Joint Initiatives

Roundtables for Early Childhood Providers | School Districts
2023-10-20 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Denver) | Online
JOIN US!
October 20th
Joint Initiatives is announcing a NEW platform to keep early childhood providers informed about guidance from the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC), offer time for Q+A, and provide training on important UPK topics. Roundtables will be held monthly via a one-hour Zoom session.
ROUNDTABLE TRAINING: UPK + CCCAP
The first Roundtable for Early Childhood Providers event will include how Universal Pre-K and the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program work together.
ROUNDTABLE SESSION TIMES
To make the Roundtable contents relevant to our different types of early childhood programs, the session times for the October 20th event are as follows:

School Districts | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
Child Care Centers | 1:00 to 2:00 pm
Family Child Care Homes | 5:30 to 6:30 pm

EQIT | Sessions A, B, C, and D
2023-10-18, 2023-07-27 | 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.

Restorative Practice: Part of a Trauma-Informed Classroom Strategy (Sat.)
2023-09-23 10:00 - 14:00 | Online
Joint Initiatives for Youth + Families is offering a NEW learning session presenting the connection between trauma-informed practices and the five principles of restorative practice (relationship, respect, responsibility, repair, and reintegration).
Kathy Orr, Executive Director of Peaceful Households, will lead this learning session focused on understanding the role of trauma, building community in the classroom, and developing healthy relationships. Designed especially for early childhood educators, this training will benefit center-based directors and staff, family child care providers, paraprofessionals, and anyone working with young children.
To download flyer, click HERE.

Restorative Practice: Part of a Trauma-Informed Classroom Strategy (Evening)
2023-09-12 18:00 - 20:00, 2023-09-05 18:00 - 20:00 | Online

UPK Town Hall for Early Childhood Programs
2023-09-06 16:45 - 18:45 | Online
Early childhood programs are invited to join us for a special El Paso County Virtual Universal Pre-K (UPK) Town Hall on Wednesday, September 6th from 4:45–6:45 pm*, hosted by Joint Initiatives for Youth + Families, the Local Coordinating Organization for UPK. This Town Hall will feature a presentation by the Colorado Department of Early Childhood and breakout sessions for center-based early childhood programs, family child care homes (FCCH), and school district preschools to learn and ask questions about UPK.

4:45–5:30 pm | School District Breakout Session
5:30–6:00 pm | CDEC Presentation on major updates
6:00–6:45 pm | Center and FCCH Breakout Sessions

*School Districts: Please join the Town Hall at 4:45 for the Breakout Session, followed by the CDEC presentation at 5:30 pm.
*Centers and Family Child Care Homes: Please join the Town Hall at 5:30 pm for the CDEC presentation, followed by Breakout Session at 6:00 pm.
To help us prepare for the event, participants are encouraged to submit questions in advance. This option is included on the registration form.
View and share Town Hall Flyer HERE.

Social-Emotional Health + Development – Trauma 2
2023-08-31 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 effects 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 help earn points toward the Colorado Shines rating and is presented by Cassy Reyes, Foundations Trauma Coach + Trainer.

Social-Emotional Health + Development – Trauma 1
2023-08-24 18:30 - 20:00 | Online
Trauma 1: 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.
Trauma 2: This training is the second part of Trauma 1, and it is highly recommended that you take Trauma 1 before taking Trauma 2. This training goes more in-depth about the effects 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.

Health + Well-Being Committee Meeting
2023-07-26 12:00 - 13:30, 2023-04-26 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.

Family Support + Education Committee Meeting
2023-06-15 13:00 - 14:30, 2023-05-18 13:00 - 14:30, 2023-04-20 13:00 - 14:30 | Online
The Family Support + Education Committee is a subcommittee of the Alliance for Kids Council, and serves as the oversight group for the Voices program of Joint Initiatives. Meetings are held on the 3rd Thursday of each month. 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 Health + Wellness Manager, at bmccarron@jointinitiatives.org.

Alliance for Kids Legislative Subcommittee
2023-06-13 13:00 - 13:30, 2023-05-09 13:00 - 13:30, 2023-04-11 13:00 - 13:30 | Online
The Legislative Subcommittee of the Alliance for Kids Council meets monthly.
Meeting details/Zoom will be shared with subcommittee members via email. If you would like more information, please contact Kelly Hurtado, Foundations Program Director, at KHurtado@jointinitiatives.org.

EARLY CHILDHOOD TRAUMA PART 1
2023-06-12 18:00 - 19:30 | Online
A basic introduction to Early Childhood Trauma, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and resources to help adults and children in a classroom setting be successful. This training is a requirement to take the advanced Early Childhood Trauma Training Part 2.
Register HERE

Learning + Development Committee Meeting
2023-06-06 18:30 - 20:00 | Online
The Learning + Development Committee is a subcommittee of the Alliance for Kids Council and meets every other month. 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 Tanise Dixon, Foundations Manager, at tdixon@jointinitiatives.org.

LEADING EDGE™ for Child Care Providers
2023-05-20 09:00 - 12:00, 2023-05-13 09:00 - 12:00, 2023-05-06 09:00 - 12:00, 2023-04-29 09:00 - 12:00, 2023-04-22 09:00 - 12:00, 2023-04-15 09:00 - 12:00 | Online
The Pikes Peak Small Business Development Center’s LEADING EDGE™ for Child Care Providers is created to help both licensed child care providers (center-based) and start-ups. The program assists child care providers in strengthening business practices and the ever-changing landscape of the Colorado workforce.
Register HERE for this 6-week impactful course.

Family Child Care Environment Rating Scale (FCCERS)
2023-05-20 09:00 - 12:00 | Online
In this three-hour overview of the Family Child Care Environment Rating Scale (FCCERS-3), we discuss best practices related to the protection of children’s health and safety, supporting, and guiding social/emotional development, and opportunities for intellectual and language stimulation and learning activities. Participants will also learn about the FCCERS-3 subscales, the rationale for the requirements of the scale, and receive suggestions on how to meet the scale’s criteria. Participants engage in hands-on activities and will learn about the scoring process.
Clayton Early Learning will email participants two emails before the training. The first email should be sent one week prior to the training with general information and the second email the day before the training to include the Zoom link and FCCERS-3 Hints.
$20 | Free for CCCAP programs.

Early Childhood Provider Appreciation Celebration
2023-05-06 09:00 - 13:00 | City Auditorium, 221 E. Kiowa Street, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Joint Initiatives for Youth + Families, in partnership with the Community Cultural Collective, will be celebrating early care and education providers (teachers, aides, directors, family child care providers, etc.) at a special appreciation event on May 6th at the City Auditorium from 9 am to 1 pm!
This event will acknowledge and thank the city’s early care and education providers and caregivers for their work and contribution to our community. The event will be a time to relax and celebrate YOU! We will have food, door prizes, giveaways, vendors, and a special appreciation presentation.
Registration will open HERE on April 17th and close on May 3rd.

Ellicott Early Childhood Resource Fair
2023-04-29 09:00 - 12:00 | Ellicott Middle School, 322 S. N. Ellicott Highway, Calhan
Mark your calendars for APRIL 29th and plan to attend this special event featuring early childhood resources!

Come learn more about launching your own business as a family child care provider or other careers in early childhood education. A Career Navigator will be available to provide assistance.
Families will also be able to connect with other families and caregivers in their area as well as find resources to support children going to kindergarten in the fall.

To help us plan activities for children, please RSVP HERE.
To share this event, view the FLYER HERE.

Early Childhood Trauma | Part 2
2023-04-18 18:15 - 19:45 | Online
To participate, you must have taken Early Childhood Trauma Part 1 previous to taking this advanced training. This training will give more research-based facts and resources to help children and adults in their environments feel successful. It also included helpful tools to help children and adults with triggers that lead to anxiety.
Register HERE.

Early Childhood Trauma Training | Part 1 and 2
2023-04-17 18:00 - 19:30 | Online
This training is offered on multiple dates. Please register for the specific date that works for you. Cost is $25 per session.
Part 1: A basic introduction to Early Childhood Trauma, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and resources to help adults and children in a classroom setting be successful. This training is a requirement to take the advanced the Early Childhood Trauma Training Part 2.
September 12, 2022 | Register HERE
January 23, 2023 | Register HERE
Part 2: Must have taken Early Childhood (EC) Trauma Training Part 1. Following our EC Trauma Training Part 1, this training will give more research-based facts and resources to help children and adults in their environments feel successful. This advanced training will go over helpful tools to help children and adults with triggers that lead to anxiety.
November 10, 2022 | Register HERE
April 17, 2023 | Register HERE
