2025 Q3 newsletter

Course Updates, Family Support Resources, and ECE Retention Strategies

Selected Content Updates in Q3 2025

The VLS integrates the latest research and best practices into its professional development system on an ongoing basis. Our content team reviews new research and updates made to national guidelines. Selected content updates over the last three months include:

  • Crosswalk Updates and Enhancements

    The VLS is continuing its commitment to delivering accessible, up-to-date training resources by transitioning all Crosswalks to an HTML-based format. These new, web-accessible versions improve usability and navigation for professionals and trainers across roles and settings.

    Crosswalks are designed to support alignment across Foundational Courses, helping child and youth professionals understand what content is shared across tracks and what is specific to particular age groups. Each Crosswalk highlights age-specific lessons, activities, and resources to support professionals that are transitioning between age groups. For example, a direct care professional moving from an infant or toddler classroom to a preschool setting can use the Crosswalk to identify targeted content in the Preschool Track for review.

    All Crosswalks are now available in an HTML format, and the VLS team is currently aligning each Crosswalk with the latest course revisions to ensure consistency with updated content. This ongoing effort supports professional transitions, training, and compliance with current program expectations.

    The following Crosswalks have been reviewed and updated to align with revised course content:

    Training & Curriculum Specialists are encouraged to continue using the Crosswalks as a guide and to consult their Service’s guidance on how best to support staff with implementation.

  • Course Reviews and Updates

    In continued collaboration with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)’s Office of Military Community and Family Policy: Office of Child and Youth Programs, the VLS is reviewing and updating our content to reflect the current direction, guidance, and best practices for supporting military-connected children, youth, and families. This ongoing work includes reviewing and updating training content to support high-quality programming while ensuring compliance with established standards and expectations. At this time, all Foundational Courses have been restored and are accessible to learners. The following Foundational Courses and Focused Topics courses have been reviewed and updated:

    These updates reflect the continued progress outlined in the 2025 Q2 newsletter, as the VLS team and partners work to ensure that all course content supports excellence in care, education, and professional development across military child and youth programs.

    Additionally, ten of the VLS Live Leadership Webinars have been reviewed and recordings are available for viewing on the VLS Webinar archive.

Highlights from the Field and Recent Research

  • Back to School Mental Health Tips

    As families prepare for the back-to-school season, Nemours Children’s Health offers practical tips to help students manage anxiety, transitions, and emotional well-being. From adjusting sleep routines to building in daily “unwind” time, these strategies can ease the return to classroom life while supporting kids’ mental health.

    To support children and youth in the transition back to school, experts recommend:

    • Establishing consistent routines before school starts.
    • Talking openly about feelings and expectations.
    • Practicing mindfulness and coping strategies together.
    • Creating a calm space for homework and decompression.

    Back to school can be exciting—but also overwhelming. Supporting children’s emotional resilience can help them start the year confidently and connected, setting a positive tone for learning and growth. Parents and caregivers play a key role in recognizing stress signs early and fostering open communication to navigate challenges together.

    For families looking for additional resources, Nemours Children’s Health offers guidance on promoting mental wellness throughout the school year, helping children thrive both inside and outside the classroom.

    Read the full article on Nemours.org’s blog.

  • Military Families Outdoors — Nature’s Benefits Are Year-Round!

    As summer winds down, there’s still time to enjoy the proven mental and physical health benefits of spending time in nature. For military families, connecting outdoors can also foster community and strengthen bonds. The new Military Families Outdoors initiative from Blue Star Families encourages families to explore parks, trails, and green spaces together, with events designed especially for military-connected families.

    The program provides free outdoor experiences, toolkits for planning nature-based family outings, and partnerships with groups like the National Park Trust and the Sierra Club. It’s part of a broader effort to support military family well-being through access to nature, no matter the season.

    To learn how to get involved and find events near you visit BlueStarFam.org.

  • Why ECE Teachers Leave and What Can Help Them Stay

    Staff turnover in early care and education (ECE) settings remains a long-standing challenge with wide-reaching implications for children, families, and the professionals who serve them. A recent study from The Ohio State University’s Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy offers important insights into why ECE teachers consider leaving their jobs. Using a nationally representative sample, researchers explored how factors such as workplace support, mental health, and compensation relate to teachers’ intention to leave the field.

    The study found that teachers who felt supported at work were much less likely to want to leave. For each small increase in how supported they felt, the chance of leaving dropped by nearly 50%. Teachers with signs of depression were more than twice as likely to consider leaving, showing how important mental health is in keeping teachers in the field.

    Although hourly wage was not directly linked to intention to leave, researchers note that compensation should not be discounted. Limited wage variation across centers, combined with broader financial pressures, may influence a teacher’s sense of value and long-term commitment to the field.

    The findings emphasize the importance of creating supportive and respectful work environments. Strategies such as collaborative professional development, peer mentorship, and formal recognition of teachers’ contributions may help reduce turnover and strengthen the ECE workforce.

    To read the full report, visit Exploring Potential Factors Driving High Turnover Among Early Care and Education Teachers. If you are interested in learning more about supporting staff retention, come check out the VLS team’s presentation at the 2025 NAEYC Annual Conference.