Division for Early Childhood 2024 Conference: Full Schedule

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9:15am CDT

The Odd Couple: Partnering With States to Build Capacity & Increase Equity

Thursday September 19, 2024 9:15am - 10:15am CDT

This session offers insight into the challenges and nuances of partnering with states on early education policy initiatives. It delves into the iterative nature of research-practice partnerships, highlighting challenges, breakthroughs, and shared learning. Participants learn strategies for navigating power dynamics, building mutual trust, and centering community voice.

Speakers

Allison Kimble-Cusano

Research Specialist, Institute for Child Success

Dr. Allison Kimble-Cusano (she/her) is a Research Specialist in the Impact & Practice program area of the Institute for Child Success. She is responsible for promoting equity-focused professional empowerment of early childhood professionals, systems-level research, evaluation and... Read More →

Thursday September 19, 2024 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
Burgundy - 1st fl

Policy

Age 0-5
Audience 1 Researchers
Audience 2 Faculty
Content Level Intermediate

10:30am CDT

Saluting Strengths: Military Families with Children with Disabilities

Thursday September 19, 2024 10:30am - 11:30am CDT

Burgundy - 1st fl

Researchers affirm the importance of professionals’ knowledge and skills when working with children and families from backgrounds different from their own. A population that has received little attention in ECSE is military families. In this session we discuss the experiences of military families and provide an overview of military-connected programs and resources.

Speakers

Karen Terry

Program Analyst, Dept of Defense

Robyn DiPietro

Asst. Project Director, OneOp-University of Illinois at Urbana-Chamapaign

Michaelene Ostrosky

Professor, University of Illinois

Amy Santos

Associate Provost and Professor of Special Education, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

DEC 2024 Resources pdf

DEC Saluting Strengths Slides pdf

Thursday September 19, 2024 10:30am - 11:30am CDT
Burgundy - 1st fl

Family

Age 0-5
Audience 1 Practitioners
Content Level Intermediate

1:00pm CDT

Setting the Stage for a Peaceful and Productive IEP Meeting

Thursday September 19, 2024 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

Burgundy - 1st fl

Have you ever had an IEP experience that just didn’t go well? What did you do to help get the meeting back on track? This session will discuss strategies to promote family engagement throughout the IEP process and to empower families to be their child’s advocate.

Speakers

Amanda Duncan

BCBA, Research Assistant, Doctoral Candidate, University of Kentucky

Julie Rutland

Associate Professor, Eastern Kentucky University

Thursday September 19, 2024 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Burgundy - 1st fl

Family

Age 5-8
Audience 1 Families
Audience 2 Practitioners
Content Level Introductory

2:15pm CDT

"Be Part of" Campaign: Recruiting Early Interventionist

Thursday September 19, 2024 2:15pm - 3:15pm CDT

Burgundy - 1st fl

Join us to learn more about how to use the Be Part Of video and other materials for early intervention provider and service coordinator recruitment. Materials have been used at the university level for student recruitment and the state and local level for those already in the field. Share ideas on how we might grow this campaign together.

Speakers

Chris Guillen

Photographer/Producer, Chris Guillen

Chris Guillen is a photographer, producer and creative partner, and brings a unique skill set for the Early Intervention field. He is a husband of 31 years to Early Interventionist Chelsea Guillen, who ran an EI program for 12+ years and who is currently the EI Ombudsman for the state... Read More →

Peggy Kemp

Executive Director, Division for Early Childhood (DEC)

Welcome! Thank you for attending DEC 2024! Please introduce yourself if we are in sessions together and tell me a bit about your work/dreams for DEC/questions/concerns! - Peggy

Thursday September 19, 2024 2:15pm - 3:15pm CDT
Burgundy - 1st fl

DEC Sponsored

Audience 1 Faculty
Audience 2 Administrators
Content Level Advanced

3:30pm CDT

Effective Cost Modeling and Rate Setting in Early Intervention (Part C)

Thursday September 19, 2024 3:30pm - 4:30pm CDT

Burgundy - 1st fl

This session will focus on cost modeling methodology to determine the true cost of providing evidence-based and equitable early intervention (Part C) services and the development reimbursement rates that support the recruitment and retention of qualified EI professionals. State examples will highlight the use of advisory groups and lead agency engagement.

Speakers

Andy Gomm

Consultant - Early Intervention, Public Consulting Group (PCG)

Andy has worked in the early intervention / early care and education field for over 30 years. Since receiving a master's in social work from the University of East London he has worked with children with Autism and their families in New York, and coordinating early intervention and... Read More →

Zane Wyrick

Associate Manager, Public Consulting Group LLC

Zane Wyrick, MBA, PMP, is an Associate Manager based in PCG's Nashville, TN office. He has been working in public-sector early intervention and child care cost studies, rate setting, and technology for ten years. He has conducted extensive financial analyses in the early childhood... Read More →

Leah Davidson

Part C Coordinator, NM ECECD

I have been working in Part C in New Mexico since December of 2020. I started my career in Early Intervention in January of 2009 in Virginia, where I worked until 2019 when my family and I relocated to New Mexico. Please feel free to talk to me about what it is like to have experienced... Read More →

DEC 2024 EI Rate Setting Public Consulting Group pdf

Thursday September 19, 2024 3:30pm - 4:30pm CDT
Burgundy - 1st fl

Policy

Age 0-3
Audience 1 Administrators
Audience 2 Researchers
Content Level Intermediate