The Child Care & Development team has compiled this list of workshops, trainings, and resources to support individuals who care for children, covering all areas of development from birth through elementary age. Unless otherwise noted, these events are hosted by third-party organizations and are not managed by the City of Irvine.
Explore the resources below to support your professional development and parent education journey.
Resources
Parenting Resources
The Child Care Coordination Office has compiled a list of resources to support you on your parenting journey from birth through the elementary years. Whether you’re wondering how to support your child’s learning, address a specific challenge, or just figuring out your child-raising approach, time invested in developing your parenting skills will help you achieve all of the above.
California Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECHMC) (Open in new window)
Delivers support, resources, and training activities for early learning and care center-based program staff, family child care providers, and family, friend, and neighbor caregivers. Services include a toll-free help line, monthly open-door sessions held virtually and virtual communities of support. To learn more, click here (Open in new window). Please note: consultation services for child care providers in Orange County, California are provided by StartWell OC.
Start Well Mental Health Consultation for Early Care and Education (Open in new window)
Are you or your staff overwhelmed by children’s challenging behaviors? Do you or your staff often call parents to pick up their children due to their challenging behaviors? Is behavior a ‘hot topic’ amongst your teachers and parents? Start Well can help and is available to work with YOUR program! Start Well is the local Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation provider. Start Well provides in person consultation for early learning and care center-based program staff, family child care providers, and family, friend, and neighbor caregivers located in Orange County, California. To learn more, click here (Open in new window).
Start Well Office Hours for Early Care and Education Providers: Wednesdays, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. via Zoom
Drop in and virtually talk with an Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant. The Consultant will be available to talk about behavior, social and emotional development, resources and any related questions.
For more information, including Zoom link please, click here (Open in new window).
Help Me Grow Orange County (Open in new window)
Help Me Grow connects children and their families to developmental services to enhance the development, behavior and learning of children birth through eight years. By calling the toll free number 1.866.GROW.025, (1.866.476.9025) or using the online link (Open in new window), parents, caregivers, child care providers, early educators, and health care providers have a point of access to developmental services for all young children who live in Orange County.
Inclusion Pathway (Open in new window)
This free online self-paced, self-study tool is a one stop shop for early childhood classroom teachers and caregivers and administrators. Whether you are new to the concept of “Inclusion”, want to learn about the newest resources and information to refine your inclusive practices or are looking for resources specific to supporting children with challenging behaviors, this is the place for you! Start by completing the self-assessment to help you determine which area of the self-study tool to begin with. No matter where you are now, each step you take in this educational journey will improve the experience of all children in your program and will help ensure that your program is open to, and truly accessible for all children, no matter their individual needs.