Winter/Spring 2011

Classes
Published for members and friends of RMH Childcare Connection

First Aid/CPR Certification Medication Administration

First Aid Certification - Infant, Child & Adult. Medication Administration Training. An 8-
Two year certification. Registration and payment hour competency-based course approved by the
must be received before class. Cost: $35. Board of Nursing and VDSS to train child day care

Harrisonburg: RMH Atrium, 8 am - 12 noon providers to safely administer medication to chil-
● Saturday, Jan. 8 dren. Staff members who work in licensed or regu-
● Saturday, Feb. 26 lated child day programs and give prescription or
● Saturday, Mar. 12 emergency drugs are required to complete this
● Saturday, Apr. 9 course. This certification is valid for 3 years. The
● Saturday, May 7 instructor for this class is Toni Stone. Cost: $60.
● Saturday, Jun. 25
Harrisonburg:

Stanley: Virginia Cooperative Extension, 5:30 - • Saturday, Jan. 15 **
9:30 pm • Saturday, Feb. 12 **
● Thursday, Feb. 17 * RMH Atrium, 8 am - 5 pm
● Wednesday, Apr. 20 (one hour lunch break)
** Due to increased costs, Childcare Connection will no
CPR Certification- Infant, Child & Adult. Two longer offer MAT classes after Feb. 12. To find a MAT
year certification. Registration and payment must trainer, please see the VA Dept. of Social Services
be received before class. Cost: $35. TIPS calendar:

Harrisonburg: RMH Atrium, 1 - 5 pm http://www.dss.virginia.gov/family/cc_providertrain/tips.cgi
● Saturday, Jan. 8
● Saturday, Feb. 26
● Saturday, Mar. 12 Daily Health Observation
● Saturday, Apr. 9
● Saturday, May 7 Daily Health Observation and Medication
● Saturday, Jun. 25 Administration. Introduction to the signs and
symptoms of common childhood illnesses.

Stanley: This class meets Virginia licensing standards for
• Thursday, Feb. 3 *, Little Tots Day Care conducting daily health checks and includes an
● Wednesday, Apr. 6, VA Coop. Extension overview of medication administration. This class
* Snow make-up date for Page County will be Wednesday, does not fulfill the training requirement for admin-
Feb. 23 at Virginia Cooperative Extension. istering medications in a child day program. Cost:
$20.
Weather-related cancellations will be
announced by a message on the Childcare Harrisonburg: RMH Atrium, 7 - 9 pm
Connection voicemail. • Monday, Jan. 10
• Monday, Apr. 18
Please call the Harrisonburg office at 1-800-377-4453
or the Northern Office at 1-866-599-1273 for informa-
tion on cancellations.

Advanced registration required for ALL classes.

Unless listed otherwise, please call RMH HealthSource at 433-4580 or 800-433-4580 to register.

Childcare Connection is funded by RMH Healthcare in partnership with Valley agencies.

Harrisonburg Office Northern Office
411 Stone Spring Road, Harrisonburg 294 East Main Street, PO Box 12, Stanley
Phone: (540) 433-4531 or (800) 377-4453 Phone: (540) 778-4600 or (866) 599-1273
Monday - Thursday, 9 am to 4 pm; closed Friday. M, T, Th, 9 am to 3 pm; closed Wednesday & Friday.
Childcare Connection
BEST FIT :
Month Behavioral,
2010 Emotional and Social Training for Infants and Toddlers
BEST FIT is part of a grant initiative through the Virginia Department of Social Services’ Division of Child Care
and Early Childhood Development. It is a federally funded program through the American Recovery and Rein-
vestment Act of 2009.
The BEST FIT program has two main goals: to improve the access of child care providers to community re-
sources and to increase the capacity of child care providers to recognize and address the social, emotional
and behavioral development of infants and toddlers in their care. While the focus of BEST FIT includes all chil-
dren, special attention will be placed on children at risk and/or exhibiting challenging behaviors.

BEST FIT mentors provide on-site individualized trainings based on the needs of participating child care cen-
ters. Trainings focus on Development, Biology, Relationships, Environment and Connecting with Parents.
Other services provided include assisting with developmental screenings, providing specific interventions for
emotional and behavioral difficulties and conducting Town Hall meetings for parents and community members.
For more information on this program or to request an application, please contact Laura Copley at (540) 568-
5007 or cople2La@jmu.edu.

BEST FIT trainings and Town Hall meetings will be held around the Valley this spring on the following topics:

Biology - Medical Needs Impacting Infant/Toddler Development: Discuss the importance of biology and
genetics as it relates to infant/toddler development. Learn about the medical risks that are common in early
childhood, and discuss ways in which a caretaker can address these concerns.
• McGaheysville: Little Bloomers Day Care, Thurs. Feb. 24, 6:30 - 8:30 pm *
• Strasburg: St. Paul Lutheran Church, Thurs. Mar. 24, 6:30 - 8:30 pm *
Month 2010
• Weyers Cave: Weyers Cave Community Center, Thurs. Apr. 28, 6:30 - 8:30 pm

Relationship - Attachment: Discuss the importance of healthy relationships between infants/toddlers and
their caretakers. Understand the four faces of attachment, how to identify secure and insecure attachment
styles, and ways in which parents and providers can create safe and healthy bonding with children.
• Strasburg: St. Paul Lutheran Church, Tues. Feb. 15, 6:30 - 8:30 pm
• Broadway: Plains Area Day Care, Thurs. Feb. 17, 6:30 - 8:30 pm
• Luray: Luray United Methodist Church (TENT), DATE TBA??, TIME

Development - Autism: Review the social , emotional and behavioral milestones of development. Focus on
identification of and early intervention for children with developmental delays, such as autism.
• Waynesboro: St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, Mon. Mar. 21, 6:30 - 8:30 pm

Environment - Parent Mental Health: Discuss the various aspects of environment and how environment
influences the development of a young child. Focus on how parental mental health can impact an infant/
toddler’s social/emotional health, and review warning signs that could help caretakers identify and address
these concerns.
• Harrisonburg: Generations Crossing, Wed. Jan 12, 6:30 - 8:30 pm
• Weyers Cave: Weyers Cave Community Center, Wed. Jan. 19, 6:30 - 8:30 pm *
• Stanley: Virginia Cooperative Extension, Thurs. Jan 27, 6:30 - 8:30 pm *
• Mt. Jackson: Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, Tues. Apr. 5, 6:30 - 8:30 pm

Environment - Poverty: Discuss the various aspects of environment and how environment influences the
development of a young child. Understand the culture of poverty and risk factors related to poverty.
• Bridgewater: Bridgewater Church of the Brethren, Thurs. Mar. 10, 6:30 - 8:30 pm
• Elkton: Lighthouse Preschool at Furnace United Methodist, Thurs. Apr. 14, 6:30 - 8:30 pm

* Free Child care and dinner are offered at ALL trainings EXCEPT those marked with a star.
EVERYONE is invited to attend these free trainings, including parents, families and community
members.
Childcare Connection
Relating to Families
Connecting with Parents: This class will focus on
the importance of the relationship between caregivers
and parents. Children are able to pick up on parents’
emotional response to their child care settings, which
can affect the child’s sense of trust and safety. Partici-
pants will brainstorm barriers to parent-provider com-
munication and explore ways to overcome them. This
is part of the BEST FIT series designed to increase
awareness of infant and toddler mental health issues.
Free.

Harrisonburg: Thursday, May 19
RMH Atrium, 7 - 9 pm
Social Services Qualifying
Qualifying Session for Page County DSS: Become
qualified to provide care for families who receive day
care assistance from Social Services. All paperwork to
be listed as a child care provider with Social Services,
including background checks and TB screenings, will
be free of charge. For new and current social ser-
vices providers, 2 hours of training provided on nutri-
tion, development, safety, or behavior management.
Advance registration is required—call 778-4600 to reg-
ister. Cost: Free.

Stanley: Monday, Jan. 24
Monday, Mar. 14
Tuesday, May 17
Childcare Connection Office, The Health Place,
294 East Main Street, 6:30 pm
Child Care Training: Free workshop on child care
basics offered by Childcare Connection and Harrison-
burg/Rockingham Social Services. Fees paid for TB
screenings, Child Protective Services checks and
Criminal Records checks. To register, call RMH Child-
care Connection office at 433-4531.

Harrisonburg: RMH Atrium, 5:30 to 10 pm
• Thursday, Jan. 27
• Thursday, May 5
Directors’ Training
Making Staff Observation Work for You: Staff
evaluations and observations can be tricky for directors
to implement. Join Ramona Shenk from Minnieland
Advanced registration required for ALL classes.
To register, please call RMH Healthsource at 433-4580 or 800-433-4580.
in Harrisonburg for this session on staff observation
tools and how they can improve your team.

Winchester: Tuesday, Mar. 15
Sneakers Educational Child Care, 6:30 - 8:00 pm
Creating a Positive Classroom
Classroom Management for Preschool and Early
Childhood Teachers: Join Pat Kennedy for a discus-
sion of how student perspective affects classroom
management. Learn techniques for managing the
classroom in ways that foster a climate of respect for
both teacher and children. Free.

Stanley: Tuesday, Jan. 18, 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Page County Technical Center

Harrisonburg: Tuesday, Feb. 8, 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Blue Ridge Hall at James Madison University
Going “Green” in Child Care
Eco-friendly Child Care: Come learn about how
child care can be more environmentally friendly.
Melanie Terrien, co-owner of Simple Little Baby, LLC
and Rian Chandler, local eco-parenting expert, will
teach this hands-on session. Topics covered will in-
clude using recycled materials with kids in your care
and working with parents who use eco-friendly prac-
tices (like cloth diapers and breastfeeding). Cost: $20.

Winchester: Wed., January 19
**Rescheduled from the fall**
Winchester Medical Center System Support Bldg,
Rooms 3 & 4, 7 - 9 pm

Stanley: Thursday, April 21 (tentative)
LOCATION TBA- please call 778-4600 for details.
School-Age Training
Ag in the Class: Agriculture in the Classroom is a fun
workshop that incorporates hands-on activities, ex-
periments and real-life applications that can be inte-
grated into daily activities. Activities are aligned with
Virginia math and science SOLs. Each participant will
receive a free resource kit including curriculum and
instructional materials. Offered in partnership with Vir-
ginia Foundation for Ag in the Classroom. Cost: Free.

Winchester: Tuesday, Mar. 8
Winchester Medical Center System Support Bldg,
Rooms 1 & 2, 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Childcare Connection
Al’s Caring Pals Training: Winter/Spring 2011 Calendar
January
Al’s Caring Pals will conduct a training for Family Day 8 CPR/1st Aid - RMH Atrium
Care providers who are licensed or voluntarily regis- 10 Daily Health Observation - RMH Atrium
12 BEST FIT Training - Harrisonburg
tered. Sessions focus on training providers to help 15 MAT - RMH Atrium
children deal with their emotions of happiness, anger, 18 Positive Classroom - Luray
19 “Green” Child Care - Winchester
sadness, frustration and excitement. Classes will be BEST FIT Training - Weyers Cave
held at the Winchester Medical Center System 24 Page DSS Qualifying Session - Stanley
Support Building from 6:30 - 8:30 pm on Thursdays: 27 BEST FIT Training - Stanley
Child Care Basics - RMH Atrium
March 3, March 31, April 21, May 19 and June 16. 30 Super Sitters - RMH Atrium
Dinner is provided at each session. Space is limited - February
please call Karen at 1-866-599-1273 to register. 3 CPR - Stanley
8 Positive Classroom - Harrisonburg
12 MAT - RMH Atrium
Super Sitters 15 BEST FIT Training - Strasburg
Class for those ages 11 - 14 who want to explore the 17 1st Aid - Stanley
world of babysitting. Learn what to do in an emer- BEST FIT Training - Broadway
24 BEST FIT Training - McGaheysville
gency situation and gain skills for working with young 26 CPR/1st Aid - RMH Atrium
children. Parents love to have super sitters watch
their children! Cost: $20. March
8 Ag in the Class - Winchester
10 BEST FIT Training - Bridgewater

Harrisonburg: Sunday, Jan. 30
12 CPR/1st Aid - RMH Atrium
RMH Atrium, 2 - 4 pm 14 Page DSS Qualifying Session - Stanley
15 Director’s Training, Staff Observation - Winchester
Parenting Education and Support (PEAS): 21 BEST FIT Training - Waynesboro
24 BEST FIT Training - Strasburg
Twelve-week sessions begin on January 11 in Harri-
April
sonburg and April 4 in Page County.
5 BEST FIT Training - Mt. Jackson
Classes are offered for expectant parents, parents of 6 CPR - Stanley
infants and toddlers, parents of children ages 2 - 11, 9 CPR/1st Aid - RMH Atrium
and parents of teenagers. Please call 433-4531 or 14 BEST FIT Training - Elkton
778-4600 for more information. 18 Daily Health Observation - RMH Atrium
20 1st Aid - Stanley
Child care and family dinner are provided for all 21 “Green” Child Care - Stanley
classes. 28 BEST FIT Training - Weyers Cave
May
Coming soon...Early Childhood Bootcamp! 5 Child Care Basics - RMH Atrium
An introductory class for new child care center staff. 7 CPR/1st Aid - RMH Atrium
Early Childhood Bootcamp - Harrisonburg
Send your new staff to learn basic skills in class-
17 Page DSS Qualifying Session - Stanley
room management, lesson planning, and much
more. Stay tuned for more information. June
25 CPR/1st Aid - RMH Atrium