6.3 Ongoing Training and Professional Development

6.3.1 Required hours of ongoing training Provide the number of hours of ongoing training required annually for CCDF-eligible providers in the following settings: a. Licensed child care centers: 1% of annual hours worked or a minimum of 5 hours annually for caregivers, teachers, and directors. b. License-exempt child care centers: 1% of annual hours worked or a minimum of 5 hours annually for caregivers, teachers, and directors. c. Licensed family child care homes: A minimum of 18 hours per year. d. License-exempt family child care homes: Unlicensed relatives have no annual training requirements. e. Regulated or registered in-home child care: n/a f. Non-regulated or registered in-home child care: Unlicensed relatives have no annual training requirements. 6.3.2 Accessibility of professional development for Tribal organizations Describe how the Lead Agency’s training and professional development are accessible to providers supported through Indian tribes or Tribal organizations receiving CCDF funds (as applicable). The OEC has contacted the Social Service Manager of the Mohegan Tribe Family Services Department to inform them of training and professional development available to tribal providers. The OEC has shared all documents and resources including Connecticut’s Core Knowledge and Competencies, the Early Learning and Development Standards and other related guidance documents. These are important resources and tools that can be utilized for professional development. Tribal providers have access to the free online health and safety orientation training and other professional development offered through CT’s professional development system. 6.3.3 Professional development appropriate for the diversity of children, families, and child care providers Describe how the Lead Agency’s training and professional development requirements reflect the diversity of children, families, and child care providers participating in CCDF. To the extent practicable, how does professional development include specialized training or credentials for providers who care for infants or school-age children; individuals with limited English proficiency; children who are bilingual; children with developmental delays or disabilities; and/or Native Americans, including Indians, as the term is defined in Section 900.6 in subpart B of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (including Alaska Natives) and Native Hawaiians? The OEC offers training and professional development to meet the career growth of providers by offering options from non-credit bearing training such as modules to meet CCDF requirements, credit bearing opportunities toward degree attainment for staff serving infants and toddlers through school-age children. By ensuring the integration of the CKC Framework, the OEC supports and ensures the applicability of training content to all providers. The CKCs incorporate the knowledge and application of CT’s ELDS and strategies to support English language learners and children with special needs. Connecticut has only two recognized federal tribes and within those tribes a very small population of Native Americans. The OEC has a collaborative relationship with the Mohegan Tribe Family Services Manager and provides a calendar of professional training activities and resources so that all interested Tribal providers serving CCDF families have access. 6.3.4 Child developmental screening Describe how all providers receive, through training and professional development, information about: (1) existing resources and services the State/Territory can make available in conducting developmental screenings and providing referrals to services when appropriate for children who receive assistance under this part, including the coordinated use of the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment program (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) and developmental screening services available under section 619 and part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1419, 1431 et seq.); and (2) how child care providers may utilize these resources and services to obtain developmental screenings for children who receive assistance and who may be at risk for cognitive or other developmental delays, which may include social, emotional, physical, or linguistic delays: CT's State Department of Education is responsible for providing B-3 services and works collaboratively with the CCDF Administrator; together these partners have expanded the Help Me Grow program to enhance technology so early screening and support activities are more accessible to families, pediatricians, and providers. Families and providers are able to track children's development through a new mobile application, Sparkler, and alerts are sent to the child's pediatrician as well as childcare providers. Furthermore, information is given to families who have a child with disabilities about their rights to access childcare. The OEC has offered training for childcare providers on how to use the ASQ screening tool along with families' use of Sparkler. Head Start programs are required by the HSPPS to obtain determinations from health care and oral health care professionals as to whether or not the child is up to date on a schedule of age- appropriate preventive and primary medical, mental health, and oral health care, based on: the well-child visits and dental periodicity schedules as prescribed by EPSDT. Programs may have dedicated staff such as onsite nurses, Health Managers, or Health Advocates to meet this HSPPS, or may contract with Health Consultants to perform this work. Programs are also responsible for providing ongoing training and professional development to support staff in fulfilling their roles and responsibilities. OEC licensing requires health consultants, at a minimum, to visit licensed centers and group home quarterly or semi-annual site depending on the age range served. The site visits include reviewing health and immunization records of children. The health consultants are a resource for programs to provide training and support to staff and families on EPSDT services.