Free Childcare Symposium

The Valdez 0-3 with Families Alliance is operating a free training to support families and other providing care to children in Valdez. The event at the Civic Center will include a 4-hour pediatric first aid training, a session on fostering a safe learning environment in the home, and a panel on the childcare licensing process and resources for childcare providers. Free childcare will be provided to participants who pre-register by Feb. 15. Contact Katey Connell at 907-835-4910 or Katey.Connell@alaska.gov.

• 9:00-10:15 a.m.: Creating spaces where kids are safe to learn and grow (Vanessa Plourde-Smith & Tracey Adams from thread Alaska) This session will include indoor and outdoor environmental safety strategies, best practices for your child care program including routines, schedules and teacher/child interactions, and will explore ways to organize your home child care for success, learning and JOY.
• 10:30-11:45 a.m.: All about licensing panel discussion– (Staci Collier & Christina Hulquist with the State of Alaska Child Care Program Office, Cynthia West from the State of Alaska, Healthy and Equitable Communities Team, Plourde-Smith and Adams) This facilitated panel discussion will cover the childcare licensing process, resources to help providers through the licensing process, and the benefits of licensing.
• 11:45-12:45 Lunch/Networking provided by informational booths hosted by state and local partners.
• 12:45-4:45 First Aid/CPR certification (George Kenney, Prince William Sound College) This 4-hour certification course is open to childcare providers, parents, teachers and others who work with children. Pre-registration highly encouraged to ensure teacher-to-student ratio.