For Head Start Staff

Training and Professional Development

• Go to Scholarships and Tuition Assistance information

News

2012 Head Start Professional Development Series
The ACF Region III Head Start Office and T/TA System are excited about several future training events. This series of high-level professional development opportunities is offered to Head Start and Early Head Start managers and administrators to provide you with the best expertise available on the topic of School Readiness and Program Management. The series includes sessions for directors, board members, and fiscal managers, as well as service area coordinators and managers. There is also a series of webinars for new directors and managers, to help provide everything they need to know for a successful transition into Head Start.

• Topics and dates for the Head Start Professional Development Series (PDF)
  

Kaplan Professional Development Special
The Kaplan Professional Development team is running a special on any training booked by Feb 29, 2012.

• Download the time-sensitive booklet with more information (PDF)

Updates and clarifications regarding Early Childhood Certifications and Endorsements in Virginia -- Virginia Head Start T/TA Center, Nov. 7, 2011 (PDF)

Family Development Credential(FDC) andFamily Development Associate (FDA) Credential:What’s the difference and how do we start? -- VaHSA, Nov. 16, 2011 PPT

Classes, Certificate Programs and Credentials

Child Care Professional Development classes

The Virginia Department of Social Services' Division of Child Care and Development provides child care professional development classes throughout the Commonwealth. Read More: DSS website

Growing Up WILD training

Growing Up WILD professional development is available through a national network of state sponsoring organizations. Educators with the Head Start can receive FREE Growing Up WILD materials by participating in interactive, hands-on professional development workshops that are coordinated by
representatives from sponsoring wildlife, natural resource, and education organizations. Visit the curriculum resources page for more information.

Virginia Early Childhood Infant/Toddler Certificate

Continue your college education! Get an academic certificate approved by the Office of Head Start to meet CDA requirements defined in the Head Start Act for teacher assistants and EHS staff.

• Certificate Factsheet (PDF)
• Parent Survey (PDF)
• Guide to Resources (PDF)
• Scholarship Resources

CHD 167 course online for VA ECE certificates
If your local community college does not offer CHD 167, you can take it online at Northern Virginia Community College in Summer 2011!

What is the course about?
CDA Theories and Applications: Resource File is about the ways that we assess and interpret children’s progress in key areas. You will learn how to demonstrate the techniques we use in the classroom, while connecting them to competencies. This course is designed to create the resource file/portfolio to be used in a CDA interview, or to seek the alternative credential for Head Start in Virginia.

CHD 167 will take place online during the NVCC first eight-week summer semester, May 16 to July 11. Students will use Blackboard, PowerPoint, and other applications to prepare their competency statements and resources. This course is required for students who are earning the alternative credential to the CDA to meet Head Start training requirements.

Why should I take college classes? Because a certificate, degree, or college credits do not expire. For CDA seekers, it is an efficient way of earning training hours and to get faculty support while making the professional portfolio. The Virginia Child Care Provider Scholarship is available to help early childhood educators pay for classes. Apply online for summer by the April 15 deadline. Go to: Northern Virginia Community College website.

Family Development Associate credential

Would you like to know how to go about receiving your Family Development Associate credential? This credential, developed here in Virginia is a cooperative effort of VAHSA, the State Collaboration Office, the Virginia Department of Labor, and the Head Start Training/Technical Assistance System of ICFI. You can learn all about it in the 12 PDF documents posted here.

• Family Development Associate Credential (FDA) Orientation Agenda
• FDA Fact Sheet and FAQs
• Head Start Family Worker Training and Credentialing ACYF-IM-HS-01-08
• FDA Credential 195-367-900 Work Process
• FDA Credential–Related Instruction Course Map
• FDA Credential Portfolio Requirements
• FDA Credential Portfolio Learning Reflection Form
• FDA Credential Portfolio Learning Reflection Sample Form
• FDA Credential Community Literacy Resources Guidebook
• FDA Credential Enough to Too Much Form
• FDA Credential Enough to Too Much Sample Form
• FDA Credential Supervisor's Rubric for Evaluation

Family Development Credential: One Step Towards the Family Development Associate

• 2011 FDC Brochure (PDF)
• Introduction Letter for FDC 2011 (PDF)
• Family Development Plan (PDF)
• Reflection on One Family’s Progress Documented through the Family Development Plan (PDF)
• Statement of Confidentiality (PDF)
• Portfolio Development Guide (PDF)
• Portfolio Checklist (PDF)
• Activities to Extend Your Learning & Skills Practice Plan (DOCX)
• Activities to Extend Your Learning & Skills Practice Plan (PDF)
• Skills Practice Reflection (PDF)
• Skills Practice Reflection with special instructions (DOC)
• Advisor’s Feedback to Student’s Skills Practice Reflection (DOC)
• Advisor's Reflection (PDF)
• FDC Publications Order Form (PDF)
• Tips for Portfolio Advisors (PDF)
• Virginia Application to Receive the FDC Credential (DOCX)

Scholarships and Tuition Assistance

Elmore Scholarships -- VaHSA is pleased to announce the Elmore Scholarships -- an educational scholarship opportunity for VaHSA staff and parent members. Read more about it.

The Virginia Child Care Provider Scholarship Program is a tuition assistance program offering current and future child care providers a foundation in the care and development of children. The program, funded through Virginia's share of the federal Child Care and Development Fund, provides assistance for providers to attend courses at Virginia institutions of higher learning. Read More: DSS website