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NEIGHBORHOOD and COMMUNITY SERVICES
Early Childhood Professional Learning
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September 2026 Professional Learning
Below is information on upcoming virtual and in-person professional development opportunities. Detailed descriptions and registration information can be found at: fairfaxcounty.gov/EarlyChildhood. Monthly emails, including registration links, will be sent when registration opens.
Registration for professional development courses is completed through the Early Learning Management System (ELMS). Monthly emails will be sent when course registration opens, including information on how to access ELMS and enroll in available courses.
To receive a certificate for in-person or webinar courses, please be sure to review the following requirements:
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To receive credit for a series, you must attend all required session, whether the series includes two, three, four or more sessions.
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A 15-minute grace period is allowed; however, certificates will not be issued if you miss more than 15 minutes of the session.
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Certificates will be issued within 2-4 business days.
You can find references to the CDA Subject Areas, Virginia Early Learning Development Standards (VELDS), and CLASS under each Professional Learning course. Additionally, a reference to the CDA Subject Area is included at the bottom of this email.
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Explore how educator well-being and social-emotional competence strengthen leadership and create supportive environments for children and adults. This virtual series includes an introduction to the Social-Emotional Competencies Certificate Program, a Breathe For Change learning experience, and practical breath, mindfulness, movement, and yoga-based strategies for the workday.
CDA Area: 1, 3, 5, & 6
VELDS: Approaches to Play and Learning, Social and Emotional Learning
CLASS Support
Domain(s):
PreK: Emotional Support, Classroom Organization
Dimension(s):
PreK: Positive Climate, Teacher Sensitivity, Regard for Child Perspectives, Behavior Management, Productivity
Instructor: Bernice Mayfield & Deborah Weigand
Date: Wednesdays, 9/2, 9/9, 9/16, & 9/23
Time: 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
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Begin the 48-hour Social-Emotional Competencies Certificate Program with this foundational course exploring how young children develop relationships, emotional understanding, self-regulation, identity, empathy, initiative, and social problem-solving skills. Through interactive activities, case studies, reflection, and guided practice, participants will examine how development, temperament, culture, relationships, environments, and adult expectations influence children’s emotions and behavior. Participants will apply key early childhood frameworks to strengthen responsive relationships, promote belonging, support co-regulation, teach social-emotional skills, and recognize when additional support may be needed.
This is Course 1 of four courses and must be completed in sequence to earn the full Social-Emotional Competencies Certificate.
CDA Areas: 2, 3, 4, 7, & 8
VELDS: Social and Emotional Learning, Communication, Language and Literacy, Approaches to Play and Learning
CLASS Support
Domain(s):
Infant: Responsive Caregiving
Toddler: Emotional and Behavioral Support
PreK: Emotional Support
Dimension(s):
Infant: Relational Climate
Toddler: Positive Climate
PreK: Positive Climate
Instructors: Bernice Mayfield & Debbie Weigand
Date: Thursdays, 9/24; 10/1, 10/8, 10/15, 10/22, & 11/5
Time: 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
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Las rimas ayudan a los niños pequeños a desarrollar la capacidad de escuchar e identificar los diferentes sonidos que forman las palabras que los rodean. Explorar libros, diferentes tipos de textos impresos, repetir palabras y frases, canciones y jugar con palabras refuerzan las habilidades de alfabetización y lenguaje de los niños. En este curso, los educadores aprenderán a incorporar rimas, poemas, canciones y libros ilustrados en las rutinas diarias que respaldan las experiencias de aprendizaje en el aula.
Áreas de CDA: 1, 2, & 4
VELDS: Desarrollo de Comunicación, Lenguaje, y Alfabetismo
Apoyo de CLASS
Dominio(s):
Infante: Cuidado Sensible
Niño pequeño: Apoyo Emocional y Conductual, Apoyo Activo para el Aprendizaje
PreK: Apoyo Pedagógico
Dimensión(es):
Infante: Exploración facilitada
Niño Pequeño: Respeto a las perspectivas del niño, Facilitar el aprendizaje y el desarrollo, Ejemplificar el lenguaje
PreK: Formatos didácticos de aprendizaje, Modelar el lenguaje
Instructora: Lisseth Palacios
Fecha: sábado 19 de septiembre
Hora: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
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Experts agree that children’s early food experiences affect their lifelong eating habits. In this webinar, learn about infant development and best evidence-based feeding practices to support infant nutrition and cultivate positive eating behaviors in the first year of life.
CDA Area: 2
Instructor: Tracey Brown
Date: Wednesday, 9/9
Time: 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
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Los expertos están de acuerdo que las experiencias alimentarias tempranas en los niños afectan sus hábitos alimenticios de por vida. En este seminario web, aprenderá sobre el desarrollo infantil y las mejores evidencias en las prácticas de alimentación basadas en el apoyo de la nutrición infantil. Y como cultivar comportamientos alimenticios positivos en los primeros años de vida.
Área de CDA: 2
Instructor: Nancy Hackett
Fecha: miércoles, 9 de septiembre
Hora: 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
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Introduction to Family Child Care, new providers will hear information on Safety and Health, Nutrition, Programming and Professionalism. This training will use the Introduction to Family Child Care Handbook to guide the course material.
CDA Area: 1, 3, 5, & 6
Instructors: Emily Vivian and Jami Arocho
Date: Saturday, 9/26
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Location: Pennino Building - 12011 Government Center Pkwy Room 507, Fairfax, VA 22035
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En la capacitación Introducción al Cuidado Infantil Familiar, los nuevos proveedores recibirán información sobre Seguridad y Salud, Nutrición, Programación y Profesionalismo. Esta capacitación utilizará el Manual de Introducción al Cuidado Infantil Familiar para guiar el contenido del curso.
Área de CDA: 1, 3, 5, & 6
Instructoras: Patricia Jordan and Patricia Quezada
Fecha: sábado, 26 de septiembre
Hora: 9:00a.m – 1:00p.m
Ubicación: Pennino Building – 12011 Government Center Pkwy, Sala 628, Fairfax, VA 2203
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In this training, participants will explore best practices in promoting health and reducing the spread of illness in family child care homes by learning how to conduct daily observations, clean and sanitize, wash hands, and exclude children when they are sick.
CDA Area: 1
Instructor: Claire Wood
Date: Saturday, 9/26
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Location: Pennino Building - 12011 Government Center Pkwy Room 200/206, Fairfax, VA 22035
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In the SUIDS/SIDS and Shaken Baby Syndrome Prevention training, child care providers will focus on understanding SUIDS/SIDS, providing safe sleep environments and having policies that support healthy sleep environments. We will also review strategies to support caregivers and families to recognize signs and symptoms of shaken baby syndrome, how to manage stress and prevent abuse. participate in the discussion and share their experiences!
CDA Area: 1
Instructor: Claire Wood
Date: Saturday, 9/26
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Location: Pennino Building - 12011 Government Center Pkwy Room 200/206Fairfax, VA 22035
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Mandatory training prior to starting the CACFP, to be repeated once per contract year.
This course is offered by invitation only. This one-hour course will cover the purpose of the Child and Adult Care Food Program and explore record keeping requirements. It will review meal requirements for infants and children, as well as what to expect from your monitoring visits. Participants will also understand the civil rights requirements for family day home participation in the CACFP.
CDA Area: 5
Instructor: Kristy Savoy
Date: Wednesday, 9/23
Time: 7:00p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Invitation will be sent by email
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Capacitación obligatoria antes de comenzar el CACFP, que debe repetirse una vez por cada año de contrato. Este curso se ofrece únicamente por invitación.
Este curso de una hora cubrirá el propósito del Programa de Alimentos para Niños y Adultos, se revisará los requisitos de mantenimiento de registros. También se revisará los requisitos de comidas para bebés y niños, así como lo que puede esperar durante las visitas de monitoreo. Además, los participantes comprenderán los requisitos de derechos civiles para la participación en el CACFP en hogares de cuidado de niños.
Área de CDA: 5
Instructora: Patricia Quezada Palomino
Fecha: miércoles, 9/23
Hora: 7:00 p. m. – 8:00 p.m.
La invitación se enviará por correo electrónico.
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NEW! -
The Institute for Early Learning works to offer professional development that is relevant, responsive, and grounded in equity—and your input helps make that possible! Please use this form to share the topics and opportunities that would best support you. While we may not be able to fulfill every request, your feedback directly shapes our planning and helps us better meet the needs of our early childhood community.
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