December 2023

Here's "The Scoop" on Preparing for Emergencies and Winter Safety!

Hello Providers,


Welcome to The Scoop, your winter wonderland of resources, ideas, and inspiration tailored for your expertise in early childhood education. We're here to be your guiding star through these frosty months. Your dedication as early childhood educators is truly remarkable, and we're committed to being your support system.


Wishing you a delightful December filled with warmth and joy through the winter wonder!


With warmth,

Child Care Aware of NH

What topic are you interested in learning more about?
Business Management Practices
Infant & Toddler Care
NH Early Learning Standards
Program Emergency Preparedness and Response
Staff Qualifications
Strengthening Families, Strengthening Care

Got something specific on your mind that you'd like us to cover? We're all ears! Your thoughts and ideas shape this newsletter, so send us an email at outreach2ccrr@snhs.org.

Child Care Aware of NH News & Updates

2023-2024 Early Childhood Credential Challenge

Are you up for the challenge?! Child Care Aware of NH, a program of Southern NH Services, and the Bureau of Child Development and Head Start Collaboration are thrilled to announce this year's Early Childhood Credential Challenge! We are so excited to celebrate the dedication and expertise of all of NH's Early Childhood Professionals.

 

This year's challenge is scheduled from December 1, 2023, to February 29, 2024! We recommend submitting your application as early as possible.


Are you ready to apply? Find your individual or team commitment form application at the link below, and discover all the individualized and team support CCAoNH provides along the way! Here's to celebrating YOU in the new year!

Credentialing - NH Connections
View the Credential Challenge Flyer
Credential Professional Development and Virtual Office Hours Flyer
Team Credential Commitment Form
Individual Credential Commitment Form

Child Care Aware of NH News & Updates

TA Tip: Frostbrite!

Cold Weather Safety
Child Care Weather Watch Chart

Anyone can get frostbite, but children are at greater risk for it than adults because:  

  • Children lose heat from their skin faster. 
  • Children often don't want to leave their winter fun to go inside and warm up.  

 

Stay updated on weather forecasts. If it's extremely cold, even brief exposure to cold can cause frostbite. Dress children in layered warm clothes. Use hats, gloves, scarves, thick socks, and well-insulated boots to cover body parts that are most at risk for frostbite. Inner clothing layers that absorb moisture and outer layers that are windproof and waterproof are best. 

Make sure children come indoors regularly to warm up. Change children out of wet clothing or shoes as soon as possible. 

 

When is it too cold for your child to go outside and play? Follow the colored safety zone guide. 

Green zone. The safest temperature to go outside to play is 30 degrees or higher. 

Yellow zone. Playing in temperatures between 20 to 30 degrees should be carefully watched by parents as the weather will affect body temperatures to cool quickly. 

Red zone. Your child should not play outside in temperatures less than 20 degrees. Keep in mind the wind chill factor can cause the actual temperature outside to be much colder, especially if skin is not properly covered. 

Watching the weather is part of a child care provider’s job. Planning for playtime, field trips, or weather safety is part of the daily routine. The changes in weather require the child care provider to monitor the health and safety of children. Read more about the Child Care Weather Watch resource.

This TA Tip was graciously shared by Kris Tabor-Hall,

Training and Technical Assistance Specialist.

Child Care Aware of NH is here to assist you! To learn more about how we can support your Infant and Toddler Practices, please refer to our Services and Supports Guide.

2023-2024 Services and Support Guide
Spotlight on Professional Development-Winter 2023/2024
2023-2024 Winter Trainings-At-a-Glance Calendar
Professional Development - NH Connections
Register Here on Eventbrite

Resources for Providers

Technical Assistance on Program Emergency Preparedness and Response

The Progressive Training and Technical Assistance Program (PTTAP) offers child care programs an opportunity to participate in focused and facilitated training and technical assistance. This program provides individualized technical assistance to improve program quality. 


Technical assistance, coaching and consultation is provided via the phone/email, virtually and/or onsite.

More Information on Technical Assistance

Program Emergency Preparedness and Response: The progressive on this topic supports programs as they further develop their Emergency Operations Plan and Continuity of Operations Plan, as well as practice the Emergency Response Drills to help them be more equipped for an emergency. Are you ready to strengthen your programs emergency plans? Complete an application below to get personalized assistance from one of our Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) Specialists!

2023 PTTAP Application

Please email application to ccrrta@snhs.org

Early Childhood Focused Collaboratives

The Family Engagement & Communication Collaborative is held on the first Wednesday of the month from 1:00-2:30 PM. Join us next for our next monthly training on Wed. January 3rd.


Participants will have an opportunity to meet Darlene Avery and Christine Conlon, Licensing & Evaluation Coordinators, from the Child Care Licensing Unit. They will share common concerns families have when they contact the Child Care Licensing Unit. They will also discuss simple things providers can do to foster strong and trusting relationships with families with open, honest, and transparent conversations about licensing rules and/or statement of findings. Darlene and Christine will end with time for questions.


You can register for this collaborative and others through your NHCIS account.

2023-2024 Early Childhood Collaboratives
Register Through NHCIS

Resources for Families

Ready Kids

Disasters happen everywhere, and every member of the family can prepare. 

Preparedness for the future starts today. Ready Kids has tools and information to help before, during and after disasters.

Ready Kids NH

Emergency Resources on Sesame Workshop

Sesame Workshop is a global impact nonprofit organization with a mission to help children everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder.


Whether you’re preparing for the unexpected or recovering from it, your reassurance and comfort hold great power to soothe children—even on the scariest, toughest days.


Children need to know that you can work together, stay safe, and be prepared in an emergency. Discover printable's, videos, and more on topics important to your family or the families you work with.

Emergencies - Sesame Workshop
A Hurricane Comes to Sesame Street - Sesame Workshop
Planning Together - Sesame Workshop

Cold, Ice, and Snow Safety

Winter isn't a time to just stay indoors and wait for spring. There's a whole wonderland of sports out there for the entire family, and someone has to shovel the snow, right?


Follow these tips to keep safe outdoors in cold weather.

Cold, Ice, and Snow Safety
Seguridad cuando hace mucho frío, hay hielo o nieve

Looking for a way to expand your programs emergency preparedness efforts further than the walls of your program? Our friends at Vroom share this perfect handout to share with families emphasizing brain building tips for children to develop skills to help them feel safe and secure in preparing, responding, or recovering from an emergency.

Preparing for Emergencies: Tips for Families with Young Children
Preparación Ante Emergencias: Actividades Para Familias con Niños Pequeños

News & Resources from Our Collaborative Partners

New Hampshire Connections Information System (NHCIS) Updates & Improvements

This message is being sent as a courtesy to our collaborative partner, the Bureau of Child Development and Head Start Collaboration (BCDHSC)

The Bureau of Child Development and Head Start Collaboration (BCDHSC) has been making updates and improvements to the New Hampshire Connections Information System (NHCIS). The latest changes were made on December 4th, focusing on providing more details about the Background Record Check (BRC) process.


The NHCIS User Guide has been updated to show these changes. You can find the guide on the DHHS websiteNH-Connections website, and the ACROSS NH website. If you have questions about how to use NHCIS, check the guide, and you'll see the "Last Updated" date on the bottom of the first page.



We're planning to make NHCIS even better by adding features like Provider Enrollment, Credentialing, GSQ, and Training. Sometimes, when NHCIS is updated and improved, there might be unexpected problems. If you come across any issues, please tell us by submitting a help desk 'Support' ticket. Remember, the support functions in NHCIS are for technical problems. If you have other questions, contact BCDHSC, Child Care Licensing, Child Care Aware of N.H., or ACROSS NH.

Child Care Aware of NH is a Child Care Resource and Referral Program of Southern New Hampshire Services. The preparation of this (report, document, etc.) was financed under a Contract with the State of New Hampshire, Department of Health and Human Services, with funds provided in part by the State of New Hampshire and/or such other funding sources as were available or required, e.g., the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

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