Summer 2012 Harford/Cecil County Child Care Links Resource & Referral Center Newsletter

Harford/Cecil County

Important Numbers

Child Care Links Main Office: 443-512-0461

Fax: 443-512-0185 Training: 443-512-0462

www.hcchildcarelinksinc.org

Maryland Family Network 410-659-7701

LOCATE: Child Care Referral Service

1-877-261-0060

LOCATE: Child Care (Provider Updates) 866-752-1614

Office of Child Care

410-569-2879

Office of Credentialing 410-767-7852

Credentialing Hotline

1-877-605-1539

Family Child Care Association Harford County: Theresa Milburn - 410-893-2984 Cecil County : Stephanie Cloud-Wiles - 443-350-7909

Social Services -Harford County Child Protective Services - 410-836-4713 DSS - 410-836-4700 M-CHIP - 443-643-0343 POC - 410-836-4718 WIC - 410-273-5656

Social Services– Cecil County

Child Protective Services - 410-996-0100 DSS - 410-996-0100 M-CHIP - 410-996-5126 POC - 410-996-0100

PLEASE NOTE: CHILD CARE LINKS is closed daily for

lunch from 12:00pm to 1:00pm

CLOSED FOR LUNCH

Don’t forget to “Like” us on Facebook to receive up-to-date training information, technical assistance tips, and other special offers!

Summertime is here! As pools open and vacations are finalized, we’d like to encourage our providers to keep up with their training requirements. Child Care Links is offering some great classes, so please be sure to check out our summer training calendar!

In addition to offering the 90 Hour Certification Course, the 45 Hour School Age Certification Course, and the 9 Hour Communications Modules, we’ve added two brand new classes - Playground Safety and Asthma and Allergies. We are also pleased to feature a new Infant & Toddler based training, Social Emotional Foundations of Early Learning (SEFEL), a three-part series starting in July.

Our training department is also very excited to have a new and improved registration database! The new software will simplify the registration process and make it easier to track training data and information. We hope to complete the transition by fall, and would appreciate your consideration as we become familiar with the new system.

The staff at Child Care Links would like to wish everyone a safe and happy summer!

Technical Assistance News

Three new Licensing Specialists have recently joined the staff at the Harford and Cecil County Office of Child Care. Abbygail Bruns is a former Harford County center director. Sandra Rossi and Sarah Urban are both former directors at Baltimore County child care centers. Welcome!!

Sadly, Cindy Spath is no longer working in the Harford & Cecil office. She has joined the OCC staff serving Frederick County.

LOCATE for Providers...

CALL 1-866-752-1614 (24 Hour Hotline) To report changes to fees, telephone number, or e-mail address Report vacancies Request a database questionnaire Leave a question

VISIT www.mdchildcare.org To report vacancies Update fees

MAIL questionnaires back to: Maryland Family Network LOCATE: Child Care 1001 Eastern Avenue, Floor 2 Baltimore, MD 21202-4325

Questions about the questionnaire?

Call 410-659-7701 X 230 for assistance

UPDATE on UPDATING!!

Technical Assistance at Child Care Links

“Technical Assistance = A Helping Hand”

Starting and Maintaining Your Business

Professional Development

Working with Infants and Toddlers

Other Special Topics - Behavior, MD EXCELS, Special Needs

Call Marge Kilczewski

Technical Assistance Coordinator & Infant and Toddler Specialist

443-512-0461

LOCATE for Parents…

LOCATE: Child Care helps parents find and choose child care to best meet their needs. If you know of a parent in need of help finding care for their child, please ask them to call toll-free:

1-877-261-0060 Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm

*Special counseling and referral services are available for military, special needs, and Spanish speaking families

IT’S FREE

QUICK LINKS Maryland Infants and Toddlers Program http://www.marylandpublicschools.org/MSDE/divisions/earlyinterv/infant_toddlers

Credentialing Program and Accreditation http://marylandpublicschools.org/MSDE divisions/

child_care/credentials/

Child and Adult Care Food Program www.eatsmartmaryland.org

Child Care Food Program Provider Software http://www.minutemenu.com/web/index.html

MSDE’s Playground and Water Safety Guidelines http:www.marylandpublicschools.orgrdonlyres/ 8A924B7F-D955-4184-8090-3C392D5C692C/16701/PlaygroundSafety_April08.pdf

Important News from

the Office of Child Care!!

The Harford and Cecil County Office of Child Care is located at:

3105 A/B Emmorton Road Abingdon, MD 21009

410-569-2879

Membership at Child Care Links

We appreciate all of the providers who have joined our CCL family by becoming members! We hope you will consider joining or renewing your membership at Child Care Links. In addition to benefitting you as a caregiver, your membership is also valuable to the Resource Center by enabling us to continue offering high quality workshops and resources for the child care community in Harford and Cecil Counties. Family Provider, Center Directors and Center Staff are all $25 Your membership fee entitles you to:

10% off your next Resource Room order (up to $100) Buy 3 (3hr classes) get 1 free (3hr class) up to 1 year (excluding First Aid and CPR)

- this is for Members only! Reduced fees for training at your center Membership card valid for one year Quarterly newsletter and training calendar One Professional Activity Unit (PAU) for credentialed providers

For more information about CCL’s membership or to join please

call us at 443-512-0461. We can’t wait to have you aboard!

Harford County

Brandi Jackson

Glenda Goodson

Dawn King-Nartay

CCL Welcomes New Providers

CDA Training

Now Available Online!

We would like to introduce to you Child Care Links Resource Center of Harford & Cecil Counties new CDA training now available online. Our training includes 120 hours of quality, self-paced training that will enable your teachers to achieve their Child Development Associate. CEUs are also available. CCL also offers a 45 hour CDA renewal course. In addition to the online training, our staff is available to assist your staff with the additional requirements of achieving a Child Development Associate Credential. Additional fees may apply.

If you are a Center Director, please pass this information on to your staff. At your request, we can fax or email you a flyer to put up in your center. Just give us a call at 443-512-0461 For more information, please view our website: www.hcchildcarelinksinc.org and click on “Online Classes” or contact Child Care Links at 443-512-0461. CDA training on YOUR schedule and at YOUR own pace.

120 training hours online starting at $299 12 CEUs Self-guided and self-paced 24/7 access to online course Also available: 45 hour CDA renewal course!

SUPPORT FROM THE RESOURCE CENTER! Get extra support and assistance in completing your CDA by contacting Marge Kilczewski, Technical Assistance Coordinator at Child Care Links of Harford/Cecil County. (additional fees may apply) 443-512-0461(ext 228)

New at Child Care Links! Training of the month! Every month CCL will highlight a different class that we feel deserves extra attention.

The first 10 participants to sign up for each of these classes will receive a $2.50 off coupon to use for anything in our resource room.

Here are our trainings of the month through August

June 27th - Positive Discipline for Challenging Children - 6-9pm

July 18th - Basic Sign Language - 6:30-9:30pm

August 8th - Around Town with Preschoolers - 6:30-9:30pm

All classes are $25 a person, at our location in Bel Air. Come browse our resource room before class!

NEW!

Infant & Toddler Updates Social Emotional Foundations of Early Learning (SEFEL) for

Infants/Toddlers:

COST:

$60

Saturday, July 28th, 9am-3pm

Saturday, August 25th, 9am-3pm

Saturday, September 22nd, 9am-3pm **Must attend all three sessions to receive certificate

Join us for this exciting training opportunity!

These modules were designed based on input gathered during focus groups with program administrators, T/TA providers, early educators, and family members about the types and content of training that would be most useful in addressing the social-emotional needs of young children. The content of the modules is consistent with evidence-based practices identified through a thorough review of the literature .

Module 1: Social Emotional Development within the Context of Relationships - This module addresses strategies for supporting the relationships that provide the context for social emotional development. Based on the following principles:

Families provide a unique role in the social emotional development of infants and toddlers Caregiver self-awareness is essential to the positive social emotional development of infants and toddlers and to supporting

families rearing infants and toddlers. Relationships are the cornerstone to early social emotional development in infants and toddlers

The module covers the following topical areas:

Social Emotional Wellness; Experiencing, Expressing and Regulating Emotions; Temperament; The Balance of Close, Secure Relationships, Learning and Exploration; The Developmental Course of Social Emotional Wellness; Children’s Social Emotional Development Within the Context of Families; Using your Relationship to promote social emotional Development.

Module 2: Responsive Routines, Environments, and strategies to support social emotional development in Infants and Toddlers - This module addresses strategies for developing routines and environments to support infants and toddlers social emotional development. The module is based on the following principles:

Caregivers must be intentional about supporting social emotional development in infants and toddlers The physical environment can promote or hinder social emotional development in infants and toddlers Positive interactions between adults and infant and toddlers can support the early development of emotional literacy.

The module covers the following topical areas:

Careful Observation; Responsive Routines and Schedules; Responsive Environments; Strategies to build emotional literacy; Strategies to build social skills; Working in Partnership with Families

Module 3: Individualized Intensive intervention with infants and toddlers: Determining the meaning of Behavior and Developing Appropriate Responses - Children’s challenging behaviors most often serve to express some feeling, need, or meaning that they are unable to communicate in a more appropriate manner. This suggests the need for identifying the meaning and the skills that the child needs to communicate that meaning more effectively. This module focuses on effective strategies for observing children and identifying the meaning of their behavior as a means of identifying strategies to develop appropriate response plans. The module covers the following topical areas:

Individualized Intervention with Infants and Toddlers; Ways that Infants and Toddlers Communicate Unmet Needs and Distress; Examining Acting out and withdrawing behaviors; When Behavior goes off track; Paying Attention to the effects of challenging behavior on the care giver (s); Enlisting the Help of Parents/families; Using a program process to develop a support plan.

SONGS

AND

FINGERPLAYS

It’s Fun to Go on a Picnic

These are my sun glasses.

(circle eyes with fingers) This is my great sun hat.

(Hands over head) This is the way I fold my hands

(Fold hands) And rest them, just like that.

(Place hands into lap) Pack the paper plates and napkins.

(Pretend to pack) Don't forget the food and drink:

(Shake head no) Hot dogs, potato salad, cake, and

lemonade pink.

It's fun to go on a picnic.

I simply cannot wait

To eat and play, have fun all day,

SAND CASTLE (tune:”The Hokey Pokey”)

You put some sand in. You take some sand out.

You put some sand in And you shape it all about.

You make a sand castle With towers all around.

That's what it's all about!

You put some shells in You take some shells out.

You put some shells in And you place them all about.

You make a sand castle With shells all around.

That's what it's all about!

FOURTH DAY OF JULY

Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”

Today is special, do you know why?

It’s the 4th day of July.

See the flags passing by.

See the Fireworks in the sky.

It’s a special Celebration.

Its’ the birthday of our nation.

Little Seed (Tune: I'm a Little Teapot)

Here's a little seed in the dark, dark ground. Out comes the warm sun, yellow and round. Down comes the rain, wet and slow. Up comes the little seed, grow, grow, grow!

It Is Summer! (sung to "If You're Happy And You Know It") It is summer and it's time to take a swim! It is summer and it's time to take a swim! It is summer that's the season! We don't need a better reason! It is summer and it's time to take a swim!

Wiggly Warbling (tune: “Jingle Bells”)

Wiggle worm,

Wiggle worm,

Wiggle your way down

(wiggle to the floor)

In the soil deep and dark

(continue wiggling)

You wiggle underground.

Wiggle worm,

Wiggle worm,

Wiggle your way up

(wiggle up to a standing position)

To the surface, you must go,

(continue wiggling)

It’s raining way too much!

Great for transition time!

Summer Clothing

(Sing to the tune of "The Farmer in the

Dell")

Oh, if you are wearing shorts,

If you are wearing shorts,

You may walk to the door,

If you are wearing shorts.

Also include: stripes, sandals, tennis shoes, flowers, a sun dress, belt, barrettes, etc.

The Caterpillar

The fuzzy little caterpillar went up into a

tree (act like you're climbing)

Spun his cocoon and then (yawn) went to

sleep (spin hands)

While he was sleeping he dreamt that he

could fly (making flying motion)

When he woke up (loud & excited) he

was a butterfly!

Sunshine

The sun makes the outside a warm place

to play (arms above head in circle)

It makes the flowers grow each day

(holding up hands wiggling fingers)

The sun hides its face during the night

(cover face with hands)

But during the daytime it shines - oh so

bright (arms above head in circle)

THE RESOURCE ROOM AT CCL

Don’t forget, the Child Care Links Resource Room is here to help you in many ways!

Bring your own paper in and use our many die cuts for free. We have 4” alphabet

letters, upper and lower case and 4” numbers, as well as many seasonal and

multi-purpose die cuts.

Did you work really hard on a poster, file folder game or center signs for your program?

Make sure to laminate your work so it lasts. Laminating is a bargain at $1/ft.

We have many learning activities and file folder games that are made to order.

In addition, we also offer posters, signs, birthday charts, a daily schedule, a weather

wheel, and much more to spruce up your child care setting.

Christy, our Resource Room specialist, is also able to make “one-of-a-kind” orders.

If you need something specific and don’t see it on our wall, just speak to her and she

can usually make it!

Please consider utilizing this great resource.

We are here to help you create an engaging and inviting child care setting !!

Read and Extend

Read The Alphabet Tree by Leo Lionni with the children. It’s a creative story about letters on an

alphabet tree, torn and tossed by the wind, find strength in banding together to form words. Then a

clever caterpillar teaches the letters to become even stronger by forming sentences with a message

of peace in a gentle parable about the power of the written word. After the story, discuss with the

children how letters form words and words form sentences. Extend the story: as a class make a

large paper tree trunk and some bare branches. Hang on a wall. Next, give the children some pre-cut

leaf shaped paper. Using letter stamps or letter stickers, help children spell very simple words on

the leaf paper. (Even if the children are too young to spell and need you to help, it’s still great

practice for letter recognition.) Then have the children attach the leaves to the tree. This project

can be completed over a number of days, just leave the supplies out as a center activity! Then you

will have a nice full tree and can practice reading the words daily as a class .

Do it Yourself - Book of the Month Club

Give a child the gift of reading with a “Book of the Month” membership

you create yourself. This gift is not only adorable and useful, it is far less

expensive to put together on your own. Simply buy 12 books (you could

buy them together online and possibly get free shipping!) and wrap them.

Place tags and stickers on them indicating when they can be opened. The

birthday boy or girl will be able to open one book on their birthday, and

then one book a month through the year. This gift will keep on giving until

their next birthday!

concept/photo from makethebestofeverything.blogspot.com

LOCATE: Child Care Complaint Policy

As an affiliate of the Statewide Child Care Resource and Referral Network, LOCATE: Child Care will adhere to the

following policies:

Through the LOCATE service, parents share feedback with the LOCATE staff on the programs in the files: licensed

child care centers, registered family child care providers, and accredited preschools and camps. While this

feedback is at times positive, it sometimes concerns complaints parents have about child caregivers. Of course,

LOCATE and the Maryland Child Care Resource Network (MCCRN) want to use this information in a way that is

fair to providers and parents, while protecting children, as well.

Therefore, the LOCATE Complaint Policy was developed and has been in effect since its approval in November,

1983. According to this policy, all complaints made to LOCATE about child care providers/facilities are recorded.

The type of complaint is then determined:

Less Serious Complaint - No Violation: complaints which do not involve violation of child care regulations;

complaints about situations which do not pose a threat to the safety, health, or welfare of a child.

Less Serious Complaint Involving Violation: complaints of any violation of the Office of Child Care (OCC),

Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) regulations, and/or the Health Department which do not

pose a threat to the health, safety, or welfare of a child.

Serious Complaint: any threat to the immediate safety, health, or welfare of a child.

When a parent calls LOCATE with a complaint, the counselor advises him/her to register the complaint directly

with the appropriate regulatory agency and/or Protective Services. Telephone numbers of the appropriate agency

are provided.

When a Serious Complaint is received concerning one of the providers/facilities in the LOCATE system, no

referrals are made, by the counselors, to that provider/facility. The LOCATE Director also communicates with the

appropriate regulatory agency personnel about the complaint, and maintains the “hold” on the provider/facility

until the agency’s disposition of the complaint is known. Should the investigation result in no action, the “hold”

status is removed from that provider’s/facility’s records. Should the license or registration be revoked, the record

is removed from the LOCATE files. Providers are advised of LOCATE’s actions in writing.

A provider may appeal the LOCATE Director’s decision to cease referrals. Appeals are first addressed to the

LOCATE Advisory Committee. Final appeals may be made to the board of the Maryland Family Network.

It is the position of LOCATE and MFN that the complaint policy is both fair and workable. Safeguards and due

process are afforded to the caregivers in the files, and parent’s and children’s rights to safety are addressed, as

well. Any questions about this policy should be addressed to the Maryland Family Network at 410-659-7701.

Complaint Policy Pertaining to CCRR Service:

All of the resource centers of Maryland Child Care Resource Network strive to provide high quality service to their constituencies. However, in the event that someone has concerns about an incident regarding some aspect of service at a regional child care resource center or feels that he/she was mistreated by a staff member of a resource center, the caller can contact the resource center involved.

If the person is not satisfied with the way the concern or complaint was handled by the regional resource center, he/she can contact the Network manager at the Maryland Family Network at 410-659-7701.

REGISTRATION FORM

Phone-In Registration to 443-512-0462 (Requires a Visa or Master Card payment) Mon. thru Fri. 8:30am to 3:30pm

OR

Mail registration form to: Child Care Links,

2105 Laurel Bush Road, Suite 105, Bel Air MD 21015

Name: _

Last Name First

Address: _

City/St./Zip: ____________________________________

Email Address:_____________________________________________________________

Please circle one:

Family Provider, Child Care Center Director, Child Care Center Staff, Prospective Provider, Parent, or Other

Work Phone: __________________

Home Phone: __________________

Center Name: __________________

WORKSHOP TITLE: DATE COST

1. / $

2. / $

3. __________________________ / $______

4. ______________________________________/____________________$_______

TOTAL_______________

I would like to become a Child Care Links Member

Family Provider - $25

Center Director - $25

Center Staff - $25

Payments Accepted are: Visa/Master Card/

Money Order/Center Check /Cash

NO PERSONAL CHECKS PLEASE Signature: __________________

Account #: _________________________ __________________

Expiration Date: ___________

Child Care Links of Harford & Cecil County

Training Policies and Procedures

Registration. All workshop participants must pre-register ; meaning, participants must register AND PAY for workshops in advance. Registration is accepted by phone, mail or in person. The training line for phone-in registration is operational from 8:30am-3:30pm, Monday-Friday. Visa or MasterCard required for all registrations done by phone. Mail registration form to Child Care Links of Harford/Cecil Counties 2105 Laurel Bush Rd., Suite 105, Bel Air, MD 21015. Child Care Links does not accept personal checks.

Fees Paid are NON-REFUNDABLE. Should you miss a workshop, credit or transfer to another workshop may be given if Child Care Links is notified prior to the workshop. If after hours, please leave a message on Child Care Links’ answering service. No credit or refunds are issued for “no shows”. Call 443-512-0462 with any questions or concerns about our refund or credit policies. Any credits issued are good for one year from the date of issue.

Late Arrivals. Workshops begin at stated time. Our instructors reserve the right to refuse admittance to any workshop for any participant arriving 15 minutes or more past the start of the workshop. Credit or transfer will be issued at the discretion of the Child

Care Links staff for any participant turned away from training for lateness. Cancellation or change policy. Child Care Links may need to cancel a workshop due to lack of enrollment; in this event, a CCL staff member will contact you at the phone number or address you provided upon registration. If we need to cancel a workshop and you do not wish to be transferred to another training, you will be issued credit good for one year or refunded fees paid for the canceled workshop. If you are phoning in your registration please verify that we have the correct contact information, including more than one telephone number where you can be reached. Rude and/or disrespectful behavior during workshop will not be tolerated. Please remember to exercise good judgment and respect for both the trainer and other participants in your session. It is okay to disagree with facts or opinions presented by the trainer or other participants but please remember to remain professional. Should you violate this policy, the instructor may ask you to leave the workshop and you will not be re-admitted, nor will you receive a refund for the class.

Certificates. Core of Knowledge certificates will be issued at the conclusion of the training session for all participants who successfully complete all requirements set forth for the course.

Child care is not provided during workshops. Workshops provided by Child Care Links are intended for adults only. Please make other arrangements for care of your children during workshop hours. Workshop locations. Child Care Links has two locations where we offer trainings. One location is at our main office on 2105 Laurel Bush Rd. Suite 105 Bel Air, MD 21015. The second location is at the YMCA of Elkton on 25 YMCA Blvd. Elkton, Md. 21921. If you need directions to either locations please let us know upon registering for the trainings. Inclement Weather - Please note that the training department of Child Care Links follows Harford & Cecil Counties Public School Weather Policy for closings and delayed openings. If you are scheduled for a workshop and Harford or Cecil County Schools close for inclement weather, our workshop will be canceled. During the weekend our workshops will be canceled if Parks and Rec cancels school activities. If, for any reason, this changes, a CCL staff member will contact you. Attempts will be made to reschedule any canceled workshop.

Visit us on the Web at

www.hcchildcarelinksinc.org

Child Care Links Resource and Referral Agency for Harford and Cecil Counties

Child Care Links of Harford &Cecil County 2105 Laurel Bush Rd. Suite 105 Bel Air, Md. 21015 Phone: 443-512-0461 Fax: 443-512-0185 Business Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:30am-4:30pm Friday 8:30am –4:00pm Training Department 443-512-0462 Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30am-3:30pm LOCATE CHILD CARE Maryland Family Network 1-877-261-0060 Hours: Monday-Friday 9:30am-3:30pm

MISSION STATEMENT

Child Care Links addresses available, affordable, quality child care issues in

Harford and Cecil Counties.

Child Care Links is committed to expanding and enhancing the quality of child care in

Harford and Cecil Counties by helping parents, child care providers, and the

community understand and implement the indicators of quality enabling all children to receive optimum early care and education

experiences.

Child Care Links is committed to enhancing the quality of the child care

delivery system in Harford & Cecil Counties by providing pertinent

resources, training, and referrals to families, child care providers, and the

community.

Newsletter /Training Survey: Please fill out and return to Child Care Links and you could win a

Are you a (circle one please):

Family Child Care Provider

Center Child Care Staff Member: Other: Owner/Operator Parent

Director Informal Child Care Provider (family member providing care for a relative) Senior Staff Member Community Member Group leader Government Aide *Not Listed _______________________________________________________

How do you rate your overall opinion of the Newsletter and Training Calendar (circle one)

1 2 3 4 5 Poor Fair Good Very Helpful Excellent

How long have you been a Daycare Provider?

1. Less than one year 2. One to two years 3. Three or more years What topics related to child care and development would you like to see on the training calendar? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.

How can we make our Newsletter better ? (please explain)

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

After completion please fold and stamp and return to Child Care Links or fill it out online at www.hcchildcarelinksinc.org and e-mail it to us at info@hcchildcarelinksinc.org.

To be entered in our drawing you must include your name, address and telephone number. Good Luck to you all! Thank you for your feedback we appreciate it!

Name: __________________________________ Address: __________________________________

Phone #_________________________________ City, State, Zip: _____________________________

4. What features of the newsletter are helpful to you?

1.

Strongly

disagree

2. 3. 4. 5.

Strongly

agree

“Advice” columns/articles

Technical Assistance Articles

Other events/announcements

Special announcements on events in

the region (e.g. conferences, etc)

“News” articles on events, (licensing

and other) policies, etc.

FREE 3 Hour $25

Training

This publication was produced as a work for hire for the benefit of, and with funds from, the

Maryland State Department of Education

Member agency of the Maryland Child Care Resource Network with the funding provided by the Maryland State Department

FIND IT FAST FOR FAMILIES— a resource locator document with web links for families of young

children on topics such as Choosing Child Care, Transitioning to School, Health, Wellness and Safety

and Supporting Your Child’s Development.

http://www.marylandpublicschools.org/MSDE/divisions/child_care/commres

FIND IT FAST FOR PROVIDERS - a quick reference guide

with links for professional development, program improvement,

Career building and financial supports.

http://www.marylandpublicschools.org/MSDE/divisions/child_care/credentials

Do you have an activity you would like to share? Contact Child Care Links at 443-512-0461 at least 2 weeks prior to the planned activity. Someone from our office would love to observe the activity, take pictures and talk about planning and preparation. Both licensed child care centers and family child care providers are invited to call. We hope to hear from you!