Scholarships for Direct Care Credential

Local 771 members approved local sponsorship of 5 scholarships for members to take the Direct Care Alliance' Personal Care and Support Credential. This is a competency-based test for home health care workers that is based on existing skills and knowledge and requires no training. The credential has been developed by the DCA on a national level to meet the needs of the home health care workforce for a professional credential that recognizes their work experience. Please contact field rep Brian Oelberg for more info on how to sign up for the test, at 622-3151 x1123 or email brian.oelberg@mseaseiu.org. Scholarships will be given on a first come-first served basis. The credential is a $140 value. More info on the credential can be found at: http://www.directcarealliance.org/index.cfm?pageId=599

Next Local 771 Chapter Meeting is May 21...

Support your chapter - Next Local 771 Chapter Meeting is Saturday, May 21 at 11am at the DOT blue bldg at 219 Hogan Road in Bangor.

QRS trainings - Saturday May 7

QRS Music & Movement and QRS Portfolio Development (4 hrs.) You don’t have to be musically “talented” to bring music & movement to your program. Join us as we explore how song and movement can support the Maine’s Early Learning Guidelines. We’ll be doing hands on activities that you can bring back to your program. Megan London, facilitator. Cost: $10 Date: May 7, 2011 (Sat) Time: 9 am - 1:30 pm Location: Old Town YMCA, Stillwater Ave., Old Town Call to register: 973-3533 or 1-888-917-1100

Local 771 Chapter Meeting this Saturday 5/16

Local 771 will be meeting this Saturday 5/16 at 10am at the MSEA offices in Augusta, 65 State Street.

Child Care Health Consultant (CCHC) Trainings

This Child Care Health Consultant (CCHC) educational activity is a 45-hour training that blends online and face-to-face learning. Each of the six online weeks consists of 4.5 hours of instructor-guided readings and activities that participants complete at their own pace throughout the week in preparation for follow up during the face-to-face sessions. The CCHC training is open to registered nurses, advanced practice registered nurses, physician assistants, and physicians. CCHC practice integrates well with Public Health Nursing, School Nursing, Head Start Health Coordination, and the roles of practitioners working in community settings. Questions? Contact: Joyce Murphy, Statewide Early Childhood Health Consultant and graduate of NTI/CCHC email: jomurphy@usm.maine.edu or phone: 207-615-2407

Maine’s Early Childhood Learning Guidelines

Maine’s Early Childhood Learning Guidelines (30 hrs) Maine’s Early Childhood Learning Guidelines have been approved by Maine ’s Department of Education and Department of Health & Human Services. They are written for all children ages 3-5 and are a precursor to Maine’s K-12 Learning Results. Eight 3-hour sessions will include: orientation to the Early Childhood Learning Guidelines, integrating the guidelines into your current curriculum, adapting the guidelines to children with special needs, observation and assessment of young children using the guidelines and sharing them with families. This training is open to family child care, center-based, nursery school, Head Start and public pre-k programs. Cost is $15.00 for QRS participant, $20.00 for non-participant. For Saturday class please bring a bag lunch. Instructor: Hector Sapien Location: Sun Garden Learning Center, Rt. 1A, Winterport Dates & Times: March 5; 8-2:00 pm, March 10, 17, 24, 31; 6-9 pm, April 9; 8-2:00 pm Contact: Gail P. Johnston, 1-877-684-0466 or(207)443-1690 Gail.P.Johnston@maine.gov

Kids Kids Kids Conference - KVCC - April 16, 2011

Presented By: Southern Kennebec Child Development Corporation Child Care Options Resource Development Center 18th Annual Kids, Kids, Kids Conference $50.00 WHEN: Saturday, April 16, 2011 WHERE: Kennebec Valley Community College Fairfield, ME TIME: 7:30 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.