Division for Early Childhood 2024 Conference: Full Schedule

1:00pm CDT

Increasing Cultural Humility in our Practice *Early Learning Session*

Tuesday September 17, 2024 1:00pm - 4:00pm CDT

**Early Learning Session are an additional cost.**

Cultural competence is essential but not sufficient. Undoubtedly we need to have information about cultures that differ from our own, but this does not help us identify our own blindspots. Cultural humility is the lifelong journey of self reflection with the purpose of identifying and addressing one's biases so that we can provide culturally sensitive therapy.

Speakers

Shelly Gore

LCSW, self employed

Copy of EMBRACING CULTURAL HUMILITY IN OUR PRACTICE pptx

Tuesday September 17, 2024 1:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
GrandSalon 6 - 1st fl

Practice

11:00am CDT

Big Feelings! Using the HUGS Framework to Build Responsive Interactions

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

GrandSalon 6 - 1st fl

All behavior is communication. Reading the message behind the child’s behavior can help parents and caregivers respond in ways that diffuse tense situations, build positive social-emotional skills, and coregulate. In this session learn to use the HUGS framework to 1) hear children’s cues 2) understand the child’s underlying message 3) give a response and 4) build success.

Speakers

April Robinson

Danielle Gaglio

Occupational Therapist, Family, Infant & Preschool Program (FIPP)

Communicating with your child using H.U.G.S. 1 pdf

Tune in and hear your childs cues HUGS2 pdf

Letting your child know you understand HUGS3 pdf

Giving your child support HUGS4 pdf

4 Steps to Diffuse Challenging Social Interactions pdf

HUGS References pdf

Wednesday September 18, 2024 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT
GrandSalon 6 - 1st fl

Practice

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

1:30pm CDT

Data Inquiry Cycle: Equity Considerations at Every Stage - DaSy Partnership

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

GrandSalon 6 - 1st fl

Participants will learn about the new DaSy Data Inquiry Cycle stages and how they apply to equity within early intervention and early childhood special education work with data. Attendees will also consider how to leverage critical questions, identify next steps for improvement, and support essential conditions for embedding equity in the data inquiry cycle.

Speakers

Sheresa Blanchard

Micole Talley

Jenna Nguyen

Nicholas Ortiz

TA Specialist, DaSy & ECTA Centers, SRI International

Ortiz is a national TA provider with the DaSy Center and ECTA Center. In this role, he supports state Part C and Part B 619 teams with the child outcomes indicators in their annual performance reports to the Office of Special Education Programs. He also facilitates learning communities... Read More →

Kathy Hebbeler

Senior Principal Education Researcher, SRI International

Howard Morrison

Grace Kelley

Wednesday September 18, 2024 1:30pm - 2:30pm CDT
GrandSalon 6 - 1st fl

Practice

Age 0-5
Audience 1 Administrators
Audience 2 Practitioners
Content Level Introductory

2:45pm CDT

Strategies To Effectively Empower Families in all levels of the Early Childhood Systems

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

GrandSalon 6 - 1st fl

Fostering strong partnerships between Parent Centers and state partners is crucial for supporting families of students with diverse needs effectively. By sharing successful strategies and collaborative activities, participants can gain valuable insights into building mutually beneficial relationships and enhancing engagement with families.

Speakers

Michelle Lewis

Executive Director, Parent Information Center NH

Susan Barlow

Director of Special Projects/Consultant, Parent Network of WNY/SPAN

The Center for Parent Information and Resources is the central “Hub” of information and products created for the network of Parent Centers serving families of children with disabilities

Jenna Nguyen

Strategies to Effectively Empower Families pdf

Wednesday September 18, 2024 2:45pm - 3:45pm CDT
GrandSalon 6 - 1st fl

Family

Age 0-5
Audience 1 Families
Audience 2 Administrators
Content Level Intermediate

4:00pm CDT

Let's Get Physical: Tools to Help Children Get Moving

Wednesday September 18, 2024 4:00pm - 5:00pm CDT

GrandSalon 6 - 1st fl

The CDC (2019) recommends that children aged 3-5 years old should be active throughout the day. In this session, we will explore research, activities, and tools to help you foster active opportunities for your children, students, and families. Join us to play, collaborate, and have fun while learning how to facilitate children's movement!

Speakers

Paula Kerchenski

Assistant Professor, Utah Tech University

Cori More

Jennifer Buchter

professor, Eatern Illinois University

Wednesday September 18, 2024 4:00pm - 5:00pm CDT
GrandSalon 6 - 1st fl

Professional Development

Age 3-5
Audience 1 Faculty
Audience 2 Practitioners
Content Level Introductory

9:15am CDT

Examining Referral Practices Between Pediatricians and Early Intervention

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

GrandSalon 6 - 1st fl

Insufficient referral and participation in Early Intervention (EI) services are common among children aged birth to 3 years. Yet, there’s limited understanding of referral practices by pediatricians and Part C EI personnel. This presentation presents findings from a mixed-method study on referral practices and improvement recommendations.

Speakers

Asha Yadav

Postdoctoral Associate, University of Florida

Jane Squires

Randall Alan Phelps

Thursday September 19, 2024 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
GrandSalon 6 - 1st fl

Research

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

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

The Play to Learn Curriculum: Increasing Play Complexity in Children

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

GrandSalon 6 - 1st fl

We will describe our Playing To Learn curriculum and provide an overview of related research, which contribute significantly to the body of knowledge surrounding interventions designed to enhance the complexity of children's play skills. We will outline the curriculum components and highlight specific goals and strategies for supporting play for all children.

Speakers

Erin Barton

Consultant, Barton Consulting

Erin E. Barton, PhD, BCBA-D, is an international educational consultant and founder of Barton Consulting, LLC and Faculty for the Pyramid Model Consortium. She has worked as a special education teacher and as a university professor, previously at Vanderbilt. She taught graduate-level... Read More →

Claire Winchester

Coach, consultant, & researcher, Growth Early Childhood Behavior Coaching

Claire Winchester, Ph.D, BCBA-D is an international early childhood behavior coach, consultant, and researcher with a specialization in supporting the families, teachers, and organizations that support young children. As the founder and operator of Growth Early Childhood Behavior... Read More →

Thursday September 19, 2024 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
GrandSalon 6 - 1st fl

Practice

Age 0-5
Audience 1 Practitioners
Audience 2 Administrators
Content Level Intermediate

2:15pm CDT

CDC's Learn the Signs. Act Early: Milestones, Materials, and More!

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

GrandSalon 6 - 1st fl

Would you like to improve your efforts and skills in the early identification of developmental concerns in young children? CDC’s “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” campaign has developed FREE materials to share with families and providers. Join us to learn new skills about how to integrate these tools into existing EC systems. Leave with an action plan and a materials toolkit.

Speakers

Janel Preston

Program coordinator- Autism Specialist, Institute for Disability Research Policy and Practice -USU

Deana Buck

Act Early Ambassador, Early Childhood Consultant

Deepa Srinivasavaradan

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 →

Jennifer Hall

Melissa Crist

Director of Early Childhood Programs, Idaho Center on Disabilities and Human Development

Melissa Crist, M.S. is the Director of IdahoSTARS at the Idaho Center on Disabilities and Human Development, the state University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD). IdahoSTARS houses the majority of quality initiatives in early care and education for the... Read More →

DEC 2024 pptx

Thursday September 19, 2024 2:15pm - 3:15pm CDT
GrandSalon 6 - 1st fl

By Practitioners for Practitioners

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

3:30pm CDT

Why Do They Leave? Results of a State-Wide Survey of EI Professionals

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

GrandSalon 6 - 1st fl

This presentation will overview the results and policy/practice implications of a state-wide survey on job satisfaction and intent to leave among early intervention professionals. We surveyed a diverse sample of professionals (n = 427) across a variety of roles and conducted a multiple regression analysis. We will discuss key findings related to pay and work conditions.

Speakers

Kristopher Yeager

Assistant Professor, CSUCI

Beverley Calvo

Dana Childress

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, ODU

Dana Childress, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Special Education at Old Dominion University. She has worked in the field of early intervention (EI) for more than 27 years as an educator, service coordinator, supervisor, training facilitator, author, and consultant... Read More →

Elizabeth Beavers

University of Houston-Clear Lake

Yok Fong Paat

Berenice Peralta Matus

Research Assistant, University of Texas at El Paso

Thursday September 19, 2024 3:30pm - 4:30pm CDT
GrandSalon 6 - 1st fl

Research

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

9:00am CDT

Where Do We Begin? Talking with Families about Developmental Screening

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

GrandSalon 6 - 1st fl

A community-driven, systematic approach to developmental screening and referral supports families’ equitable access to Part C services. This OSEP-funded project involved collaboration among rural Part C programs, community partners, and families to strengthen Child Find and resulted in culturally responsive approaches to screening and referral for underserved families.

Speakers

Jenine Schmidt

Program Associate, WestEd

Jenine Schmidt is an Early Childhood Program Associate at WestEd. Schmidt holds expertise in early childhood development and culturally responsive pedagogy. Currently, Schmidt is developing early math resources to support professional learning providers throughout California. She... Read More →

Beth Cole

TA Liaison, WestEd

I’ve been working in EI since 1996 and have worked at the local, state and now, national levels. One of my projects is an OSEP-funded model demonstration project to pilot a model that communities can use to increase the use of developmental screening and referrals to Part C early... Read More →

Leslie Fox

Director, Early Childhood Intervention, Mental Health & Inclusion, WestEd

Jamie Michaud

DEC Presentation PPT 2024 0911 Full Slides pdf

DEC Presentation Handout Family Scenarios pdf

DEC Handout CIM C Value of EI Flyer pdf

Friday September 20, 2024 9:00am - 10:00am CDT
GrandSalon 6 - 1st fl

Policy

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

10:15am CDT

Honoring Intersectional Identities of Families

Friday September 20, 2024 10:15am - 11:15am CDT

GrandSalon 6 - 1st fl

How do we honor the intersectional identities of families? Utilizing the family system’s theory, we hear from a parent of color, who has children with disabilities, her experiences holding multiple identities and how she navigates the education system. We will engage in reflection and discussion on ways to strengthen collaboration and deepen our understanding of families.

Speakers

Karina Du

Doctoral Student, San Francisco State University & UC Berkeley

Krystal Anderson

Danielle Grayson

Friday September 20, 2024 10:15am - 11:15am CDT
GrandSalon 6 - 1st fl

Family

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

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

1:15pm CDT

Building Racial Equity in Policy and Practice Through Family Leadership

Friday September 20, 2024 1:15pm - 2:15pm CDT

GrandSalon 6 - 1st fl

Racially diverse families who share their lived experience by engaging in policy formation, peer support, and professional development provide invaluable contributions while building their own leadership skills. This session will showcase family leadership from multiple states, strategies to recruit and retain diverse participants, and prospective long term equity impact.

Speakers

Mary Mikus

Mary Mikus has spent close to thirty years as a technical assistance provider and family advocate for young children receiving Early Intervention services and their families. Recently retired as an Education Consultant for Early Intervention Technical Assistance (EITA), Pennsylvania... Read More →

Sarah Holland

Director, Parent to Parent of PA

Vanessa Allen

Family Engagement Coordinator, Department of Children, Youth, and Families

Marisol Rose

State Parent Consultant, Early Steps, CMS, FDOH

I am the State Parent Consultant for Florida’s early intervention program, Early Steps, under the Division of Children’s Medical Services within the Florida Department of Health. I have served in this capacity since April 2021. Prior to my role at the state level, I spent 6 years... Read More →

Will Moncrease, Jr.

Partnership & Collaboration Manager, DCYF/ESIT

Misti Pollaro

Parent Training Coordinator, Family Network on Disabilties

About MeMisti Pollaro is a dedicated professional with over 14 years of experience at Family Network on Disabilities, where she has held various roles, from volunteer to IParent Training Coordinator. With more than 30 years of lived experience raising three neurodivergent sons and... Read More →

E Renae` Antalan

Community Collaboration Coordinator & Kinship GrandParent-Caregiver, Department of Children, Youth and Family Services (DCYF)

Good Sipping the Sweet Tea September, Everyone :-)!I hope you and yours are doing well. I come to you from the Squaxin Island and Nisqually Tribal lands of Washington State. I am a grandParent, with a capital 'P' for having raised my two special needs grandchildren for the last 9.5... Read More →

earlyint fam res update nov2023 v01 1 pdf

Division for Early Childhood Racial Equity Point of View pdf

Fact Sheet Advancing Racial Equity in Early Intervention and Preschool Special Education ECTA pdf

DEC One Page Handout FDOH Early Steps appv 9.2024 pdf

Friday September 20, 2024 1:15pm - 2:15pm CDT
GrandSalon 6 - 1st fl

Family

Age 0-5
Audience 1 Families
Audience 2 Administrators
Content Level Intermediate