December 2022
We hope you find the resources in this month's "E-News You Can Use" issue helpful to access the most important information from CCAoNH, the Bureau of Child Development and Head Start Collaboration, the NH Child Care Licensing Unit and other collaborative partners.
What's In This Issue?
  • Course Offerings from NHTI
  • Tips for Spending Quality Time With Your Child
  • Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)
  • DHHS Webinars Update
  • We're All in This Together ECHO
News from CCAoNH
Two Ways to Pay
Child Care Aware of NH, a program of Southern NH Services, offers professional development opportunities through the training calendar year (September through June). Some of these opportunities may have a cost associated with them. If you are interested in attending a special and/or conference, but are concerned about the cost, there is assistance available.

  1. CCAoNH Training Bucks: Use your Training bucks earned by participating in a Progressive or Cohort with your program.
  2. NH Cares Scholarship: If attending the conference is cost-prohibitive and you are a provider currently working 30 hours or more; you qualify. This scholarship will cover the total fee to attend this conference. The “NH Cares Scholarship” is non-refundable and non-transferable.
 
To receive the NH Cares Scholarship please send the information below to ccrrtraining@snhs.org with the subject line "NH Cares Scholarship":
  • Name
  • Email
  • Phone Number
  • Place of Employment
  • Hours You Work
  • How the NH Cares Scholarship will Benefit You
Environment Rating Scales (ERS): Beyond the Intro and Overview
Have you completed the Intro and Overview of ERS and are looking to dive a little deeper? Maybe you are concerned about the cost of utilizing the ERS tools and are looking for some support. Or maybe nap/rest time is a challenge area and you are looking for ideas to make adjustments.

Come check out CCAoNH's Community of Practice (CoP): Beyond the Intro and Overview for Environment Rating Scales. This is a great opportunity for participants to come together to grow their understanding of the tools, ask questions, and connect with fellow providers.
Upcoming CoP: Beyond the Intro & Overview for ERS
Date: Tuesday, December 20
Time: 6:00 to 7:00 PM
Location: Online Zoom Training
Trainer: Katelynn Karugu, ECMPWT
To participate in the Community of Practice, participants must pre-register in the NHCIS training tile.
  • Registration is free
  • Registration is online only
  • 1 hour of Professional Development awarded per session
  • Core Knowledge Areas: Developing as a professional and Observing, Documenting & Assessing
The Credential Challenge is Happening NOW!
Applying for your credentials in the NH Early Childhood Professional Development System for free? Check!

Technical assistance and resources to support credentialing? Check!

The chance to win money for classroom supplies, gift cards, or other cool prizes? Check, check!

If any of the above sounds interesting to you, then the 2022-2023 Credential Challenge is for you!

Participants can apply as an individual or commit as a team, and Child Care Aware of NH will cover the $15 application fee, as well as the Infant/Toddler Endorsement (if applying). Those participating receive technical assistance from CCAoNH by phone, virtually, or on-site. And of course, we can't forget the prizes!
Credential Support
Do you have questions about the Revised Credentialing System? Are you looking for support creating a Professional Development Plan?

Child Care Aware of NH (CCAoNH) has multiple upcoming opportunities for individuals to get support around the Credentialing Process. To learn more about these opportunities and find a training that best meets your needs, take a look at the flyers below.
December Dates At-a-Glance
Changes to the Early Childhood Credential
Date: Monday, December 19, 2022
Time: 6:00-7:30 PM
Trainer: Annmarie Censullo, Credentialing Specialist
Creating a Professional Development Plan Using the NH Workforce Competencies
Date: Tuesday, December 20, 2022
Time: 6:30-8:30 PM
Trainer: Jenn Ganim-Smith, ECMPWT
*please note that for Office Hours with the Credentialing Specialist, there is no registration and Professional Development hours are NOT awarded. Individuals are welcome to join the office hours anytime during the time allotted and are not required to stay on for the full hour.
News From The Bureau of Child Development
and Head Start Collaboration
NH DHHS Webinars: How to Complete Your Final Reports
The Bureau of Child Development and Head Start Collaboration (BCDHSC)will be hosting three (3) upcoming webinars relating to completing reports for recent funding/grant opportunities. Take a look at the dates below:

  • Friday, December 16th: How to Complete Your CDDF Quality Dollars Final Report
  • Wednesday, December 21st: How to Complete Your CRRSA Final Report
  • Thursday, December 22nd: How to Complete Your ARPA Stabilization Final Report Part 1

Both the, How to Complete Your CRRSA Final Report and How to Complete Your ARPA Stabilization Final Report Part 1 webinars were originally scheduled for earlier dates. If you registered for the original dates there is no need to register again, your registration was automatically moved to the updated date.

If you are unable to attend any of the webinars live, these sessions will be recorded and posted to the COVID-19: Financial Resources Page on NH Connections.
Starting the Conversation
"Tips for Spending Quality Time With Your Child"
"Children need high-quality time with parents and caregivers—that is what is most beneficial to children and what can have a positive effect on them as they grow."

Today's parents are busier than ever! Between work and life responsibilities, it often feels like there is little time in the day. It's no surprise that many parents are worried they aren't spending enough time with their children and are left feeling guilty about it.

The good news is that recent research indicates that it really boils down to quality over quantity; that what matters is how parents choose to spend time with their children. That is not to negate the importance of the amount of time spent with children, but instead to reinforce that quality of time is more important than quantity of time.

NAEYC has nine (9) tips for busy families to help ensure that time spent with children is high-quality. This would be a great resource to share with families to help support them in nurturing a relationship with their child/children!
Additional Resources
Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
The Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention Program is offering this incentive program for early care and education programs that can earn them a collection of toys from Green Toy Co. and high-quality children's books valued at $540!

To learn more about this opportunity and how you can participate, click the picture to the right, or the button below.
Child and Adult Care Food Program
The Child and Adult Food Program (CACFP) is a federal program that provides reimbursements for nutritious meals and snacks to eligible children and adults who are enrolled for care at participating child care centers, day care homes, and adult day care centers. CACFP also provides reimbursements for meals served to children and youth participating in afterschool care programs, children residing in emergency shelters, and adults over the age of 60 or living with a disability and enrolled in day care facilities. CACFP contributes to the wellness, healthy growth, and development of young children and adults in the United States.

To learn more about the CACFP, please click the button below.
NHTI Concord Upcoming ECE Course Offerings
NHTI has two (2) upcoming course opportunities for those interested in a career in the early childhood or out-of-school time field, or those looking to advance their career.

The Accelerated Early Childhood Education Certificate covers one (1) semester at NHTI this spring and summer, and gives you the opportunity to quickly advance your career in the field of early childhood education. If cost is a concern, you could qualify for scholarship dollars to help cover tuition.

For those interested in exploring the foundational competencies that serve as the structural framework for Out-of-School Time programming, check out the After-School Basics course. You'll be covering kindergarten through grade 5 and exploring topics such as school-age growth and development, program planning, learning environments, and more.

To learn more about these opportunities and how you can apply, click the images of the flyers or buttons below.
We're All in This Together
We're All in This Together ECHO: Enhancing Knowledge and Strengthening Partnerships Between Early Care Providers and Families with Substance Use Conditions is an interactive, web-based learning model specifically aimed at supporting early childhood-serving programs. The series explores a compassionate approach to trauma, addiction, treatment, and recovery, and encourages collaboration with and for families experiencing substance use conditions. Experts in early childhood education, early intervention, trauma and recovery informed care, substance use treatment, pediatrics, and community members who have experienced parenting while using or in recovery, come together to build connections for better outcomes for all. De-identified cases and scenarios will be discussed in a collaborative learning environment.

For more information, click the flyer above. To register, click the button below.
Child Care Aware of NH is a statewide Child Care Resource and Referral Program of Southern New Hampshire Services. The preparation of this email was financed under a Contract with the State of New Hampshire, Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Economic and Housing Stability, Bureau of Child Development and Head Start Collaboration with funds provided in part by the State of New Hampshire and the US Department of Health and Human Services.