D2: Strengthening Home Visiting and Early Childhood Program Implementation Through Cultural Grounding and Responsiveness

Overview

Early childhood services need to skillfully meet the goals of evidence-based models while adapting to honor the diverse cultures of families. This session introduces a culturally grounded framework that allows for multiple model implementation pathways and enables staff’s cultural responsiveness through understanding the families’ culture and then responding through adaptability/flexibility.

Faculty & P-5 Competency Domains

Faculty: Petra Smith, MS, ZERO TO THREE; Tara Chico-Jarillo, MPH, ZERO TO THREE

P-5 Competency Domains: 

• P-5 (5) Cultural and Linguistic Responsiveness
• P-5 (2) Family-Centered Practice

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

Participants will learn about the Home Visiting Collaborative Improvement and Innovation Network 2.0 to support Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) awardees to address intimate partner violence (IPV). This session highlights opportunities for home visitors to support survivors and leverages strategies to transform systems supporting families experiencing IPV.

Faculty & P-5 Competency Domains

Faculty: Rachel Glisson; Zandra Levesque, MPH, Education Development Center

P-5 Competency Domains:

• P-5 (4) Health and Developmental Protective and Risk Factors
• P-5 (8) Service Planning, Coordination, and Collaboration

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

Tele-visits can provide in-home services to families from any location. Our tele-visit project provides positive observational feedback to parents, identifying what works best for them, and guides parent planning for ways to increase support for children’s early development. Preliminary data show parent–child interaction scores increasing over the course of tele-visits.

Faculty & P-5 Competency Domains

Faculty: Lori Roggman, PhD, Utah State University; Tasha Olson, Utah State University; Maria Carolina Rinaldi, MS; Gina Cook, PhD, California State University, Stanislaus; Mark Innocenti, PhD, 

P-5 Competency Domains:

• P-5 (3) Relationship-Based Practice
• P-5 (2) Family-Centered Practice

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 3: Zen Baby: How to Incorporate Mindfulness Techniques Into Family-Based Practices With Infants and Toddlers

Overview

The field of psychology has focused on how to increase a parent’s ability to engage in mindfulness practices to increase their emotion regulation abilities in order to increase healthy parent–child relationships. This session will provide insight into how practitioners can teach mindfulness techniques to families with infants and young children.

Faculty & P-5 Competency Domains

Faulty: Samantha Smith, PsyD, The Children's Center Utah

P-5 Competency Domains: 

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

Baby Talk 4: Compassion and Connection in Relational, Trauma-Informed Leadership

Overview

Relational and Transformative Leadership is not just for formal leaders. Leverage relationships and interdependence within teams to create psychological safety and the foundation for compassion, reflection, and trauma-informed practice.

Faculty & P-5 Competency Domains

Faulty: Michelle Vo, MD, University of Utah

P-5 Competency Domains: 

• P-5 (3) Relationship-Based Practice
• 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, and have confirmed that they have not been compensated in relation to this presentation.

Baby Talk 3: Zen Baby: How to Incorporate Mindfulness Techniques Into Family-Based Practices With Infants and Toddlers

Overview

The field of psychology has focused on how to increase a parent’s ability to engage in mindfulness practices to increase their emotion regulation abilities in order to increase healthy parent–child relationships. This session will provide insight into how practitioners can teach mindfulness techniques to families with infants and young children.

Faculty & P-5 Competency Domains

Faulty: Samantha Smith, PsyD, The Children's Center Utah

P-5 Competency Domains: 

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

Baby Talk 4: Compassion and Connection in Relational, Trauma-Informed Leadership

Overview

Relational and Transformative Leadership is not just for formal leaders. Leverage relationships and interdependence within teams to create psychological safety and the foundation for compassion, reflection, and trauma-informed practice.

Faculty & P-5 Competency Domains

Faulty: Michelle Vo, MD, University of Utah

P-5 Competency Domains: 

• P-5 (3) Relationship-Based Practice
• 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, and have confirmed that they have not been compensated in relation to this presentation.

Outcomes for young children of parents with intellectual disabilities are often correlated with a lack of supports and resources, rather than parental IQ. Parents may face stigma, stereotypes, and poverty, and may not understand mainstream parenting information. We serve families better using competence-based strategies, rather than acting on deficit-based assumptions.

Lindsay Brillhart, Research Associate

S.Auguste Elliott, Vice President, The Association for Successful Parenting, Owner/Director Sage Haven Associations

Nicole Brisson, Parent/ Secretary, Board of Directors The Association for Successful Parenting

With about 7% of the children you serve military-connected, understanding their needs and the resources available are important. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network-VA Subcommittee reviewed and surveyed the needs of children of Veterans, and will share their outcomes, and they will identify resources and strategies for serving young children in Veteran families.

Julia Yeary, Director of Military Family Projects

Mayer Bellehsen, Director

Shelley Fenstermacher, Senior Fellow

Gregory Leskin, Director, Military Families

This session will include a brief overview of the Hand in Hand Community Framework for Early Childhood Collaboration and the supporting briefs and stories, developed by the Model Convening Project. The project is a partnership comprised of four national early childhood models, including Family Connects, HealthySteps, Help Me Grow, and Nurse-Family Partnership, with leadership and facilitation from ZERO TO THREE and funding from the Pritzker's Children Initiative. One of the resources developed is a parent story that features Denise Brown, a graduate of the Nurse-Family Partnership program in Jacksonville, FL. Denise will share her experience and expertise with being a Parent Leader through her participation with many early childhood collaborative efforts. If you are among the countless communities seeking meaningful ways to include or increase parent voice in your community collaboratives, then this is the session for you.

Kimberly Bradley, Project Manager

Denise Brown, Parent Leader

Baby Talk 1: Grand Connections

Grandparents are a critical part of our nation’s child care system. Join us to learn about a new curriculum for grandparents that builds knowledge of current child development and child-rearing practices, and strategies for partnering with adult children. We will also share lessons learned and critical success factors from pilot participants.

Speakers: Kathy Kinsner, MS Ed, ZERO TO THREE

Baby Talk 2: The Way We Speak: Understanding The Historical Context Of African American Vernacular English

One of the essential elements in my session is to share the historical context and the grammar structure of African American Vernacular English to help educators understand its uniqueness, as well as the importance of validating the child's home language in the learning environment.

Speakers: Tiffany Grant, First Children's Finance/ Excell Academy for Higher Learning

Baby Talk 3: Supporting The Linguistically Diverse Workforce In The Early Childhood Education System

Research demonstrates that teachers who share home languages with the infants and toddlers in their care are better able to support these children’s linguistic development at its most crucial moment. Learn how Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) can design programs that support the linguistically diverse workforce.

Speakers: Anna Ioakimedes, MPP, Early Edge California; Giselle Navarro-Cruz, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona; Carolyne Crolotte, Early Edge California

Kathy Kinsner, Sr. Family Resources Manager

Tiffany Grant, Policy Analyst

Anna Ioakimedes, Assistant Professor

Giselle Navarro-Cruz, Assistant Professor

BT-D1, Introductory-Level: Anxiety Due To COVID-19 Among Preschool Children Based On Parent Report

This study examines the psychological impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on vulnerable young children in and around the metro Atlanta, Georgia, area. Specifically, it addresses whether the pandemic increased fear and anxiety in the sample population of children aged 3 to 5 years old.

BT-D2, Introductory-Level: Digital Parenting During And After COVID-19

The Digital Parenting program was created in 2021 to connect parents with evidence-based parenting information remotely. The project provides access to a digital library of parenting messages and supports effective digital communication options, family-friendly approaches that allow parents to engage in their child’s development and establish positive parenting.

BT-D3, Introductory-Level: Ensuring A Sugar-Free Start: Preventing Sugary Drink Consumption Among Young Children To Increase Health And Decrease Health Disparities

In this session we will describe how marketing creates misperceptions among caregivers about the healthfulness of child-directed sugar-sweetened drinks, demonstrate how our campaign uses “countermarketing” to prevent caregivers’ provision of sugary drinks to their young children, and explain cost-effective strategies to utilize campaign materials in a variety of settings.

EveLyn Wedge,

YaeBin Kim, Associate Professor

Frances Fleming-Milici, Director of Marketing Initiatives

Sally Mancini, Director of Advocacy Resources

BT-E1, Introductory-Level: Providing Comprehensive Primary Health Care To Infants Involved In The Child Welfare System

The Connections for Kids Clinic (CFKC) is a medical home for infants who are in kinship or foster care. CFKC is comprised of multidisciplinary professionals with expertise caring for the unique health care issues facing these infants. The presenters will provide an overview of those issues and offer CFKC’s team-based approach to care.

BT-E2, Introductory-Level: A Head Start On Housing For Young Families

The Connecticut Office of Early Childhood and the Connecticut Department of Housing will explain how to build a partnership to streamline access to Housing Choice Vouchers and housing search assistance for homeless and precariously housed families participating in Head Start and Early Head Start.

BT-E3, Intermediate-Level: Linking Infants And Families To Supports (LIFTS) In Montana

Learn how Montana's early childhood coalitions helped create the LIFTS online resource guide and magazine to increase awareness of services and events, with a focus on supporting families impacted by substance use and normalizing accessing help through storytelling.

Giovanni Billings,

James Kaferly III,

Jamie Maroney,

Ruth White, Co-founder and Executive Director

Jamole Callahan, Director of Training and Development

Brie MacLaurin,

Stephanie Morton,

Families in child welfare affected by a substance use disorder and prenatal substance exposure experience poor outcomes. Collaborative courts can help engage families early and prevent family separation. This talk will explore how collaborative courts achieve this goal through partnership, coordination, mitigating bias, and using a family-centered approach.

Alexis Balkey,

Ashay Shah,

This session will explore Targeted Supports, a data-driven, intensive family engagement (IFE) approach implemented in early childhood education programs. Participants will identify concrete system- and program-level strategies designed to support and optimize IFE practice and begin to build a logic model and action plan for their own program’s IFE work.

Michelle Lee, Early Childhood Practice Consultant

Caroline Kritzalis,

Demi Siskind, Pediatrician and Neuroscientist