Simple Gift Scholars | Early Childhood Enrichment Training
2024-01-20 08:00 - 14:00 (America/Denver) | Simple Gift Scholars, 127 1/2 Bijou St., Suite 1, Colorado Springs
Join us for a morning of networking and enrichment training featuring the music and literacy programming of the early childhood Simple Gift Series on PBS. Launched here in Colorado Springs, this unique program works to quiet the world around every child, while honoring the power of human connectedness and gratitude for all life’s Simple Gifts! Join Linda Weise, the creator of the program, as she shares original songs and books, and teaches you how you can bring these elements to your classroom while utilizing the program as an additional teaching tool.

Health + Well-Being Committee Meeting
2024-01-24 12:00 - 13:30, 2024-04-24 12:00 - 13:30 | Online
The Health + Well-Being Committee is a subcommittee of the Alliance for Kids Council and meets quarterly (January, April, July, and October). The committee is made up of agencies and individuals working collaboratively to guide the work of Alliance for Kids in meeting the goals and objectives of its Strategic Plan, which are aligned with the Early Childhood Colorado Framework.
Meeting details will be shared with committee members via email. If you have an interest in joining this committee, please contact Bernadine McCarron, Foundations Wellness Manager, at bmccarron@jointinitiatives.org.

Collective Impact Committee
2024-01-31 12:00 - 13:30 | Joint Initiatives for Youth + Families, 1600 N. Union Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO, 80909, United States
January 31, 2024, meeting canceled due to unforseen circumstances. Please stay tuned for the rescheduled date!
Collective Impact is the commitment of a group of important actors from different sectors to a common agenda for solving a specific social problem. Key ingredients of successful community efforts to move “from fragmented action and results” to “collective action and deep and durable impact” include a common agenda, shared measurement, mutually reinforcing activities, continuous communication, and backbone support.
As a backbone support organization, JI’s role is to guide vision and strategy, support aligned activities, establish shared measurement practices, cultivate community engagement and ownership, advance policy, and mobilize funding.
Meeting details (time and location/Zoom link) are shared with committee members via email. If you would like more information about this committee, please use the Contact Us form or contact Kimberly Smith at ksmith@jointinitiatives.org.

EQIT | Sessions A, B, C, and D
2024-02-01, 2024-04-15 | Online
The 48-hour EQIT Curriculum provides a solid introduction to infant and toddler development, with a focus on providing quality group care for our youngest children. The EQIT course builds on the knowledge and experience of infant and toddler caregivers through interesting, interactive, and fun activities. The EQIT Curriculum has been approved by the Division of Child Care as one of the classes that can be used for Early Childhood Teacher (formerly Group Leader) Qualifications AND will count toward the Infant Toddler class that will be required for Director Qualifications. The Expanding Quality in Infant Toddler (EQIT) Care Curriculum consists of 16 modules, covering the following topics:

Emotional Development
Responsive Care
Family Partnership
Safety, Health, and Nutrition
Learning Environments
Curriculum
Language Development
Literacy
Physical Development
Culture
Children with Special Needs
Professionalism

Register in PDIS.
Session A: July 27–September 21, 2023
Session B: October 18–December 19, 2023
Session C: February 1–April 4, 2024
Session D: April 15–June 10, 2024
See PDIS for specific dates and times.

Verbal De-Escalation and Active Shooter Survival Skills
2024-02-07 17:30 - 20:00 | Joint Initiatives for Youth + Families, 1600 N. Union Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO, 80909, United States
Join Officer Brian P. Corrado for the emergency preparedness training on verbal de-escalation and active shooter survival skills. Topics will include: Warning signs of hostile behavior, listening skills, Personal Safety, Situational Awareness, Run/Hide/Fight, preparation and planning.

Leading Edge™ For Family Childcare Providers
2024-02-10 09:00 - 2024-03-16 12:00 | Online
In partnership with Joint Initiatives for Youth + Families/Foundations, the Pikes Peak Small Business Development Center LEADING EDGE™ for Childcare Providers helps both licensed childcare providers (home-based) and start-ups. The program assists childcare providers in strengthening business practices when coping with the ever-changing landscape of the Colorado workforce.

Social-Emotional Health and Development – Trauma 1
2024-02-22 18:30 - 20:00 | Online
This training will go over promoting social-emotional development in a trauma-sensitive environment helping both teachers and students have a successful learning environment. This class will also help earn points toward the Colorado Shines rating. It is highly recommended to take this training before taking Trauma 2.

Social-Emotional Health and Development – Trauma 2
2024-02-29 18:30 - 20:00 | Online
This training is the second part of Trauma 1 and it is highly recommended you take Trauma 1 before taking Trauma 2. This training goes more in-depth about the effect’s trauma has on the young brain and what you can do to help promote a trauma-sensitive classroom, both for adults and children. This class will also help earn points toward the Colorado Shines rating.

4JD Juvenile Delinquency Summit
2024-03-01 09:00 - 16:00 | Tesla PD Building for D11, 2560 International Circle, Colorado Springs
A Juvenile Delinquency Summit is scheduled for March 1, 2024, and will include CLEs, speakers, and presenters. Lunch will be provided.
8:30–9 | Check-In
9 am–Noon | Drugs, Drugs, Drugs, and More Drugs
Noon–1 pm | Lunch + Presentations
1–4:00 pm | Don’t Get Stuck in Vicarious Trauma. Focus on Vicarious Healing.
PRESENTER BIO
Thea Wessel is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) in Colorado. She is also Nationally certified through NNADAC as a Master Addictions Counselor (MAC) and National Certified Adolescent Addictions Counselor (NCAAC). Additional credentials are an Acupuncture Detoxification Specialist (ADS), Reiki Master/Trainer, and a level III practitioner in Cherokee bodywork. She is currently a Ph.D. student at The California Institute of Integral Studies.
Thea continually challenges herself and others to continue providing quality treatment for substance use disorders and further educate the community about addiction, criminal justice, and mental health issues.
Download the 4JD Summit Flyer HERE.

Early Childhood Trauma Training for Families and Caregivers
2024-03-08 18:30 - 20:00 | Online
This training is for families or anyone in the community who would like deeper knowledge of what childhood trauma looks like and how to promote a trauma-sensitive home environment. You will learn how to: 1) define trauma; 2) understand the developmental implications of early childhood trauma; 3) understand the prevalence of trauma; 4) identify the basic brain structures involved in the biological response to trauma; and 5) understand how toxic stress impacts the brain.
This training is presented by Cassy Reyes, Foundations Trauma Coach + Trainer.
View the flyer HERE.

Coffee Chat with Coaches
2024-03-13 12:00 - 14:00 | Online
Grab your favorite coffee or tea and join JI’s Foundations Coaches for some time to chat. This is a NEW virtual forum for early childhood professionals to connect with us, seek resources, and bring questions and concerns about topics such as staffing challenges, ratings, licensing, stress/workload, professional development, tension in the workplace, challenging behaviors, and evaluations for children with special needs.

PRE-LICENCIA PARA HOGARES DE CUIDO INFANTIL FAMILIARES
2024-04-15 09:30 - 13:00, 2024-04-16 09:30 - 13:00, 2024-04-17 09:30 - 13:00, 2024-04-18 09:30 - 13:00, 2024-04-19 09:30 - 13:00
NUEVA! PRE-LICENCIA PARA HOGARES DE CUIDO INFANTIL FAMILIARES
15-19 de Abril | 9:30 am – 1:00 pm
La capacitacion Previa a la Licencia para un Hogar de Cuido Infantil Familiar es una requerida de 15 horas. Los participantes deberán asistir los 5 dias y completar los 7 modulos para recibir el certificado de finalización.
Regístrese aquí en PDIS | $50

Conflict Resolution Within Your Workplace
2024-04-18 18:30 - 20:00 | Online
Whether a program would like to be prepared if conflict arises, or needs strategies to address current challenges, this training will offer information related to employee engagement and retention, workplace culture, and resilience.

Guiding Growth: Mastering The Implementation of Developmentally Appropriate Practices in Early Childhood Education
2024-04-23 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
Guiding Growth: Mastering The Implementation of Developmentally Appropriate Practices in Early Childhood Education
This training session is tailored to early childhood educators seeking to master the implementation of developmentally appropriate practices. Through interactive workshops, case studies, and hands-on activities, participants will delve into the core principles of child development and explore how to effectively apply these principles in educational settings. From understanding individual learning styles to creating inclusive environments, this training will equip educators with the tools and knowledge needed to foster holistic growth and development in young learners. By embracing evidence-based strategies and fostering reflective practice, participants will leave empowered to create engaging
and supportive learning experiences that honor each child’s unique journey of discovery and growth.

Challenging Behavior in Children
2024-05-02 18:30 - 20:00 | Online
In a classroom environment, one of the biggest obstacles you may face is dealing with children with challenging behavior. There’s often a reason behind their behavior, or it might
be their only way of telling you something’s wrong. With all behavior being a form of communication, this training will help you understand the causes of challenging behavior and learn effective classroom strategies.
This training is presented by Cassy Reyes, Foundations Trauma Coach + Trainer.
View full flyer HERE.

Leading Excellence: Empowering Early Childhood Education Leaders
2024-05-07 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
Leading Excellence: Empowering Early Childhood Education Leaders
This training delves into the vital aspects of leadership within early childhood education. Attendees will learn how to develop a vision for the organization and how to identify and recruit talented individuals who align with those values. Participants will explore effective strategies for mentoring and guiding educators to excel in their roles, fostering a nurturing environment for staff and students. Additionally, the course will cover professional leadership principles, empowering participants to cultivate a culture of continuous learning and growth within their educational communities. With practical insights and actionable techniques, this class equips aspiring and seasoned leaders alike with the skills and knowledge to drive positive change and elevate the quality of early childhood education programs.

Family Friendly City Summit | Thursday
2024-05-09 08:30 - 15:00 | The Penrose House, 1661 Mesa Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO, United States
Purpose of Summit:
To leverage the newly-created Early Childhood Business Council, the Summit will bring together business and other community leaders in partnership with early childhood education professionals to create diverse strategies to solve the child care crisis. Invitees will include professionals representing the area’s 400+ early childhood (childcare) programs, along with sector leaders from the health, education, media, philanthropy, government, and social services sectors.
Format:
The Summit will bring delegates representing traditional child care providers and new partners to serve within delegations that will engage in strategic planning breakout groups. Each delegation will represent diverse segments of the community and will be comprised of approximately 10-12 members.
The delegations will meet simultaneously to explore approaches and strategies within the framework of how the community can work together across sectors to address the significant child care (early childhood education) gap in the Pikes Peak Region. To guide them through this process, pre-determined questions will be given to support dialogue.
Summit Overview, Agenda, and Delegate Roles
There is no cost to participate.
Contacts:
SherryLynn Boyles, Joint Initiatives CEO, sboyles@jointinitiatives.org, (210) 296-8577
Cindy Aubrey, PPUW CEO, cindy@ppunitedway.org

Family Friendly City Summit | Saturday
2024-05-11 11:30 - 14:30 | The Penrose House, 1661 Mesa Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO, United States
THE FAMILY FRIENDLY CITY SUMMIT
Focusing on Early Childhood Solutions for Businesses
The Summit is convening early childhood providers on a Saturday to provide the greatest opportunity for engagement. The Saturday meeting follows a meeting two days prior on Thursday when more businesses could engage. The Saturday meeting will provide an opportunity for early childhood providers to review the ideas that came out of Thursday’s meeting and add your own. You will be asked to lend your expertise to explore and prioritize strategies.
View the Summit Invitation HERE.
11:30 am Excellence in Early Childhood Awards Ceremony
Nominations online form available at jointinitiatives.org
Download the EC Awards Nomination Flyer for details.
Click to submit a nomination.
Who should attend?
Child care business owners, directors, early childhood policy leaders,
early childhood school district leadership, early childhood advocates, etc.
Two people per organization are invited.
RSVP or for more information:
Andrew Drescher at adrescher@jointinitiatives.org

Leading Edge™ For Childcare Providers (Center-Based)
2024-05-18 09:00 - 12:00, 2024-05-25 09:00 - 12:00, 2024-06-01 09:00 - 12:00, 2024-06-08 09:00 - 12:00, 2024-06-15 09:00 - 12:00 | Online
Leading Edge™ For Childcare Providers (Center-Based)
In partnership with Joint Initiatives for Youth + Families/Foundations, the Pikes Peak Small Business Development Center LEADING EDGE™ for Childcare Providers helps both licensed child care providers (Center-based) and start-ups. The six-week program assists child care providers in strengthening business practices when coping with the challenges of the ever-changing landscape of the Colorado workforce.

Building a Bright Future
2024-06-04 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
Building a Bright Future: Nurturing Staff Retention and Creating Positive Workplace Environments in Early Childhood Settings
This training session is designed to empower early childhood educators and administrators in fostering environments that support staff retention and cultivate positive workplace dynamics. Through interactive discussions, practical strategies, and collaborative activities, participants will explore the essential elements of creating a nurturing and supportive workplace culture. Topics will include effective communication techniques, team building exercises, recognizing and addressing burnout, promoting work-life balance, and implementing strategies for professional growth and development. Whether you’re an educator, supervisor, or administrator, this training will equip you with the tools and insights needed to cultivate a thriving and resilient early childhood
community.
