Staff Development

Staff development is offered by a variety of sources. The National Models including Every Child Ready to Read, Family Place Libraries, Mother Goose on the Loose, and the Read to Me Program offer training workshops and curriculum materials specific to their program.

Various national, state and local organizations also offer professional development opportunities on child development, parenting, communication and other related topics. Here are a few resources to consider when planning staff training.

California Preschool Instructional Networks (CPIN)

The California Department of Education, Child Development Division, has created eleven California Preschool Instructional Networks (CPIN) or CPIN regions for the purpose of promoting quality early childhood education. To achieve this goal, CPIN designs and delivers staff development and training, facilitates professional networking, convenes regional meetings of early learning professionals, and provides resources to support early learning programs. Each ELF library is located in a CPIN region and can take advantage of these resources through their local CPIN group. To obtain more information about CPIN services and resources as well as to identify the CPIN region in which you reside, visit CPIN.

California Public Broadcasting (PBS)

PBS stations, ELF partners, throughout California and the California Department of Education (CDE) collaborate to provide early learning workshops, seminars and training opportunities for professionals working with families with young children as well as training opportunities directly to families. Your local PBS station offers a variety of train-the-trainer sessions in which library staff can participate, as well as opportunities to partner on the delivery of parenting workshops. PBS training is interactive, research-based, and integrates best practices in early childhood development. Engaging materials for the trainer and families supplement each workshop. There are a wide range of topics developed through the “Ready to Learn’ program such as early literacy, “what to do with mad feelings,” media literacy and a range of parenting interests. In addition, some seminars are offered in Spanish. Contact the Outreach and Education Coordinator at your local PBS station for more information.

The Hanen Centre

The Hanen Centre is a recognized innovator in family-focused early language intervention programs and learning resources for parents and professionals around the world. Located in Toronto, Ontario, the Hanen Centre offers research-based training for professionals that work with families that have young children through their Learning Language and Loving It program. The workshops teach strategies for interaction that promote language development and pre-literacy skills. In addition to in-person sessions, the Hanen Centre publishes training manuals and guidebooks as well as media products in support of early learning. Parenting resources are also available that support child development and growth.

The Learning Language and Loving It workshops have been delivered in California in conjunction with Family Resource Centers, Speech Pathology Clinics and childcare centers. Check with the Hanen Centre for workshops near you.

Higher Education

Specialists in child development and early learning can be found at local Community Colleges and California State Universities. Begin, however, by contacting your partner agencies, First Five Commission, CPIN regional director and preschool staff. Ask them to suggest local specialists from the colleges and universities who they have found to be knowledgeable and effective trainers. Contact education departments that have an early childhood, preschool, childcare and/ or early literacy emphasis as well as psychology departments that conduct child development and/ or language research.

 Library S.T.A.R.

Sure You Are Ready, Library S.T.A.R., is a training programs for library professionals originally developed by Meg Schofield for San Diego County.  The training supports library staff who are designing and implementing early learning programs for families and caregivers that reflect current child development research.  The workshops and seminars are interactive, practical, and hands-on experiences that provide opportunities for library staff to observe and experience techniques and activities that promote child development and pre-literacy skills.  The songs, stories, movment, rhyme and activities can be immediately incorporated into lapsits and interactive storytimes whether in English, Spanish or bilingual programs.

Touchpoints

Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, pediatrician and researcher, is a pioneer in field of child development. His approach to understanding the bursts and regressions in a child’s growth process is called Touchpoints. The Brazelton Touchpoints Center offers training to increase the understanding of child development as well as to introduce methods that support families as they experience the frustration of bursts and regressions with their children. This three-day Touchpoints training is offered at various locations throughout the country and periodically in California.

WestEd

The California Department of Education, Child Development Division, is a partner of the ELF initiative and offers many resources to support early learning programs. One such organization is WestEd. WestEd is a nonprofit research, development and service agency that designs and delivers professional development throughout California for the CDE and its teachers, administrators and other professionals involved in early learning and childcare. Through PITC, Program for Infant Toddler Care, WestEd offers workshops and has developed training materials on child development, early learning, brain research, emotional and social needs of infants and toddlers, children with special needs, and aspects that contribute to quality learning environments. Access WestEd training opportunities as well as media presentations and resource materials related to early learning.

Zero to Three, Western Office

Zero to Three, an ELF partner located in Los Angeles, conducts research that focuses on ways to support families and their children from birth to three years of age. The research informs their services which include curricula design, creation and delivery of professional training programs and resource material development. . Interactive, in-person workshops are offered and train-the trainer curricula are available that address brain development, childcare, child development, early language and literacy, health, play, sleep and social emotional development. Training schedules, downloadable resources, research findings and publications are available at Zero to Three.