Workshops
The 2013 National Smart Start Conference will feature more than 100 workshops on:
Early Childhood System Development
Appreciative Inquiry: Positive Change Made Simple
Diana Whitney
This highly interactive workshop is an exploration of positive change made simple. Diana Whitney will present an overview of the principles and process of Appreciative Inquiry followed by a short video of Appreciative Inquiry in action. Participants will conduct appreciative interviews and discuss how to use them in a variety of situation.
Addressing Needs within a QRIS: NCs Rated License Assessment Project
Nicole Wyrick McCaskill, North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project
Rhonda Sawyer, North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project
Learn how the NC Rated License Assessment Project fits within the larger QRIS in NC and how this role has changed over the past 12 years. Explore statewide collaboration efforts and resources created for North Carolinas child care community. During a discussion-based session, participants are invited to share how they respond to needs within their system.
Arizona Reads Arizona Thrives: Developing a Collaborative Early Literacy System
Terri Clark, Read On Arizona
Aaliyah Samuel, First Things First
The session will use examples of family literacy and parent education services that are at the center of early literacy, community efforts in Arizona. We will demonstrate how certain parent education, family support and literacy efforts have created a more cooperative and engaged community in housing projects, local townships and regional efforts.
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Assessing the Strength of Early Childhood Service Systems via Network Analysis
Raul Martinez, Harder+Company Community Research
Increasingly, funders of early childhood development programs seek to measure improvements to the overall system of services. Based on the presenters experiences conducting evaluations of such programs in California, this workshop will offer a quantitative approach to measuring system change, along with reporting and facilitation techniques that can be used to help stakeholders make changes to collaborative relationships in real-time.
Building Early Childhood Collaboration Where It Matters
Debra Andersen, Smart Start Oklahoma
Megan Tyler, Smart Start Oklahoma
This workshop will describe the process used in Oklahoma to develop local early childhood program collaboration using blended resources to facilitate cohesive, high quality, community-based early care and education systems. Participants will receive resources in facilitating collaborations and learn about successes, challenges, and misconceptions around collaboration in early childhood.
Charting Progress For Babies: A Look at State Infant-Toddler Policies
Stephanie Schmit, CLASP
Christine Johnson-Staub, CLASP
This presentation will outline the findings of a 50-state survey administered as part of CLASPs Charting Progress for Babies in Child Care Project. The survey looks at promising subsidy, licensing, and quality enhancement policies that benefit infants and toddlers providing a national picture of infant/toddler child care policies.
Defining Diversity: The Art of Becoming Culturally Competent
Devonya Govan-Hunt, Govan-Hunt Staff Development: Critical Curriculum Coordinating Services
Come and learn the art of cultural reciprocity! This will be an eye-opening journey to becoming culturally competent through identifying ones own biases, prejudices and common stereotypes. This is often a touchy subject in the world of early care and education, but a necessary conversation in our changing society.
Early Childhood Education Finance: Making Ends Meet in a Recession Economy
Louise Stoney, Alliance for Early Childhood Finance
This workshop will focus on methods to estimate the cost, and generate the revenue, needed to operate a high-quality Early Care and Education Program. Using the Iron Triangle of Early Childhood Education Finance" as a framework, a range of policy and program management approaches will be explored.
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Evaluation Based on the Program Life Cycle
Linda Blanton, Partnership for Children of Cumberland County
Michael Harnar
Prashant Rajvaidya
Where do early care and education program developers and managers begin when designing an evaluation? In these times of constrained funding, how do we address accountability and program improvement needs efficiently? Through examples of comprehensive and integrated management systems, we will demonstrate how to think about evaluation based on the life cycle of your program, so that you can focus on delivering and improving the services that matter.
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How to Reduce Stress, Survive and Thrive with Humor
Emily Ballance, Emily Speaks
Learn practical strategies to reduce stress and add more humor, joy and fun to life. The presentation includes stories, audience participation, group activities and music to teach about the many benefits of humor. Participants will leave with lots of tips to help them increase laughter, stimulate creativity, build self-esteem, and have more fun!
Infrastructure for Success
Karen Roback, Early Childhood Investment Corporation
Lisa Brewer Walraven, Michigan Department of Education, Office of Great Start
The workshop provides an overview of Great Start to Quality, with emphasis on infrastructure. The partnership between the Michigan Department of Education, Office of Great Start and the Early Childhood Investment Corporation resulted in over 25% program participation in the first year. Participants will learn about the infrastructure model, the elimination of service duplication and strategies leading to success.
Investing in What Works for Stronger and Healthier Early Childhood Organizations
Candace Wong, Low Income Investment Fund
Kim Di Giacomo, Low Income Investment Fund
Participants will learn about innovative ways a community development financial institution like the Low Income Investment Fund has partnered with the public and private sector to invest in child development centers and family child care small businesses. Participants can take this learning to establish innovative partnerships and replicate similar successes to build public and private capital investments in their communities.
Lessons Learned: Cross Sector Collaboration to Build Childrens Prosocial Skills
Kathryn Johnson, Alternatives, Inc.
The presentation will discuss Smart Beginnings Virginia Peninsulas cross sector collaboration to build pro-social skills of children by aligning the implementation of an evidenced-based curriculum with goals of the Virginia star rating system. Discussion will include an overview of the goals, roles of collaboration partners, scope of implementation, review of evaluation results, braided funding strategies, and key lessons learned.
Making Early Childhood Data Meaningful via Dynamic Web-based Software
Laura Wagner, The Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students
Mindy Binderman, The Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students
This session will provide a case study of a successful statewide engagement of early childhood advocates, state agency representatives and funders around the prioritization of data sets which are most useful in demonstrating school readiness in Georgia. Presenters will exhibit a web-based map which illustrates how each of Georgias 159 counties is doing in terms of preparing children to succeed.
Managing Stress and Preventing Burnout
Emily Ballance, Emily Speaks
Learn how certain behaviors, conditions and situations contribute to stress and how to identify the early signs of stress and burnout. New strategies for self-care that can be implemented immediately will be discussed. Participants will leave with a plan for a healthier lifestyle and tips to help them decrease stress and put zip and enthusiasm back into their lives.
Mapping Early Childhood Systems: Case Studies from Michigan, Virginia and DC
Colin Newlin, Braintree Solution Consulting, Inc.
Learn about the art and science of mapping and building early childhood systems. Case studies from two counties in Michigan, two cities in Virginia and the District of Columbia reveal the methods, benefits and challenges associated with mapping early childhood systems. This session will help you improve community collaboration to address needs, raise funds and measure and improve outcomes.
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Mobilizing Communities for Kindergarten Readiness and Elementary Proficiencies
Terry Tolan, Kentucky Governors Office of Early Childhood
Brigitte Ramsey, United Way of Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky
Kentucky has adopted a kindergarten readiness definition and a common readiness screen for children entering kindergarten. Districts across Kentucky implemented the common screener in the 2012 and multi-domain data is now available. Learn how Kentucky will use a data profile to help local Community Early Childhood Councils develop community strategies for improving outcomes for children and measure results over time.
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QRIS: Valid and Reliable Rating and Monitoring
Peggy Ball, National Center on Child Care Quality Improvement
How valid and reliable is the rating and monitoring system for the Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) in your state? As states increase child care participation levels in their QRIS and expand that participation across other sectors such as Head Start and prekindergarten, rating and monitoring can create the evidence base for a credible QRIS that builds broad based support.
Quality Early Childhood Data Systems: Improving Outcomes for Young Children
Elizabeth Groginsky, Early Childhood Data Collaborative
Kristen Guillory, State of North Carolina
Jennifer Stedron, State of Colorado
Missy Cochenour, Race to the Top - ELC State Support Team
States are showing leadership in building cross-sector, integrated early childhood data systems to improve program quality, inform decision making and monitor child development. Participants will learn about the ten fundamentals of a quality state early childhood data system, and how they are being implemented through state and national efforts. Participants will identify action steps to help promote this policy priority.
Quality Rated: Year One Implementation/Validation Lessons from Georgias TQRIS
Laura Johns, GA Department of Early Care and Learning
Bentley Ponder, GA Department of Early Care and Learning
This workshop will provide an overview of Quality Rated, Georgias QRIS. Participants will have an opportunity to view the online data system that collects process and structural quality data from both program and administrator view and will hear about the ongoing validation and evaluation cycle. Time for cross state discussion regarding QRIS implementation will be provided.
Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge: Linkages Across Systems
Mary Lee Porterfield, North Carolina Division of Child Development & Early Education
Deb Cassidy
This workshop will explore Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge activities at the North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education, including the origins of the projects and their accomplishments to date. Participants will have an opportunity to investigate the connections between the activities and to other parts of the early care and education system.
Reaching Children with Comprehensive Service: Partnerships and Financing
Christine Johnson-Staub, Center for Law and Social Policy
Stephanie Schmit, Center for Law and Social Policy
Explore the importance of reaching vulnerable children with comprehensive services in their child care and early education settings. Discuss strategies for financing and implementing comprehensive services initiatives in early childhood settings, including potential funding streams and examples.
Ready2: Evaluation of the Early Childhood System on Child Success
Patrick Curry, Down East Partnership for Children
Jamie Wilson, Down East Partnership for Children
Pattie Allen, Down East Partnership for Children
The Ready2 Initiative is a Down East Partnership for Children evaluation project that strategically combines Ready Schools and Ready Communities to engage families and communities in school and student success. This session will present the findings after three years and examine how the early childhood system of services and supports are contributing to school and student success.
Rural Superintendents Quest for Prioritizing Early Childhood Funding
Judith Stover, North Carolina State University/Franklin County Schools
Urgency in closing the achievement gap is a pervasive issue in American schools, and the gap manifests even before students start school. Superintendents perceptions about kindergarten readiness are an important part of the puzzle. Findings from a qualitative multiple case study focusing on why rural North Carolina superintendents do or do not consider utilizing prekindergarten programming in their public school districts will be shared.
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Smart Start Learning Community: An Online Community of Practice in Action
Sarah Smith, The North Carolina Partnership for Children, Inc.
The Smart Start Learning Community is designed with this simple idea: we all have something to offer, and we all have something to learn. Get inspired. Connect to people and resources. Share successes and solve problems. Hear from Learning Community participants about their experience using the site and generate some ideas about how you might use the site to drive collaboration and innovation in your work.
Smart Starts New Online Learning Community
Sarah Smith, The North Carolina Partnership for Children, Inc.
Pedro Bermudez
Looking to re-ignite your professional passion? Find new ways to collaborate? This workshop offers insight into "Communities of Practice" and how they relate to the online Smart Start Learning Community, developed with the University of Floridas Lastinger Center. The Smart Start Learning Community is an innovative tool, bringing people together across geographies and organizations to share practices and advance our work.
Social Justice and Equity: The Case for Early Childhood
Paula Grubbs, Greensboro College
Quality early childhood programming is important because it promotes social and economic equity. This workshop will explore issues of socioeconomics and culture, and examine the relationship between social justice issues and early childhood programming. Broader issues of equity will be discussed, as well as practices that promote positive long term educational and social outcomes for children and their families.
Staffed Family Child Care Networks: Enhancing Quality Care for Infants
Holly Wilcher, ZERO TO THREE
Learn about staffed family child care networks and their ability to support the workforce. Participants will examine how they are uniquely positioned to improve the quality of care that infants and toddlers receive in family child care settings, share research about effective practices of staffed family child care networks and explore partnerships to integrate these networks into early childhood systems.
State Leadership Perspectives on the Early Learning Challenge Grant
Harriet Dichter, State of Delaware
Anne Bryan, State of North Carolina
Sherri Killins, State of Massachusetts
Jennifer Stedron, State of Colorado
States leaders from Delaware, Massachusetts, North Carolina and Colorado will lead an interactive discussion on Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge Grant work. They will share their states point of view about systems building, articulate the key strategies being used, and discuss areas of strength and of challenge. We will touch upon policy development, quality service delivery and implementation, family and community engagement, and sustainability within each states context. We will compare and contrast approaches across states.
Supporting Continuous Quality Improvement While Systems Building in QRIS
Debi Mathias, BUILD Initiative
Gerry Cobb, BUILD Initiative
States and communities are working to define program standards, monitoring and accountability associated with QRIS. There is renewed focus on the importance of continuous quality improvement throughout all levels of the system as a necessary support to this work. Workshop participants will focus on a framework of quality improvement and use of multiple sources of evidence to inform the change process.
The Foundation for Quality: Early Childhood Program Standards
Sheri Fischer, National Center on Child Care Quality Improvement
Attendees will participate in a discussion of state program quality standards, including child care licensing regulations, QRIS standards, and requirements for state-funded preschool programs. The presentation will include a comparison of standards across common content areas and a discussion of the challenges states face as they align various types standards to create a more unified early childhood system.
And the Children in the Apple Tree
Bruce Yelton, BYC Consulting
Deb Stranges, Alliance for Children
Melanie Richardson, Alliance for Children
Quality care and a smooth transition to kindergarten have been identified as important in retaining the benefits of early education. Zeroing in on what matters during these critical years, this session reports that the nature of early education and transition activities are related to "on-grade-level" proficiency in literacy at third grade and beyond.
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Are We There Yet? Create a Road Map to Success for Early Childhood Professionals
Lisa Sturges, Great Start Collaborative-Oakland
Donna Lackie, Great Start Collaborative-Oakland
Colin Newlin, Braintree Solution Consulting, Inc.
Develop the capacity to create an Early Childhood Career Lattice. Learn from a case study of three Michigan counties and their partnership to understand and affect the resources and strategies developing early childhood professionals. Workshop includes a review of the information collection process, development of a career lattice and a connection to supporting a Quality Rating and Improvement System.
Building a Community-Wide Kindergarten Transition System
Karen Olsen, Macomb Intermediate School District
JoAnne Elkin, Macomb Intermediate School District
Participants will learn about the processes needed to make the transition to kindergarten more comfortable for children and families as they change from one environment to another. You will be provided with an implementation guide that includes steps for planning an effective kindergarten transition, examples of transition activities, and support materials and resources.
Building Momentum for Transforming Outdoor Learning Environments
Andee Edelson, Randolph County Partnership for Children
Margie Trogdon, Trogdons Day Care
Katherine Davis, The Growing Place Child Care Center
Emily Allison, Randolph County Partnership for Children
Walk with us through our journey transforming outdoor learning environments through the "environment as the 3rd teacher" lens and adapting components of Reggio Emilia and Montessori philosophies. Randolph County child care directors will share the impact incorporating key elements have made in their outdoor areas, community engagement, educational leadership and transformed new ways of playing, teaching and learning.
Changing Classrooms with Participatory Adult Learning Strategies
Ariel Ford, Smart Start of Buncombe
Katie Lund, Mountain Area Child and Family Center
Allison Jones, Orelena Hawks Puckett Institute
Do evidence informed technical assistance models leave you less than inspired? This workshop shows how PALS (Participatory Adult Learning Process) supports a healthy technical assistance program in an evidence-informed way. A master trainer, technical assistance provider, and teacher will share their experiences with PALS, and time will be split between information sharing and questions and answers.
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CLASS-Based Professional Development: Working with Teachers of Toddlers
Sedra Spano, Teachstone
Victoria Kintner-Duffy, Teachstone
Amy Stephens Cubbage, Teachstone
Jane McCarty, Teachstone
Focusing on the connections between toddler development and effective interactions outlined in the Toddler CLASS tool, this workshop features a discussion on how professionals can support teachers to reflect on their interactions through video-based coaching. Through this discussion, participants will learn about the CLASS tool and research-based strategies for providing feedback on teachers actual classroom practice.
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Coaching For Success: Using A Framework for Thinking Model to Promote Intention
Constant Hine, Horizons In Learning
The Coaching For Success Framework For Thinking Model provides novice to experienced coaches a structured and systematic framework to intentionally broaden and deepen successful scaffolding strategies to promote sustainable change. Participants will learn practical strategies to effectively help ECE professionals think critically, overcome individual challenges and achieve goals to improve their reflective practices and increase quality of care.
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CONNECT: A Web-based Resource to Provide High Quality Professional Development
Pam Winton, FPG Child Development Institute, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
Chih-Ing Lim, FPG Child Development Institute, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
Dale Epstein, FPG Child Development Institute, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
This session will focus on using tech-enhanced CONNECT Modules, an innovative approach to professional development on early childhood inclusion within the TQRIS framework. Presenters will share both the process for developing and evaluating the modules, along with statewide implementation ideas from professional development providers and state policymakers.
Evaluation of the North Carolina Pre-Kindergarten Program
Jennifer Schaaf, FPG Child Development Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Dora LaForett, FPG Child Development Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Ellen Peisner-Feinberg, FPG Child Development Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
This workshop will provide an overview of the evaluation of the North Carolina Pre-Kindergarten Program. Attendees will learn about the goals and findings of the evaluation study.
Evidence-based Outdoor Classrooms to Enhance Child Well-being
Susan Wirth, Nature Explore - Dimensions Educational Research Foundation
James Wike, Nature Explore - Dimensions Educational Research Foundation
Discover how well-designed, natural outdoor classrooms facilitate childrens overall development in traditional academic areas, strengthen specific skills and aid social-emotional growth. Explore a variety of motivating strategies for facilitating and assessing student learning in outdoor classrooms and reaching a variety of interests and needs. Research-based guiding principles for creating developmentally-appropriate outdoor learning environments and sustaining them will be shared.
Expanding Access to EHS: State Initiatives for Infants and Toddlers at Risk
Stephanie Schmit, CLASP
Jamie Colvard, ZERO TO THREE
This presentation will outline how states are using innovative funding, policies, and partnerships, to expand the critically important Early Head Start (EHS) program and better meet the needs of more low-income children and pregnant women in their state. Participants will gather funding strategies, partnership ideas, and policy examples based on interviews with states already implementing EHS expansion.
Great Expectations: Building a Countywide Professional Development System
Naomi Karp, United Way of Tucson and Southern AZ
LaVonne Douville, United Way of Tucson and Southern AZ
Sheri Marlin, Office of the Pima County (AZ) School Superintendent
This highly interactive session will discuss how Tucson is building a new early childhood professional development system based on developmentally appropriate practice, systems thinking, instructional support and coaching and linking this work to community-wide birth-8 literacy initiatives; funding the work; stimulating community support; and documenting changes in teachers, children and Tucson.
How to Support and Improve the Quality of Child Care
Kate Thegen, The Red Broom Company
With information about current research on what actually works in improving quality child care, we will talk about the fine points of coaching, training and consulting and consider what is actually effective at improving the skills and knowledge and practices of teachers and directors so that children have better experiences.
Implementing and Validating a Revised QRIS: A North Carolina Update
Edna Collins, DHHS- Division of Child Development & Early Education
Jani Kozlowski, DHHS-Division of Child Development & Early Education
This workshop will provide an update on the validation and implementation of a revised Tiered Quality Rating and Improvement System (TQRIS) in North Carolina. Participants from North Carolina will have an opportunity to provide input into the process, and participants from other states will learn from North Carolinas experience.
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Lessons from a Countywide School Readiness Assessment Initiative
Michael Bates, Mosaic Network, Inc.
The Kindergarten Student Entrance Profile (KSEP) is a 13-item school readiness instrument that predicts student achievement through 3rd grade. This workshop will describe a county project using KSEP in an economically and ethnically diverse community. We present supporting research and first year data, and discuss practical issues related to implementation, assessment and follow-up.
Online Professional Development: Best Practices to Drive Engagement
Annette Sibley, Quality Assist, Inc.
Michelle Adkins, Quality Assist, Inc.
Online professional development is everywhere! Yet, like with face-to-face training, quality varies. Learn what to look for in evaluating online professional development and discover how quality online courses can expand learning and transform program practices. Explore an innovative model for professional development delivery that builds community and empowers early education programs.
Supporting Language and Literacy Skills in Infants and Toddlers
Grace Horsman, Child Care Resources Inc.
The path to literacy begins in infancy. This workshop will explore the stages of language and literacy development in young children and the link between language and literacy development. The theory of literacy development will be combined with strategies for effective practices to support literacy skills in young children.
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Supporting the Center Director in Coaching and Brokering Technical Assistance
Karen Ponder, Ponder Early Childhood, Inc.
Muriel Wong, WELS Foundation
Technical assistance providers, coaches and mentors need to engage center directors as partners in improving and maintaining quality. The session will include a panel of center directors who will share their successes and struggles with technical assistance, their best experiences and what they need from technical assistance providers to be part of the learning process. Participants will discuss working with centers and directors to get lasting results.
To Click or Not to Click: Online Professional Development for ECE Leaders
Kara Lehnhardt, McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership
Online professional development opportunities are beginning to emerge for leaders in early childhood programs. Which opportunities are worthwhile? Learn how to select and implement effective online professional development opportunities for the providers you work with. Hear about opportunities to partner with existing organizations that can make content come to life online without requiring you to reinvent the wheel.
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Adverse Childhood Experiences: How Do They Impact Children and What Can We Do?
Elaine Cabinum-Foeller, ECU Brody School of Medicine/TEDI BEAR Childrens Advocacy Center
Child maltreatment and exposure to violence is a pervasive problem in our society and often goes unrecognized and undiagnosed. Current research regarding outcomes and effects on children, their development, and adult physical and emotional health will be discussed. The lifelong effects of abuse, neglect, toxic stress, and exposure to violence will be discussed as will policies and programs that can help to support children and families.
Assessing Young Abused and Neglected Children: An Interagency Collaboration
John Ellis, Mecklenburg County Childrens Developmental Services
Robert Herman-Smith, University of North Carolina - Charlotte
Erskine Daniels, Mecklenburg County Youth and Family Services
Federal law requires state-level early childhood intervention programs and child welfare programs to develop a plan to assess children birth to three involved in abuse and neglect investigations. However, most states have not developed successful programs. This workshop will present the results of a successful interagency collaboration to improve young, maltreated childrens access to developmental screening and services.
Attachment Matters: What It Is, Its Importance, and What To Do
Karen Carmody, Center for Child and Family Health
Early childhood professionals play an important role in promoting healthy parent-child relationships, recognizing when these relationships are at-risk, and identifying ways to help. This presentation will increase understanding of attachment and its importance in young childrens development; identify risk factors for problematic attachment and when to intervene; and provide strategies for how to help.
Breastfeeding-Friendly Child Care: Impact of the Ten Step Project
Kathleen Anderson, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill/Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute
State and national initiatives have called for increased support for breastfeeding. The Carolina Ten Step approach helps early childhood professionals support the breastfeeding relationship of mothers and children in their care. It includes parent- and provider-friendly materials and an innovative provider training. This workshop will explain the Ten Step intervention and share the recent research that demonstrates it had a positive impact on knowledge, attitudes, and practices of child care providers.
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Buffering the Effects of Stress on Young Children: Practical Strategies
Betty Rintoul, Encouraging Connections
This plenary session focuses on practical strategies for supporting very young children faced with stressful experiences, ranging from typical to traumatic. We will discuss guidelines for developing strategies to help children cope with stress, illustrating each with specific examples. Early childhood professionals can apply this training as they work with parents and caregivers to develop case-specific strategies to buffer childhood stress.
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Childcare Outdoor Learning Environments: Edible Landscapes?
Michele Rivest, Natural Learning Initiative
Nilda Cosco, Natural Learning Initiative
Robin Moore, Natural Learning Initiative
Elizabeth Lake, First Environments Early Learning Center
Can child care centers create edible landscapes where children enjoy healthy snacks from fresh produce grown outside their back door? On-site gardening is an innovative strategy to promote childrens health that is occurring in childcare. Join the Natural Learning Initiative from NC State University to discuss how renovated outdoor environments support childrens physical activity and healthy nutrition.
CONNECT Modules: Springboard for Improving Inclusion Services in Iredell County
Marta Koesling, Iredell County Partnership for Young Children
Paula Cline, Iredell County Partnership for Young Children
Jennifer Griffith, Iredell County Partnership for Young Children
Pearl Dowell-Young, Iredell County Partnership for Young Children
Marnie Reber, Iredell County Partnership for Young Children
Learn how the Iredell County Partnership for Children used Frank Porter Graham CONNECT Modules to become a "community of practice" targeting improved child care inclusion based on research and family engagement strategies. Local Inter-agency Coordinating Council members joined the initiative and are planning improved identification, transitions and collaborative services. Every community can CONNECT professional development and better outcomes for children with special needs.
Expanding and Enhancing Workforce Supports with RTT-ELC Grant Activities
Edith Locke, Child Care Services Association
Allison Miller, Child Care Services Association
Attendees will learn about the basics of two programs designed to advance education and compensation and improve teacher retention, T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Project and the Child Care WAGE$® Project.
Implementation, Evaluation, and Dissemination of Universal Nurse Home Visiting
W. Benjamin Goodman, Duke University
Karen ODonnell
Jeannine Sato
Durham Connects aims to achieve population impact on child and maternal health and well-being by coalescing community agencies to serve early-intervention goals through a Preventive System of Care and by delivering universal, short-term intervention to families through a postnatal nurse home-visiting program. This session will discuss the implementation, evaluation, and dissemination of the program.
Infants of Depressed Mothers Living in Poverty: Opportunities to Serve
Embry Howell, The Urban Institute
This workshop will provide an overview of current research on maternal depression, the initiatives which have been shown to be effective in identifying and treating depressed low-income women and the emerging opportunities provided by various new Federal initiatives, including the Affordable Care Act.
Innovative Approaches: A System Change Initiative for Special Health Care Needs
Heidi Austin, Wayne County Health Department
Evelyn Coley, Wayne County Health Department
Keshia Bunch, Innovative Approaches
Lynette Smith, Innovative Approaches
The Wayne County Health Departments Innovative Approaches initiative fosters improvement for community-wide systems of care to better meet the needs of families of children and youth of special health care needs. Learn about the components of the initiative and how it is increasing family satisfaction and improving outcomes for children with special health needs.
Promoting Healthy Development: 13 Years of Leading the Nation
Marian Earls, Guilford Child Health, Inc.
The Assuring Better Child Health and Development (ABCD) Project seeks to improve the rate providers perform developmental screenings and the rate identified children are referred for help. We will discuss the implications for the primary health care of infants and young children; the continuing gaps in early identification; and looking forward to quality improvement, health information technology requirements and building partnerships among the medical home, families and early Intervention.
Quality Inclusion: What Does it Look Like and How Can We Measure It?
Pam Winton, FPG Child Development Institute
Elena Soukakou, FPG Child Development Institute
Tracey West, FPG Child Development Institute
Explore possibilities for addressing inclusion through the use of a tool designed to assess the quality of inclusive classroom practices in early childhood. Participants will learn about the tool and ways it can be used to improve the quality of inclusion in early childhood. Hear about the results of two pilot studies on the Inclusive Classroom Profile conducted in the UK and the US.
Ready, Set, Resilience: Everyday Activities to Promote Positive Behaviors
Nefertiti Bruce Poyner, Devereux Center for Resilient Children
Every moment of every day is an opportunity to create a strong social and emotional foundation for young children. This session will help participants appreciate how the way in which a child is greeted can help build confidence; how a small group art activity can promote play skills; how the classroom environment can support childrens ability to share and show patience. Learn how to put on your social and emotional lens.
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Reflecting with Parents Using the KIPS Assessment and PAT Curriculum
Marilee Comfort, The KIPS People-ComfortConsults
Angela Rau, Actt Consulting
Parent Educators often wonder how to apply assessment information in their work with families. Participants will learn how parenting assessment results can be linked to the Parents as Teachers Foundational Curriculum to support staff in reflecting, facilitating, and partnering with families to enhance interactions with their children. Gain understanding and practical experience in reflective planning to help families build nurturing parenting skills that positively impact their childrens development.
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Seeing the Whole Child: Integrating Physical and Behavioral Health
Christina Christopoulos, Center for Child and Family Policy, Duke University
Katie Rosanbalm, Center for Child and Family Policy, Duke University
Martha Kaufman, Alamance County Project LAUNCH
Ann Meletzke, Alamance County Project LAUNCH
This workshop describes the integration of an early childhood mental health (ECMH) specialist and family partner team into two Alamance County pediatric medical practices to create comprehensive medical homes. Physicians and ECMH teams are trained and follow protocols for developmental screening, evidence-based prevention and treatment for social-emotional/behavioral concerns. The model, implementation, and lessons learned will be presented, with findings to date.
Support of Preschoolers Social-Emotional Behaviors and Skills
Heidi Hollingsworth, Elon University
Marna Winter, Elon University
This interactive session will review the importance of social-emotional competence, adult roles in promoting young childrens development of this competence and key social-emotional behaviors and skills for preschoolers. Participants will engage in conversations to make connections between research and recommended practice. This will be relevant to early childhood leaders who plan and provide professional development.
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The Impact of the Health Reform on Young Children and Their Families
Adam Zolotor, North Carolina Institute of Medicine
This workshop will provide an overview of national health reform with a focus on the impact on young children and their families. The Affordable Care and Patient Protection Act expands coverage to the uninsured, focuses on prevention, emphasizes quality measurement and reporting and tests new models of delivering and paying for health care to reduce unnecessary expenditures.
The Next Generation of NAP SACC: Combating Early Childhood Obesity
Ellie Morris, UNC Chapel Hill Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Christina McWilliams, UNC Chapel Hill Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Come learn about Go NAP SACC, the next generation of the Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care. Workshop participants will tour the new interactive Go NAP SACC website and learn more about the recently revised and expanded Go NAP SACC best practices and self-assessment.
Using Inexpensive Loose Parts to Promote Physical Activity and Play
Meredith Dolan, Be Active Kids
Richard Rairigh, Be Active Kids
Most child care providers recognize the importance of physical activity in early childhood health, but report that they lack knowledge and strategies necessary to engage children in developmentally appropriate physical activity and play. Join us to learn how to train child care providers on using inexpensive loose parts and develop creative play experiences with the purpose of developing fundamental motor skills, movement concepts and health-related fitness.
Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors Curriculum
Sandra Gutierrez, Families In Schools
Yolanda Garcia
Lasting solutions to sustain the positive effects of quality preschool experiences may lie within family and home practices. Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors builds on cultural traditions to strengthen the parent child relationship and build skills and tools for school success. The workshop will be a practical introduction to the strategies and practices embedded in the curriculum.
Approaches and Strategies for Creating Authentic Parent Leadership and Voice
Holly Wingard, Early Childhood Investment Corporation
Bryn Fortune, Early Childhood Investment Corporation
Ramana Roberson, Great Start Collaborative of Wayne County
Historically, parents have been viewed as passive recipients of programs and services. However, in communities where these parents are viewed as a knowledgeable and essential resource, there is a higher level of success. Learn how Michigans Early Childhood Investment Corporation has developed, implemented and evaluated a multi-pronged approach to effectively advance authentic parent leadership and voice at the local and state level.
Brief Parenting Interventions: More is Not Always Better
Cheri Shapiro, University of South Carolina
Many professionals struggle with constraints of time that can interfere with delivery of support to parents. This presentation will focus on brief, evidence-based parenting interventions that are part of the Triple P-Positive Parenting Program System of Interventions. Program delivery methods and strategies will be discussed to illustrate the potential power of brief interventions.
Bringing it Home Using Implementation Science in Your Local Community
Elizabeth Levene, Communities In Schools of Durham
Patricia Harris, Durhams Partnership for Children
Emmy Marshall, Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina
Join us for an overview of how Durham has used implementation science to build capacity for the Incredible Years program. Participants will learn how implementation science can offer a constructive process for systematically thinking about our work, the opportunity to apply tools and guidelines found in implementation science, and where your agency is along the continuum.
Building Strong Families and Caring Communities
Donna Lackie, Great Start - Oakland
Lisa Sturges, Great Start - Oakland
Participants interested in building strong families and caring communities will learn about the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) study and five protective factors utilizing the Strengthening Families framework. Early family support influences the childs optimal development. This interactive session will focus on family and community strategies including parent cafe approaches, parent leadership model, integration with quality rating system and community partnerships.
Circle of Parents: Where Families Grow, Change and Make Change
Katrina Gay, Prevent Child Abuse NC
Karen Schrader, Prevent Child Abuse NC
Cornelia Singletary, Down East Partnership for Children
Circle of Parents is a evidence-informed program that strengthens parents capacity to support their children through building parenting and leadership skills. Learn about this national programs impact on families, the research behind it, and how it enhances your communitys continuum of services by providing a place for families to continue to connect and learn after completing other evidence-based programs.
Efficacy Study of Healthy Families Durham Home Visiting Program
Jan Williams, Healthy Families Durham
Karen ODonnell, Center for Child and Family Health
For the past seven years, Healthy Families Durham has been engaged in a systematic study of the effects of the Healthy Families Durham home visiting program. Participants in this workshop will learn about the significant results from this study and explore the differences between 18 months and 36 months of treatment.
Engaging Families through Gardening to Improve Health and Relationships
Kelly Owensby, Orange County Partnership for Young Children
Nicole Accordino, Orange County Partnership for Young Children
The Transplanting Traditions Community Farm provides outdoor education workshops to the refugee community and encourages family engagement. Farming was the cornerstone of family life in Burma and is an important tradition to continue. Culturally appropriate family activities for immigrant families can help to strengthen relationships. The farm improves family health by increasing vegetable consumption and physical activity.
Engaging Spanish-Speaking Families in Family Support Programming
Gemimah Rodriguez, SAFECHILD
Stephen Bavolek, Family Development Resources, Inc. and Family Development resources.
Bettie Murchison
Through use of various teaching tools and methods, the workshop leader, a certified Nurturing Program facilitator, will describe the specific needs of Hispanic families, including how to help them maximize their strengths and positively manage their challenges. Information about the Nurturing Programs philosophy, values and outcomes implementing an evidenced-based program will be covered.
Father Engagement: Improving Outcomes for Children and Men
Ron Clark, Ron J. Clark Consultants
Research indicates that healthy and consistent father involvement improves outcomes for children in almost all areas of child well-being. This interactive workshop will present research from federal projects and honest feedback from fathers of young children. Participants will learn effective strategies for engaging men in program services and strategies to increase responsible behavior and consistent involvement of fathers in the lives of their children.
Fathers and Childhood Development: Research, Best Practices, and Recommendations
Jeff Quinn, Center for Child and Family Policy at Duke University
Karen Schrader, Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina
Denauvo Robinson, Albemarle Smart Start Partnership
This presentation addresses issues that occur in treatment settings when working with fathers or other males in the role of caregiver. Participants will learn the impact fathers have on their childs social and emotional development and brain architecture as well as current fatherhood research, fatherhood interventions, best practices and recommendations for service providers that work with families and children.
I Miss Mommy/Daddy: Supporting Children During Parental Incarceration
Nicole Austin, Old Dominion University
Children with incarcerated parents experience increased risk for developing behavior problems, academic failure, and substance abuse. Armed with this information, it is important for early educators to address the need for early support strategies for these children. Participants will learn about interventions that can be implemented to improve academic, social, and emotional success for young learners.
Implementing Child Parent Psychotherapy in a Substance Abuse Treatment Program
Evette Horton, UNC Horizons
Kim Andringa, UNC Horizons
Brendon Comer, Orange County Partnership for Young Children
Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) is an evidenced-based intervention for children exposed to early trauma and/or disrupted attachments. The workshop will describe the goals of CPP, supporting evidence and the traumas it addresses. The presenters will describe implementing CPP in a substance abuse treatment program for mothers and their minor children, including challenges encountered and preliminary outcomes.
Motivational Interviewing to Engage Parents as Partners
Rachel Galanter, Durham Exchange Clubs Family Center
There are things we know we should do, but we dont. How can we help parents choose to adopt skills to help support their childrens developmental needs? Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a proven model to engage people in committing to new ways of doing things. This introduction to MI will help participants understand how it could be an effective tool.
Parents as Teachers: An Evidence-Based Model for Strengthening Families
Donna OBrien, Parents as Teachers National Center
Parents as Teachers (PAT) is an evidence-based, home visiting model providing a broad context of parenting education and family support. PAT is relationship-based with a focus on parent-child interaction, development-centered parenting, family well-being, and building protective factors within the family. Learn how to implement the PAT model to support families in your community.
Raising A Reader: Engaging Families through the Shared Book Experience
Tymisha Sweet, Raising A Reader National Office
Shared reading is an effective practice for promoting cognitive and language/literacy outcomes of young children, as well as family engagement. This session will define shared reading and its component practices, review outcomes research on shared reading interventions and discuss Raising A Reader, an evidence-based family engagement and shared reading intervention program.
Strategies for Meaningful Integration of Home Visiting andQuality Early Learning
Jamie Colvard, Zero To Three
Wendy Grove, State of Ohio
Marcy Miller, Thrive by Five
Teresa Kelly, Office of the Governor/Office of Early Childhood Development
This panel will address the role of home visiting as part of an early learning continuum. Hear from states about how they are integrating home visiting and quality early learning opportunities. How does home visiting fit with other early childhood services, especially state preschool and quality child care? Zero to Three will moderate this session that will include the home visiting leads from Illinois, Ohio, and Washington State for a generative discussion.
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Strengthening Families: Powerful Linkages with Early Childhood Systems
Judy Langford, Center for the Study of Social Policy
Judy Langford, developer of Strengthening Families through Early Care and Education, will present research behind this positive approach to families and how it promotes child development and reduce the likelihood of child maltreatment. Quality Rating and Improvement Systems, home visiting programs, federal and state agencies and thousands of families have adopted the Strengthening Families approach.
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Supporting Parents of Newborns in Home Visiting
Nancy Spencer, Confident Parenting
This workshop will present in lecture and video format, the needs of parents with newborns and how to respond to those needs using Jan Tedders award-winning HUG Your Baby program. Participants can expect to leave with strategies and resources for supporting parents and their newborns in a home visit setting.
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Taking the Stress out of School Readiness
Leslie Hales, Smart Start of Buncombe County
Marna Holland, Smart Start of Buncombe County
This workshop will look at supporting families in preparing their children for school. We will look at family perceptions of school readiness, barriers that families may be experiencing, and myths surrounding school readiness. We will discuss simple activities using every day materials around the house that will help families prepare their children for kindergarten, stress free.
The Principles of Giving Effective Feedback
Phil Gordon, Comfort Consults, LLC
This interactive workshop explores how to provide important information to others in a way that maximizes the chances it will be heard, reflected upon and used. Following six practical tips, supervisors and family services staff can learn to give feedback that is more likely to be received and put into practice.
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Understanding the Role of Coaching in the Incredible Years Network
Stephanie Pavlis, Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina
Kimberly Ingram, Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina
Monica Hicks, Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina
This workshop will focus on coaching support provided to North Carolina Incredible Years Network member agencies. Participants will be exposed to implementation science and will hear about the benefits available to facilitators who are striving for best-practice implementation with model fidelity. Information about the coaching philosophy will be provided to differentiate coaching from monitoring.
What it Takes to Engage and Support Todays Families and Tools that Can Help
Rachel Schumacher, R. Schumacher Consulting
Nisha Patel, Ascend - The Aspen Institute
Judy Langford, Center for the Study of Social Policy
Traditional models of parent involvement rarely address the array of issues todays families face, especially those challenged by poverty and social isolation. For example, efforts to support social and emotional development of children are undermined when parents are not able to help because of high levels of stress or experiences of deprivation in their own childhoods. Communicating the importance of education may not come easily for parents whose own school careers left them frustrated or without a degree or marketable skills. To effectively build the capacities and resilience of young children and sustain impacts long-term, the early childhood field needs fresh ideas and new partners. This session will share the latest research on the importance of families to child development. Attendees of this session will hear from three organizations that have developed frameworks, tools, and profiles of promising efforts.
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Working Together to Achieve Kindergarten Readiness
Amy Neal, United Way of Greater Cincinnati Success By 6
Positive early learning experiences can make a significant difference for children from the moment they are born. The earlier in a childs educational process that parent involvement begins, the more powerful the effect. Our school-based workshop series allows a meaningful conversation to start with parents early, about essential building blocks of education to support future academic successes. Learn about a communitys effort to work together to give children the best start possible for school and in life.
Public Engagement and Advocacy
Advancing an Early Childhood Agenda in a Conservative Environment
Rhian Evans Allvin, First Things First Arizona
In 2006 the voters of Arizona passed First Things First (FTF)?creating a new revenue stream and governance structure to support the development of a comprehensive early childhood system. In 2010, when FTF was referred back to the ballot to be eliminated 69% of voters in Arizona voted to keep it intact. Given the demographics of Arizona that means that Republicans, Democrats, Independents and Libertarians came together to support young children birth to five. In this session we will discuss and share the message research, strategies and tactics that we have used to build support for early care and education across the political spectrum. We also will share our results and discuss our plans for the next few years. Ensuring that young children get a fair start in life cannot be a partisan issue?it is a core American value that cuts across political ideologies. The responsibility for early childhood advocates is to implement tactics that can become a shared, common agenda.
Advocacy, Communication and Media Relations Strategies for Early Childhood
Scarlett Bouder, Advocacy and Communication Solutions, LLC
Lori McClung, Advocacy and Communication Solutions, LLC
Advocacy and communication efforts are difficult to understand in the abstract. This session will provide tips and tools on: making a difference in one hour a week, effective tips for site visits, why and how advocacy and how to give the right message through the right medium to the right audience at the right time.
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Be the Messenger: Investing in Early Care and Education
Kathleen Gallagher, FPG Child Development Institute, UNC Chapel Hill
Jessica Page, FPG Child Development Institute, UNC Chapel Hill
Economists highlight the importance of high quality early childhood programs for communities. Drawing on early childhood research and its economic benefits to society, this session will focus on refining and strengthening our message for lawmakers and the public. We will use research findings, economic arguments and data to create and practice messages for legislators and public audiences.
Boots on the Ground: Art and Science of Community Engagement
Angela Rabago-Mussi, First Things First
Memarie Tsosie, First Things First
Making early childhood a priority in your state requires strong grassroots efforts. First Things First community outreach staff will share tactics and results from Arizonas efforts to build public awareness of early childhood and support for investments in young kids. Our "going to the people" approach engages key influencers in motivating others to be informed, engaged and ready to act.
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Congregations and Early Childhoood
Winnie Morgan, Durhams Partnership for Children
The audience will learn the basics of setting up a faith initiative. Durham Countys success will be shared as a case study. Proven tips and techniques will be shared on how to engage congregations to address early childhood needs in your community.
Effective Advocacy for Making the Case for Early Care and Education
Michele Rivest, N.C. Child Care Coalition
Lorie Barnes, NC Association for the Education of Young Children
Rob Thompson, Covenant with North Carolinas Children
Using North Carolina as a case study, well discuss what messages and communications strategies are successful in reaching Governors, state legislators, and other early education policymakers and leaders. Participants will be invited to share their experiences in advocating for early care and education in their own states; discuss effective ways to reach policymakers and how to have their voices heard through traditional and emerging action strategies, including social media.
Finding and Using Data to Advocate Effectively for Children and Families
Stephanie Schmit, CLASP
Christine Johnson-Staub, CLASP
This presentation will introduce participants to a range of state and federal data on young children and their families, including data on employment, nutrition and income. Participants will learn how to use data to make the case for state and federal investments in young children.
First 2,000 Days: A Public Engagement Stategy
Tracy Zimmerman, The North Carolina Partnership for Children, Inc.
The First 2,000 Days initiative is based on a simplified messaging strategy. The concept emphasizes the valuable role early learning plays for society at-large, answering the "whats in it for me? question for those who may not be the parent of a young child. It has been used by a diverse group of people including Republican state leaders, Chambers of Commerce, law enforcement others. Learn about how this initiative is engaging nontraditional allies to speak to the importance for early childhood investments.
High Performing Boards Have Never Mattered More
Bill Millett, Scope View Strategic Advantage
Janet Rusell, Volvo Group North America
More than ever, an organizations credibility and long-term viability depend on an engaged and innovative Board of Directors; one that recognizes that changing realities require new ways of thinking and new ways of doing business. This session details how strong Boards fulfill their scrutiny, advocacy and strategic responsibilities and provides specific ways of applying those techniques locally.
How A Small Community is Building Support for Early Care and Education
Nancy Almond, Estes Valley Investment in Childhood Success
Learn about one small communitys approach to addressing early care and education challenges. In 2006, the Town of Estes Park, Colorado formed a non-profit agency. This workshop will address how the agency was started, structure, funding, and services. Emphasis will be given to its unique Child Care Scholarship Program, as well as other services, including provider/teacher training and parent education.
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Lessons Learned: Strategies for Building a Successful Local Collaboration
Carolyn Newberry Schwartz, Collaboration for Early Childhood
Ann Courter
The Village of Oak Park, IL formed a private/public partnership, the Collaboration for Early Childhood, to leverage the resources of 40 local agencies to ensure that children birth to five have access to high-quality programs. Participants will learn strategies for identifying partners, fostering and sustaining effective collaborative relationships, and integrating local programs and with state and federal programs. Presenters will discuss guiding principles that led to the successful collaboration.
Messaging and Mobilizing Strategies to Engage the Business Community
Monica Dood, Dood and Metcalf Consulting
Suzanne Metcalf, Dood and Metcalf Consulting
Sean Walsh, Navigator Communications
Becky Fleischauer, Navigator Communications
Joe Stewart, JRS Strategy Group
Effective advocates must engage the business community to bring attention to and understanding of the key issues in early education. This will be a hands-on participant driven session that will focus on messaging (what works best) and mobilizing (strategies to educate and persuade). Participants will practice messages, create elevator speeches and walk away with strategies to engage the business community.
Mobilizing, Not Just Involving, the Business Community
Bill Millett, Scope View Strategic Advantage
Bill Bryant, Bryant Investment Management group
Josh MacFarland, ReadyNation
Early educators often put themselves out in front as advocates. Often, that is not the best strategy. They are viewed as too vested and therefore may not have credibility with decision-makers. This session will explain strategies that have developed local business leaders to be highly effective in successfully advocating for quality early education to legislators and others.
Prepare Your Organization to Build an Early Childhood Public Awareness Effort
Scarlett Bouder, Advocacy and Communication Solutions, LLC
Lori McClung, Advocacy and Communication Solutions, LLC
The plan before the plan. Want to build public awareness in your community around early childhood? School readiness? Or another aspect of early childhood? This session will outline the steps needed to prepare your organization , so your awareness effort is a success. You will walk away with a set of ten steps to prepare, plan, and implement.
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Providers in Action: A Grassroots Campaign to Engage Providers in Policy
Choua Vue, Illinois Action for Children
Nataly Barrera, Illinois Action for Children
In an effort to build provider voices for policy change, Illinois Action for Children embarked on a new community engagement strategy that brought together a diverse coalition of child care providers. This workshop will offer successes and challenges to organizing providers by telling the story of Providers in Action and their effort to improve child care licensing in Illinois.
ReadyNation and CED Discuss Engaging the Business Community
Although early childhood leaders are often told that they need to partner with their local business community, they almost never hear directly from business leaders as to the most effective ways to engage them. Many advocates struggle with how to build relationships with business people and then what to ask them to do. Business leaders associated with ReadyNation and the Committee for Economic Development will offer a first-hand perspective in what messages work best with them and ways to actively involve the business community.
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Start Smart, Grow Strong: Social Media Strategies to Inform, Engage and Change
Sean Walsh, Navigator Communications
Becky Fleischauer, Navigator Communications
Monica Dood, Dood and Metcalf Consulting
Suzanne Metcalf, Dood and Metcalf Consulting
From creating a Facebook page and Twitter handle to effectively engaging target audiences and driving the policy debate, this session will help social media managers of all levels strengthen their organizations online influence through a continuum of building equity, leveraging influence and leading conversations that advance effective early childhood education policy.
Successful Advocacy In an Era of Markets of One
Bill Millett, Scope View Strategic Advantage
Sheri Butters, Jackson County Great Start Collaborative
As mass markets have fragmented, successful organizations have responded by applying mass customization to tailor their products and messages to a wide array of consumer sub-sets. However, not many early education agencies have undertaken this shift. This interactive workshop will demonstrate how to develop messages and messengers specifically targeted to persons of legislative and other influence.
Supporting Military Families: Everyone Serves!
Harriett Edwards, NC State University/NC Cooperative Extension/NC 4-H Youth Development
Scott Enroughty, NC State University/NC Cooperative Extension/NC 4-H Youth Development
Learn about the unique challenges faced by military families and the myriad resources available to support them. The session will feature information about cycles of deployment, military culture, and engaging community partners for support. Participants will engage in activities that can be replicated with other groups to extend outreach and training into their communities.
The Federal Landscape and Your Programs: Get the News and Get Involved!
Mary Beth Salomone Testa, Early Care and Education Consortium
Adele Robinson, National Association for the Education of Young Children
Join us to hear the latest news about the work in Congress and the Administration that matters to you! Current and potential changes to funding and policy will impact states, program providers and families. Learn more about whats happening and get ready to take action. The session will include action steps for advocates. Every voice counts!
Special Thanks to Our Generous Sponsors
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