Professional development for early education and child care professionals refers to on-going education and training. Professional development provides a foundation that can be used to provide the highest quality of care for young children and their families. The AAP has resources that can assist you in gaining specialized skills in health and safety.  

We recommend the following:

Reducing the Risk of SIDS in Child Care Online Module
Based off of the AAP Reducing the Risk of SIDS in Child Care Speakers Kit, this FREE course is designed to educate everyone who cares for babies, including child care providers, health care professionals, parents, grandparents, and relatives. In 1 hour, participants will learn how to create a safe sleep environment to reduce the risk of SIDS and other sleep related deaths. With an easy to use format, this course is available 24/7 from your home. Child care providers will receive a certificate of completion for 1.0 contact hour.

Reducing the Risk of SIDS in Child Care Speaker's Kit
The Reducing the Risk of SIDS in Child Care Speaker's Kit is a training tool that can be used by health professionals, public health educators, child care providers, or just about anyone to educate their community about sudden infant death syndrome in child care. Print out your own copy of the PowerPoint presentation and speaker's notes for this kit. Download is free and copies may be made for educational purposes.

Managing Chronic Health Needs in Child Care and Schools: A Quick Reference Guide
This new guide helps caregivers and teachers face the challenges of caring for children with chronic medical conditions and special health care needs.

This manual is organized similarly to the popular Managing Infectious Diseases in Child Care and Schools: A Quick Reference Guide, providing more than 35 quick-access fact sheets on specific conditions like allergies, autism, and seizures. Use this guide as a tool to complete required training. 

Managing Infectious Diseases in Child Care and Schools: A Quick Reference Guide, 2nd Edition
Presented in an easy-to-use format, this 'must-have' guide includes:

• Quick reference fact sheets on more than 50 common infectious diseases and symptoms that occur in children in group settings
• Easy-to-read explanations on how infectious diseases spread
• Strategies for limiting the spread of infection
• When exclusion is indicated and not indicated
• Guidance about which situations require immediate help
• Immunization schedules
• Ready-to-use sample letters and forms for parents or referrals

Use this guide as a tool to complete required training. 

Caring for Our Children: National Health and Safety Performance Standards, Third Edition
This publication contains guidelines on the development and evaluation of the health and safety of children in family and group day care homes and child care centers. 

To access the full publication online, click here. 

Minimum Standards for Tribal Child Care: A Health and Safety Guide
These guidelines express minimum standards for health and safety in child care and were developed by the Child Care Bureau, US Department of Health and Human Services, convened the Tribal Child Care Standards Advisory Committee that included representatives from tribal child care programs, the Child Care Bureau, the Indian Health Service, the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, the Head Start Bureau (American Indian Programs Branch), the American Academy of Pediatrics, and other health and child care organizations.   

Additional Resources:

National Association for the Education of Young Children
NAEYC strives to ensure quality child care for every child through educational and skill-development opportunities for child care professionals, as well as through advocacy. The NAEYC Web site includes a list of conferences by NAEYC and similar organizations.

State Professional Development Opportunities
The National Child Care Information and Technical Assistance Center has identified state-specific professional development systems and initiatives.

National Association for Family Child Care
NAFCC and Salt Lake Community College have paired to make family child care training available online. 

National Child Care Association
NCCA offers credentialing programs for administrators and child care professionals. It also offers helpful publications and professional development conferences for its members.

National Association of Child Care Resource and Referrals
Find your local Resource and Referral Agency to learn more about local training opportunities.