Professional Development News |
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As a program of Joint Initiatives for Youth & Families, Alliance for Kids is excited to announce that our main offices have relocated to the second floor of The Resource Exchange building on Corporate Drive. You may still reach AFK staff at the same phone numbers or you may call our main number for assistance (719.634.8045). We look forward to the day we can invite you to visit! In the meantime, we encourage you to connect with us on social media and be sure to subscribe to our EC News and PD Update.
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A workforce transformation is happening due to the current health crisis. Thousands of people are unemployed. Business is being disrupted and workforce demands are shifting. The Pikes Peak Workforce Center is proud to announce the ROAD TO RECOVERY campaign that offers resources funded through the CARES Act to support both workers and employers in our community. The EMPLOYER TOOLKIT is a specialized toolbox full of strategies for EMPLOYERS to hire, recruit, upskill and/or retrain their workers or locate services through the Pikes Peak Workforce Center. The PPWFC also offers VIRTUAL JOB FAIRS, hiring resources and can even host private classrooms to train a group of co-workers within an organization. The Pikes Peak Workforce Center’s ROAD TO RECOVERY campaign, funded through the CARES Act, is for the whole community! Please visit our website at ppwfc.org or call 719-667-3814 to talk with our Business Resources Group about how the PPWFC can support your organization.
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2021 PD Catalog | JANUARY - MARCH |
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Alliance for Kids, in partnership with The Resource Exchange, is offering a new FREE Learning Series designed to support you in meeting the social-emotional and behavioral needs of children in your care. The series is open to all early childhood programs and families, and seeks to strengthen resiliency in children, parents, and care providers in times of stress. Upcoming series topics will include:
- Understand how stress impacts children and their behaviors
- Understand how to support developmentally appropriate child behavior.
- Gain tools for supporting resiliency in adults and children that combat the effects of stress
- Creating effective child/parent/teacher relationships
If you missed Session 1 or 2, click HERE for details on watching a recorded session and taking a short survey to receive a certificate for one hour of social-emotional training.
If you would like immediate assistance in supporting a child in your care with their social-emotional or behavioral needs, please contact Bernadine McCarron, AFK's Health & Behavior Supports Supervisor, at 719.205.2691. This is a FREE support facilitated by Alliance for Kids with programming provided in partnership with The Resource Exchange. View ECMH Flyer
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Professional Development Opportunities |
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Click the boxes or links below for more information. |
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Click Here for Continuing Education Unit (CEU) Information
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Exciting Pathway to ECT Qualification! |
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The Child Care Development Specialist Apprenticeship allows job seekers and early learning professionals to choose their own path to become Early Childhood Teacher/Director qualified while learning on-the job skills with on-site support. To find out if this unique program is the pathway for you, register to participate in an information session. You'll hear how the program works, how you'll be supported throughout the process, and more about the benefits of Apprenticeship.
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Child Development Associate Waiver |
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The Division of Early Care and Learning is offering a solution for early childhood professionals who cannot complete the final observation for the Child Development Associate credential (CDA) due to the Council for Professional Recognition not currently allowing virtual observations and Colorado Public Health Guidance not permitting in-person observations.
To accommodate early childhood professionals who seek to use the CDA certification to become Early Childhood Teacher qualified, Colorado Child Care Licensing will be providing a Provisional-Early Childhood Teacher (ECT) letter directly to early childhood professionals who have completed the following:
- 120 hours of CDA training
- 480 hours of verified experience working directly with children in a child development program
- the CDA exam (proof of completion is required)
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Pre-Licensing Classes & FREE Supports |
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Are you thinking of becoming a licensed child care provider? AFK is here to support you every step along the way.
Quarterly Pre-Licensing Classes
Each quarter, AFK offers a course for becoming a licensed provider.
Next Five-Day Virtual Session
Register HERE for the January 25 - 29 session ($150).
Rules, Regulations & Business Rules for Family Child Care Homes
This course for exempt providers is offered on the first three days of each quarterly Pre-Licensing session. Register HERE for the January 25-27th session ($90).
Additional Pre-Licensing dates for 2021 are April 26-30, July 26 - 30, and October 25 - 29.
To help you along your business journey, AFK offers FREE services!
- Where to start and what is important to consider when exploring the possibility of opening a family child care home - call us first if your considering enrolling in the Pre-Licensing classes!
- Assistance with zoning and HOA needs
- Support with completing the licensing application
- Technical assistance and on-site support for setting up your learning environment
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The Colorado Shines rating process has been modified to support a virtual assessment during COVID-19. Additional details will be provided in informational sessions over the coming months to help you adapt to the virtual process. Click HERE to learn more and register for an information session.
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To help the Office of Early Childhood begin planning courses for the upcoming year, they want to hear from YOU! Use their quick survey to share what you see as needs for online coursework offered through the Colorado Shines PDIS.
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Quick Links for PDIS
Email Erica Evans or call 719.233.0770 for more details.
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ITERS/ECERS-3 Versions
These versions are put on hold for Colorado Shines ratings due to COVID-19. Programs that would be going through a rating should continue using the ERS-R version of the scale. Please note that this information is subject to change until CDC guidelines change. If you need support with this new tool, contact Geanina Brown (719.651.3484) to set up coaching or to answer questions.
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New Ongoing Professional Development (OPD)
Documentation Requirements
For more information, an optional training certificate template, a requirements checklist, informational flyer with FAQs and a multi-use article, click HERE.
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Click the boxes below for more information. |
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Dynamic Coaching Systems in collaboration with the University of Colorado at Denver has announced the next opportunity to earn 9 credits AND get your Early Childhood Coaching Certificate! Join the NEW Fully Online Cohort beginning January 19, 2021!
The certificate program provides experiential learning in best coaching practices for teacher-leaders, coaches, directors, principals, home child care providers, early interventionists, special education staff or anyone looking to enhance their coaching skills. To learn more, sign up for an Information Session on January 8, 2021.
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Transitioning to Virtual Coaching
As we adapt to these unexpected and challenging times, coaches around the world are making the transition to technology as a medium to support our work with educators. Connecting with coachees through video platforms may look different, but is still relevant and critical to support educator resilience and increase educator confidence as they support children and families.
The Office of Early Childhood's coaching team knows this leap into virtual coaching can present its own challenges and has pulled together a toolkit to support coaches during this time.
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Please Note: Webinars, workshops, and training opportunities listed here are NOT facilitated by Alliance for Kids. For questions or to register, you must contact the person or organization running the program directly. |
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Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Training
If you could prevent a child from becoming a statistic would you?
What are some risk factors for children to have poor health or turn to drugs and alcohol?
What can you do to help kids in your community reach their full potential?
Register HERE for the upcoming training in January (no cost), view the flyer HERE, or contact Heidi Lynch, Program Manager for MTR Program, at 719-651-3772.
ACEs training is also offered by Alliance for Kids in a four-part evening series. For details, this training is listed in our PD section below.
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We can't wait for RMECC 2021 - coming to a screen near you on March 25-27! We're looking forward to offering great professional development sessions and networking opportunities just like we have in the past, but this year at no cost to attendees. Session spots are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis so register early to hold your spot in the sessions you want. Please only register for sessions you are sure you can attend. You will be able to edit your schedule later and remove sessions or add ones with available space. Register here!
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Strategies for Making Distance Learning Work: Over the course of the next few months, you’ll learn from Teaching Strategies and their partners in the field about how to get started, effective strategies, and the latest research on distance learning. Learn more about this series HERE.
Self-Care for Educators: Educators always have a full plate of responsibilities. But now, many educators feel overwhelmed with the added weight of teaching during a pandemic. It is imperative that you have strategies in place to help prioritize your typical responsibilities and new distance learning tasks, while still taking the time for self-care and reflection. Register HERE to access the recording.
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Colorado CPR & Safety Professionals will be offering Medication Administration (Part 2) virtually on every other Tuesday evening. For more information, view their Calendar.Complete Part 1 online as usual at Colorado Shines PDIS.
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Healthy Child Care Colorado promotes and support best practices by providing grants, professional development, technical assistance, and advocacy. Visit their Jobs Board or visit their website.
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Early Childhood Investigations offers free webinars to early childhood educators. The series is produced by Engagement Strategies, LLC., and presented by leading authors, experts, and leaders. Now, you can participate in conference-quality training without leaving your home. Subscribe to Blog for updates HERE. To view ALL Early Childhood Investigations recordings, click HERE.
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Tools for strengthening responsive caregiving in ECE, supporting positive behaviors, and nurturing children’s learning and development. Course Details & Registration
ECE Formula is an online platform for learning, training meets PDIS requirements for ongoing professional development.
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Nature Explore has New Online Sessions for Educators! This opportunity offers engaging, inspiring and research-based sessions to support you and your team during this trying time. Nature soothes the soul and finding hope in your daily life can too. Join us as we continue to explore concepts and plan for nature-rich experiences for children and the adults who support them. Learn more about upcoming sessions HERE. |
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Supporting Children with Disabilities in Early Childhood Environments - A FREE Virtual Professional Development Community. For full details on joining this Professional Development Community, click HERE. Learn more about University of Denver’s Project ECHO.
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The Pikes Peak Small Business Development Center offers training and consulting and is a great resource for early childhood education program owners and directors to connect with consultants, workshops, and resources related to running a successful small business.
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Sign up for their newsletter HERE.
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T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® COLORADO Scholarship Program is administered by the Early Childhood Council Leadership Alliance. Contact Shannon or call (720) 899-3047 or visit ECCLA’s website for program eligibility and application opportunities.
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