Child Care Aware of Minnesota Northeast

09/15/2026

✨ Something wonderfully unexpected is growing… ✨

This year, Together We Grow is getting Up & Out of the ordinary!

We’re leaning into the whimsy, wonder, curiosity, and surprises of a W***y Wonka-inspired conference experience—created especially for early childhood professionals.

There will be Golden Tickets.
There will be unexpected moments.
There will be opportunities to learn, connect, play, and rediscover a little wonder of your own.

You could complete another online training—or you could get Up & Out and experience Together We Grow.

🎟️ Save the date!
📅 February 5th & 6th, 2027
📍 Grand Casino Mille Lacs

More surprises are coming. For now, consider this your first glimpse of the Golden Ticket…

09/15/2026

🔢 MICRO LEARNING TUESDAY: COUNTING IN THE STANDARD ORDER

Counting starts before children fully understand quantity.

Minnesota’s Early Childhood Indicators of Progress (ECIPs) describe this early math skill as learning to communicate number words in the correct order from memory.

That can look like:
• joining in with a counting song
• saying numbers in sequence
• filling in the next number when an adult pauses
• counting along during everyday routines

You can support this skill in simple ways throughout the day:

🎵 Sing counting songs
🧦 Count socks, steps, blocks, crackers, or toys
👆 Point to objects as you count
⏸️ Pause and let children fill in the next number
😄 Keep it playful — not a quiz

The goal is to help children become familiar and confident with the sequence of number words.

09/14/2026

📌 SESSION SPOTLIGHT: WHEN COACHING ISN’T ENOUGH

Sometimes coaching, encouragement, and support still aren’t enough — and a harder conversation needs to happen.

When Coaching Isn’t Enough: Navigating Difficult Conversations and Staff Performance with Kristen Wheeler Highland will focus on how center directors can approach those conversations with more clarity and confidence.

This session is for leaders who are working through things like:

Ongoing staff performance concerns
Expectations that aren’t being met
Conversations you know you need to have — but keep putting off
Finding the balance between supporting staff and holding them accountable

📅 October 2, 2026
🕥 10:30 AM–12:30 PM
📍 Pine Technical & Community College | Pine City

This session is part of Leading from the Center: A Conference for Center Directors.

💵 Conference registration is $60.

Thanks to funding from the Initiative Foundation, registration is only $10 if you live or work in:

Benton • Cass • Chisago • Crow Wing • Isanti • Kanabec • Mille Lacs • Morrison • Pine • Sherburne • Stearns • Todd • Wadena

Difficult conversations don’t have to be the hardest part of the job.

View the full conference brochure and registration information:
https://pine.edu/wp-lib/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Leading-from-the-Center-2026.pdf

09/14/2026

Live near Elk River? Our friends at Child Care Aware West/Central District have a training coming up! Don't miss these in-person events!

Connecting Before Correcting
📍Elk River
📅Tuesday, September 22nd from 6:30-8:30
💲$10.00 Level 1 KCF II.C
*Meets licensing requirements for Child Development & Learning or Behavior Guidance*
👉Register on Develop: https://app.developtoolmn.org/v7/trainings/search/(slider-new:459325/detail)

🌟In person learning, where providers can ask immediate questions and get feedback from trainers and peers in real time.

09/14/2026

🍂 October training opportunities are open!

Fall is a great time to add some professional development to your calendar. Child Care Aware of Minnesota – Northeast has in-person training opportunities throughout October with topics designed for early childhood professionals across our region.

Take a look at the October flyer, find a training that fits what you need, and use the Event ID in Develop to register.

👉 View the October training flyer:
https://pine.edu/wp-lib/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/October-26-Training-Flyer.pdf

Questions?
📧 [email protected]
📞 320-629-5164

09/13/2026

📅 PUT THIS ON YOUR CALENDAR

The MN Access to Technology – Business Management Grant opens Thursday, September 17 at 9:00 AM — and the application window is SHORT.

Eligible licensed child care businesses can apply for $100–$1,000 to support business-management technology such as computers, tablets, printers, internet/connectivity equipment, business software, and technology training.

Application window: Sept. 17–25

👉 Learn more now so you’re ready when applications open:
https://www.firstchildrensfinance.org/for-businesses/minnesota-grants/

Seriously…put this one on your calendar. The window is only 9 days.

First Children’s Finance is pleased to offer MN Access to Technology Grants! This program, funded by the State of Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families, will help licensed child care businesses access technology to improve business management efficiency. Grant rounds will be availab...

09/13/2026

Sunday morning reminder…

Before Monday shows up with its emails, chaos, and paperwork, and 47 other things that suddenly become urgent…

Maybe give that Regional Grant application a little attention today.

Child Care Aware Regional Grant applications are open through September 25, and providers are encouraged to apply for up to:

🏡 $1,000 for Family Child Care
🏢 $2,500 for Child Care Centers

You don’t have to finish everything this morning — but opening Develop and getting started totally counts!

👉 More information:
https://pine.edu/cca/grants/

Questions? Contact Samantha McCullen-Sutton
📧 [email protected]
📞 320-629-5145

Future-you might be very glad Sunday-you started it!

09/12/2026

📣 Weekend nudge…

Regional Grant applications are open, and if this has been sitting on your “I really need to do that” list, consider this your reminder. 😄

This weekend might be a good time to get it started.

Child Care Aware Regional Grants are open through September 25, and providers are encouraged to apply for up to:

🏡 $1,000 for Family Child Care
🏢 $2,500 for Child Care Centers

You can find more information and application details here:
https://pine.edu/cca/grants/

Questions? Contact Samantha McCullen-Sutton
📧 [email protected]
📞 320-629-5145

Go ahead. Consider this your friendly little poke. 😄

09/11/2026

Center Directors!

Join us for Leading from the Center: A Conference for Center Directors on:

📅 October 2, 2026
📍 Pine Technical & Community College – Pine City

This conference is designed specifically for early childhood leaders and includes practical sessions on leadership, supervision, coaching, staff performance, classroom walkthroughs, team building, CLASS, time management, and more.

Whether you are new to leadership or have been leading for years, this is a great opportunity to learn, connect, and walk away with ideas you can actually use in your program.

👉 View the full brochure and registration information here:
https://pine.edu/wp-lib/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Leading-from-the-Center-2026.pdf

We’re excited to offer a full day focused on the real work of leading in early childhood.

09/11/2026

📬 Want to stay connected by email?

Sign up to receive updates right in your inbox.

We use our email list to share things like:

Upcoming training opportunities
Conferences and special events
Grant opportunities and deadlines
Professional development resources
Other important updates for the early childhood field

It only takes a minute to sign up.

👉 Join our email list:
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/1X7byy3tnG

Know someone who might be interested in getting these updates? Please share!