Division for Early Childhood 2024 Conference: Full Schedule

6:00pm CDT

Evidence Synthesis through Overview of Reviews on Early Intervention - Poster 7

Tuesday September 17, 2024 6:00pm - 7:00pm CDT

This presentation focuses on the methodology of overview of reviews and presents two exemplar overviews of reviews of DEC Recommended Practices (peer-mediated interventions and naturalistic interventions). Key steps include review selection, data extraction, synthesis methods, and quality assessment. The audience will gain insights into the methodological rigor for reviews

Speakers

Jinwei Song

Doctoral Student, UConn Health

Brian Reichow

Tuesday September 17, 2024 6:00pm - 7:00pm CDT
Grand Ballroom A (Exhibits) - 1st fl

Research

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

7:00pm CDT

Modalities used in preparing teacher candidates to assess diverse learners - Poster 15

Tuesday September 17, 2024 7:00pm - 8:00pm CDT

Grand Ballroom A (Exhibits) - 1st fl

Preparation of professionals to work in Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education (EI/ECSE) requires effective design and implementation of an assessment course that focuses on understanding the goals and process of assessment. The aim is to boost teacher candidates' efficacy because of changes in the process, the procedures, and the products of assessment.

Speakers

Margaret Gichuru

Tuesday September 17, 2024 7:00pm - 8:00pm CDT
Grand Ballroom A (Exhibits) - 1st fl

Practice

Age 0-5
Audience 1 Faculty
Audience 2 Practitioners
Content Level Advanced

11:00am CDT

Exploring Playmate Preferences in Early Childhood Classrooms

Wednesday September 18, 2024 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT

GrandSalon 18- 1st fl

We discuss recent research exploring how children’s playmate preferences change after participating in an adapted version of a peer mediated intervention. We review methods for collecting and analyzing social network data of children’s playmate preferences and how practitioners and researchers can use these data in their efforts to promote children's social connectedness.

Speakers

Abby Taylor

Data manager, Wisconsin alliance for infant mental health

Kristen Granger

Yiran Ling

Building connection exploring playmate preferences (1) pdf

Wednesday September 18, 2024 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT
GrandSalon 18- 1st fl

Practice

Age 3-5
Audience 1 Practitioners
Audience 2 Researchers
Content Level Advanced

11:00am CDT

Introduction to the Early Childhood Recommended Practices Modules

Wednesday September 18, 2024 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT

GrandSalon 24 - 1st fl

If your work involves educating students or practitioners in how to provide inclusive individualized supports to children with disabilities; equitably partnering with families, or ways to team and collaborate, this session will introduce free multimedia modules, aligned to the DEC RPs. Presenters will share their experiences using the modules to support adult learners.

Speakers

Allison Jones

TA Specialist, ECTA

The ECTA Center supports state IDEA Part C and Part B, Section 619 programs in developing more equitable, effective, and sustainable state and local systems, that support access and full participation for each and every young child with a disability, and their family.

Bethanne Vergean

CT Learn the SIgns Act Early Ambassador, UCONN UCEDD

Bethanne Vergean provides technical assistance and training for Connecticut’s Early Childhood system. Her work over the past 20 years has been centered on improving developmental monitoring in Connecticut. Through her dedicated advocacy, she has developed strong networking systems... Read More →

Elizabeth Beavers

University of Houston-Clear Lake

Kristen Votava

Associate Professor, University of North Dakota

Karen Lange

Doctoral Student, University of Arkansas

Education is the experience of my life and becoming an educator began in my childhood as the daughter of two amazing educators who taught me the beauty of being a teacher. Taking an unusual path to special education, I have experience in elementary education, early childhood special... Read More →

Kristen Paul

Director of Early Childhood Programs, The Parents' Place of Maryland

Kristen Paul has devoted over two decades to various roles serving children and their families; her career has included work as a science teacher, Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow at NASA, STEM Coordinator at Salisbury University, and family support for Birth to Five... Read More →

Final Slides Intro to the Early Childhood RPMs pdf

Wednesday September 18, 2024 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT
GrandSalon 24 - 1st fl

Professional Development

Age 0-5
Audience 1 Faculty
Content Level Advanced

1:30pm CDT

Assessing the Validity of a Fidelity Checklist for the AEPS-3

Wednesday September 18, 2024 1:30pm - 2:30pm CDT

GrandSalon 18- 1st fl

Implementation fidelity is an important factor in field testing a new version of any curriculum. The presenters designed a fidelity checklist for the AEPS-3 curriculum and conducted a content validity study with AEPS-3 developers and users. The session will share results from that survey, along with suggestions for further ways that online surveys can validate curricula.

Speakers

Cameron Tyrrell

Doctoral Candidate, University of Kentucky

Doctoral candidate, M.Ed., M.A. Emphasis in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education. Detroit native, sociologist from another life.

Jennifer Grisham

Professor, University of Kentucky

Jennifer Grisham, Ed.D., is Professor in the Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education program at the University of Kentucky, Lexington. She received her doctorate in Education from the University of Kentucky. She is also Faculty Director of the Early Childhood Laboratory at the... Read More →

AEPS 3 Content Validity Checklist Presentation DEC 2024 pdf

Wednesday September 18, 2024 1:30pm - 2:30pm CDT
GrandSalon 18- 1st fl

Research

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

2:45pm CDT

Family-Centered Early Intervention-Deaf/Hard of Hearing (FCEI-DHH)

Wednesday September 18, 2024 2:45pm - 3:45pm CDT

GrandSalon 10 - 1st fl

This presentation will describe the processes and outcomes of bringing together a) families of children who are deaf/hard of hearing (DHH); b) DHH leaders; c) EI Providers; and d) Researchers to develop International Guidelines for FCEI-DHH, informed by Consensus Panelists from 14 countries. The FCEI-DHH Principles are evidence-informed & reflect current best practices.

Speakers

Dr. Amy Szarkowski

Researcher, Institute for Community Inclusion, University of Massachusetts Boston

Amy Szarkowski, PhD, is a psychologist who specializes in supporting children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) and their families. With colleagues, Szarkowski has published a summary of understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorders in the DHH population (Szarkowski & Mood et al... Read More →

Wednesday September 18, 2024 2:45pm - 3:45pm CDT
GrandSalon 10 - 1st fl

International

Age 0-3
Audience 1 Faculty
Audience 2 Practitioners
Content Level Advanced

8:00am CDT

Disproportional Child Behavior and Teacher Outcomes in Head Start - Poster 19

Thursday September 19, 2024 8:00am - 9:00am CDT

Grand Ballroom A (Exhibits) - 1st fl

We examined links among teacher well-being, practice, and child social-emotional outcome in FACES 2014. We found teacher job satisfaction predicted classroom practice but not child outcome. Black children and those with disability were disproportionally reported with higher problem behaviors and lower social skills; Black teachers scored significantly lower by CLASS.

Speakers

Jun Ai

Assistant Professor, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Gospel Kim

Postdoctoral fellow, University of California-Davis, MIND Institute

Thursday September 19, 2024 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
Grand Ballroom A (Exhibits) - 1st fl

Research

Age 3-5
Audience 1 Administrators
Audience 2 Researchers
Content Level Advanced

10:30am CDT

Psychological Safety Considerations for Early Intervention Teaming

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

GrandSalon 6 - 1st fl

This session will review the research on psychological safety through the lens of implementation science, including discussion of the characteristics of highly functioning teams, stages of psychological safety, and application to early intervention. Early intervention teaming will be considered through the framework of psychological safety, examining how home visiting and

Speakers

Kristen Votava

Associate Professor, University of North Dakota

Carol Johnson

Thursday September 19, 2024 10:30am - 11:30am CDT
GrandSalon 6 - 1st fl

Practice

Age 0-3
Audience 1 Administrators
Audience 2 Practitioners
Content Level Advanced

1:00pm CDT

Annual aRPy Ambassador Summit (invite only)

Thursday September 19, 2024 1:00pm - 3:15pm CDT

GrandSalon 9 - 1st fl

During this invitation-only session, aRPy Ambassadors will share with one another the ways in which they are promoting and using the DEC RPs. The session will serve as an in-person work time, where questions, ideas and challenges are discussed and documented. This in-person time with the Ambassadors will help guide the planning and delivery of future Ambassador activities.

Speakers

Stephanie Moss

Chief Operating Officer, Parent to Parent of Georgia

Allison Jones

TA Specialist, ECTA

Thursday September 19, 2024 1:00pm - 3:15pm CDT
GrandSalon 9 - 1st fl

Practice

Age 0-5
Audience 1 Families
Audience 2 Practitioners
Content Level Advanced

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

9:00am CDT

Advancing Specialized Competence: A Statewide Early Intervention Credential

Friday September 20, 2024 9:00am - 10:00am CDT

GrandSalon 18- 1st fl

This session will share how one state revised the existing early intervention (EI) credential, partnered with higher education, and garnered inservice professional development initiatives to prepare, evaluate, and recognize highly specialized, effective EI professionals who are responsive to all families and the systemic marginalization of those from diverse identities.

Speakers

Bonnie Keilty

Sabrina Crowe

Birth to Three Professional Development, Connecticut Office of Early Childhood

Sabrina Crowe joined the CT Office of Early Childhood Birth to Three division in early 2021 in the Education Outreach position and more recently supporting Professional Development. Her background is as a Speech Language Pathologist. She has spent over the past 20 years working within... Read More →

Koleen Kerski

Personnel and Development, Office of Early Childhood: Birth to Three

Advancing Specialized EI Competence pptx

Friday September 20, 2024 9:00am - 10:00am CDT
GrandSalon 18- 1st fl

Professional Development

Age 0-3
Audience 1 Administrators
Audience 2 Faculty
Content Level Advanced

9:00am CDT

Equitable Part C Services: Perspectives of Early Intervention Coordinators

Friday September 20, 2024 9:00am - 10:00am CDT

Marlboro B - 2nd fl

To maximize the impact of Part C early intervention services, it is essential that all eligible infants and toddlers and their families are served, especially those from low resourced, marginalized communities. Through surveys and individual interviews with Early Intervention Coordinators, we examined supports and barriers to providing high quality equitable services.

Speakers

Rebecca G. Lieberman-Betz

Professor, University of Georgia

Cynthia Vail

Professor, University of Georgia

Dr. Cynthia Vail received her Ph.D. from Florida State University and has been on the faculty of the University of Georgia in the Department of Communication Sciences and Special Education since 1989, where she is currently Professor. She teaches in the Birth through Kindergarten/Early... Read More →

Jennifer Brown

Associate Professor, University of Georgia

Dr. Jennifer A. Brown is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Special Education at the University of Georgia. She is a clinically certified speech-language pathologist and has provided early childhood services to young children with and at-risk for... Read More →

Heather Benton

Karrah Bowman

Ashley Harrison

Friday September 20, 2024 9:00am - 10:00am CDT
Marlboro B - 2nd fl

Research

Age 0-3
Audience 1 Administrators
Audience 2 Faculty
Content Level Advanced

12:00pm CDT

Nurturing Empathy & Equity in Early Childhood: Little Learners Big Hearts

Friday September 20, 2024 12:00pm - 1:00pm CDT

GrandSalon 6 - 1st fl

Discover practical strategies and resources to foster empathy and equity in early childhood education in "Little Learners, Big Hearts." Participants will engage in dynamic discussions and activities aimed at creating inclusive learning environments where every child feels valued and supported. Leave the session equipped with tangible resources and actionable strategies.

Speakers

Orinthia Harris

Executive Director, STEMearly

Early Childhood and STEM Education Consultant, Orinthia Harris, Ph. D. (Dr. OH) has provided on-site and virtual educational consulting services to organizations, public and private schools, library systems, and more. She has inspired thousands of students, educators, and administrators... Read More →

Jill Flanders

Executive Director, Center for Educational Improvement

I am still learning and teaching, equity and empathy, antiracism through children's literature. Leadership with mindful practice and emotional intelligence.

Randy Ross

Little Learners, Big Hearts DEC.pptx pdf

Friday September 20, 2024 12:00pm - 1:00pm CDT
GrandSalon 6 - 1st fl

Professional Development

Age 0-5
Audience 1 Administrators
Audience 2 Faculty
Content Level Advanced