Increasing Your Professional Knowledge
Through continued learning, you can maintain a quality child care and
education business. Child Care Resource
and Referral (CCR&R) plays an essential role in coordinating and supporting
educational opportunities. Many Iowa
Community Colleges offer education in Early Childhood.
Iowa Western Community College
and Southwestern Community
College offer classes to obtain a
Child Development Associate
credential (CDA).
Eager To Learn offers
online classes that are
approved for training hours.
You always gain new insight from attending classes at levels different than
your experience.
Registration
CCR&R charges a registration fee for most classes. CCR&R uses these fees to help
offset the cost of paying the trainer, making copies of handouts, and purchasing
materials that you can take with you to enhance your business or classroom.
You must pay these fees at least one week before the class begins to secure your
space in the class. You are not registered for a class until CCR&R receives your
payment. For more information about this and other training policies, please
click here.
Click on the
links below for a schedule of classes that CCR&R co-sponsors:
 |
Health, safety and nutrition
- These classes help you maintain a healthy and safe setting. Child
Development Home providers must take 2 hours of health and safety training in
their first year of registration. |
|
CPR and First Aid - Most staff in DHS
licensed preschools and centers need current certification in
Infant/Child/Adult CPR and First Aid. Child Development home providers must
have current First Aid certification than includes management of a blocked
airway and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. If the First Aid course does not
include this, providers in Child Development Homes also need current CPR
certification. |
|
Mandatory Reporters of Child Abuse -
Child care and education professionals in Iowa must have 2 hours of training
for reporting child abuse. This class is also available
online. |
|
Standard Precautions -
This course will help decrease the risk of illness and disease. Staff who
work in licensed child development centers must take it every year. Providers in
child development homes may choose to take it to fulfill one hour of health and
safety. |
| Development - Quality
childcare and education programs have caregivers who interact appropriately
with the children. Topics may include appropriate activities, the environment,
literacy, and child development. |
|
Guidance - Children need caregivers who give consistent and positive
guidance, and know how to arrange the environment and activities to minimize
conflicts. |
|
Business - Any
child care and education program must use sound business practices to be
successful. Classes include budgeting, income and expenses, knowing your
community resources, personnel management, and communication skills. |
| Series classes - People are
more likely to use what they learn if they have attend multiple sessions, with
time between classes to practice the skills. ChildNet,
Welcome to Child Care,
Welcome to School Age Care,
PITC (Program for Infant and Toddler Caregivers),
Beyond Business Basics and
Environment Rating Scales are
all series classes. |
| Conferences - Many
providers like to acquire most of their hours through attending a conference
that allows participants to choose workshops that need their individual needs
or interests. Conferences also give people the opportunity to meet and network
with other people who have similar jobs. |
