TABLE OF CONTENTS About Us... 3 Finding Us... 3

Transcription

1 Summer/Fall 2014

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS About Us... 3 Finding Us... 3 Directions to the Ithaca Office... 3 Directions to the Cortland Office... 3 Classes at a Glance... 4 Office of Children and Family Services Required Topics... 4 Class Descriptions /23/2014 Did My Child Have a Good Day? /26/2014 MAT Self-Study /29/2014 You Can Protect Children from Toxic Chemicals! /20/2014 Using the Ages & Stages Questionnaire /27/2014 She Did WHAT? He Said WHAT? How to Respond to the Sexual Behaviors of Children /9/2014 Becoming a Breast Feeding Friendly Day Care Home /16, 18, 23, 25 Health & Safety Series /17/2014 Infant/Toddler Routines & Social Emotional Development /24/2014 CACFP Update /16/2014 Are you REALLY Ready? /19/2014 Dramatic Play on a Budget /9/2014 Making Ends Meet in Child Care /10/2014 Learn and Share: Using the Die-cutter, Laminator and Bookbinder... 7 Toddler Literacy: What Counts and What Works... 7 SUNY Video Conferences... 8 Other Local and Web-based Professional Development Opportunities... 8 First Aid & CPR Information for Registered and Licensed Child Care Providers... 8 Announcing an Online Child Care Professional Education Center!... 9 What is a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential? The Child Development Council Can Help You Earn Your CDA Letting Your Quality Shine QUALITYstarsNY National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Accreditation New York State Credentials: What Are They? The Child Development Council Can Help You with Free Training, Equipment and Resources How Does Your Family Child Care Program Rate? What is the Educational Incentive Program? Training Policies Child Development Council Training Discounts Registration Form

3 ABOUT US The Child Development Council is a merging of two strong Child Care Resource & Referral agencies in Tompkins and Cortland Counties with over 70 years of combined experience. Our agency is committed to serving child care providers, parents, families, and our community. Our staff in both the Ithaca and Cortland offices is available to answer your questions, provide information and resources, and/or to visit your child care program if you are in need of assistance. You can find us on Facebook and/or check out our website at We encourage you to contact us at (Ithaca Office) or (Cortland Office) or us at info@childdevelopmentcouncil.org for assistance. FINDING US The Child Development Council has two convenient locations serving Tompkins and Cortland Counties. A variety of classes are offered in both locations. Choose the classes and locations that work for you. DIRECTIONS TO THE ITHACA OFFICE We are located at 609 West Clinton Street (Rt. 96B) in the Clinton West Plaza. Directions from the South (NYS Rt. 13): Take Rt. 13 North to West Clinton Street (Rt. 96B). Turn right onto West Clinton Street. The Child Development Council is on the right. There is free parking in the rear of the plaza. Directions from the North (NYS Rt. 13): Take Rt. 13 South. Continue on Rt. 13 South as it becomes Fulton St. (it bends to the right at the 'Purity split") - then go straight (just past Agway) across the intersection and you're on Clinton St. - the Council is on your right. There is free parking in the rear of the plaza. DIRECTIONS TO THE CORTLAND OFFICE We are located at 111 Port Watson Street, on the corner of Pendleton Street. Directions from the South (I-81): Take I-81 North and take Exit 10 (NYS Rt. 41, McGraw). Turn left onto NYS Rt. 41. Travel about 2 miles to Pomeroy Street. Turn left onto Pendleton Street, and immediately turn left into our parking lot. Directions from the South (NYS Rt. 13): Take NYS Rt. 13 north into the City of Cortland. At Church St. intersection, get in right lane and continue straight ahead (Rt. 13 turns left). Turn right onto Pendleton Street at the light and immediately turn left into our parking lot. Directions from the North (I-81): Take I-81 South and take Exit 11 (Cortland). At the bottom of the ramp, turn right and proceed to the second traffic light (stay in the left lane). Go straight to the end of the street and turn right onto Port Watson Street. Turn left onto Pendleton Street at the light, and immediately turn left into our parking lot. After 5:00 the door may be locked. Please ring doorbell. 3

4 Location of Class Level/Type of Class Content CDA Training Topics Identification, Diagnosis & Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome Statutes & Regulations Child Abuse & Maltreatment Statutes & Regulations Child Day Care Child Abuse & Maltreatment Identification and Prevention Business Record Maintenance & Management Safety & Security Procedures Child Day Care Program Development Nutrition & Health Needs of Children Principles of Childhood Development CLASSES AT A GLANCE The OCFS Individual Training Tracking Form (form 4880) can be found on the NYS OCFS Website For more about CDA Training Topics see: What is a CDA Credential? on page 10 Level/Type of Class Content Key: B=Beginner, I=Intermediate, A=Advanced and Directors, F=Intended for Family-based Caregivers, C=Intended for Centerbased Caregivers Location of Class Key: I=Ithaca, C=Cortland Date Class Credit Hrs /23/2014 Did My Child Have a Good Day?... 2 X X 4,8 5 I C 7/26/2014 MAT Self-Study... 8 X X X 1,6 5 A C 7/29/2014 You Can Protect Children from Toxic Chemicals!... 2 X X X X 1, 55 ALL I 8/20/2014 Using the Ages & Stages Questionnaire... 2 X X X 2, 85 I C 8/27/2014 She Did WHAT? He Said WHAT? How to Respond to the 2 X X X 1, 7, 8 Sexual Behaviors of Children I I 9/9/2014 Becoming a Breast Feeding Friendly Day Care Home... 2 X X 1, 26 F C 9/16, 18, 23, 25 Health & Safety Series X X X X X X X 1,4,5,66 BF C 9/17/2014 Infant/Toddler Routines & Social Emotional Development... 2 X X 3, 86 I C 9/24/2014 CACFP Update... 2 X X 1, 26 F C 10/16/2014 Are you REALLY Ready?... 2 X X X 1, 5, 6 I C 11/19/2014 Dramatic Play on a Budget... 2 X X 2, 3, 87 ALL C 12/9/2014 Making Ends Meet in Child Care... 2 X X 5 7 F I 12/10/2014 Learn and Share: Using the Die-cutter, Laminator and 2 X 2 ALL Bookbinder... 7 C Toddler Literacy: What Counts and What Works... 6 X X 8,2 7 A Online OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES REQUIRED TOPICS Providers are required by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) to take a minimum of thirty (30) hours of training during every 2 year period. Fifteen hours of such training must be received during the first six months of a new licensure, registration or of new employment by a program. This training must address the following topics: 1. Principles of Early Childhood Development 2. Nutrition & Health Needs of Infants & Children 3. Child Day Care Program Development 4. Safety and Security Procedures 5. Business Record Maintenance and Management 6. Child Abuse & Maltreatment Identification & Prevention 7. Statutes & Regulations Pertaining to Child Day Care 8. Statutes & Regulations Pertaining to Child Abuse & Maltreatment 9. Shaken Baby Syndrome 4

5 CLASS DESCRIPTIONS WORKSHOPS MARKED WITH A QUALIFY FOR TRAINING DISCOUNTS. SEE PAGE 13 FOR MORE DETAILS. 7/23/2014 DID MY CHILD HAVE A GOOD DAY? Cortland Office 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Susan DeCarlo, Infant/Toddler Specialist This workshop will explore the difficulties of the good day/bad day question and the disadvantages of trying to communicate about a child s day with such simplistic language. We will consider strategies for supporting family members while also giving objective, useful, nonjudgmental information. Cost: $30 OCFS Topic: 1, 3 CDA Topics: 4, 8 7/26/2014 MAT SELF-STUDY Cortland Office 9:30 am to 3:30 pm Lisa Davis. RN If you feel like you don t have enough time to get away from your program to take the MAT course, but you want to become approved to give medication, then the MAT Independent Study course is for you! You can study all of the training materials on your own and at your own pace. When you feel you re ready, you ll only need to meet with a MAT trainer for a few hours to complete the testing. When you pass, you will get 8 training hours and a MAT certificate. The MAT Participant Study Guide will walk you through the steps to complete Part One. You can print out the Study Guide from the website or follow it online. You must also watch all parts of the MAT Video and refer to the MAT Participant Materials (Handouts). All materials can be found at: **Testing will take place at the Child Development Council Cortland Office.** Plan on arriving 15 minutes early to get registered. Bring a photo ID along with the name, address, telephone #, and license # of your program. Dress comfortably. Cost: $80 OCFS Topics: 2,4,7 CDA Topics: 1,6 7/29/2014 YOU CAN PROTECT CHILDREN FROM TOXIC CHEMICALS! Ithaca Office 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Kate McArdle, Environmental Education Coordinator Kate McArdle, Environmental Education Coordinator with Clean and Healthy New York, will bring information and strategies for reducing toxic chemicals in the child care setting. Direct technical assistance will also be provided to some participants after the training. Topics include learning about the materials that make up home furnishings, like carpet or other flooring, what to avoid and what to choose in cleaning products, and how and why to avoid lead and mercury. Also addressed will be components in electronics (the fastest growing type of trash), choosing safe toys, art supplies, and how to make your kitchen more toxic-free and healthy for children and adults. You will also learn how to safely recycle a new curly light bulb! Register by July 15. call For owners and staff of all regulated child care programs as well as legally exempt providers. FREE! (Grant-funded) OCFS Topics: 2,3,4,5 CDA Topics: 1, 5 8/20/2014 USING THE AGES & STAGES QUESTIONNAIRE Cortland Office 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Crystal Clough, RN As a provider in a center or home setting, you are constantly communicating with the families of the children in your care. The Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) is a child development assessment tool used in child care programs for many years. Crystal Clough will help us learn how to use the ASQ tool to engage parents in assessing early childhood development and learning activities. Cost: $30 OCFS Topic: 1, 2, 3 CDA Topics: 2, 8 5

6 8/27/2014 SHE DID WHAT? HE SAID WHAT? HOW TO RESPOND TO THE SEXUAL BEHAVIORS OF CHILDREN. Ithaca Office 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Tiffany Greco, Education Director of the Advocacy Center of Tompkins County This training is intended to meet the needs of early education and care providers working with children 0 to 5 years of age. Tiffany Greco, Education Director of the Advocacy Center of Tompkins County, will demonstrate a model for increasing your skills and confidence in responding proactively to sexual behaviors to promote healthy child development and prevent child sexual abuse. Offered through the Enough Abuse Campaign (EAC). Cost: $30 OCFS Topic: 1, 4, 6 CDA Topics: 1, 7, 8 9/9/2014 BECOMING A BREAST FEEDING FRIENDLY DAY CARE HOME Cortland Office 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Janice VanValkenburg, CAPCO/WIC Breastfeeding Coordinator Why should my child care home support breastfeeding? Breastfeeding helps my kids by providing protection from infection, SIDS and obesity. Breastfeeding helps my home financially. Meals containing breast milk are reimbursed by CACFP. Join Janice VanValkenburg, CAPCO/WIC Breastfeeding Coordinator, to learn more about becoming Breastfeeding Friendly. Free to CACFP or $30 OCFS Topics: 2, 3 CDA Topics: 1, 2 9/16, 18, 23, 25 HEALTH & SAFETY SERIES Cortland Office 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm Dixie Vaber, Child Care Specialist Caring for children in family or group family child care is a big responsibility. The health and safety of children in care is the highest priority for both the provider and for the NYS Office of Children and Family Services. This training is required to ensure that new providers are prepared for the demands of the job. The training is presented in five sessions and covers many topics including: Creating a Safe Environment, Developing Health Care Policies and Procedures, Planning for Emergencies, Diaper Changing, Cleaning and Sanitizing, Food Safety, and Your Role as a Mandated Reporter. This competency-based curriculum requires the successful completion of written and demonstration tests. The series also serves as a good refresher for experienced providers. Cost: $235 for the series Rebate is available for new providers. EIP is available for registered/licensed providers. Call for information. OCFS Topics: 2,4,5,6,7,8,9 CDA Topics: 1,4,5,6 9/17/2014 INFANT/TODDLER ROUTINES & SOCIAL EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT Cortland Office 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Stephanie Fritz, Assistant Director SUNY Cortland Child Care Center Daily routines can assist in the social and emotional development of children. Come discuss ways that you can work on the daily routines and other aspects of the day to create a positive environment for the children you care for. Cost: $30 OCFS Topic: 1, 3 CDA Topics: 3, 8 9/24/2014 CACFP UPDATE Ithaca Office 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Judy Kern, CACFP Specialist CACFP participants should attend this CACFP update on regulations and best practices, plus a CACFP surprise to be announced! Free to CACFP or $30 OCFS Topics: 2, 3 CDA Topics: 1, 2 10/16/2014 ARE YOU REALLY READY? Cortland Office 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Dixie Vaber, Child Care Specialist Are you ready for an emergency? This training will focus on how to anticipate and plan for health care and emergency situations that are common in early childhood settings. We will review the regulations on how to prepare for and take action during a medical emergency and how to keep children safe in case of fire or non-medical emergencies. Cost: $30 OCFS Topic: 4, 5, 7 CDA Topics: 1, 5, 6 6

7 11/19/2014 DRAMATIC PLAY ON A BUDGET Cortland Office 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Stephanie Fritz, Assistant Director SUNY Cortland Child Care Center Have you ever wanted to make a prop box for topics and you think, "Nah, I can't afford that!"? You will look at ideas for prop boxes and find out resources and things to use for affordable prop boxes that kids enjoy. Cost: $30 OCFS Topics: 1, 3 CDA Topics: 2, 3, 8 12/9/2014 MAKING ENDS MEET IN CHILD CARE Ithaca Office 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Making a living as a child care provider can be tricky. Join staff from Child Development Council as we practice making budgets for home child care businesses. Does money in equal money out? How do you determine the rates you charge? What things are necessities and what are optional? Learn business practices that will increase your ability to communicate with parents and not dread the money talk. Cost: $30 OCFS Topics: 3, 5 CDA Topic: 5 12/10/2014 LEARN AND SHARE: USING THE DIE-CUTTER, LAMINATOR AND BOOKBINDER Cortland Office 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Anne Withers, CCRR Program Director - Cortland To start you off, Anne Withers will demonstrate the tools in our Member s Corner and give you ideas for projects. Then you will be free to spend the rest of the time sharing ideas, experimenting and creating. Basic materials will be provided, but bring any special materials, pictures, etc., that you would like to include in a project. Bring your ideas to share, and learn from each other. Cost: $30 OCFS Topic: 3 CDA Topic: 2 TODDLER LITERACY: WHAT COUNTS AND WHAT WORKS (This is a Distance Learning Course. Learn on your own computer and at your own pace, with personalized teacher interaction.) When it comes to literacy, toddlers are right in the prime time to develop the foundation for all future learning. In this course we will look at what toddlers are like, how they learn and how we make decisions about our work with them. You ll learn literacy concepts that really count and literacy practices that really work with toddlers. Receive six hours of training credit. For more information call for Tompkins or for Cortland. Choose a 10 day date range: 7/18-7/28/2014, 8/8/-8/18/2014, 9/19-9/29/2014, 10/17-10/27/2014, 11/21-12/1/2014, 12/19-12/29/2014 Cost: $60 OCFS Topics: 1,3 CDA Topics: 8,2 WORKSHOPS MARKED WITH A QUALIFY FOR TRAINING DISCOUNTS. SEE PAGE 13 FOR MORE DETAILS. 7

8 SUNY VIDEO CONFERENCES SUNY Video Conferences are held at both Council offices. Video Conferences are from 6:45 to 9:15 At Ithaca Office the doors are locked at 7:15 pm. No entry will be allowed after that time. At Cortland Office the doors are always locked after 5:00 pm. To enter training please ring doorbell. THE VIDEO CONFERENCES FOR 2014 ARE : 9/11/2014 Quality Programing in Child Care 10/23/2014 Caring for Children with ADHD 11/20/2014 Continuity of Care For more information check the website: To register for Video Conferences: Send your name, address, phone number, the dates and titles of sessions you d like to attend and Site #619 (Tompkins/Ithaca) or Site #621 (Cortland) to: Early Childhood Education and Training Program, 22 Corporate Woods Blvd., 3rd floor, Albany, NY Fax to (518) or register on-line at Note: All registrations must be made through SUNY Albany. To confirm your registration, call OTHER LOCAL AND WEB-BASED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES As you make your professional development plans, be sure to consider all of the learning opportunities in our education-rich location. Here are a few opportunities to consider. CORTLAND ASSOCIATION FOR THE EDUCATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN Check their Facebook page for upcoming training opportunities! FIRST AID & CPR INFORMATION FOR REGISTERED AND LICENSED CHILD CARE PROVIDERS Please remember to register for a course which includes Infant and Child First Aid & CPR. This may also be referred to as Pediatric First Aid & CPR American Red Cross Call to register for a free CPR/First Aid training (funded by NYS OCFS grant). Use the phone number above to sign up for a class for yourself or to request a group class if there are at least 8 staff needing the training. American Heart Association You will be given the name, location and phone number where the trainings are held in either Cortland or Tompkins County. Each instructor sets their own rates. Some online organizations claim to offer First Aid & CPR certification. However, some of these organizations do not require you to take a course prior to purchasing a CPR & First Aid card. As such, these cards may not be accepted by your licensor/registrar or other agencies. If you have any questions, please contact your licensor or registrar before paying for such a course. EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION & TRAINING PROGRAM E-LEARNING CLASSES Visit the online Child Care Resource Center at: Funding for this site is sponsored by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, funded by the Federal Child Care and Development Fund and administered by the Professional Development Program, Rockefeller College, University at Albany. 8

9 ANNOUNCING AN ONLINE CHILD CARE PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION CENTER! The Child Development Council, in partnership with Child Care Aware of America, is pleased to offer the Child Care Aware Training Academy. Online courses are designed to help early childhood professionals complete annual training requirements and acquire required training hours for those seeking a Child Development Associate (CDA) credentials, CDA credential renewal or in-service training. These online courses provide a variety of engaging topics designed specifically for the early childhood professional. Courses are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Please click this link to learn more: 9

10 WHAT IS A CHILD DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE (CDA) CREDENTIAL? Become someone special in a child s life as they master skills, develop friendships, become more independent, and begin to discover new ways of thinking and understanding themselves, and the world around them. It all begins with a CDA credential. The Child Development Associate (CDA) is the most widely recognized credential in early childhood education and is a key stepping stone on the path of career advancement. CDA Formal Training 120 Hours of Early Childhood Coursework The CDA credential is based on a core set of competency standards, which guide early care professionals as they work toward becoming qualified teachers of young children. Frequently Asked Questions What do I have to do to be eligible for a CDA Credential? - Have a high school diploma or be a junior or senior in a high school career / technical program in early education. - Have 480 hours of experience working with young children. - Have 120 clock hours of formal training. - Collect specific documentation that shows evidence of practice working with young children. What do I have to do to complete the CDA assessment? - Meet eligibility and training requirements. - Complete the documentation collection: Professional Portfolio, Family Questionnaires. - Take CDA Exam at a local Pearson Vue test center and meet with a CDA Professional Development Specialist to complete a Verification Visit. Visit: THE CHILD DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL CAN HELP YOU EARN YOUR CDA Prior to applying for the CDA Credential Assessment, each candidate is required to complete 120 hours of formal child care education in eight different categories. Our CDA Instructional Course is designed for potential candidates to complete their 120 hours of course work, assist with the development of competency papers, and create a The work was hard, but I got a lot of help from the instructor and the other students. It was worth it, knowing what a difference it can make for children. Cindy Hayes, CDA Instructional Course graduate and proud recipient of a CDA Credential professional resource file. Classes meet on Monday evenings from 6:00-9:00 pm at the Cortland Office. This is a 10 month course, and a new course will start in January If you are interested in the next CDA Instructional Course, please let us know as soon as possible. Cost: $1,400 You may also earn coursework credit by taking individual classes offered by the Council. Check the class schedule to see which classes apply. You must complete 120 hours of formal early childhood education training, covering the growth and development of children, with no fewer than 10 training hours in each of the following subject areas: 1. Planning a safe and healthy learning environment. 2. Advancing children's physical and intellectual development. 3. Supporting children's social and emotional development. 4. Building productive relationships with families. 5. Managing an effective program operation. 6. Maintaining a commitment to professionalism. 7. Observing and recording children's behavior. 8. Understanding principles of child development and learning. While formal education hours can be for credit or noncredit, they must be earned through an agency or organization with expertise in early childhood teacher preparation. The agency or organization must verify your education in the form of an official transcript, certificate, or letter. You need to submit these documents with your application. 10

11 LETTING YOUR QUALITY SHINE QUALITYSTARSNY QUALITYstarsNY is coming to NYS! QUALITYstarsNY is a voluntary quality rating and improvement system that is designed to increase quality in early learning throughout the state. For more information visit or call the Council at or NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE EDUCATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN (NAEYC) ACCREDITATION NAEYC Accreditation of programs for young children represents the mark of quality in early childhood education. NAEYC Accreditation began in 1985 with the goal of providing an accrediting system that would raise the level of early childhood programs. Today, over 6,500 programs are NAEYC Accredited. NAEYC accredited programs invest in early childhood education because they believe in the benefits to children and families. Early childhood experiences from birth to age 8 have an enormous impact on children s lifelong learning and positively contribute to their health and development. Early childhood education programs with the mark of quality benefit children with greater readiness for and success in school. It is for this reason that parents and families are seeking out NAEYC-accredited programs. Parents choosing an early childhood education program can be overwhelmed by trying to find the highest-quality program for their child. NAEYC Accreditation is the mark of quality that families are looking for. WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT NAEYC ACCREDITATION? For more information visit: NEW YORK STATE CREDENTIALS: WHAT ARE THEY? CHILDREN S PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR CREDENTIAL The Children s Program Administrator Credential of New York State is designed to provide for and be recognized as a standard by which to measure program management, fiscal management, and leadership abilities of early childhood and school-age program administrators. INFANT TODDLER CARE & EDUCATION CREDENTIAL For this credential, you need specific coursework in infant toddler development and professional practice. This includes twelve (12) credits from a nationally accredited college in early childhood coursework that covers the standards of the New York State Infant Toddler Care & Education competencies. EARLY LEARNING TRAINER CREDENTIAL If you have an Associate s degree or above and have a specific expertise that you would like to share with other child care providers, you might apply for this new credential. FAMILY CHILD CARE CREDENTIAL This credential is designed to recognize those practitioners who demonstrate teir competence, knowledge and professional practice in the areas of professional family child care, child development, healthy home learning environments and business practices. WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE CREDENTIALS? For more information about these credentials, please visit or call (518)

12 THE CHILD DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL CAN HELP YOU WITH FREE TRAINING, EQUIPMENT AND RESOURCES So many times we hear about providers who are experiencing issues or problems with their child care program such as frustrating parents, children s behaviors or complying with a particular regulation. We can come to your home or program site to address issues that matter to you and help you make improvements. Visits can be scheduled according to your needs. Grants are available to help you raise the quality and to enrich your program. You also will receive credit for training hours. Here are some topics providers have requested: Activities for infants and toddlers Organizing your child care records How to handle provider burnout Assistance with a corrective action plan Strategies and suggestions for replacing time-out with guidance How to interview prospective families on the phone or in person Organizing an infant/toddler area Using prop boxes when your space is limited How to set up a positive learning environment Please call soon to set up an appointment or for more information because grant money goes fast. In Cortland, please contact Dixie at ext. 3 or dixie@cortlandchildcare.org. In Tompkins, please contact Barb at or barb@childdevelopmentcouncil.org. This is your opportunity to receive personal guidance in the comfort of your own home or program. HOW DOES YOUR FAMILY CHILD CARE PROGRAM RATE? Are you interested in improving your program? Are you not certain where to start? Do you know your program s strengths and weaknesses? The Council is now able to do an assessment on any home-based child care program using the Family Child Care Environmental Rating Scale (FCCERS). The FCCERS is both reliable and valid which makes it appropriate to use for research and program evaluation, as well as program improvement efforts. New York State has field-tested Quality Stars, and FCCERS was one of the tools used in the pilot project. The FCCERS is very detailed and specific and takes into consideration the limitations of Family Child Care; that being a single provider (or provider and an assistant) caring for multiple children of varying ages from birth up to age twelve. The FCCERS tool measures 38 items which are organized into seven categories: Space and Furnishings, Personal Care Routines, Listening and Talking, Activities, Interaction, Program Structure and Parent & Provider. An assessment of your program is done over a 3 hour period of time. Certain items in the tool must be observed within the first three hours in order to give the program credit for them. The thinking behind this is that if these items are not seen within that time frame, then they are not happening often enough throughout the day to meet the requirement. Observers must score the program on what they see during the observation NOT on what they have seen in the past or on what the provider plans to do in the future. The goal is for the observation to be an accurate snapshot of the child care that is observed. So why should you have your FDC or GFDC program assessed? An assessment will be able to show you the strengths of your program and the areas where improvement is needed. If improvement is needed and items are needed to foster that improvement, quality improvement grants are available to assist you. In many ways having an outside observer come in to assess your program can offer valuable insights about your program. The goal of the assessment is to build upon your program s strengths so that you can offer the best possible program to children in your care. If you are interested in an assessment using FCCERS or if you have any questions about an assessment and potential grants give us a call. In Cortland, contact Dixie at ext. 3 or dixie@cortlandchildcare.org. In Tompkins, contact Barb at or barb@childdevelopmentcouncil.org. 12

13 WHAT IS THE EDUCATIONAL INCENTIVE PROGRAM? The Educational Incentive Program (EIP) is a scholarship program which helps providers pay for training and educational activities with the intent to build provider knowledge, skills and competencies and improve the quality of childcare. To be eligible for EIP, child care providers must be required to take training and must be caring for children in a program regulated by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (NYS OCFS) or the New York City Department of Health (NYC DOH). WHAT DOES EIP COVER? EIP scholarships fund non-credit bearing training, college tuition and mandatory college fees, training and assessment fees associated with certain credential or certificate programs. All courses taken as part of an early childhood or related degree program are eligible for scholarship. Training or course work must clearly reflect one or more of the subject areas that are required by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services regulations. Scholarships will be granted for eligible non-credit bearing courses, conferences and workshops including non-credit distance learning if training is provided by a New York State Early Learning Trainer Credential (NYSELTC) endorsed trainer. WHAT DOESN T EIP COVER? Child care providers may apply for multiple trainings per year until they reach their award maximum. However, EIP cannot pay for the same training more than once in a single year. Books, elective student fees, room, board and training materials are not eligible for scholarships. Test fees and examination preparation courses are not eligible. Applicants are responsible for any tuition and costs not covered by EIP. Scholarship applications for training taken with trainers not listed as Credentialed, Verified, or Content Specialist will be denied. HOW DO I QUALIFY FOR EIP? Scholarship amounts are determined using your household size and income as reported on your most recent IRS Form Your household adjusted gross income must fall within the income chart. If you reside upstate, you may be eligible to access up to $1,850 per EIP year. WHERE CAN I APPLY? You can apply online or download a brochure/application from the SUNY PDP website: TRAINING POLICIES Early registration is highly recommended for all workshops. Registration is not complete until a registration form and payment are received. If the Council cancels a workshop due to low attendance, bad weather or some other unforeseen circumstance, we will make every effort to contact those who have been registered for the class and credit will be provided for use towards another workshop. We ask that all participants arrive on time, participate in the workshops, stay for the duration, keep cell phones off, respect trainer and other participants, and provide feedback. Our goal is to provide quality educational opportunities that encourage open dialogue, increase knowledge for participants, and provide an enjoyable learning environment for all. CHILD DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL TRAINING DISCOUNTS CHILD DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL TRAINING WORKSHOPS MARKED WITH A QUALIFY FOR THE FOLLOWING DISCOUNTS: MEMBERSHIP DISCOUNT A current Child Development Council membership qualifies you for a $5 member s discount. EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT Registration and payment received one week or more before training date can qualify for a $5 Early Bird Discount. BEING BOTH A MEMBER AND AN EARLY BIRD GIVES YOU A $10 DISCOUNT PER TRAINING! YES, I WANT TO BE A MEMBER OF THE CHILD DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL FOR (Membership year runs January through December) My Membership Certificate shows my professionalism. I will use the training discount to get great training at a reasonable price. I want to use the resources in the Member s Corner to enhance my program. I will use discounts in local stores (coming soon). I want to make a difference in the lives of children and families in Cortland and Tompkins County. NAME: ADDRESS: CITY: STATE: ZIP: PHONE: 13 Please circle one: Individual ($30) Group ($45) Center ($80) School Age ($80) $ Please mail to: Child Development Council 111 Port Watson St. Cortland, NY or 609 West Clinton Street Ithaca, NY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

14 REGISTRATION FORM Please help us keep your information up-to-date. Fill in all the fields below. First Name: Last Name: Local Address: Phone: Primary Language: Other Language: Highest Level of Education: Current Employer: Date Attained: Date Started: Current Position: License/Registration #: Please check one: Info hasn t changed since last registration Info has changed. Date Name of Class Cost 14 Total Payment Enclosed: Please send completed form and payment to: Child Development Council, 609 W. Clinton St., Ithaca, NY (For Ithaca training) Or Child Development Council, 111 Port Watson St, Cortland, NY (For Cortland training) Child Development Council Early Childhood Training Program is partially funded by United Way