Come for the learning. Stay for the fun.     Who:    Family Child Care Providers and other Early Childhood Educators     What:   Statewide Professional Development Conference     When:   October 17th - 18th (Thursday evening bonus session: First Aid/CPR)      Where:  The Park Event Center - 500 Division St - Waite Park     Why:       Training, resources, and connecting - plus providers deserve a break!     How:      Brought to you by the Ombuds Office and supporting partners      Price:     $125 for 2-full days - $75 single day option - includes all meals and classes A special thank you to the Milestones staff for help welcoming providers to Waite Park. Español: Intérpretes disponibles para sesiones generales y clases de español. Soomaali: Turjubaano diyaar u ah fadhiyada guud iyo xiisadaha afka Soomaaliga Sabtida. Hmoob: Xav tau ib tug neeg txhais lus? Thov hu rau.

Hotel stay discount expires Sept 16th.

Discounted accommodations are available at the two adjoining hotels October 16th and 17th. The reduced rate of $149 per night is available at the Hilton Garden Inn and the Residence Inn by Marriott until September 16th. Use the following links to reserve your room:

Hilton Garden Inn St. Cloud

320-640-7990

or

Residence Inn St. Cloud

320-640-0200

The discounted rate at the adjoining hotels expires on Tuesday, September 16th. Don't miss out on this great rate. (Reservations can be cancelled up to 24 hours prior to check-in with $zero cancellation fee.) Bring the family for a fun Fall Getaway at a beautiful spot.  

Wonderful food, great vendors and so much more.

• The Park Event Center catered meals are included in the registration fee. 
• Over 20 exhibitors and vendor shopping available during the weekend.
• Fire extinguisher technician available for annual inspection and servicing.
• Social event held on Friday evening. 
• Individualized training choices - You will receive credit for the sessions attended. Attend what interests you and skip what doesn't. Relax when you like.
• Room sharing or ride sharing - Interested in finding a roommate to share a room and save on costs or share a ride? Click the link and complete this interest form to be connected with another provider attending the conference: https://forms.office.com/g/dcYqHDzXvw 
• Child care for providers' own children is available onsite during the conference.  Space is limited and only pre-registered children can be accommodated. Reserve spots by following this link and register child:  https://forms.office.com/g/JNYgxgVFcz 
• Visit the registration page on Eventbrite to view a full schedule of classes, KCFs and trainers.  https://ShapingTheFuture2025.eventbrite.com

State agency presentations.

Representatives from various state agencies will deliver presentations relevant to family child care. Sessions include information from:

• Licensing - Corrective actions and information about Special Family Child Care
• Child Care Assistance Program - Statewide registration in the Hub and program updates
• Provider Hub - Demonstration, updates and using technology
• Fire Marshal - Fire safety in family child care and practice skills
• Child Care Services - Great Start Compensation, Parent Aware 1-star updates, Parent Aware Redesign, changes for Develop, Wage Scale info, accessing state funding sources
• Wayfinder Navigators and Child Care Aware - Accessing the state's retention supports

B.E.S.T. hands-on skills assessment.

At the beginning of this year, the car seat training requirement for child care providers was updated to Basic Education for Safe Travel (B.E.S.T.) training.  For full information about this change, please click here to read this helpful document.

The training requirement for car seat safety is a 2-step process. Complete the first step on your own time prior to the conference and complete the second step at the conference - courtesy of the Waite Park Police Department and other local outreach organizations.

To take advantage of this opportunity, bring your certificate of completion from the free online e-learning course (printed paper copy or electronic copy on your device). During the conference, B.E.S.T. facilitators will be available to complete the in-person hands-on skills assessment.

Car Seat Basics - online free e-learning course must be completed prior to attending the in-person hands-on skills assessment at the conference. 

Welcoming keynote speaker: Angela Bayer-Persico.

Opening keynote address on Friday at noon is titled "You Are the Heart of Child Care: Reclaiming Joy, Power, and Purpose in Mixed-Age Learning" Bonus breakout session on Friday after lunch: "Choosing Glimmers of Hope, Not Your Triggers: A Trauma-Informed Lens for Family Child Care" Angela brings her experience as an educator, coach, author, and national speaker. A former child care owner, Angela specializes in trauma-informed practices, culturally responsive pedagogy, and coaching educators to build intentional, developmentally appropriate learning environments. She advocates for equity and resilience in early childhood settings.

Closing keynote speaker: Sherry Tiegs.

Closing keynote address on Saturday afternoon is titled "The Power and Purpose of Family Child Care: The stories they don't see. The impact they can't ignore." Bonus breakout session on Friday morning: "Talking With Families About What Children Learn Through Play" Sherry is a Minnesota native and has been a early childhood educator in both home and center-based environments. For more than a decade she has been a popular trainer and course writer known for her humor, heart and storytelling real-world experiences.  She is driven by her commitment to professional pride, cultural and linguistic diversity and advocacy for the unique business of family child care.

Multiple breakout sessions.

More than 25 breakout sessions available including both required and optional titles chosen by family child care providers especially for family child care providers.  Twenty expert trainers will present topics such as:

• First Aid and CPR on Thursday evening
• SUID/AHT and Active Supervision on Friday
• Integrating Culture
• Understanding NEAR Science
• Navigating Conflict
• First Children's Finance Marketing Your Child Care and Developing Your Policies
• Anti-bias Education
• Love And Logic
• Executive Functioning
• Preventing Power Struggles
• Beyond ABCs
• Preparing Children for Unplanned Events - Drills and Skills
• Learning Through Play
• Building Self-Awareness
• Parenting Parents.... And many, many others.  

Visit the registration page on Eventbrite to view a full schedule of classes, KCFs and trainers.  https://ShapingTheFuture2025.eventbrite.com

Questions? Contact Ombuds Lisa Thompson - lisa.thompson@state.mn.us