd@oeconline.org for more information.  [by Hester Dooley, National Program Director, Eco-Healthy Childcare (taken from Child Care Health Connections)]

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

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