Health Happenings is a biweekly column published in Alamogordo Daily News as a way to provide the latest in health and wellness information, services and events. Articles for this column are submitted by Health Council partners, but do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Otero County Community Health Council.
By: Diane Martin
To give children of Otero and Lincoln counties the best care through home day care, as well as through child care center, providers must have regular training.
The Regional Early Care and Education (RECE) Conference will give this training to our providers. It's scheduled for April 24, 2010 at New Mexico State University-Alamogordo, beginning with registration at 7:15 a.m. Doors will close at 8 a.m.
These conferences are free and are conducted statewide. They are designed to help child care providers meet the training hours required by Children, Youth and Families Department registration and licensing regulation.
The RECE conference is also open to parents and community members interested in child care issues. Due to huge turnouts in previous years, preregistration is required. Same day drop-ins will only be accommodated if there is room. People may pick up a preregistration form at Children In Need of Services at 501 24th St., Alamogordo, or call 434-9588.
The first class will run from 8-10 a.m., then adjourn for a break until 10:30 a.m. The second class will start at 10:30 a.m. and run until 12:30 p.m. A snack will be provided at registration.
Goals of the conference include: meeting learning needs by offering interactive workshops; providing guidance and interpretation of state and federal rules for child/adult care providers; providing nutrition information to improve the nutrition status of children and adults in sponsored programs; improving health promotion efforts in child care programs; and improving collaboration related to child care issues.
Workshops provided by the RECE conference will fulfill requirements for training in the following competency areas: child growth, development and learning, health, safety and nutrition, family and community collaboration, development appropriate content, learning environment and curriculum implementation, assessment of children and programs and professionalism.
Sponsors of this event include NMSU-A, CHINS Child and Adult Care Food Program, the Prevention and Intervention Division of Child Care Services Bureau and Child Care Licensing, La Vida Institute, Holloman Air Force Base Family Child Care, and Children's House, Full-house and Tiny Tots Centers
For more information about the RECE conference and to acquire the preregistration document, contact Diane Martin at 434-9588. The earlier you register, the better chance you have of attending the workshop of your choice.