Newsletter | July 2021

Happy Independence Month! This month our theme is brain development and trauma. New research has shown that trauma in the early years of a child have long lasting effects. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network has great resources, trainings, and information on how trauma affects both the child and families. Check out their website HERE. In recent years, we have also learned more about the brain and how it develops during the early childhood stages. The Center on the Developing Child is an awesome resource and has research-based information to help us understand the brain and early childhood. Check out their website HERE. We have great news to share! We are now able to start doing in-person trainings and technical assistance. Please contact your R&R Specialist if you need training or technical assistance in your program. We also have a great Infant Toddler Specialist that can come help with issues in your Infant, Toddler, or Two’s classrooms. . . Click Here Supporting Young Children Experiencing Separation and Trauma Young children and their families can be tremendously affected by trauma, with significant implications for well-being well into the future. And while young children can be very expressive, they often do not have the skills or ability to use words to express how they are feeling. Adults may notice a variety of unexpected, atypical behaviors, and may need help understanding and nurturing infants and toddlers who have been affected. Fortunately, there are infant and early childhood mental health (IECMH) clinicians across the country who have experience working with this population and are trained to provide developmentally appropriate, two-generation, trauma-informed services. . . Click Here Creating Trauma-Sensitive Classrooms Four-year-old Alex is in his first year of preschool. He loves his teachers and is always excited to come to school, yet his teachers describe his behavior as “out of control.” At times he screams, curses at his classmates and teachers, and destroys classroom materials and other children’s artwork—all seemingly without cause. Unbeknownst to his teachers, Alex has been witnessing domestic violence and experiencing physical abuse since birth. . . Click Here 20 Ways to Boost Your Baby's Brain Power At birth, your baby's brain contains 100 billion neurons (as many as there are stars in the Milky Way!). During his first years, he will grow trillions of brain-cell connections, called neural synapses. Pretty impressive, right? But here's the thing. . . Click Here Connecting the Brain to the Rest of the Body: Early Childhood Development and Lifelong Health Are Deeply Intertwined We know that responsive relationships and language-rich experiences for young children help build a strong foundation for later success in school. The rapidly advancing frontiers of 21st-century biological sciences now provide compelling evidence that the foundations of lifelong health are also built early, with increasing evidence of the importance of the prenatal period and first few years after birth. . . Click Here The Reading Corner! We have started a reading corner for our providers. Each month there will be three books that your Resource & Referral Team recommend. The books will be based on age groups: Infant/Toddler; Pre-School; and School-Age. We hope you enjoy our book choices and read many books to the children this month and all year around! . . Click Here Sensory Play for Kids with Special Needs Sensory play is essential for all kids to learn how their bodies work, and how to process and interpret the world around them. Sometimes the reality of a special need, like Down syndrome or autism spectrum disorder, provides a few barriers, but the need and importance of sensory play remain the same for all children. . . Click Here QRIS Regional R&R: The Pyramid Model What is the Pyramid Model, and why are so many early childhood professionals in Oklahoma (and across the country) talking about it? It is a proven way to teach and support young children in understanding and managing their emotions, which helps children handle life’s tough situations with greater resiliency and hope. . . Click Here Scholars for Excellence in Child Care What Is the Scholars Program? The Scholars program awards scholarships to eligible child care professionals to complete coursework in the area of child development or early childhood education, as well as the Child Development Associate (CDA) and Certified Childcare Professional (CCP) Credential Assessment. These scholarships enable child care providers in Oklahoma to improve their skills through education, receive an educational stipend and continue the availability of quality child care in local communities. . . Click Here We are here to serve you! Delaware Child Development Resource & Referral serves the North Central Region of Oklahoma, which includes nine counties. For more information, contact your Resource and Referral Specialist: Kristine Abbott Heather Cruz 918-397-3007 918-766-6254 KAbbott@delawarechild.org HCruz@delawarechild.org (Washington, Nowata, Kay, (Osage, Payne, Pawnee, Lincoln, Logan) Noble) Infant & Toddler Specialist: Renae Barnett 918-332-8651 RBarnett@delawarechild.org Technical Assistance from our Resource and Referral Specialists! Delaware Child Development Resource and Referral can provide technical assistance to child care providers. Click below to find out more! Click Here More Resources for Information and Webinars

• Early Childhood Investigations Webinars - Early Childhood Investigations is a ongoing series of conference-quality free webinars for early childhood educators.

• Baby Talk: Resources to Support the People Who Work With Infants and Toddlers - Baby Talk is free and distributed monthly. Each issue features resources that are high quality and readily available at no cost. Click Here for archived issues that contain a wealth of information.

Additional Resources Delaware Child Development and Training Center 918.977.3600 Scholars for Excellence in Child Care Program 866.343.3881 Insurance Assistance Insure Oklahoma/OEPIC 888.365.3742 Oklahoma Child Care Warmline FREE phone support and consultation for child care providers regarding behavior, development, health, andsafety issues. Mon - Fri 8am - 5pm Automated system available 24/7. Questions? Email: warmline@health.ok.gov Follow us on Facebook: Delaware Child Development Facebook Centers for Early Childhood Professional Development (CECPD) 888.446.7608 Licensing OK Child Care Services Oklahoma Registry Child Nutrition Program Child and Adult Care Food Programs(CACFP) Information, Resources &Trainings Oklahoma Child Care Resource & Referral (OCCRRA) 888.962.2772 Multicultural Environments, Email Keila Garcia Fingerprinting: Delaware Child Development Fingerprinting Services OKDHS Information on fingerprinting Identogo to schedule an appointment. 2419 Nowata Pl, Ste 103 Bartlesville, OK 74006, USA Ph:918-977-3600 Share on social Check out our website