2022 Family and Group Child Care Conference

Overview 

Raise Montana looks forward to the opportunity to continue to provide a professional development and networking opportunity for family and group child care directors and program staff. Last year, due to COVID-19 precaution, this conference was held virtually.  We received overwhelming feedback from programs that they enjoyed and appreciated the virtual option as traveling to a conference is time consuming. Because of this feedback and our desire to maintain this training to be as accessible to programs as possible, we are once again offering this event virtually.

FAQs

Q: Is it really free?

A:  Yes!  

Q: Do I have to be a Shared Services Member to attend?

A: No! All directors and staff of family and group child care facilities are invited.  

Q: What if I cannot attend some of the sessions?

A:  That's okay!  You will register for the full event and attend the sessions of your choice.  You will receive two hours of professional development credit from MTECP for each unique session you attend. 

Q: Where is the zoom link?

A:  The zoom link is included in your confirmation email and will be included in your reminder email three days prior to the event. 

Goal 

To provide a  FREE meaningful and accessible opportunity for family and group child care providers to receive up to 10 hours of professional development tailored to homebased programs.

Theme and Topics 

The theme of this year's conference is Safety and Wellness in Early Care and Education Programs.  We are excited to offer the following sessions:

Winter Safety with Kevi Berger, Foundation for Community Health

Winter safety is more than just putting on a warm coat, turning the heat up or heading outdoors for some fun in the snow.  Attendees will learn about winter travel safety, winter sun smarts, and travel safety kits.  Attendees will gain useful skills by learning in a fun and engaging way to be better prepared, prevent accidents, and to be prepared to assist themselves and others in the event of an emergency.

Strategies to Improve Behavior and Language for Children, Child Development Center Understanding and modifying a child's behavior can be one of the trickier aspects of working with children. A speech therapist and Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) will present on understanding children's behavior and strategies to help change it. They will also identify common speech issues and strategies to encourage language from young children.  By attending this course, attendees gain skills in identifying developmental delays, understanding children's behavior and how to change it, and will learn strategies to encourage language.

Linking Systems of Care, The Nurturing Center and Raise Montana

The Linking Systems of Care (LSOC) Montana Trauma-Informed Approaches Curriculum provides

in-depth training on policies and practices that programs, agencies, and organizations may

employ to be trauma informed. For those who work with individuals who have experienced

trauma, understanding and employing practices that resist retraumatization constitutes an

essential step toward helping to facilitate growth.  This session will consist of Module 1 of 10: Key Principles and Policy Development. Module One provides background information regarding the development of the seven key principles that drive the Linking Systems of Care Montana Trauma-Informed Approaches training.  Participants will be invited to continue the series following the conference.

Listening Session, Montana Early Childhood Educators

Join us as we listen to voices from the field.  Raise Montana staff will help support the facilitation of a listening session, which will include teachers and providers who work with children from infancy through age 5 in a homebased setting. In the discussion session, educators will be asked a series of questions to better understand the benefits and challenges of working in a homebased environment and how they could be better supported by resources and policies.

Creating Nurturing Mealtimes, Child Care Resources

Mealtimes can be hectic! Learn about the division of responsibility in feeding, the importance of family meal style service and scientific and biological factors behind eating habits. With some new strategies, mealtime can be an event of discovery, joy and satisfaction for you and the kiddos in your care. Participants learn reasons a child may be a reluctant eater and strategies to ease mealtimes while providing varied and nutritious foods. Trainers will share food activities or books that can be used to work with young children.