Project Child Find is a coordinated effort by a local school system and the Exceptional Children Division, State Department of Public Instruction with the purpose of identifying children with disabilities who are in need of special education and related services. The Project also provides information to parents and/or guardians of the available resources within the local school system and other state and community agencies. This training will partner Yadkin County Schools with the county’s privately owned child care facilities. Participants will gain the knowledge to be able to identify and refer children to early intervention or special education services once they reach age 3. The training will be led by Yadkin County Schools Preschool Coordinator, Jill Logan.

Participants will receive an overview of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) giving them the knowledge to identify SIDS risk factors and describe ways to reduce the risk of SIDS in child care. The national standards for sleep safety will be presented and resources will be shared for both child care providers and parents. Topics include NC SIDS Laws, child care licensing rules for safe sleep, as well as how to develop a safe sleep policy. Key messages of this training include engaging in safe sleep practices and creating a safe sleep environment for infants and toddlers.

Participants will use the North Carolina Foundations for Early Learning and Development (NCFELD), the Infant-Toddler Environment Rating Scale (ITERS), and the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale (ECERS) to learn how to incorporate math into activity planning. Math activities will be shared using children’s literature and handmade activities as a basis for teaching developmentally appropriate math concepts.

Participants will gain information, knowledge, and tools to prepare them for many types of emergencies. They will learn how to plan, prepare, practice, respond, and recover from various emergency situations as they relate to child care. Participants will receive information on how to obtain an individual NCID as well as how to complete, submit, and maintain their EPR plan.

The environment a teacher creates, paired with his/her knowledge of the children in their care, can prevent many challenging behaviors in young children. Teachers who create positive social environments find that children more easily develop the social-emotional skills they need to succeed. This session focuses on modifications teachers can make in six key areas of the environment that will prevent and reduce conflict that leads to challenging behaviors. This training will be led by Behavior Specialist, Cherie White.

Participants will receive information regarding NC rules and regulations for sanitation practices in licensed child care centers. This training will be led by Yadkin County Environmental Health Program Specialist, Chelsea Johnson.

Participants will become certified in Red Cross approved basic adult, child, and infant CPR and First Aid. The primary purpose of this training is to help participants recognize and respond appropriately to cardiac, breathing, and first aid emergencies. The training is designed to teach participants the knowledge and skills needed to give immediate care to an injured or ill person and decide whether advanced medical care is needed.