Quality Counts California (QCC) is a statewide effort to strengthen California's early learning and care system to support young children and their families. Strong Start Calaveras is Calaveras County's Early Learning Quality Improvement System.
As a Strong Start Participant, you receive:
If you are a Calaveras child care provider, please contact us at (209)754-6914 for more information on how to participate.
Training for Early Childhood Educators, Teachers, Supervisors, Therapists, Social Workers, and other community professionals.
Pro Solutions Training – Numerous online trainings
High Scope – Online Training, curriculum planning and more
Early Childhood Training and Technical Assistance System - Online trainings- focus on school age, after school and summer
Connect4Learning - Online trainings and preschool curriculum information
Child Care Aware - Does not offer trainings, but has a lot of great information and resources
Teaching Tolerance - This is a great FREE online resource that has anti-bias frameworks, curriculum, articles, magazines and SO much more.
The Children’s Trust Fund Alliance’s Bringing the Protective Factors to Life in Your Work online training is for anyone who works with children and families, including parents, practitioners and supervisors. Available at ProSolutions Training, the curriculum supports the Strengthening Families™ Protective Factors Framework, and includes materials on partnering with parents and strategies to strengthen families.
Available in English and Spanish.
California Early Childhood Educator Competency Series (WestEd) is a self-paced, online, professional development tool from the California Department of Education to help early childhood educators learn about the Early Childhood Educator Competencies. The Series includes an introductory video and twelve 15- to 20-minute videos, one for each Competency Context. Through interviews and examples, each video guides the viewer through the professional knowledge, skills, and dispositions of the Early Childhood Educator Competencies.
California Early Childhood Online - This website hosts online training in the following areas:
You must register for this website and retain your password. Training is free and counts for professional development.
California Preschool Instructional Network (CPIN) is brought to you by the California Department of Education, Early Education and Support Division in collaboration with the Center for Child and Family Studies at WestEd and the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association (CCSESA). CPIN provides high quality professional development for preschool administrators and teachers highlighting current research-based information, resources, and effective instructional practices which are focused on preparing children to flourish in early childhood and succeed in elementary school and beyond.
Center for Optimal Brain Integration trains, coaches and consults on trauma-responsive practices and strategies.
Early Childhood Investigations is an ongoing series of conference-quality free webinars for early childhood educators. The series is produced by Fran S. Simon, M.Ed., Chief Engagement Officer of Engagement Strategies, LLC. These engaging webinars are presented by many of the thought-leaders and experts in the field of early care and education. The webinars explore critical topics that offer new ideas and insights to early childhood professionals, especially administrators.
Note: most webinars are scheduled on Eastern Time so adjust the start time!
The EarlyEdU Alliance® transforms early childhood teacher preparation by closing the opportunity gap through a collaboration of early childhood experts and stakeholders working to provide high-quality college degree programs that are accessible, affordable, relevant, and effective for current and prospective early learning professionals.
For a short time, the EarlyEdU Media Library is accessible to all! Follow this link to register for an account.
California Early Childhood Online (CECO)
Gee Whiz Education Great free activities and trainings
Business Practices in Family Child Care • 5 modules/7.5 hours total • Available in English and Spanish
Module 1: An Introduction to Best Business Practices in Family Child Care
Module 2: Family Child Care Business Plan (Part 1–Program Planning) 2
Module 3: Family Child Care Business Plan (Part 2–Liability) 2
Module 4: Family Child Care Business Plan (Part 3 Finances and Record Keeping) 2 hours
Module 5: Sustainability in Family Child Care 2
Museum of Science Infographic: The Five Core Competencies of Social-Emotional Learning And the Impact of an Innovative STEM Curriculum on Your Students
IECMHC offers monthly Open-Door sessions facilitated by an experienced Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant in a confidential space for caregivers to reflect, seek supportive input, share ideas and resources, discuss development, and network within a community. Family, Friend & Neighbor (FFN) caregivers, Family Child Care Home (FCCH) providers, and center-based staff are encouraged to attend this interactive session with questions, concerns and challenges related to infant, toddler, and young children’s social, emotional, and behavioral health.
Sessions are available in English and Spanish.
The Multilingual Learning Toolkit is an online hub for FREE research-based key principles, instructional strategies, and practical easy-to-use resources that are geared towards educators who teach PreK-3rd Multilingual Learners.
Playgrounds offer many benefits for children’s growth and development. Learn how programs can create outdoor play areas that minimize risk and maximize opportunities for learning and play.
Explore these resources on the Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC) to learn more:
WestEd’s Early Education Effective Exchange developed Professional Development to Go (PD2GO) packs (English and Spanish), a collection of professional development experiences designed in individual, easy-to-use 15-minute "packs" focusing on continuous quality improvement in early learning programs. The 15-minute packs are supported by comprehensive resources designed to extend learning, help participants "dig deeper" into the topic, and build their skill capacity. PD2GO packs are organized into three comprehensive learning strands: Systems Thinking, Evidence and Effectiveness, and Intentional Interactions in Teaching. They also are organized by themes: Family Engagement, Dual Language Learners, and Supporting Individualization. Each pack includes an animated PowerPoint presentation, Facilitator Guide, and Handouts. They were designed for use in small groups by center directors and family childcare providers with their staff.
The Family Engagement Toolkit consists of 5 e-learning course modules: The What, Why, and How of Family Engagement, Build Strengths-based Relationships, Respect the Family’s Role in the Child’s Development, Show Cultural Respect, and Take a Shared Approach to Family Engagement
Strategies TA supports and inspires cross-sector networks throughout California to advance community-driven action to strengthen children and families, centered in equity and inclusion. Recorded training sessions available.
Children’s Trust Fund Alliance - This online Training and self-assessment focuses on family engagement and supporting parents. Each course includes required lessons with videos, an end-of-course quiz, portfolio assignments, an individual action plan assignment, and a certificate of course completion. The online training is free of charge and funded through the National Alliance of Children’s Trust and Prevention.
Strong Start Calaveras is part of a statewide Quality Counts California (QCC) initiative dedicated to supporting and improving the quality of early care and education throughout California. The goal of QCC is to ensure consistent high-quality early care and education experiences for California’s infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children, whether in center-based or home-based programs.
Vision: Young children and their families in Calaveras County will have access to high-quality early learning opportunities in both public and private settings.
Mission: Early childhood education programs across a variety of learning settings in Calaveras County will strive for continual quality improvement.
Principles:
Click the link above to learn more about QRIS efforts in California.
If you are a Calaveras childcare provider, please contact us at (209)754-6914 for more information on how to participate.
Watch Me! Celebrating Milestones and Sharing Concerns provides tools and best practices to help you work with families to monitor the development of every child in your care, share your concerns with families in a positive way, and help families get connected to services and support that can make a real difference. The 1-hour training is FREE, available online, and is approved for continuing education credit. Take the training today and help make a difference in the lives of all the children in your care!