A Newsletter of MountainHeart Southmountainheartwv.org/ccsouth/childcarewebj/...Five little snowmen...

Phone: 1‐800‐834‐7082

IN THIS ISSUE Seasons Greeting .................... 1

Save The Dates ....................... 1

Attention Raleigh County Child Care Providers ............. 1

Snowmen ................................ 1

Director’s Corner .................... 2

Spotlight: Sandra Renn’s Child Care Facility ................. 2

Mini Grant In‐Home Safety Items .......................... 3

Roma’s Real World ‐ All Behavior Communicates A Message: Children Who Bully ............... 3

Cyber Bullying Hurts ............... 4

What is the Definition of Bullying? ........................... 4

TRAILS Mix Good News for Family Child Care Providers ............. 5 Monster’s Claws ................... 5 Winter Reading List ............... 5

Jim Harris’ Kid Tips! Make Your Kids “Bullyproof” .......................... 6

Take A Flower To Child Care Day .................. 7

Be Choosy, Be Healthy ............ 7

Medication Administration Training ................................. 8

Training Schedule ............ Inside

PUBLISHED BY

Earl D. Smith, Executive Director Margaret Younce, Program Director & Editor

Mike Stafford, Publisher Starr Kenneda, Design & Layout

Articles Submitted by: MountainHeart Professional Development Team

MountainHeart Staff

A Newsletter of MountainHeart South for all providers of child care

Vol. VIII Issue 1 WINTER 2011 Come visit us at: http://ccsouth.mountainheartwv.org

SNOWMEN

Five little snowmen With buttons from the store

This one melted And then there were four

Four little snowmen beneath a pine tree This one melted

And then there were three

Three little snowmen Glad that they know you

This one melted And then there were two

Two little snowmen Playing and having fun

This one melted and then there was one

One little snowman left all alone He melted all away

And then there was none

Source: Everything for Winter, Gryphon House Books 1997

Submitted by Sandra Cox, TRAILS Associate‐ Lewisburg Office

ATTENTION RALEIGH COUNTY

CHILD CARE PROVIDERS!!!!

Raleigh County Child Care providers can benefit from a Payment Training Class scheduled for Wednesday, January 12, 2011, at the Beckley WV Workforce from 9am‐2pm.

Topics to be covered are : provider payment process, collection fees, the parent services agreement, MountainHeart payment policy, three‐strike rule and corrective action plan. The class will assist providers in gaining an understanding of proper procedures for completing paperwork and tips on how to avoid billing errors. The class will not count toward provider training hours.

To register for the class or gain more information contact the MountainHeart Child

Care Beckley Office at: 304‐253‐7654

~From our MountainHeart family to yours~ Wishing the beauty of this joyous season fills your

hearts & homes with happiness…

The Staff of MountainHeart Child Care Resource and Referral wishes everyone a prosperous and

healthy New Year!

Save the Dates

SECA January 27-29, 2011

Hyatt Regency Savannah - Savannah, GA

Celebrating Connections February 22-25, 2011

Charleston Civic Center - Charleston, WV

Great Beginnings Conference Sept. 14-15, 2011 Charleston, WV

Come visit us at: http://ccsouth.mountainheartwv.org

It takes a special person with unique gifts to offer an inviting home environment to children while their parents work. Sandra Renn is one of those special people.

“My plan was to keep children until my daughter started kindergarten.” Nineteen years later, she is still providing care for children in her home. When her daughter started school, Sandra discovered that she was already doing what she loved to do and that is spending

days giving to and receiving from the children in her care. Her love of children is evident in the atmosphere of her facility.

When asked what incentives keep her motivated, Sandra responded, “Watching the children grow and change while in my care.”

During these nineteen years, she has cared for and loved children with diverse talents and challenges. Of her years in service, seventeen of those have been partnering with the MountainHeart Child Care Resource and Referral program and she has made a transition from Family Provider to Facility Provider in the last five years.

Sandra is currently working on the Tier 2 accreditation and is half way through the process. The staff of MountainHeart applaud her dedication and desire to provide a loving and growing learning environment for our most precious children.

Submitted by: Joanne McCallister, TRAILS Early Childhood Specialist

Sandra Renn’s Child Care Facility

In many child care centers today, the director’s job involves a wide array of hats, but one of the most important jobs is that of protector of children and staff. Recently we provided a professional development session on emergency preparedness and within that session was information regarding potentially violent situations. A potentially violent situation could be one that involves gunfire, a hostage situation, intruder, adult under the influence, and non‐custodial adult. The news abounds with story after story about some of the above situations and with that thought www.childhealthonline.org offers some suggestions for preparing. The first suggestion is to develop a procedure for lockdown:

♥ Make sure the communication system is working ♥ Familiarize all staff with the lock down code word or phrase. This phrase or word should be common enough to notify staff

of a potential dangerous situation without alarming the children or alerting the intruder ♥ Designate staff responsibilities ♥ Have emergency files accessible to each classroom and update regularly ♥ Have emergency lighting and communication sources, check regularly ♥ Have first aid kit, check and rotate supplies regularly ♥ Check door locks and keys to assure they work properly

The next suggestion is to practice these procedures like you would for any other emergency situation, following these steps: ♥ Warning system: lock down code word or phrase ♥ Close and lock all doors ♥ Turn off the lights ♥ Have the children sit quietly in a designated safe area ♥ Do a head count to make sure all the children are in the room and notify the director or emergency personnel if anyone is

missing ♥ Maintain position until given further instructions

Overall, remember to remain calm in all situations and the staff and children will be more confident in your abilities to see them through this emergency. For further information on this topic and other emergency situations you may want to visit the following websites: www.naccrra.org or www.brighthorizons.com.

Sandra Renn & daughter Jenni-


Roma’s Real World

All Behavior Communicates a Message: Children Who Bully

Bullying among children is aggressive behavior that is intentional and that involves an imbalance of power or strength. Typically, it is repeated over time. Bullying can take many forms such as hitting or punching (physical bullying); teasing or name‐calling (verbal bullying); intimidation through gestures or social exclusion (nonverbal bullying or emotional bullying); and sending insulting messages by e‐mail (cyber bullying). The reasons for bullying may be real or imagined. Children who bully are more likely to have friends who bully and have a positive attitude toward violence. Bullying is serious!

There is no one single cause of bullying among children. Rather, individual, family, peer, school, and community factors can place a child or youth at risk for bullying his or her peers. Some characteristics of bullying are: being impulsive, hot‐headed, dominating, easily distracted, lack of empathy, difficultly following directions, viewing violence in a positive way, and the “bully” may be physically stronger.

Some risk factors are: lack of warmth and involvement from parents, caregivers, and the community and overly permissive parenting; lack of supervision or harsh parenting; and a model for bullying behavior (any of the settings mentioned above).

What can I do? ♥ Explain to the child that bullying is serious and you will not tolerate this behavior. ♥ Be an active listener. All behavior communicates a message. Listening to a child’s concern

and issues may be the only strategy that you need. ♥ Develop clear, firm, and consistent rules with your family and share your concerns and rules

with child care providers, teachers, and other community member that have a relationship with the child.

♥ Spend more quality time with the child. ♥ Call the Behavior Consultant in your region for help with a behavioral plan.

If strategies aren’t working you may want to consider contacting a mental health professional.

Resources: Bullying: Children Who Bully, education.com

Submitted by Roma Lester, MA, Behavior Consultant

The cold wintry days are now upon us. As we light our fires this winter season to stay warm and cozy, please remember to keep safety in mind.

MountainHeart can help to ensure safety for your home through the MountainHeart Mini Grant Application process. There are many Health & Safety items available through the Mini Grant program such as Fire Extinguishers and Smoke Alarms, just to name a few.

A Family Child Care Provider must have one working smoke detector installed on every level of the home. Also, an ABC‐rated multi‐purpose fire extinguisher shall be available in the home at all times. It is important to remember that smoke alarms

should be checked frequently and batteries replaced semi‐annually to ensure proper functioning. Also, fire evacuation drills should be conducted monthly and written documentation of when they were conducted should be maintained by the Family Home Provider.

Mini Grant Applications are available for Family Child Care Homes and Child Care Facilities. In order to receive a MountainHeart Mini Grant item(s), a provider must be currently providing care f o r ch i l d ren and rece i ve a recommendation/referral from their local DHHR Child Care Regulatory Specialist.

It is a priority of the Mini Grant Program to assist Family and Facility Providers in meeting health and safety regulations. For a detailed list of all Mini Grant items available and for information

concerning the Mini Grant Application process, please contact your local MountainHeart Child Care Resource and Referral office. Or, you may also contact Susan McCoy, Supervisor and Mini Grant Coordinator in the Lewisburg MountainHeart Child Care Resource and Referral office by calling 1‐304‐647‐3800 or 1‐866‐223‐7127.

MountainHeart staff wishes all child care providers, their families, and the children in which they provide services, a very safe, happy and warm winter season!

Submitted by Betty Hamrick, Supervisor

Mini Grant In-Home Safety Items

IF PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE CANCELED IN YOUR COUNTY DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER, THERE WILL BE NO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS THAT DAY.


Cyber Bullying Hurts

Beep, Beep! Another child is receiving a text. This is very common in today’s world. Common also in our society is cyber bullying. Cyber bullying is extremely different from traditional bullying. There is no need for pen and paper. With today’s technology bullying has become easier than ever. The children and youth of this generation don’t even need to have personal confrontation. All they need are the tools. Cyber bullying can be defined as any communication posted or sent by a child online by instant messenger, e‐mail, website, diary site, online profile, interactive game, handheld device, cell phone or other interactive device that is intended to frighten, embarrass, harass or otherwise target another child. The internet is the latest playground, and there are no off hours.

Have you ever bullied or been bullied? If you have bullied or been bullied then you should know what bullying feels like. Bullying is very harmful and creates major problems for our children. It could transform or destroy a person’s life forever. The fact is children have been known to kill each other or committed suicide after being involved in cyber bullying. You might be asking yourself just how much cyber bullying is going on. The data shows nearly 35% of kids have been threatened online and almost one out of five have been more than once.

According to www.ncpc.org, “When asked about cyber bullying some children respond by saying: they don’t think it’s a big deal, don’t think about the consequences, are encouraged by friends, thinks everyone does it and think they won’t get caught.”

Despite what cyber bullies believe, cyber bullying is a huge deal and can cause a mixture of reactions. Reactions such as anger, embarrassment, hurt, scared, frustrated and depression can stay with a child a lifetime. Children can react positively to try to prevent cyber bullying by: blocking communication with the cyber bully, refusing to pass along cyber bullying messages and talking with a teacher or a friend about the bullying.

According to www.eyesonbullying.org, “Parents can also help prevent cyber bullying by: making sure computers are visible, talking to their children about safe and responsible use of the internet and cell phones, discussing what to do when cyber bullying happens, reminding their children not to share their personal information online and encouraging children to talk to them if they or someone they know is being cyber bullied.”

Today’s bullying isn’t the same. It has entered the digital age. Even though the intent behind it is unchanged, the end result is understated. In recent years the materials of bullying would have been whispered, screamed, or passed around. Presently with a few clicks, a snapshot, video or a chat can be shared with hundreds or even millions using email through a website, online profile or blog posting. Unlike name calling, online rumors do not stop. You cannot control who hears or sees the information and it can haunt you and your loved ones the rest of their lives.

Submitted by Sara Mathes, Early Childhood Specialist

Resources:

www.eyesonbullying.org

www.ncpc.org

What Is The Definition of Bullying?

A lot of young people have a good idea of what bullying is because they see it every day! Bullying happens when someone hurts or scares another person on purpose and the person being bullied has a hard time defending himself or herself. Usually, bullying happens over and over.

♥ Punching, shoving, and other acts that hurt people physically ♥ Spreading bad rumors about people ♥ Keeping certain people out of a "group" ♥ Teasing people in a mean way ♥ Getting certain people to "gang up" on others

Bullying also can happen online or electronically. Cyber bullying is when children or teens bully each other using the Internet, mobile phones or other cyber technology. This can include:

♥ Sending mean text, email, or instant messages ♥ Posting nasty pictures or messages about others in blogs or on Web sites ♥ Using someone else's user name to spread rumors or lies about someone

Information from the website: www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/kids/

Other resources: www.bullyinginfo.org

West Virginia Infant/Toddler (WVIT) Professional Development Program

For Caregiver Administrators Thanks to all the dedicated directors in our region we have very few of you left who still need to take this professional development session. It will now be offered only two times a year, so please note the dates and plan to take one of these sessions. Remember policy still states you must attend this training before sending caregivers through West Virginia Infant/ Toddler (WVIT) Professional Develop-ment Program, so plan accordingly. Upcoming Director Professional Development Sessions

Beckley MountainHeart Office Conference Room March 10, 2011

September 6, 2011

Please call Tricia Smith @ 1-866-872-9204 to reserve your spot.

*Please note that you MUST be fully registered on the

STARS Career Pathway to attend this training.

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11 Professional Development Session on Positive Interactions & Relationships

Title: Let’s Talk About IDEA Description: The participants of this professional development session will learn about IDEA

(Individuals with Disabilities Education Act). Discussion will include what the act is and how it relates to early childhood providers.

Registration: Please call Reba or Missie at 1-866-872-9204 to Pre-Register.

March 22, 2011 10:00 am—2:00 pm Little Lambs Child Development Center in Hinton

Core Competency: 2 hr Positive Interactions and Relationships

(Tier II) Target Audience: All

West Virginia Infant/Toddler (WVIT) Professional Development Program

For Caregivers The WVIT Professional Development Program is a 50-hour training focusing on the child care professional working with children from birth to 35 months, the caregivers relationship with families, child development, and quality programming. Caregivers must complete all 10 sessions to complete the program. WVIT PDP offers:

♥ Hands-on activities ♥ Interaction with other caregivers in your profession ♥ FREE resources available to eligible participants

The program is open to centers, facilities, and home providers who are registered on the STARS Career Pathway. For more information, please contact your Infant/Toddler Specialist, Tricia Smith, at (304) 872-9200 or 1-866-872-9204.

Mercer County DHHR March, April, and May 2011

Session 1 - March 1, 2011 10:00 am - 4:00 pm Session 2 - March 8, 2011 10:00 am - 3:00 pm Session 3 - March 15, 2011 10:00 am - 4:00 pm Session 4 - March 22, 2011 10:00 am - 4:00 pm Session 5 - April 5, 2011 10:00 am - 3:00 pm Session 6 - April 14, 2011 10:00 am - 4:00 pm Session 7 - April 28, 2011 10:00 am - 3:00 pm Session 8 - May 3, 2011 10:00 am - 4:30 pm Session 9 - May 5, 2011 10:00 am - 4:00 pm Session 10 - May 10, 2011 10:00 am - 12:30 pm

February 8, 2011 10:00 am-12:00pm

Nicholas County Workforce Building in Summersville

SLEEPING SAFE Core Competency - 2 Hrs. of Health, Safety and Nutrition (Tier II) Target Audience: Infant/Toddler Summary - Participants of this professional development session will discuss the latest SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) research and best practices for keeping children healthy and safe while sleeping.

Anyone Wishing To Attend Professional Development Sessions Must Be Pre-Registered In Order To Attend.

Please call Missie or Reba @ 1-866-872-9204 to reserve your seat today! If you are registered for a session, you will be notified by telephone if the session is canceled.


MountainHeart CCR&R is funded through a grant from DHHR, Bureau for Children and Families, Division of Early Care and Education. MHCCR&R was established in 1992.

MountainHeart South Professional Development Schedule WV STARS Certified Trainers: Dianna Thompson and Sara Mathes

January Topic

Topic 1 - Inclusion for Everyone: Working with Children with Special Needs Core Competency - 2 hr. Positive Interactions and Relationships and 2 hr of Curriculum ( Tier II) Target Audience - All Summary - Finding child care can sometimes be a challenge for parents, but imagine the challenges parents face if their child has a special need. Participants of this professional development session will learn about how inclusion works in a variety of settings and what they need to know about adaptations to their environment. (Please note that this is a 4 hour session)

The Space Between the Cribs Core Competency - 2 Hrs. of Curriculum (Tier II) Target Audience - Infant/Toddlers Summary - This professional development session will discuss the characteristics of a quality infant/toddler environment. Discussion will include how to set up the environment to meet the unique needs of infant and toddlers. February 10, 2011 10:00 am—12:00 pm Greenbrier County Workforce-Lewisburg February 16, 2011 10:00 am—12:00 pm Raleigh County Workforce– Beckley February 22, 2011 10:00 am—12:00 pm Braxton County DHHR– Flatwoods

Braxton See sessions listed for Nicholas and Webster Counties

Fayette See sessions listed for Greenbrier, Nicholas and Raleigh Counties

Greenbrier (Lewisburg WORKFORCE) January 18, 2011 10:00 am –2:30 pm Topic 1

McDowell See sessions listed for Mercer and Wyoming Counties

Mercer (Princeton WORKFORCE) January 18, 2011 12:00 pm - 4:30 pm Topic 1

Monroe See sessions listed for Greenbrier or Mercer Counties

Nicholas (Summersville WORKFORCE) January 15, 2011 10:30 am - 3:00 pm Topic 1

Pocahontas See sessions listed for Greenbrier or Nicholas Counties

Raleigh ***(Raleigh County WORKFORCE– Beckley)*** January 21, 2011 10:00 am -2:30 pm Topic 1

Summers See sessions listed for Greenbrier, Mercer or Raleigh Counties

Webster See sessions listed for Braxton and Nicholas Counties

Wyoming See sessions listed for McDowell, Mercer or Raleigh Counties

The West Virginia Early Learning Standards for Infants and Toddlers Core Competency - 2 Hrs. of Program Management (Tier II) Target Audience - Adults Summary - This professional development session will provide an opportunity for the participant to explore the WV ITELS. Participants will be introduced to the standards and discuss how to implement it into their daily routines. February 10, 2011 1:00 pm—3:00 pm Greenbrier County Workforce-Lewisburg February 16, 2011 1:00 pm—3:00 pm Raleigh County Workforce– Beckley February 22, 2011 1:00 pm—3:00 pm Braxton County DHHR– Flatwoods

Infant and Toddler Professional Development Opportunities

*IMPORTANT! *IMPORTANT! *IMPORTANT!* Please note the following changes.

There will only be one topic offered in the months of January and February. The participants attending the session will receive a certificate for 4 hours of professional development and must attend the entire class to be eligible for a certificate.

Understanding Shaken Baby Syndrome Core Competency - 2 Hrs. of Health, Safety and Nutrition (Tier III) Target Audience - Infant/Toddlers Summary - This professional development session will present the clinical symptoms of a severe shaking, the situation that can lead to a caregiver’s loss of control. Participants will learn ways to anticipate and ease frustration, anger, and stress that can occur when caring for a baby or young child. February 8, 2011 1:00 pm—3:00 pm Nicholas County Workforce-Summersville


February Topic

Topic 1 - Inclusion for Everyone: Working with Children with Special Needs Core Competency - 2 hr. Positive Interactions and Relationships and 2 hr of Curriculum ( Tier II) Target Audience - All Summary - Finding child care can sometimes be a challenge for parents, but imagine the challenges parents face if their child has a special need. Participants of this professional development session will learn about how inclusion works in a variety of settings and what they need to know about adaptations to their environment. (Please note that this is a 4 hour session)

Braxton See sessions listed for Nicholas and Webster Counties

Fayette (Fayette County DHHR in Oak Hill) January 14, 2011 10:00 am –2:30 pm Topic 1

Greenbrier

See sessions listed for Monroe, Pocahontas, & Summers Counties

McDowell (McDowell County WORKFORCE in Welch) February 15, 2011 10:00 am –2:30 pm Topic 1

Mercer (Princeton WORKFORCE) February 2, 2011 10:00 am - 2:30 pm Topic 1 February 21, 2011 10:00 am - 2:30 pm Topic 1

Monroe See sessions listed for Greenbrier and Mercer Counties

Nicholas See sessions listed for Braxton, Fayette, and Webster Counties

Pocahontas See sessions listed for Greenbrier or Nicholas Counties

Raleigh ***(Raleigh County WORKFORCE– Beckley)*** February 3, 2011 10:00 am -2:30 pm Topic 1

Summers (Summers County DHHR in Hinton) February 9, 2011 10:00 am -2:30 pm Topic 1

Webster See sessions listed for Braxton and Nicholas Counties

Wyoming (MountainHeart Office in Kopperston) February 18, 2011 10:00 am -2:30 pm Topic 1

MountainHeart will be offering specialized CQCE sessions for Developmentally Appropriate Practices. These Modules have been developed to meet the requirements of the West Virginia Early Learning Standards Framework (WV ELSF) and are recommended for all people who work with 2½-5 year old children in all early childhood settings. Remember, all CQCE modules must be completed to receive a certificate.

The modules will be divided into eight sessions and will begin in January at the Nicholas County WORKFORCE in Summersville.

Please call Missie or Reba at 1-866-872-9204 to pre-register. Sessions are open to family providers, facilities, & child care centers and will be held in Nicholas County and surrounding

counties at the Nicholas County WORKFORCE in Summersville

Nicholas County Dates and Times Session 1 - January 24, 2011 3:00 pm—7:00 pm Session 5 - February 28, 2011 2:30 pm—7:30 pm Session 2 - February 7, 2011 11:00 am—2:00 pm Session 6 - March 7, 2011 3:00 pm—7:00 pm Session 3 - February 7, 2011 2:30 pm—7:30 pm Session 7 - March 21, 2011 3:00 pm—7:00 pm Session 4 - February 28, 2011 11:00 pm– 2:00 pm Session 8 - March 28, 2011 3:00 pm—7:00 pm

Components of Quality Care and Education (CQCE) Professional Development

Must be STARS Registered to attend these modules. Registration limited to 14 participants.

Target Audience: Toddlers/Preschool (Tier II)





Things to Remember about Professional Development Sessions ♥ Please remember to pre-register for all professional development sessions by calling Missie or Reba at 1-866-872-9204. ♥ If you register for a class and are unable to attend, please contact MountainHeart and let them know, there may be a waiting

list for that class. ♥ Infants and children are not to attend professional development sessions. Alternate child care arrangement need to be made

prior to the class. ♥ All sessions will begin at the scheduled time. If you miss 15 or more minutes during the course of the session, you will not

receive credit for the session. ♥ Upon arriving for the professional development session all cell phones and electronic devices need to be set to vibrate or

meeting. Please no texting during the sessions. ♥ Remember if public school is cancelled in your county due to inclement weather, there will be no professional development

sessions that day.

Braxton See sessions listed for Nicholas or Webster Counties

Fayette (Fayette Co. DHHR in Oak Hill) March 10, 2011 11:00 am-1:00 pm Topic 1 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Topic 2

Greenbrier ( Lewisburg WORKFORCE) March 10, 2011 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Topic 1 1:00 pm– 3:00 pm Topic 2

McDowell (Welch WORKFORCE) March 11, 2011 10:00 am– 12:00 pm Topic 1 1:00 pm– 3:00 pm Topic 2

Mercer (Princeton WORKFORCE) March 2, 2011 10:00 am– 12:00 pm Topic 1 1:00 pm– 3:00 pm Topic 2

Monroe March 29, 2011 10:30 am– 12:30 pm Topic 1 1:00 pm– 3:00 pm Topic 2

Nicholas (Summersville WORKFORCE) March 14, 2011 10:00am– 12:00 pm Topic 1 1:00 pm– 3:00 pm Topic 2

Pocahontas (McClintic Library– Marlinton) March 23, 2011 10:30am– 12:30 pm Topic 1 1:00 pm– 3:00 pm Topic 2

Raleigh (MountainHeart in Beckley) March 3, 2011 10:00 am– 12:00 pm Topic 1 1:00 pm– 3:00 pm Topic 2 March 15, 2011 10:00 am– 12:00 pm Topic 2 1:00 pm– 3:00 pm Topic 1

Summers See sessions listed for Greenbrier, Mercer & Raleigh Counties

Webster March 24, 2011 10:30am– 12:30 pm Topic 1 1:00 pm– 3:00 pm Topic 2

Wyoming See sessions listed for McDowell, Mercer or Raleigh Counties


March Topics

Topic 1 - Don’t Pick on Me! Core Competency - 2 hr. Positive Interactions and Relationships (Tier II) Target Audience - Preschool/School Age Summary - Reports in the media today tell a story of children who are being bullied. Participants of this professional development ses-sion will discover information about bullying and strategies to help children who are being bullied.

Topic 2 - What’s in the Box? Prop Box Ideas Core Competency - 2 hr. Curriculum (Tier II) Target Audience - All Summary - Dramatic play is a wonderful avenue of learning for children. Participants will discover the many uses of a prop box and simple ideas for creating prop boxes for your early childhood education program.






TRAILS Mix Good News for Family Child Care Providers!

If you are a family child care provider, there is a new state‐wide organization just for you: The WV Family Child Care Association. This organization will address the special needs, concerns, and challenges of the family child care provider. The current president is Melissa Nesselrotte and the secretary is Tammy Eubanks. Along with the board of directors, these officers are full of enthusiasm and ideas. Melissa, who has been a

provider for 11 years, has been personally visiting trainings that MountainHeart and other child care resource and referral agencies hold on a regular basis in order to share information about WVFCCA.

Please be looking for a brochure and welcome letter that will be sent to each family provider in WV. The organization has already planned a “Spring Fling” conference for May which will be free of cost, provide STARS training hours and provide gifts for participants. Another goal is to make no‐cost CPR classes available in all regions of WV. According to Ms. Nesselrotte, membership will include discounts with Lakeshore, Scholastic, etc. There are many other ideas in the works, including a newsletter, contests, even reimbursement of your membership cost. Be on the lookout for your letter to come soon!

Our TRAILS vans will carry membership applications. If you want more information, contact the organization at [email protected] or 304.917.9697.

Janet Thompson, TRAILS Early Childhood Specialist Lewisburg Office

Monster’s Claws

4 small boneless skinless chicken breasts (1lb.) cut lengthwise in half

1 pkt. Shake N’ Bake Extra Crispy Seasoned Coating Mix

¼ red pepper, cut into 8 triangular pieces

½ cup Kraft Original Barbecue Sauce

Heat oven to 400°F.

Coat chicken with coating mix as directed on package.

Place on baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray.

Bake 13 to 15 minutes or until chicken is done.

Make ½ inch slit in thinner end of each chicken strip;

insert red pepper triangle in slit for the monster’s claw.

The Staff of

MountainHeart

Child Care Resource and Referral

Wishes Everyone a

Safe & Happy

Holiday Season...

It’s always nice to cuddle up in a warm, fuzzy blanket and snuggle down with a good book . Perhaps one of the following

books will warm your spirits on a cold winter’s day.

For a complete description of these books plus many more visit http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/winter/kids-books/


Jim’s Kid Tips

Make Your Kids “Bullyproof”

I recently picked‐up the October issue of People because of its haunting cover that stated in bold yellow letters “Deadly Bullying” with pictures of three smiling teen faces. Inside there were two articles providing accounts of how bullying pushed a number of teenagers to commit suicide. Sadly, given my experience in working with youth of all ages these accounts were not surprising to me. I have counseled numerous youth that have been physically and emotionally scarred by bullying. They have come in all shapes, ages, and sizes, but the kids most commonly bullied were “different” in some

obvious way (i.e. intellectually challenged, overweight, poor, a minority, homosexual, etc…). They would share their stories with me riddled with fear, anger, and frustration. They would talk about going to teachers and other authority figures only to be told “to just ignore it”. They would talk about feeling like they couldn’t escape the bullying and how it haunted them at school, in the community, and especially online. Unfortunately, once a youth finds himself/herself in such a circumstance, it is a monumental endeavor to get things back on‐track. The purpose of this article is to talk about what we can do when working with young children to teach them skills that will decrease the likelihood of such a circumstance.

The key concept in preparing children to deal with bullying and other social stressors is resilience. Resilience is a protective factor in the development of children that mediates the effect of negative risk factors on development. So how do you develop resiliency? Well, there are a number of different ways, but I want to focus on a five that relate specifically to bullying. Each of the recommendations build upon the previous and can be implemented immediately:

Model and teach compassion and respect for everyone – Make sure you are modeling compassionate and respectful interactions with children and take the time to help children practice being respectful to one another. Compassion and respect are not just values, they are a set of skills with certain behaviors that must be learned. We must take the time when children are young to integrate these behavior patterns into their personalities. Compassion and respect are the “anti‐venom” if you will, for bullying.

Establish safety as the highest priority – It is critical that all the children in your environment are aware that safety is the highest priority. In episode four of my Kid Talk Podcast (available at www.ocshelps.com), I talk about the two basic needs of humans being survival and significance. Our survival need is first met by us feeling safe. It is important to explicitly state, restate, and show children that when they are with us we will do everything in our power to keep them physically and emotionally safe. This foundation for safety is critical to learning and development.

Make sure every child knows that they matter – Again, in episode four of my Kid Talk Podcast (available at www.ocshelps.com), I talk about the importance of each child feeling valued or significant and how that feeling supports the development of resiliency. Significance is at the root of self‐concept and provides children a source of power when advocating (the next recommendation) for themselves.

Teach children how to advocate for themselves – Although “ignoring it” is a way to deal with bullying, it is not the end all be all strategy and often times leaves children feeling victimized. We need to teach children a collection of reactions they can have for different “bullying” circumstances and practice these reactions in multiple situations. An idea to add a little spice to the ignoring technique is to teach the children to tell the child that is bullying them “they don’t play with people that treat them that way”. Just adding this simple phrase gives the child so much more power in the situation and creates a natural consequence for the child that was bullying. If you teach a whole class to use strategies to confront bullying with assertive skills I guarantee you will see a decrease in the amount of time you are spending dealing with bullying. Children who feel significant are much more likely to advocate for themselves.

Don’t call a bully a bully – What I mean by this is do not tell a child that they are a “bully”. Doing this is bad news because you can prescribe an identity trait to a child that they might embrace and develop throughout their life. The key is to focus on the behaviors as a skill deficit as opposed to evidence of the child’s deviant personality. Believing that the child is just a “bully” by nature leaves you with very little power for change. By keeping these two things separate you maintain respect for the child, but have behaviors on which to focus your strategies.

We cannot minimize the profound affect that bullying is having on our young people and we have to do something about it. Simply waiting until they are a teenager and need counseling is not an acceptable approach. We need to create intentional opportunities at home, in school, and in the community to teach respect and compassion and provide them opportunities to learn and develop skills that will help them deal with the inevitable challenges they will face. Certain children may need extra time and attention in developing their skills given the fact that their differences might make them more likely to be a target of bullying. We need to be brutally honest with ourselves about the presence and threat of bullying and work diligently to prepare children to face it.

As the old adage goes, “Prevention is the best medicine”. I challenge you to look at what you can do. How can you integrate the five suggestions above into your interactions with children? What an opportunity you have to model and teach children skills that may one day save their life! All the best, Jim


The third annual “Take a Flower to Childcare Day” celebration of the work of West Virginia’s dedicated child care providers, took place on Tuesday, October 19, 2010. It was a tremendous success! MountainHeart CCR&R staff delivered flowers to a number of child care providers in our service area and helped coordinate special events at local centers. Flowers were also presented to providers dropping by any of our five offices and providers in attendance at professional development sessions on that day.

A special media event was held at Stepping Stones Academy in Beaver, West Virginia. Child Care staff, MountainHeart CCR&R staff, Board Members, Parents, Legislators, the Media, and community members came together to celebrate the importance of quality child care. The event was hosted by MountainHeart while numerous business partners showed their support by donating time, talent, labor, flowers and a variety of special items.

REIC Labs employees donated time, labor and landscaping plants and shrubbery to enhance the beauty of the front entrance of Stepping Stones Academy. Several of the SSA children came outside and were excited to watch the volunteers dig holes, plant and water the new shrubbery. Chick‐Fil‐A, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Kroger and Violet Burdette donated food for the event. Alliance Consulting has

volunteered to provide fencing for the play area in the near future and one of the parents has volunteered to construct playground equipment. Dias Floral provided a certificate for “flowers for a year” to the center and Flowers by Nancy also donated beautiful flowers for the event. On the day of the TAF event, Stepping Stones Academy was full of many unique assortments of f lower arrangements and plants from the children and parents. One Stepping Stones Academy parent wrote a poem and made framed copies for each of the staff.

The continuing goal of “Take a Flower to Childcare Day” is to raise awareness about the important role high‐quality childcare plays in the healthy development of young children and the state’s economic future. Margie Hale, Executive Director of KIDS COUNT says, “Since KIDS COUNT initiated the celebration in 2008, ‘Take a Flower to Childcare Day’ has been an overwhelming success. All over West Virginia, parents, children and community leaders have showered childcare providers with flowers of every variety – a dozen roses, a single sunflower, paper flowers made by children, chocolate blooms made by parents and even a blade of grass.”

According to Hale, decades of brain research have shown that from the

moment they are born, children are being profoundly shaped by the world around them. Children’s earliest interactions with Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa and all other caring adults lay the foundation on which their futures will be built. Parents are children’s first and best teachers, but 64,000 West Virginia children under age six spend a large part of their day in the care of someone other than their parents because their parents are working. Therefore, tens of thousands of hard‐working families need the daily support of high‐quality childcare programs.

Donna England, Child Care Supervisor for MountainHeart Community Services, Inc. and Chairperson for the TAF event adds, “This year, KIDS COUNT challenged local businesses to join in the celebration by ‘adopting’ a child care center close by and showering staff with flowers of appreciation. I am proud to say that businesses throughout our twelve county area exceeded our expectations. MountainHeart is thrilled to be a part of such an important event. We would like to thank the child care providers who care for our children every day!”

Submitted by Violet Burdette, Business Development and Funding Specialist

Be Choosy, Be Healthy

Would you be interested in participating in “Be Choosy, Be Healthy” West Virginia? Providers interested in participating will need to contact Sarah Hicks or Glenna Bailey, Nurse Health Consultants to receive an application. Application deadline is Jan 31st, 2011. 100 centers/facilities throughout the state will be chosen to participate. Those chosen will receive training, materials (including a “Choosy Kit”), and technical assistance on how to change or maintain current health, nutrition, and physical practices. Glenna can be contacted at [email protected], and Sarah can be contacted at [email protected].

Mitzi Richmond, Roma Lester, & Donna England

Donna England

MHCCR&R is funded through a grant from DHHR, Bureau for Children and Families, Division of Early Care and Education.

MHCCR&R was established in 1992.

P.O. Box 966 • Beckley, WV 25801

Important Information Professional Development

Schedule Inside!

Medication Administration Training

MountainHeart Child Care Resource & Referral is pleased to announce they will be sponsoring more Medication Administration Trainings. The following are the dates and times:

♥ January 18, 2011 at the MountainHeart Child Care Office Conference Room at 228 Ragland Road from 5 pm to 9 pm. ♥ February 16, 2011 at the Mercer County Workforce Building (Princeton/MountainHeart Office) from 5 pm to 9 pm ♥ February 28, 2011 at the Greenbrier County Workforce Building (Lewisburg/MountainHeart Office) from 5 pm to 9 pm. ♥ March 8, 2011 at the MountainHeart Child Care Office Conference Room at 228 Ragland Road from 5 pm to 9 pm. ♥ April 7, 2011 at the Mercer County Workforce Building (Princeton/MountainHeart Office) from 5 pm to 9 pm ♥ April 20, 2011 at the MountainHeart Child Care Office Conference Room at 228 Ragland Road from 5 pm to 9 pm. ♥ April 21, 2011 at the MountainHeart Community Services Conference Room at Rt. 85 in Kopperston from 1 pm to 5 pm. ♥ May 9, 2011 at the Nicholas County Workforce Building (Summersville/MountainHeart Office) from 5 pm to 9 pm. ♥ May 11, 2011 at the Greenbrier County Workforce Building (Lewisburg/MountainHeart Office) from 1 pm to 5 pm. ♥ June 9, 2011 at the Mercer County Workforce Building (Princeton/MountainHeart Office) from 5 pm to 9 pm ♥ June 27, 2011 at the Nicholas County Workforce Building (Summersville/MountainHeart Office) from 5 pm to 9 pm.

Call Reba or Missy at 1‐866‐872‐9204 to register. Class size is limited to 15 and there will be a wait list. If, for some reason after you register, an emergency arises and you are unable to attend, please call and let us know so we can put someone from wait list in your place.

Additional Requirements: ♥ Be registered on the STARS Career Pathway. The class is STARS approved. ♥ You need to bring a small baby doll with you. ♥ You need to bring a pair of non latex gloves. ♥ You need to bring your STARS Bar Code ID’s.

Due to the intensity of the material to be covered you must be there at the scheduled start time of training. If you have any questions feel free to contact MountainHeart Child Care Resource & Referral.

Training Materials Needed

A Newsletter of MountainHeart Southmountainheartwv.org/ccsouth/childcarewebj/...Five little snowmen...

Documents

Transcript of A Newsletter of MountainHeart Southmountainheartwv.org/ccsouth/childcarewebj/...Five little snowmen...