Winter 2023 Professional Development Newsletter | Department for Children and Families

Child Development Division (CDD)

Grants & Bonus Opportunities

We, through our partner organization, the Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children (VTAEYC), are excited to announce that VTAEYC has a new website where you can apply for CDD mini grants! There you can find information available funding for individuals working in regulated child care programs, including:

College Tuition Grant (including Prior Learning Assessment)
Child Development Associate (CDA) Assessment Fee Grant
GED Assessment Fee Grant
Peer Review Assessment Fee Grant
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Accreditation Fee Grant
National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) Accreditation Fee Grant
Program Accreditation Bonus

For technical support, please contact pdsupports@vtaeyc.org.

VTAEYC Website

Mini-Grant Portal

Additionally, we have Early Childhood and Afterschool Professional Development Bonuses available for qualified individuals who have achieved specific professional development certificates, credentials, or licensure.

For More Information

VT State Professional Development Grant (SPDG)

The Children’s Integrated Services (CIS) is partnering with the Agency of Education (AOE) on the VT State Professional Development Grant (SPDG) in supporting Part C Training & Coaching. Professional development will be offered through this project, and topics will include Pyramid Model Practices (PMP), Infant/Toddler Training, PMP in Part C, PM Data-Based Decision Making, and Positive Solutions for Families.

To participate in a cohort, please speak to your regional CIS Coordinator.

An informational session about this project is scheduled for February 22, 2023, at 3:30 pm. Contact SPDG Director Meg Porcella at Meg.Porcella@vermont.gov to participate.

Northern Lights at Community College of Vermont (CCV)

Northern Lights at CCV can help you meet your professional development and early childhood or afterschool career exploration needs/goals. You can contact your local Resource Advisor; you can also find information about the following on the Northern Lights at CCV website:

Find out how to submit your professional development information and ensure the training you take counts or take an approved online training.
Write your Individual Professional Development Plan (IPDP).
Apply for level certificates on the career ladder (with a bonus for eligible recipients).
Find out about the Program Director Credential.

NEW In January

Spring trainings have been added to the Northern Lights calendar and the Bright Futures Information System (BFIS) course calendar. Additional sections will be added throughout the semester based on demand.

The five sections of Fundamentals for Early Childhood Professionals scheduled for the spring semester are currently full. If you were hoping to take Fundamentals this semester, please either add yourself to the waitlist for your preferred section or let your Resource Advisor know of your interest. Northern Lights keeps a close eye on demand, and if enough educators are seeking to register, we may be able to add additional sections.

Spotlight on Deepening Developmentally Appropriate Practice. This community of practice is specifically designed for advanced practitioners with multiple years of experience working in the early childhood and/or afterschool fields.

Please visit the Northern Lights at CCV's Training Calendar for all training and registration details.

Stay Up-To-Date

To receive regular updates from Northern Lights at CCV, you can sign up for their e-newsletter or 'like' their Facebook page.

Vermont Afterschool, Inc.

Youth Mental Health First Aid: Thursday February 9, 2023 9:00am-3:00pm

Introduces participants to the unique risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems in adolescents, builds understanding of the importance of early intervention, and teaches individuals how to help an adolescent in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge. Cost is $30.

To Register

New SEL Methods Workshops! New series of SEL Workshops are available as in-service trainings to programs focusing on Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Development. Programs must commit to 7 hours of Professional development and have at least 12 staff members to schedule the workshops. For more information, contact Tricia at tricia@vermontafterschool.org

You can find more information in the 2022-2023 Professional Development Catalogue (link no longer available), and you can find information on workshops offered to afterschool programs on the Professional Development Workshops webpage.

Stay Up-To-Date

To receive regular updates from Vermont Afterschool, you can sign up for their e-newsletter or 'like' their Facebook page.

Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children (VTAEYC)

Are you interested in advancing in your career? VTAEYC offers a variety of professional development supports for early educators, such as the Vermont Early Childhood Education Apprenticeship Program and the T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Vermont.

If you want to learn more about these programs, you can email a Counselor at teachearlychildhoodvermont@vtaeyc.org.