CCHC Trainings and Technical Assistance Resources for Early Educators

Cost for Trainings

All NC Resource Center training materials are available at no cost for active CCHCs. Trainings that have a train-the-trainer component are available to CCHCs once the corresponding course has been successfully completed.

Learning Method Types

• In-person – both students and instructor are live, in a physical classroom or meeting space.
• Live, virtual – instructor-led distance learning where students are required to log in and participate at a specific time.
• Online, asynchronous – independent distance learning where students access training materials at any time throughout the training.
• Ready to use – Trainings materials are available for all active CCHCs and do not have a corresponding train-the-trainer. The CCHC should carefully review all of the materials prior to using.

CCHC Flowchart for Training/TA

Prior to providing training, use the CCHC Flowchart for Training/TA to determine if you are ready to provide the training or if you should seek a partner or additional professional development.

• If you are a health educator, it is highly recommended that you identify a nurse who works in your community and who you can contact when you receive questions that are more clinical in nature. This could be one person or multiple people to co-train with and help answer questions about specific issues that arise in the child care facilities you serve.
• If you are a nurse or similar licensed health professional, you should seek out someone to ask questions and seek guidance from on health education or on any areas of health and safety that you are less familiar with.

Providing On-going Training/Contact Hour Credits

CCHCs can provide on-going training/contact hour credits for early educators: On-going Training FAQ. To do this, trainers are required to apply to DCDEE by submitting either a:

• Training Packet for Exempt Agencies/Organizations
• Non-Exempt Trainer Packet

CCHCs are considered exempt when:

• The CCHC is representing one of the agencies listed in NC Child Care Rule 10A NCA 09 .1105.
  • For a more extensive list: Exempt Training Agencies on the DCDEE website.
• The agency or organization that the CCHC is employed by sponsors the training.

CCHCs are considered non-exempt when they:

• Work or provide a training independently from any agency or organization.

Annual Requirements

Division of Child Development and Early Education Annual Requirements

If you are an Exempt Trainer:

• Prior to training and awarding contact credit to early educators, find and review any training plans previously submitted to the DCDEE with your agency/sponsor. If you need to make changes or additions, complete an Annual Training Plan Addendum. It will be submitted and attached to your exempt agency Annual Training Plan.
• If there isn’t a current training plan in place, complete an Annual Training Plan.
• Maintain training records by:
  • Keeping training rosters for two years
  • Distributing and collecting training evaluations from participants and retain for two years
  • Issuing training certificates to participants

• Submit Annual Training Plan Addendums throughout the year if new trainings will be offered that are not on the most current training plan.
• Submit training plan annually.
• Submit course for trainer/train-the-trainer certificates upon completion for the following to be maintained with annual training plan:
  • Emergency Preparedness and Response in Child Care Course for Trainers
  • Infant/Toddler Safe Sleep and SIDS Risk Reduction in Child Care (ITS-SIDS)
  • Medication Administration
  • Playground Safety
  • Be Active Kids

If you are a Non-Exempt Trainer:

• Prior to training and awarding contact credit to early educators, complete the On-going Trainer Qualifications Form and submit.
• Complete the On-going Training Form for each topic you wish to provide training contact hours.
• Maintain training records by:
  • Submitting training rosters within 15 days after the training and keeping copies for two years
  • Distributing and collecting training evaluations from participants and retain for two years
  • Issuing training certificates to participants

• Submit Non-exempt On-going Training Packet for DCDEE approval annually
• Submit course for trainer/train-the-trainer certificates upon completion for the following:
  • Emergency Preparedness and Response in Child Care Course for Trainers
  • Infant/Toddler Safe Sleep and SIDS Risk Reduction in Child Care (ITS-SIDS)
  • Medication Administration
  • Playground Safety
  • Be Active Kids

For more information or support, reach out to the CCHC Coach/Implementation Specialist.

NC Resource Center Annual Requirements

• Complete the CCHC Standards of Practice
• After training, complete the Annual ITS-SIDS Trainer Attestation and meet training requirements to maintain an active status
• After training, complete the Annual EPR Trainer Attestation and meet training requirements to maintain an active status

For more information on how or when to apply to courses, reach out to your CCHC Coach/Implementation Specialist.

Infant/Toddler Safe Sleep and SIDS Risk Reduction (ITS-SIDS) in Child Care

NC SIDS Law 2003-407, which went into effect in 2003, requires that all early educators caring for infants 12 months of age or younger receive training on sudden infant death syndrome and safe sleep practices
within two months of assuming caregiving responsibilities and every 3 years thereafter. For more information, visit the ITS-SIDS Project page on the DCDEE website.

To offer the training, completion of an ITS-SIDS Course for Trainers to prepare trainers to instruct early educators about safe sleep regulations and practices is required. The course for trainers is offered three
or four times a year by the NC Child Care Health and Safety Resource Center (NC Resource Center). After the course completion, CCHCs can provide this training to early educators.

• Visit the Courses for Trainers page on the NC Resource Center website for more information and to apply.
• Learning method: ONLINE
• Access to an ITS-SIDS Trainer Resource Library becomes available after course completion.

ITS-SIDS Course for Trainers Refresher

To offer ITS-SIDS training to early educators, ITS-SIDS Trainers must maintain an active status after completion of an ITS-SIDS Course for Trainers. Two criteria need to be met each year to maintain an active status with the NC Resource Center. These include:

• Submitting an annual trainer attestation.
• Either taken the ITS-SIDS Course for Trainers or ITS-SIDS Course for Trainers Refresher or provided at least one training in the past 3 years of the current attestation year (July 1st -June 30th).
• The ITS-SIDS Course for Trainers Refreshers is offered at least once per year based on the need of ITS-SIDS Trainers who do not meet the active trainer criteria and want to regain an active status. The course provides a refresher of the course content.
  • Visit the Courses for Trainers page on the NC Resource Center website for more information.
  • Cost: FREE
  • Learning method: ONLINE
  • Access to an ITS-SIDS Trainer Resource Library becomes available after course completion.

Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) in Child Care

North Carolina Child Care Rules (10A NCAC 09 .0607 (Child Care Centers-CCC) and .1714 (Family Child Care Homes-FCCH) address the need for child care programs to be prepared to respond to emergencies. To offer the training, completion of an Emergency Preparedness and Response in Child Care Course for Trainers to prepare trainers to instruct designated staff members about emergency preparedness and response and how to complete the facility’s EPR Plan is required. After the course completion, CCHCs can provide this training to early educators.

• Visit the Courses for Trainers page on the NC Resource Center website for more information.
• Cost: FREE
• Learning method: ONLINE
• Access to an EPR Trainer Resource Library becomes available after course completion.

EPR in Child Care Course for Trainers Refresher

To offer EPR training to early educators, EPR Trainers must maintain an active status after completion of an EPR Course for Trainers. Two criteria need to be met each year to maintain an active status with the NC Resource Center. These include:

• Submitting an annual trainer attestation
• Either taken the EPR Course for Trainers or EPR Course for Trainers Refresher or provided at least one training in the past 3 years of the current attestation year (July 1st -June 30th)
• The EPR Course for Trainers Refreshers is offered at least once per year based on the need of EPR Trainers who do not meet the active trainer criteria and want to regain active status. The course provides a refresher of the course content.
  • Visit the Courses for Trainers page on the NC Resource Center website for more information.
  • Cost: FREE
  • Learning method: ONLINE
  • Access to an EPR Trainer Resource Library becomes available after course completion.

Medication Administration

CCHCs receive training on medication administration in child care as a component of the NC CCHC Course. This course prepares CCHCs to instruct early educators and administrators on the safe administration of medication to children in the early child care and education setting. There are two content areas:

Medications in Child Care is delivered either in person or can be accessed online through Learning Management Systems and covers best practices in early child care and education, including NC Child Care Rules. Content in this includes:

• Reasons medications are given in child care.
• Types of medications typically given in child care.
• Procedures for receiving, storing, documenting, and disposing of medication.
• The six rights of medication administration.
• Common medication errors and rule violations, how to prevent them from happening, and how to document errors if they occur.

Course Logistics:

• Cost: FREE
• Learning method: Online, asynchronous

Medication Administration Skills is taught in person and includes a skills demonstration. Content covered in this section includes the administration of medications commonly found in child care (i.e. oral medication, inhalers, eye/ear drops, topical medications, toothpaste, and creams.)

• Cost: FREE
• Learning method: In-Person
• Access to Medication Administration training materials in the Trainer Resource Library becomes available after NC CCHC Course completion.

CCDF Health and Safety Trainings

CCHCs receive training on CCDF topics as a component of the NC CCHC Course. NC Child Care Rules (10A NCAC 09 .1102 (a) (b) (Child Care Centers-CCC) and .1703 (b) and (c) (Family Child Care Homes-FCCH) require child care administrators and staff members to complete the following health and safety training:

• Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases, Including Immunization
• Building and Physical Premises Safety
• Handling and Storage of Hazardous Materials
• Precautions in Transporting Children, if applicable
• Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma
• Medications in Child Care
  • For additional information, see Medication Administration above.
• Prevention of and Response to Emergencies due to Food and Allergic Reactions
• Emergency Preparedness and Response Planning for Emergencies
  • This training is different from Emergency Preparedness and Response in Child Care which one person on staff at each child care program is required to take.
• Prevention of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and Use of Safe Sleeping Practices
  • This training is different from ITS/SIDS training that the child care administrator and any child care provider scheduled to work in the infant room is required to take.

A list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) related to the health and safety training requirements is available on the DCDEE website.

CCDF Trainings:

• Cost: FREE
• Learning method: Hybrid: Online, asynchronous and live, virtual
• Access to CCDF Health and Safety training materials in the NC Resource Library becomes available after NC CCHC Course completion.

These training and technical assistance materials can be accessed in the NC CCHC Resource Library with a passcode that is obtained during or after the CCHC training course from the appropriate coach. These trainings do not have an accompanying train-the-trainer opportunity, but CCHCs should discuss professional development opportunities with their coach to gain the knowledge needed to provide these trainings to early educators.

Accessible and Inclusive Environments

A toolkit of technical assistance materials available to provide information on making the child care environment more inclusive for individuals with access, functional, and special health care needs.

Autism in Early Childhood

This training includes information on autism in early childhood. Participants will increase their knowledge of early signs and detection of autism in young children. They will be able to name supportive ways to share concerns with caregivers, identify resources that support and can assist young children with autism in the ECE setting, and explore developmentally appropriate activities and inclusion practices for young children with autism.

Child Abuse and Neglect Awareness and Prevention for Early Educators

This training includes information to become more familiar with the signs and symptoms of child maltreatment and know when and how to report concerns of maltreatment. In addition, this training reviews the impact of compassion fatigue and resilience on early educators and the children and families they serve.

This training can be used to renew the requirement for Recognizing and reporting child abuse, child neglect, and child maltreatment. It does not replace the training required within 90 days of employment hosted by Positive Childhood Alliance.

Children with Special Health Care Needs: Allergies and Anaphylaxis

The training covers allergies and common allergens, how to reduce the risk of developing allergies and reduce exposure to allergens, how to recognize signs and symptoms of severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, proper storage and use of epinephrine auto-injectors, how to follow emergency follow up procedures, and required documentation.

Children with Special Health Care Needs: Asthma

This training covers asthma and emergency treatment in child care. Participants will learn about asthma, common asthma triggers and environmental control measures, to recognize signs and symptoms of asthma, how to treat it, using a Medical Action Plan for Asthma, and proper storage and use of asthma medication.

Children with Special Health Care Needs: Diabetes

The training covers routine care of Type 1 Diabetes (communication with family and health care professionals, counting carbohydrates, checking blood glucose, and administering insulin), how to recognize and respond to signs and symptoms of high and low blood glucose, how to provide first aid for emergency situations, proper use and storage of insulin and glucagon, and required documentation.

Children with Special Health Care Needs: Enteral Feedings

This training includes information on supporting children with enteral feeding, or G-tubes, in child care. The training covers different types of feeding tubes, daily routine care, safe inclusion of a child with a feeding tube, and how to recognize and respond in emergency situations.

Children with Special Health Care Needs: Seizures

The training covers different types of seizures and common triggers, how to recognize seizures, strategies for including a child with seizures in early care and education, how to identify community resources and support, understanding a seizure action plan, care team members who support children with seizures, steps of seizure first aid, and how to administer emergency medications including diazepam rectal gel.

Infant and Child Social Emotional Wellbeing for Early Educators

This training includes information on infant and child social and emotional wellbeing for early educators. Participants will understand the impact that safe, stable, nurturing relationships have on the social and emotional development of infants and young children in the early education setting, increase awareness of how self-care and reflection is important in establishing and maintaining positive relationships, and learn strength-based approaches to apply when caring for children exhibiting dysregulated behaviors.

Infants and Toddlers – Early Childhood Development and Resources

This training includes information related to developmental milestones including typical/atypical development for infants and toddlers. It also highlights community resources available to support children, families, and early childhood educators related to development and how to collaborate with those partners.

Introduction to Caring for Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN)

The training covers children with special health care needs, ADA inclusion requirements, care teams for children with special health care needs, the role of the Child Care Health Consultant, required documentation for children with special health care needs, and handling medical emergencies at the child care facility.

Stay Healthy, Stay Clean

This training consists of 4 modules:

1. Handwashing module includes consequences of inadequate handwashing, how to wash hands and assist children with handwashing, and when adults and children must wash hands in child care.
2. Diapering module includes when and how to check diapers, what kind of equipment is required for proper diapering, the correct steps of diapering, and how proper diapering prevents the spread of germs.
3. Toileting module includes information about toilet rooms, toilet learning practices and equipment, and how to assist when children have accidents during toilet learning.
4. Sanitation module includes the difference between cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting; how to clean, sanitize, and disinfect and when to clean common items in child care including sleep areas, play areas, food areas, handwashing sinks, toileting, and diapering areas, and keeping cleaning supplies, doorknobs, water fountains, floors, and cubbies clean.

Unintentional Injury Prevention

The goal of this training is to provide guidance on reducing the risk of unintentional injury in a child care classroom. Training resources provide an overview of the risks associated with falls, suffocation, poisoning, burns and scalds, cuts, bites, and stings, among others. Also included is guidance on how to recognize when medical treatment is needed and the process for documenting and reporting injuries to DCDEE.

Asthma Education Curriculum for Childcare Providers

With the help of the Education and Public Awareness Subcommittee of the Asthma Alliance of North Carolina (AANC), the North Carolina Asthma Program has developed an Asthma Curriculum for Child Care Providers. The course provides information on asthma, common triggers, signs, and symptoms of asthma trouble, and how asthma is treated.

• Website: Asthma Education
• Contact: see website
• Cost: FREE
• Learning method: Training materials available online

Be Active Kids

Be Active Kids is a physical activity program for early care and education programs aimed at improving young children’s physical health and development. Be Active Kids utilizes a developmentally appropriate curriculum, training, and other practical resources to help programs meet infant and child physical activity best practices.

• Website: Be Active Kids
• Contact: gonapsacc@unc.edu for more information on future Train-the-Trainer opportunities
• Learning method: TBD

Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care (BFCC)

Early Care and Education (ECE) best practices emphasize the importance of providing breastfeeding support; however, many early educators find it challenging to provide the support. The BFCC Training of Trainers was developed in collaboration with the NC CCHCs, NC DHHS, Infant Toddler Project, the Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute, and Wake County Human Services/Wake County Smart Start to provide information and skills for trainers to conduct the BFCC training in the early care and education setting (i.e., centers, family child care homes). The training is open to all CCHCs who conduct trainings in the early care and education setting. Facilities who participate in this training and meet certain criteria are eligible for a designation.

• Website: NC Breastfeeding Friendly Designation
• Contact: Natasha Bowden at natasha@buncombepfc.org
• Cost: FREE
• Learning method: In-person or virtual, including pre-work online, self-paced

GO NAPSACC

This training was created in 2002 by a team of child obesity researchers at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. This evidence-based system has since expanded to an online platform. Go NAPSACC includes self-assessments, action planning, and educational tools in 7 modules to help early care and education programs set individualized goals and make improvements to their nutrition and physical activity practices. Technical assistance providers trained as Go NAPSACC consultants use these tools to coach programs through Go NAPSACC’s 5-Step Improvement Process.

• Website: Go NAPSACC
• Contact: Aviva Starr at avivas@email.unc.edu
• Cost: FREE
• Learning method: ONLINE (3 HOURS)

Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies

Training developed by the Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute covering infant and young child feeding in emergencies (IYCF-E). This training is to equip early educators with information and resources to assist Early Care and Education (ECE) programs in preparing for and responding to emergencies by implementing best practices for lactation and feeding during emergencies. Participants will be able to describe the importance of IYCF-E practices in the ECE setting, identify the current Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) planning gaps, describe how child care programs can implement IYCF-E in responding to an emergency, modify emergency kit items to meet the needs of a child care program, and use IYCF-E tools and resources created for ECE settings.

• Website: Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute
• Contact: Courtney Summey at courtney_summey@unc.edu
• Cost: FREE
• Learning method: Asynchronous and synchronous 4-part learning sessions (5 HOURS)

Oral Health

Child Care Toothbrushing in Classrooms. This training incorporates a step-by-step guide to the toothbrushing process including preparing, brushing, and clean up. It includes sanitation rules, the correct amount of safe and healthy fluoride toothpaste (by children’s age), tips on positioning, and how to make brushing fun. The training is offered by the State of NC Oral Health Section.

• Website: Tooth Talk
• Contact: Emily Horney at Emily.Horney@dhhs.nc.gov or 919-707-5487
• Cost: FREE
• Learning method: ONLINE

Playground Safety

This course was designed for trainers in North Carolina who are providing playground safety training for child care programs. The course includes information about playground hazards, developing a playground safety program, and outdoor learning environments (OLE).

• Website: Playground Safety
• Contact: Alison Keisler or Dawn Winn-Burdo (see website)
• Cost: FREE
• Learning method: ONLINE DCDEE Moodle

Toxic Free Childcare Train-the-Trainer Workshop

This workshop will teach CCHCs how to educate child care providers on ways they can reduce children’s exposure to pesticides and other toxic chemicals. The workshop will focus on Integrated Pest Management as an alternative approach to traditional pest management and ways to reduce the use of toxic cleaning products. Toxic Free NC is the only state-licensed provider of training for childcare educators on Integrated Pest Management (IPM), a least-toxic approach to pest management that prioritizes prevention practices and minimizes unnecessary use of chemical pesticides that are harmful to children ages 0-5.

• Website: Toxic Free NC
• Contact: Alexis Luckey, at alexis@toxicfreenc.org or info@toxicfreenc.org or complete the interest form
• Cost: FREE
• Learning method: VIRTUAL

The following trainings are recommended for CCHCs to gain additional knowledge that will assist them in their work.

Child Care Pre-Licensing Workshop

The Division of Child Care and Early Education holds pre-licensing workshops for prospective child care owners and operators, which provide helpful information about the child care rules. Child Care Health Consultants can audit these workshops on a space-availability basis.

• Cost: free to audit
• Learning method: IN PERSON or VIRTUAL
• Training calendar: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/services/licensing/getting-a-license

Child Care Sanitation Workshop

The North Carolina Environmental Health State of Practice Committee offers a 3-day child care sanitation workshop periodically. This program has been designed for North Carolina environmental health specialists, child care development consultants, child health consultants, school child care administrators, and nurses responsible for the inspection, monitoring, evaluation, plan review, and grading of child care facilities in North Carolina.

• Cost: $150+
• Learning method: IN PERSON
• Training calendar: http://ncehsop.org/cms-sop

The Art and Science of Early Childhood Technical Assistance (ASTA)

This introductory training course provides information on technical assistance (TA) practitioners, implementation plans, TA processes, and professional development plans. Participants will engage in readings and on-demand activities, attend virtual sessions, and complete a coaching cycle. Reach out to Dedee Ephraim with questions: dephraim@childcareresourcesinc.org.

• Cost:
• Learning method: HYBRID
• New sessions will be listed here as they are developed.