Overview

Experiences with nature are transformative for young children, particularly those with developmental challenges. Join Woodland Park Zoo in exploring “nature play” and our successes and obstacles in unlocking nature's benefits for young children of ALL abilities. We'll share research, tools, activities, and resources through the lens of infant mental health.

Faculty & P-5 Competency Domains

Faculty: Sheri Hill, PhD, Early Childhood Policy

P-5 Competency Domains:

• P-5 (1) Early Childhood Development
• P-5 (4) Health and Developmental Protective and Risk Factors

Presenters have affirmed that they do not have proprietary interest in products, instruments, devices, services or materials discussed in this event, and have confirmed that they have not been compensated in relation to this presentation.

Overview

Join us for a rich conversation with a diverse panel of tribal, local, and national leaders in the global movement to build strong relationships between young children and nature. This Issue Intensive will address the science that demonstrates the power of nature to grow empathy, creativity, wonder, and well-being; we will also address barriers to making nature play an integrated part of daily life including those related to race and historical trauma. We will discuss how caregivers can get the most out of children’s experiences in a range of settings from urban to rural, from informal (zoos/nature centers/parks) to formal early learning centers, from sidewalks to balconies. Come prepared to play.

(Note: Issue Intensive sessions are designed to be delivered in two parts.)

Faculty & P-5 Competency Domains

Faculty: Jane West, LPC, Heart of the West Counseling; Khavin Debbs, Tiny Trees; Liz Houston, National Wildlife Federation; Robert Zarr, MD, Parks Rx America; Sally Brownfield, Squaxin Tribe Chair, Indian Policies in Early Learning, WA Dept of Children Youth and Families; Sheri Hill, PhD, Early Childhood Policy

P-5 Competency Domains: 

• P-5 (4) Health and Developmental Protective and Risk Factors
• P-5 (5) Cultural and Linguistic Responsiveness

Presenters have affirmed that they do not have proprietary interest in products, instruments, devices, services or materials discussed in this event, and have confirmed that they have not been compensated in relation to this presentation.

Baby Talk 1: Let the Good Times Roll to Promote Resilience

Overview

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) increase one’s risk of negative health outcomes in adulthood and compromise parenting the next generation. Positive experiences during childhood increase resilience in adulthood, despite ACEs. An innovative parent–child parenting group that uses evidence-based strategies and focuses on fun activities will be discussed, using storytelling and examples.

Faculty & P-5 Competency Domains

Faculty: Vonda Jump Norman, PhD, Utah State University

P-5 Competency Domains: 

• P-5 (1) Early Childhood Development
• P-5 (4) Health and Developmental Protective and Risk Factors

Baby Talk 2: The Magic of Elmo: Using Sesame Street Workshop’s Tools to Engage Vulnerable Families

Overview

Stress and trauma aren’t easy to talk about. Elmo and his friends can help! Learn how Sesame Street Workshop’s innovative tools can support your work to engage parents and young children and reduce/buffer them from the impact of tough experiences like parental deployment, incarceration, or foster care.

Faculty & P-5 Competency Domains

Faculty: Kama Einhorn, MA, Sesame Workshop

P-5 Competency Domains: 

• P-5 (3) Relationship-Based Practice
• P-5 (4) Health and Developmental Protective and Risk Factors

Presenters have affirmed that they do not have proprietary interest in products, instruments, devices, services or materials discussed in this event, and have confirmed that they have not been compensated in relation to this presentation.

Baby Talk 1: Let the Good Times Roll to Promote Resilience

Overview

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) increase one’s risk of negative health outcomes in adulthood and compromise parenting the next generation. Positive experiences during childhood increase resilience in adulthood, despite ACEs. An innovative parent–child parenting group that uses evidence-based strategies and focuses on fun activities will be discussed, using storytelling and examples.

Faculty & P-5 Competency Domains

Faculty: Vonda Jump Norman, PhD, Utah State University

P-5 Competency Domains: 

• P-5 (1) Early Childhood Development
• P-5 (4) Health and Developmental Protective and Risk Factors

Baby Talk 2: The Magic of Elmo: Using Sesame Street Workshop’s Tools to Engage Vulnerable Families

Overview

Stress and trauma aren’t easy to talk about. Elmo and his friends can help! Learn how Sesame Street Workshop’s innovative tools can support your work to engage parents and young children and reduce/buffer them from the impact of tough experiences like parental deployment, incarceration, or foster care.

Faculty & P-5 Competency Domains

Faculty: Kama Einhorn, MA, Sesame Workshop

P-5 Competency Domains: 

• P-5 (3) Relationship-Based Practice
• P-5 (4) Health and Developmental Protective and Risk Factors

Presenters have affirmed that they do not have proprietary interest in products, instruments, devices, services or materials discussed in this event, and have confirmed that they have not been compensated in relation to this presentation.

Baby Talk 7 — Guiding Behavior—The Challenge Is Ours!

Overview

Every behavior is driven by a goal. Too often “behavior management” is narrowly defined. The challenge is ours in a relationship-based approach to consider “the whole”: the whole child, our whole self, and the whole relationship. Being curious about what is happening when a child exhibits behaviors, and about what is going on inside of us, can help us understand behavior, prevent some potential behavior conflicts in the future, and resolve others in a way that strengthens adult–child relationships. Challenge accepted!

Faculty & P-5 Competency Domains

Faculty: Katrina Macasaet, ZERO TO THREE

P-5 Competency Domains: 

• P-5 (1) Early Childhood Development
• P-5 (3) Relationship-Based Practice

Baby Talk 8—Are You Kidd-Ing? Mental Heatlh Consultation in  Rural and Frontier Settings

Overview

Infant and early childhood mental health consultation has developed into a major component of early childhood systems. This has included the development of national competencies, research and evaluation, and policy development. In rural, frontier, tribal, and territorial communities these all may prove more challenging. This talk will challenge our national standards.

Faculty & P-5 Competency Domains

Faculty: Neal Horen, PhD, Georgetown University

P-5 Competency Domains: 

• P-5 (6) Leadership to Meet Family Needs and Improve Services and Systems
• P-5 (5) Cultural and Linguistic Responsiveness

Presenters have affirmed that they do not have proprietary interest in products, instruments, devices, services or materials discussed in this event, and have confirmed that they have not been compensated in relation to this presentation.

Baby Talk 7 — Guiding Behavior—The Challenge Is Ours!

Overview

Every behavior is driven by a goal. Too often “behavior management” is narrowly defined. The challenge is ours in a relationship-based approach to consider “the whole”: the whole child, our whole self, and the whole relationship. Being curious about what is happening when a child exhibits behaviors, and about what is going on inside of us, can help us understand behavior, prevent some potential behavior conflicts in the future, and resolve others in a way that strengthens adult–child relationships. Challenge accepted!

Faculty & P-5 Competency Domains

Faculty: Katrina Macasaet, ZERO TO THREE

P-5 Competency Domains: 

• P-5 (1) Early Childhood Development
• P-5 (3) Relationship-Based Practice

Baby Talk 8—Are You Kidd-Ing? Mental Heatlh Consultation in  Rural and Frontier Settings

Overview

Infant and early childhood mental health consultation has developed into a major component of early childhood systems. This has included the development of national competencies, research and evaluation, and policy development. In rural, frontier, tribal, and territorial communities these all may prove more challenging. This talk will challenge our national standards.

Faculty & P-5 Competency Domains

Faculty: Neal Horen, PhD, Georgetown University

P-5 Competency Domains: 

• P-5 (6) Leadership to Meet Family Needs and Improve Services and Systems
• P-5 (5) Cultural and Linguistic Responsiveness

Presenters have affirmed that they do not have proprietary interest in products, instruments, devices, services or materials discussed in this event, and have confirmed that they have not been compensated in relation to this presentation.

Overview

Long before birth, significant brain development and early learning has occurred. Women’s stress and mental health problems during pregnancy affect women as well as their future children. Adversities such as poverty and racism affect babies before they are born. Even earlier intervention, during pregnancy, can support healthy families and healthy children.

Faculty & P-5 Competency Domains

Faculty: Catherine Monk, PhD, Professor of Medical Psychology, and Director, Women’s Mental Health @Ob/Gyn, Columbia University Medical Center

P-5 Competency Domains:

• P-5 (1) Early Childhood Development
• P-5 (4) Health and Developmental Protective and Risk Factors

Presenters have affirmed that they do not have proprietary interest in products, instruments, devices, services or materials discussed in this event, but have been compensated by ZERO TO THREE for this presentation.

Overview

Policymakers have a big impact on babies and families, but decisions being made on Capitol Hill and in state capitols often seem far away. However, early childhood professionals and parents bring key expertise and passion to policy advocacy and have a powerful role to play. This session will feature a panel of advocates—parents and professionals—sharing their journeys to advocacy and the impact of their work. Come learn how you can leverage your knowledge to make a difference for our nation’s babies.

Faculty & P-5 Competency Domains

Faculty: Myra Jones-Taylor, PhD, Chief Policy Officer, ZERO TO THREE, Brenda Jones Harden, PhD, University of Maryland, School of Social Work; Brooke Cisneros, Strolling Thunder mom and early childhood educator, New Mexico; Destiney Prieto, Strolling Thunder mom, Arizona

P-5 Competency Domains:

• P-5 (7) Professional and Ethical Practices
• P-5 (6) Leadership to Meet Family Needs and Improve Services and Systems

Presenters have affirmed that they do not have proprietary interest in products, instruments, devices, services or materials discussed in this event, but have been compensated by ZERO TO THREE for this presentation.

This session will focus on essential elements of building and sustaining a community-based birth-5 program by collaborating with community stakeholders, partnering with families, using infant mental health principles, and advancing racial equity, diversity, and inclusion. Participants will also consider how these principles can be used in their respective communities.

Kimberly Diamond-Berry, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry

Nkechy Ezeh, Senior Technical Assistance Specialist

Responding to diversity is enhanced by recognizing the unique learning patterns present. This session explores the neurological foundations of knowledge processing, memory put-down, communication modes, and motivation/value systems. Emphasis is on making slight interaction adjustments that will increase understanding, responsiveness, and engagement of families, especially those needing extensive support.

Maria Sargent, Assistant Professor and Co-Director, Arkansas Building Effective Services for Trauma (ARBEST)

Children with autism are as diverse as anyone else and possess emotional lives and inner selves. They are impacted by the stressors that have been a part of the COVID experience as have other children and are also susceptible to toxic stress and traumatic events. This session will explore how children with autism experience and express stress through symptoms, play, and development. The interface of the Developmental, Individual-Difference, Relationship-Based (DIR) model and infant and early childhood mental health, as well as trauma-informed interventions, will be examined addressing similarities and differences in concept and practice. Specific attention will be given to the individual differences, family culture, developmental progress, and trauma responses. Consideration will be paid, throughout, to the contributions of development and relationships, including case vignettes. The outcome of a pilot study using an integrated DIR/Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) approach for preschool children with autism/other developmental problems and a trauma history will be presented.

Serena Wieder,

Gilbert Foley,

Barbara Stroud, Psychologist

Children with autism are as diverse as anyone else and possess emotional lives and inner selves. They are impacted by the stressors that have been a part of the COVID experience as have other children and are also susceptible to toxic stress and traumatic events. This session will explore how children with autism experience and express stress through symptoms, play, and development. The interface of DIR and infant and early childhood mental health, as well as trauma-informed interventions, will be examined, addressing similarities and differences in concept and practice. Specific attention will be given to the individual differences, family culture, developmental progress, and trauma responses. Consideration will be paid, throughout, to the contributions of development and relationships, including case vignettes. The outcome of a pilot study using an integrated DIR/CPP approach for preschool children with autism/other developmental problems and a trauma history will be presented.

Serena Wieder,

Gilbert Foley,

Barbara Stroud, Psychologist

For toddlers, “doing math” means engaging in play. Discover ways to bring this playful learning to your toddler/preschool program. Explore early numeracy activities that spark curiosity, joy, and mastery across six math domains, and discover how equity principles are a key part of early math instruction.

Rebecca Parlakian, Senior Director of Programs

Jie-Qi Chen, Professor

Join a journey to explore the intersections between infants and toddlers, their communities of caregivers, and climate change. The session will bring both global and local perspectives on environmental impacts on young children and families. Discover tools for engaging with the early childhood community in nature and strategies for addressing climate change. Let’s come together to cultivate a healthier future for all.

Sheri Hill, Early Childhood Policy & System Consultant

Charmaine Godley, Health and Nature Fellow

Adrián Cerezo, Visiting Scholar and Fellow

Jessica Alatorre,

Jane West, EC Mental Health Clinician

Explore a video produced to facilitate discussion around implicit bias’s lasting impact on a young child’s development. Increase your awareness of your own biases while also developing strategies to continue this important conversation to advance equity at your workplace and beyond.

Desiree Yoro Yoo, Senior Clinical Supervisor, Project ABC, Innovations, Health Homes Program

Adriana Molina,

This Issue Intensive addresses the development of gender identity, including how early the process begins (ages 2–3) and how parents and professionals can distinguish gender exploration with the emergence of a transgender identity. Suitable for early child educators and anyone interested in building a more inclusive world.

Brenda Blasingame, Social Sector Consultant, Principal

Rebecca Parlakian, Senior Director of Programs

Christy Olezeski, Associate Professor

Debi Jackson, Owner

"Gender Splendor" explores the importance of examining the ways in which gender as a social construct shapes our work with children, from prenatal period onwards, and their families, celebrates the splendor of gender diversity, and engages participants about the implications on infant and early childhood work and field.

Nucha Isarowong, Director, Advanced Clinical Training Program

Carmen Rosa Noroña, Child Trauma Clinical Services and Training Lead Boston Site ETTN Associate Director

Maria St. John,