The Down East Partnership for Children

An Overview of Trauma and Trauma Responsive Care
2025-06-12 18:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
In this overview session, participants will be introduced to the concept of trauma-responsive care and how it can support children who have experienced trauma or those who are at risk of experiencing trauma
Target Audience: All early childhood professionals
Thursday June 12 @ 6:00 pm- 8:00 pm (virtual session)
Registration form and fee must be received by Thursday June 5,2025
(Capacity limited to 20)
2 contact hours |Cost $5.00 per person
Trainer: Shaquana Bynum, Regional Social Behavioral Coach

DEPC Board Meeting
2025-05-19 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-04-21 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-02-17 10:00 - 12:00, 2024-11-25 10:00 - 12:00 | Remote
For information regarding the Board Meeting, please contact Wanda Barnes at wbarnes@depc.org or Lori Winstead at lwinstead@depc.org or call 252-985-4300.

How Are You How Am I
2025-05-15 18:00 - 20:00 | Virtual
Most preschool teachers are diligent about introducing their students to a large variety of literature and pre-literacy activities. But emotional literacy – the ability to identify, understand and respond to emotions in yourself and others in a healthy manner – is even more basic to school readiness. We’ll examine the many benefits to children who gain a strong foundation in emotional literacy, explore simple ways in which you can foster emotional literacy in your classroom, and share some excellent resources for tools and activities teachers can incorporate into their daily classroom curriculum to make intentional teaching of emotions fun and easy.
Target Audience: All early childhood professionals
Thursday May 15, 2025 @ 6:00 pm- 8:00 pm (virtual session)
Registration form and fee must be received by Thursday May 8, 2025,
(Capacity limited to 20)
2 contact hours |Cost $5.00 per person
Trainer: Shaquana Bynum, Regional Social Behavioral Coach

IT'S SIDS
2025-05-14 18:30 - 20:30 | Virtual
This training will provide an overview of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). It will also highlight the risk factors and describe ways to reduce the risk of SIDS in childcare. Participants will receive the needed information to create a Safe Sleep Policy, learn about sleep waivers/documenting sleeping baby and updated research about SIDS. Participants will also be walked through how to complete an unresponsive infant drill and the reason for doing them regularly.
Target Audience: Infant & Toddler Early Childhood Professionals
Wednesday, May 14, 2025@ 6:30pm – 8:30pm (virtual session)
Registration form and fee form must be received by Wednesday May 7, 2025
(Capacity limited to 20)
2 contact hours |Cost $5.00 per person
Trainer (s): Deborah Thomas, Birth to Three Quality Improvement Specialist Jasmine Smith, Core Quality Improvement Specialist Shewanna Manning Core Quality Improvement Coordinator Tracy L Pittman CCR & R Core Services Program Manager

Family Engagement
2025-05-14 13:00 - 15:00 | Virtual
In this engaging two-hour session, participants will explore the effective implementation of the Creative Curriculum with a focus on maximizing the parent resources available on the dashboard.
We’ll examine how the intentional use of these tools strengthens family engagement and directly supports children’s learning outcomes, contributing to school readiness and long-term academic success. Educators and leaders will leave with actionable strategies for integrating dashboard features into daily practice, enhancing both classroom performance and family partnerships.
Wednesday, May 14, 1:00 PM-3:00 PM (Virtual Session)
Registration deadline: May 7, 2025
Trainer: Marla Banks, MB Consulting Enterprise, LLC

NC Pre-K Committee Meeting
2025-05-08 11:00 - 12:00 | DEPC, 215 Lexington Street, Rocky Mount, NC

Building Relationships with Infants and Toddlers
2025-04-22 18:00 - 20:00 | Virtual
Nurturing relationships are critical to the healthy development of infants and toddlers and are essential to adult wellness. The focus of this training is on the components of important relationships that sustain us throughout our lives, and how we can build them with young children. Join us as we look into the process of developing relationships with infants, toddlers and each other as their caregivers and educators.
Target Audience: Infant/Toddler early childhood professionals
Tuesday April 22, 2025 @ 6:00 pm- 8:00 pm (virtual session)
Registration form and fee must be received by Tuesday April 15, 2025
(Capacity limited to 20)
2 contact hours |Cost $5.00 per person
Trainer: Deborah Thomas, Birth-Three Quality Improvement Specialist

Brain Architect
2025-04-22 16:00 - 18:00 | DEPC, 215 Lexington Street, Rocky Mount, NC
How can you support a child that exhibits challenging behavior? You strengthen their brain architecture. A weak brain architecture makes it difficult for a child to learn or master skills, problem-solving, self-regulation, empathy, etc.…, that will allow them to be successful in our society. Every day you have the opportunity to build and add to a child’s brain architecture. In this training participants will explore practices that will strengthen brain architecture and consider how these practices can prevent or eliminate a child’s use of challenging behavior to express themselves.
Target Audience: All early childhood professionals
Tuesday, April 22, 2025 @ 6:00 pm- 8:00 pm (In person training session)
Registration form and fee must be received by Tuesday April 15, 2025
Down East Partnership for Children/Auditorium
215 Lexington Street Rocky Mount NC
(Capacity limited to 20)
2 contact hours |Cost $5.00 per person
Trainer: Shaquana Bynum, Regional Social Behavioral Coach

ITS SIDS
2025-04-15 16:00 - 18:00 | DEPC, 215 Lexington Street, Rocky Mount, NC
This training will provide an overview of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). It will also highlight the risk factors and describe ways to reduce the risk of SIDS in childcare. Participants will receive the needed information to create a Safe Sleep Policy, learn about sleep waivers/documenting sleeping baby and updated research about SIDS. Participants will also be walked through how to complete an unresponsive infant drill and the reason for doing them regularly.
Target Audience: Infant & Toddler Early Childhood Professionals
Tuesday, April 15, 2025 @4:00 pm- 6:00 pm (In person training session)
Registration form and fee form must be received by Tuesday, April 8, 2025
Down East Partnership for Children/Board Room
215 Lexington Street Rocky Mount NC
(Capacity limited to 20)
2 contact hours |Cost $5.00 per person
Trainer (s): Deborah Thomas, Birth to Three Quality Improvement Specialist Jasmine Smith, Core Quality Improvement Specialist Shewanna Manning Core Quality Improvement Coordinator Tracy L Pittman CCR & R Core Services Program Manager

Playground Safety
2025-04-04 12:00 - 16:00 | DEPC, 215 Lexington Street, Rocky Mount, NC
This training is the updated version of the North Carolina Playground Safety training adapted from the 2009 Playground Safety Training created by Dr. Karen DeBord at North Carolina State University. This training continues to reflect Dr. Bedford’s vision while also following the Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) guidelines and requirements that ensure the safety of each child while in an outdoor learning environment. In this revised training, participants will be given up to date content, materials, resources, videos, and pictures that reflect the standards set up by North Carolina and DCDEE.
Target Audience: All early childhood professionals
Friday April 4, 2025 @ 12:00 pm (noon) – 4:00 pm (In person training session)
Registration form and fee must be received by Friday March 21, 2025
Down East Partnership for Children/Auditorium
215 Lexington Street Rocky Mount NC
(Capacity limited to 15)
4 contact hours |Cost $25.00 per person
Trainer: Shewanna L Manning, Core Quality Improvement Coordinator
Tracy L Pittman, CCR & R Core Services Program Manager

North Carolina Environmental Ratings Assessment Overview
2025-03-26 18:00 - 20:00 | Virtual
During each individual session providers will have the opportunity to learn more about the changes as of February 1, 2025. That focuses on a greater focus on responsive, intentional teaching and language interactions with children as they use materials. overall, of each environmental ratings scale will be provided.
ECERS-3 (Preschool Environmental Ratings 3rd edition overview)
Wednesday, March 26, 2025 @ 6:00 pm- 8:00 pm (virtual session)
Registration form must be received by Monday March 17, 2025
(Capacity limited to 20)
2 contact hours |Cost FREE per person
Trainer (s): Representatives for North Carolina Rated License Assessment

North Carolina Environmental Ratings Assessment Overview
2025-03-25 18:00 - 20:00 | Virtual
During each individual session providers will have the opportunity to learn more about the changes as of February 1, 2025. That focuses on a greater focus on responsive, intentional teaching and language interactions with children as they use materials. overall, of each environmental ratings scale will be provided.
ITERS-3 (Infant/Toddler Environmental Ratings 3rd edition overview)
Tuesday, March 25, 2025 @ 6:00 pm- 8:00 pm (virtual session)
Registration form must be received by Monday March 17, 2025
(Capacity limited to 20)
2 contact hours |Cost FREE per person
Trainer (s): Representatives for North Carolina Rated License Assessment

DEPC Board Meeting
2025-03-24 10:00 - 12:00 | Remote
For information regarding the Board Meeting, please contact Lori Winstead at lwinstead@depc.org or call 252-985-4300.

North Carolina Environmental Ratings Assessment Overview
2025-03-12 18:00 - 20:00 | Virtual
During each individual session providers will have the opportunity to learn more about the changes as of February 1, 2025. That focuses on a greater focus on responsive, intentional teaching and language interactions with children as they use materials. overall, of each environmental ratings scale will be provided.
SACERS-U (School Age Environmental Ratings overview)
Wednesday, March 12, 2025 @ 6:00 pm- 8:00 pm (virtual session)
Registration form must be received by Monday March 3, 2025
(Capacity limited to 20)
2 contact hours |Cost FREE per person
Trainer (s): Representatives for North Carolina Rated License Assessment

North Carolina Environmental Ratings Assessment Overview
2025-03-11 18:00 - 20:00 | Virtual
During each individual session providers will have the opportunity to learn more about the changes as of February 1, 2025. That focuses on a greater focus on responsive, intentional teaching and language interactions with children as they use materials. overall, of each environmental ratings scale will be provided.
FCCERS-3 (Family Child Care Environmental Ratings 3rd edition overview)
Tuesday March 11, 2025 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm (virtual session)
Registration form must be received by Monday March 3, 2025
(Capacity limited to 20)
2 contact hours |Cost FREE per person
Trainer (s): Representatives for North Carolina Rated License Assessment

ITS SIDS
2025-03-11 12:00 - 14:00 | Virtual
This training will provide an overview of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). It will also highlight the risk factors and describe ways to reduce the risk of SIDS in childcare. Participants will receive the needed information to create a Safe Sleep Policy, learn about sleep waivers/documenting sleeping baby and updated research about SIDS. Participants will also be walked through how to complete an unresponsive infant drill and the reason for doing them regularly.
Target Audience: Infant & Toddler Early Childhood Professionals
Tuesday, March 11, 2024@12:00(noon)-2:00pm (virtual session)
Registration form and fee form must be received by Monday March 3, 2025
(Capacity limited to 20)
2 contact hours |Cost $5.00 per person
Trainer (s): Deborah Thomas, Birth to Three Quality Improvement Specialist Jasmine Smith, Core Quality Improvement Specialist Shewanna Manning Core Quality Improvement Coordinator Tracy L Pittman CCR & R Core Services Program Manager

NC Pre-K Committee Meeting
2025-02-20 11:00 - 12:00 | ZOOM
To receive your link for the Zoom meeting, please email Johneshia Hunter at least 24 hours in advance at jhunter@depc.org.

Infant Toddler Zone: Infant & Toddlers Healthy Behaviors
2025-02-13 18:30 - 20:30 | Virtual
Young children are learning how to function in the world around other children and adults. Learning how to support Infant and Toddler’s social and emotional development is a critical part of caring for this age group. This session will give you a basic overview of child and brain development as it relates to behaviors. The participants will also explore strategies for self-care and how to encourage healthy behaviors.
Target Audience: All early childhood professionals
Thursday, February 13, 2025 @ 6:30 pm- 8:30 pm (virtual session)
Registration form and fee must be received by Wednesday February 5, 2025
(Capacity limited to 10)
2 contact hours |Cost $5.00 per person
Trainer: Deborah Thomas, Birth-Three Quality Improvement Specialist

Math & Manipulatives
2025-02-12 17:00 - 19:00 | DEPC, 215 Lexington Street, Rocky Mount, NC
This training will emphasize the importance of using math and manipulative materials inside the classroom through usage of commercial and teacher made materials. Participants will also gain knowledge on how to implement these activities into their activity/lesson plan.
Target Audience: All early childhood professionals
Wednesday, February 12, 2025 @ 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm (in person session)
Registration form and fee must be received by: Wednesday February 5, 2025
Down East Partnership for Children/Auditorium
215 Lexington Street Rocky Mount NC
(Capacity limited to 15)
2 contact hours |Cost $5.00 per person
Trainer: Shewanna L Manning, Core Quality Improvement Coordinator

Playgroups Are Back!
2025-02-10
Play and Learn groups are offered every week during the school year, starting the week of February 10, 2025!
Choose one of the following options:

Down East Partnership on Mondays or Tuesdays, 9:30 – 11:00
Spaulding Family Resource Center, Spring Hope, on Wednesdays, 9:30 – 11:00
Edgecombe County Memorial Library, Tarboro on Fridays, 9:30 – 11:00

Kaleidoscope Play and Learn® groups are designed for families with children ages birth to 5 who want to:
learn fun ideas for hands on learning
nurture their child’s positive social skills
increase their family’s healthy lifestyle habits!

During each group families have free play, arts and crafts, healthy snacks, and group time! Toy incentives and a possible gift card available!
Call Abbi Mullens at 252-985-4300 ext. 270 or by email at amullens@depc.org for more information and to register!

ITS SIDS
2025-02-04 14:00 - 16:00 | DEPC, 215 Lexington Street, Rocky Mount, NC
This training will provide an overview of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). It will also highlight the risk factors and describe ways to reduce the risk of SIDS in childcare. Participants will receive the needed information to create a Safe Sleep Policy, learn about sleep waivers/documenting sleeping baby and updated research about SIDS. Participants will also be walked through how to complete an unresponsive infant drill and the reason for doing them regularly.
Target Audience: Infant & Toddler Early Childhood Professionals
Tuesday, February 4, 2025 @ 2:00 pm- 4:00 pm (In person training session)
Registration form and fee must be received by Tuesday January 28, 2025
Down East Partnership for Children/Board Room
215 Lexington Street Rocky Mount NC
(Capacity limited to 20)
2 contact hours |Cost $5.00 per person
Trainer (s): Deborah Thomas, Birth to Three Quality Improvement Specialist Jasmine Smith, Core Quality Improvement Specialist Shewanna Manning Core Quality Improvement Coordinator Tracy L Pittman CCR & R Core Services Program Manager

Playground Safety
2025-01-23 15:00 - 19:00 | DEPC, 215 Lexington Street, Rocky Mount, NC
This training is the updated version of the North Carolina Playground Safety training adapted from the 2009 Playground Safety Training created by Dr. Karen DeBord at North Carolina State University. This training continues to reflect Dr. Bedford’s vision while also following the Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) guidelines and requirements that ensure the safety of each child while in an outdoor learning environment. In this revised training, participants will be given up to date content, materials, resources, videos, and pictures that reflect the standards set up by North Carolina and DCDEE.
Target Audience: All early childhood professionals
Thursday January 23, 2025 @ 3:00 pm- 7:00 pm (In person training session)
Registration form and fee must be received by Thursday January 9, 2025
Down East Partnership for Children/Auditorium
215 Lexington Street Rocky Mount NC
(Capacity limited to 15)
4 contact hours |Cost $25.00 per person
Trainer: Shewanna L Manning, Core Quality Improvement Coordinator
Tracy L Pittman, CCR & R Core Services Program Manager

Infant Toddler Zone: Creating a Yes Environment: Safe Spaces for Infants & Toddlers
2025-01-14 18:30 - 20:30 | Virtual
What does it take to create and utilize a safe environment for infants and toddlers? Join us as we look at key strategies incorporating child development and active supervision in maintaining safe and engaging environments.
Target Audience: Birth to Three early childhood professionals
Tuesday January 14, 2025 @ 6:30 pm- 8:30 pm (virtual session)
Registration form and fee must be received by Thursday December 19, 2024
(Capacity limited to 10)
2 contact hours |Cost $5.00 per person

Emergency Preparedness
2025-01-09 16:00 - 18:30 | DEPC, 215 Lexington Street, Rocky Mount, NC
This training provides early educators with information and tools to prepare for many types of emergencies. The EPR in Child CARE Training addresses new NC Child Care Rules on emergency preparedness, current nest practice recommendations and guidance on completing the online EPR Plan.
Target Audience: All early childhood professionals
Thursday January 9, 2025 @ 4:00 pm- 6:30 pm (In person training session)
Registration form and fee must be received by Thursday December 19, 2024
Down East Partnership for Children/Auditorium
215 Lexington Street Rocky Mount NC
(Capacity limited to 15)
2 ½ contact hours |Cost $10.00 per person
Trainer: Shewanna L Manning, Core Quality Improvement Coordinator

Staying on Track
2025-01-08 18:00 - 20:00 | Virtual
Why are daily classroom routines and schedule so important in the daily lives of teachers and young children? How does following a consistent daily schedule with embedded routines support the social and emotional development of the children in your class? What can we do to help children ‘stay on track’ as they move through a typical preschool day? Through this training, you will receive answers to these questions and develop a deeper understanding of the role of schedules and routines in supporting healthy social-emotional development for all children. Updated January 2021
Target Audience: All early childhood professionals
Wednesday January 8, 2025 @ 6:00 pm- 8:00 pm (virtual session)
Registration form and fee must be received by Thursday December 19, 2024
(Capacity limited to 25)
2 contact hours |Cost $5.00 per person

Trainer: Shaquana Bynum, Regional Social Behavioral Coach

ITS SIDS
2024-12-10 18:00 - 20:00 | DEPC, 215 Lexington Street, Rocky Mount, NC
This training will provide an overview of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). It will also highlight the risk factors and describe ways to reduce the risk of SIDS in childcare. Participants will receive the needed information to create a Safe Sleep Policy, learn about sleep waivers/documenting sleeping baby and updated research about SIDS. Participants will also be walked through how to complete an unresponsive infant drill and the reason for doing them regularly.
Target Audience: Infant & Toddler Early Childhood Professionals
Tuesday, December 10, 2024 @ 6:00 pm- 8:00 pm (In person training session)
Registration form and fee must be received by Tuesday December 3, 2024
Down East Partnership for Children/Board Room
215 Lexington Street Rocky Mount NC
(Capacity limited to 20)
2 contact hours |Cost $5.00 per person

Trainer (s): Jasmine Smith, Core Quality Improvement Specialist
Shewanna Manning Core Quality Improvement Coordinator

The Proactive Teacher; Beyond Managing Behaviors
2024-12-03 18:00 - 20:00 | Virtual
Educators of our youngest learners (infants and toddlers) can feel like they spend their days reacting to behavior. Participants will explore ways to create a positive learning environment that allows the children to be themselves, take risks, and accept responsibility for their actions.
Target Audience: All Infant/ Toddler Early childhood professionals
Tuesday December 3, 2024 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm (virtual training session)
Registration form and fee must be received by Tuesday November 26, 2024
(Capacity limited to 25)
2.0 contact hours |Cost $5.00 per person
Trainer: Carrie Becker, Transforming Early Childhood Education, LLC
