Brain Story Theory-to-Practice Bundle

Year One Theory-to-Practice Report Year Two Theory-to-Practice Report

2022-2024 Summary

Brain Story Certification & Theory-to-Practice Sessions For ECEs

Early childhood educators (ECEs) are essential to delivering high-quality early learning and child care. They need to be well-educated, supported, and remunerated to enable them to undertake that work. Supporting ECEs to participate in ongoing professional learning leads to improved practice and better outcomes for children and their families.

With the support of the Government of Alberta and in partnership with the Palix Foundation, the Association of Early Childhood Educators of Alberta (AECEA) is excited to provide ECEs with an opportunity for continued professional learning on the scientific underpinnings of early brain development and the important role ECEs play in brain development in the early years. The professional learning will be free to take and ECEs will be reimbursed for their time spent learning.

This reimbursement is NOT LINKED to the Release Time Grant offered by the Alberta Child Care Grant Funding Program. The hours for this professional learning opportunity DO NOT count towards the Release Time Funding grant from the Alberta Child Care Grant Funding Program.

bundled brain story T2P flow chart

Step 1 - Complete the Prerequisite Brain Story Certification

Complete the 20-hour Brain Story Certification. This is a free, online course offered through Alberta Family Wellness Initiative.

What You'll Learn

Lifelong health is determined by more than just our genes: experiences at sensitive periods of development change the brain in ways that increase or decrease risk for later physical and mental illness, including addiction. That finding is the premise of the Brain Story, which puts scientific concepts into a narrative that is salient to both expert and non-expert audiences. The Brain Story synthesizes decades of research and reflects a body of knowledge that experts agree is useful for policy-makers and citizens to understand.

The Alberta Family Wellness Initiative (AFWI) has developed an online course to make Brain Story science available to professionals and the public. Brain Story Certification is designed for those seeking a deeper understanding of brain development and its consequences for lifelong health. The course is also designed for professionals seeking certification in a wide range of fields.

Enroll Now

Step 2 - Theory-to-Practice Sessions

After completing the Brain Story Certification, ECEs can register to participate in sessions facilitated by the Alberta Resource Centre for Quality Enhancement designed specifically for ECEs to connect the theory and ideas presented in the Brain Story to their daily practice, interactions, and relationships with children and families. Upon completing the sessions, ECEs will be reimbursed for 10 hours of their time. ECEs will be able to:

appreciate the role they have on children’s brain development and the importance of brain development in the early years,
integrate their new learning into daily practice with increased knowledge, skill, and confidence in their ability to articulate and put into practice the key concepts of brain science as it relates to their daily interactions with young children, and
recognize alignments between concepts from the Brain Story and concepts of Flight: Alberta’s Early Learning and Care Framework and inclusive child care practices.

These sessions will be delivered in person and online and will take a variety of formats to meet the needs of ECEs across the province. Upon completion of the sessions, ECEs will be eligible for 10 hours of learning time.

NOTE: Hours DO NOT count towards the Release Time Funding grant from the Alberta Child Care Grant Funding Program; reimbursement comes from AECEA, not from the Alberta Child Care Grant Funding Program.

More Information

Please be advised that reimbursement funding will only be given after completing both the Brain Story Certification (20 hours) and a Theory-to-Practice series (10 hours).

Brain Story Theory-to-Practice FAQ

For all other inquiries please contact us via email at brainstory@aecea.ca. AECEA staff will do their best to respond as soon as possible.

Is this reimbursement linked to the Release Time Grant offered by the Child Care Grant Funding Program?

No, this reimbursement is NOT LINKED to the Release Time Grant offered by the Child Care Grant Funding Program. The hours DO NOT count towards the hours of the Release Time Funding grant, and reimbursement will come from AECEA, not from the Child Care Grant Funding Program.

How do I get reimbursed for the 20-hour Brain Story Certification course?

If you have successfully completed the Brain Story Certification course after February 25th, 2022, you can register to participate in the Theory-to-Practice series here. Once you have completed all 5 sessions of the Theory-to-Practice sessions, AECEA will review your application. When approved, AECEA will send this reimbursement to your program who will then distribute the funds to you.

Note, eligibility requires that ECEs must be employed or approved by a licensed child care program as funding will be released to the program (similar to how the Child Care Grant Funding Program processes the release time funding grant).

Is the Brain Story and Theory-to-Practice reimbursement taxable income?

Yes, the reimbursement you receive for completing the Brain Story course and Theory-to-Practice Series ($17.50 x 30 hours) is taxable income as it is considered wages. AECEA sends the funds to your employer/agency, and they will disperse the funds to you.

I took the Brain Story Certification course a while ago and want to refresh my knowledge of this before participating in the Theory-to-Practice sessions; how do I access these modules?

All individuals who have previously completed the Brain Story Certification course can go back to the Alberta Family Wellness Initiative website and log in to review the content. If you do not have this login information, please contact the Alberta Family Wellness Initiative directly to regain access.

I took the Core Story of Brain Development – is this the same as the Brain Story Certification course?

The Core Story of Brain Development was the course previously offered by the Alberta Family Wellness Initiative. Now the course is called the Brain Story Certification course. We cannot accept the certification for the Brain Story Certification funding portion but can for the Theory-to-Practice funding portion of the reimbursement application.

Do I have to take the Brain Story 20-hour certification course before applying for the Theory-to-Practice Series?

Yes, you must show proof of the Brain Story Certification before registering for the Theory-to-Practice Series. In order to receive funding for both, you will need to have completed Brain Story and attended every Theory-to-Practice session and completed your final evaluation within 30 days of the last session.

I’ve already received funding for Theory-to-Practice but not for Brain Story, can I still apply?

Unfortunately, due to budget constraints, Brain Story is a prerequisite for Theory-to-Practice funding, and we are unable to offer reimbursement solely for Brain Story.

Why isn’t my program/agency’s name showing up on the application form?

Programs/agencies that have not submitted their Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) enrollment form, including a void cheque, will not appear in the drop-down menu of available organizations. If that is the case, please have your employer or agency complete and submit this form. We encourage you to also speak to your employer/agency about this so they are aware you want to receive funding for this. Once we have received your program’s EFT, you will be able to select it on the registration page.

My program/agency does not want to fill out an EFT form, can a cheque be mailed/is there any other option available?

Unfortunately, we will no longer provide cheques to new organizations, so if your employer/agency refuses to send an EFT form then you will be unable to access the funding.

Is there an option to take the Theory-to-Practice Series in-person?

Yes. The Theory-to-Practice Series is offered both virtually through Zoom and in-person. However, at this time, in-person sessions must have a minimum of 12 participants in the same region. Because of this requirement, AECEA will continue to gauge interest for an in-person session based on the region and schedule accordingly only when a certain number is reached. All pre-scheduled Theory-to-Practice Series (online and in-person options) are located here.

I am supervisor/director of a licensed early learning facility and want my staff to complete the Theory-to-Practice sessions– what are my next steps?

If a licensed child care program wants to plan an in-person or virtual PD-Day session around the Theory-to-Practice training, supervisors/directors will need to contact us at brainstory@aecea.ca. The program coordinator will then reach out to you regarding next steps. It is important to note that trainings need a minimum number of ECEs present to schedule a series: 12+ for an in-person series and 8+ for a virtual one. All ECEs who participate must show proof of the Brain Story Course certificate of completion.

My registration for the Theory-to-Practice Series was denied – why?

There are a few reasons why your registration may have been denied, such as:

1) If you have already participated in or registered for another Theory-to-Practice series.

2) If you did not upload your Brain Story certificate of completion that shows a date of completion anytime after February 25, 2022. If you have completed this certification before February 25, 2022, you are not eligible to receive funding.

3) If you do not hold an ECE certificate (Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3) or are not employed or approved by a licensed child care program.

I have successfully registered for the Theory-to-Practice Series– now what?

After you have registered for a Theory-to-Practice Series, either online or in-person, your facilitator will send an introduction email one week prior to the start date outlining the next steps. If your sessions are online, the email will include a link to your Zoom session and information on how to sign up for the Brain Architecture online game. If your session is in person, details on the location of the session will be emailed once the site is confirmed.

You will also receive a package in the mail at least 3 days prior to your session start date. If you have not received your package, please contact us via email at brainstory@aecea.ca. To reduce the number of emails, only reach out if you have not received your package within the defined timeframe.

I have not received my package in the mail yet – what should I do?

If you have not received your package within 3 days of your start date, please contact us via email at brainstory@aecea.ca. To reduce the number of emails, only reach out if you have not received your package within the defined timeframe.

I have not received an email from my facilitator for next steps after registration – what should I do?

Please note that your facilitator will send an email approximately one week prior to your session start date. If you have not received an email within 3 days of your start date, please email us at brainstory@aecea.ca. To reduce the number of emails, only reach out if you have not received communication within the defined timeframe.

What if I miss a session for the Theory-to-Practice series?

To receive a certificate of completion you must be present for all 5 consecutive sessions in the Theory-to-Practice portion. Facilitators will take attendance during each session. Thus, AECEA encourages ECEs to register in a section that best fits their needs and availability. If you miss a session, please contact our program coordinator at brainstory@aecea.ca, however, you may have to re-register in a different series at a later date.

Do I have to take the Theory-to-Practice sessions in order?

Yes, to successfully complete this certification you must complete the sessions in order and as they appear on registration. Each session is designed to build on discussions, experiences and learning from the previous session.

How do I sign up for the brain architecture online game?

If you are registered for a virtual section (this does not apply to those in-person sessions) you will receive an email from your facilitator one week prior to your start date. In this email, your facilitator will provide you with a link and directions on how to set up an account. This account must be set up prior to your start date.

I have completed all 5 sessions of Theory-to-Practice, when will I receive my certificate of completion?

AECEA will review participant attendance and once you have completed all 5 sessions, you will receive a link to access your certificate within 6-8 weeks. If you have not received this link for the certificate within 8-10 weeks of completing your last Theory-to-Practice session, contact AECEA at brainstory@aecea.ca.

I've successfully completed the Theory-to-Practice Series and received my funding, but it doesn't match the $525 in my application.

If you have already received funding for Brain Story reimbursement in a previous application, you are not eligible for it and instead will only receive the amount of $175 upon completion of Theory-to-Practice.

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