March 2025 | QCCN PD Day
On March 1st, QCCN hosted a full Professional Development (PD) Day with our Department of Education (DOE) affiliated childcare providers. This training celebrated the meaningful work of early childhood educators, centered on strengthening family relationships
Education Director, Wendy Lee, and the QCCN Education Team conducted interactive learning activities, with each provider holding a piece of yarn before tossing it to the next person, until a vibrant spiderweb of connections spanned the room. This visual symbol reminded everyone how, through our shared passion for early childhood education, we are woven together as a dedicated learning community.
The event concluded with reflections on how our strengthened bonds will enrich both classroom practice and family engagement in the months ahead.
To see more highlights about this special day, 
visit our March Facebook post:
April 2025 | April “Awareness” Event
On April 5th, QCCN hosted its First Annual April “Awareness” Event. Families, caregivers, and providers filled the QCH Forest Hills Community Center to connect with more than a dozen community-based organizations.
Participants explored interactive resource tables, took part in hands-on activities, health and wellness screenings, career-readiness, and other learning opportunities.
Throughout the afternoon, attendees enjoyed light refreshments, captured memories at our spring photo booth, and celebrated community spirit by entering a raffle featuring over ten fantastic prizes generously donated by QCCN’s partners.
This celebration of awareness was supported by funding through our Child Wellness Project with United Neighborhood Houses (UNH); our WIC AMBASSADOR initiative funded by WIC Community Innovation and Outreach Project (WIC CIAO); and the NYC Mayor’s Office – Child Care Outreach and Enrollment (CCOE) Initiative.
Our special event brought together local private, public, and community-based organizations throughout Queens to shine a spotlight on vital resources that make a positive impact on parents and children.
By raising awareness of early childhood education, family wellness, maternal-child health, disability services, special education, workforce readiness, and more, QCCN reinforced its commitment to empowering families.
To see more highlights about this great event, visit our April Facebook posts: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16Zb7jMGj3/
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1YZEchRB41/
https://www.facebook. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1YZEchRB41/com/share/r/16vNdFNoJV/
April 2025 | QCCN PD Day
On April 15th, QCCN welcomed our DOE affiliated early childhood providers to another great Professional Development (PD) Day.
We were delighted to host Cherry Ann Chishti and Jackeline Lozano from Ascend ABA as our featured speakers.
Cherry and Jackie led an engaging bilingual (English/Spanish) session on the fundamentals of behavior and social emotional learning, inviting teams to play “green flag, red flag” games that sharpened their ability to spot developmental strengths and challenges in young learners.
Our guest presenters demonstrated developmental screening tools such as the CDC Milestone Tracker App, Ages & Stages Questionnaire and the M-CHAT, showing providers how to assess and monitor children’s progress with confidence and accuracy.
The QCCN Education Team also guided providers through Teaching Strategies Gold, the research based assessment system used from birth through kindergarten. Using a mock provider account for a DOE student, we walked step by step through creating and completing TSG checkpoints, fielding questions and sharing best practices along the way.
The result was a day filled with camaraderie, hands on learning and practical strategies our providers can put into action tomorrow. We are grateful to Ascend ABA and all our attendees for making April’s PD Day a true collaborative success!
April 2025 | LENA Grow Spotlight
On April 30th, QCCN welcomed representatives from NYC Public Schools to witness LENA Grow in action at Mildred Evans’s childcare program in Jamaica, NY.
Simone Hawkins, Deputy Chancellor of Early Childhood, and Georgette Branch, Chief of Learning and Partnerships, observed firsthand how conversational turns between teachers and children are measured and how those data-driven insights empower providers to deepen “serve and return” interactions.
QCCN extends appreciation to Jen Rhodes, Jodi Whitman, and Rocy O’Keefe of LENA Grow for arranging this special visit.
Since partnering with LENA Grow in 2022, QCCN has sponsored nine LENA cycles, reaffirming our commitment to evidence-based solutions that strengthen language, literacy, and social-emotional development.
To learn more about LENA Grow, go online to www.lena.org/lena-grow.
April & May 2025 | WIC
Ambassador Trainings
QCCN proudly hosted its inaugural WIC Ambassador Training workshop on April 19th. This interactive experience kicked off our WIC Community Innovation & Outreach (CIAO) Project, equipping our Ambassadors to promote awareness on the many benefits of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
Our enthusiastic Ambassadors completed a two-hour class addressing WIC benefits, eligibility guidelines, culturally responsive outreach, and strategies to overcome common enrollment barriers.
WIC Ambassadors also participated in a pre- and post-survey to assess their knowledge of the information. Each ambassador received a Certificate of Completion, a WIC Ambassador Resource kit, and a $50 e-gift card.
This milestone marks the beginning of a sustainable network of local WIC Ambassadors. QCCN is proud to be cultivating community leaders to elevate WIC awareness and bridge the gap in underserved communities. Our second WIC AMBASSADOR training took place on May 31st.
To learn more about WIC or express interest in becoming a WIC Ambassador, simply email [email protected] or complete our short survey at https://forms.office.com/r/UP2Jj3qTPN.
June 2025 | Community Baby Shower
On June 14th, QCCN honored a mix of pregnant and postpartum women at our first Community Baby Shower. The honoree’s family and friends joined us for a festive afternoon of learning, connection, and celebration.
Guests enjoyed light refreshments before diving into an interactive workshop and presentations. A family-style lunch followed,
giving everyone a chance to mingle and ask questions of our partners from Hope Doula Services, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center -WIC Program, and NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) – Home Visiting Program.
Before departing, each honoree received a specially curated baby-shower basket filled with essential supplies along with the opportunity to win raffle items.
Our celebration was made possible by our WIC Community Innovation & Outreach (CIAO), which supports innovative outreach strategies to increase WIC awareness, participation, and benefit redemption in WIC Program delivery.
By bringing together doulas, nutritionists, and community-based organizations under one roof, QCCN honored the strength of new and expectant families along with reinforcing QCCN’s mission to uplift and empower Queens families.
To see more event highlights, please visit our June Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/QCHQueensChildcareNetwork/posts/pfbid022THLar21Ui4nfskzepQye83h3GYzX9vJbjCop2PZqSjxFPZjvr9VpMhKtq9EtYHl
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