This newsletter provides information related to professional development, recruitment, and retention for CIS professionals across Vermont.
Table of Contents:
1. CIS Spotlights
2. Upcoming professional development
3. Recruitment and retention
4. Resources
5. Links to recent newsletters
CIS Spotlights
This month: Celebrating Mary Coogan
This month, we wish Mary Coogan a very happy retirement!
“Mary has made an indelible impact on the lives of families, children, and colleagues during her 24 years at Winston Prouty as an Early Interventionist. Although her shoes are too large to fill, she has done an amazing job teaching and mentoring others and leaves a committed, experienced EI team to continue the work. Mary’s practice is deeply rooted in The Touchpoints approach. She recognizes that all of our work happens in the context of relationships, and that supporting healthy, functional relationships in all directions (with and within families and with colleagues) is the foundation of supporting optimal child development. Two of Mary’s greatest gifts to our Prouty culture are helping us to stay curious and reminding us that we can repair. We will greatly miss her being with us in person, and grateful that her spirit will continue to be embedded in our practice.”
Chloe Learey, Executive Director of the Winston Prouty Center
“Mary is the absolute BEST!! I first met Mary when she began working for the Family Infant Toddler Program which then became Children’s Integrative Services. I was blessed as an Early Childhood Educator and Director to learn so much from Mary. Mary is a plethora of knowledge, dedication and love. Her heart for children, families, educators and development is like no others. When my son was born in 2010 and needed a referral for a left head tilt I was again blessed that Mary would be his developmental educator. Mary followed him through his development until his third birthday and still asks about him with gusto. There are years of memories to share but with tears in my eyes I say thank you!! Thank you for being you! Thank you for everything you have done with/for Mikey, and all children and families. Thank you for teaching me more about development than any book or class ever could. Mary, I hope you enjoy your retirement and family. May this next chapter be your best one yet.
With gratitude, respect and love” -Heather, parent and colleague
Above: Mural painted in honor of Mary at the Winston Prouty Center of Brattleboro
Upcoming Professional Development
June
- Empowering Your Child to Fly: Working Together to Foster Inclusion | Jani Kozlowski, edWebinars | June 11, 1-2:00 p.m. | Virtual Live | Free | Registration Link
Join Jani Kozlowski, national leading expert in family-educator relationships, special education and early education, will lead a webinar for all “early childhood ‘inclusionists.’” She will discuss her new book, Empowering Your Child to Fly, focusing on how to foster successful collaborative partnerships between families and educators.
DEC Standard 5
- Building Blocks for Supporting all Children in Inclusive Settings | Early Childhood Investigations Webinars | June 12th, 2:00-3:30 p.m. | Virtual Live | Free | Registration Link
This webinar offers an opportunity to learn about the Building Blocks Framework, how to meaningfully include children with disabilities in early childhood settings. The presentation will reference the book, Building Blocks for Teaching all Children in Inclusive Settings.
DEC Standard 5
- Development is a Journey: A Conversation Roadmap for Talking with Families | Brazelton Touchpoints Center | June 13th, 12-3:00 p.m. | Virtual Live Discussion | $85 | Registration Link
The Brazelton Touchpoints Center has developed the Development is a Journey Conversation Roadmap tool to help providers have collaborative and productive conversations about developmental screening results. Participants will learn how to use this roadmap to help enhance partnerships with families and engage caregivers in planning for their child’s developmental needs.
July
- CIS SMARTIE Goals Training Series| Facilitated by Ann Dillenbeck, CIS Program Improvement Manager, Julia Wayne, CIS Personnel Development Coordinator, and Lori Meyer, UVM Associate Professor in the Department of Education | Part I: SMARTIE Goal Fundamentals, July 11, 12:30-2:00 p.m. | Part II: SMARTIE Goals in Practice, August 15, 12:30-2:00 p.m. | Virtual Live | Free | Registration to follow | Email questions to julia.wayne@partner.vermont.gov
This two-part series is for all CIS professionals interested in developing SMARTIE goals for CIS One Plans (or equivalents). Part I will be a webinar, followed by time for questions, answers, and discussion. The focus will be on applying the SMARTIE goal concepts (Specific, Measurable, Attainable/Achievable, Relevant/Routines-Based, Timely, Inclusive and Equitable) when writing outcomes with families and clients. Participants will relate this to their practice. Part II will be an opportunity to come back together as a group for a live session to reflect on experiences writing SMARTIE goals. Bring examples! We’ll discuss successes, challenges, and reflections
DEC Standard 4
- Mini Autism Research Symposium | Community Partnerships in Autism Research | July 9, 1:00-5:00 p.m. | In-Person at the University of Vermont’s Davis Center or Virtual Live | Free | Registration Link
This event is applicable for all CIS providers and families. The topics will include improving accessibility of healthcare and education for neurodiverse/autistic people, associated medical conditions and their medical management/support strategies associated with autism, working together on research or quality improvement projects, and personal experience of autistic researchers in academia and higher education.
- Reggio Emilia Trainings with Boulder Journey School: A virtual training series for early childhood educators | VT Child Development Division (CDD) and Northern Lights | Free | July-August 2024
CDD and Northern Lights are partnering with the Boulder Journey School to bring the following six Reggio Emilia trainings to early childhood educators this summer:
- Elements of a Contextual Curriculum: July 11, 6-7:30 p.m.
- Responsive Environments: July 15, 6-7:30 p.m.
- Strategies for Documenting: July 23, 6-7:30 p.m.
- Supportive Social Learning: August 6, 6-7:30 p.m.
- Assessing Documentation through a Variety of Lenses: August 15, 6-7:30 p.m.
- Hundred Languages of Families: August 23, 6-7:30 p.m.
DEC Standard 5
August
- Using Everyday Conversations to Nurture Play and Creativity in Young Children | Rebecca Rolland, Early Childhood Investigations | August 7, 2:00-3:30 p.m. | Virtual Live | Free | Registration Link
Rebecca Rolland is the author of, The Art of Talking with Children, lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and an oral language specialist. She will dive into play! Topics will include the importance of play for learning and development, different types of play, and how to support young children’‘s play and development through everyday talk.
DEC Standard 6
- Addressing Behaviors that Challenge | Brazelton Touchpoints | August 19-September 11 1:00-3:00 p.m.| $500 | Learn More and Register
Explore how to use a relationship-based care approach to understand and respond to child behaviors that providers may find challenging. Topics include supporting adults to reflect on their own reactions to children’s behavior and regulating those reactions. Learn how our own biases can influence our views of, and responses to, a child’s behavior. This course is for all professionals who work with young children and their families, including CIS providers. This course is approved for 16 Continuing Education Credits for physicians, physician assistants, nurses, and social workers.
DEC Standard 2
September/October/November
- CIS Child Outcome Summary Training | September 5, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m | Virtual Live | Free | Registration to follow | Email questions to julia.wayne@partner.vermont.gov
CIS-EI Professionals will learn the fundamentals of completing the Child Outcome Summaries (COS) for children. Learn to complete the COS following new state guidance. There will be opportunities to explore questions and challenges.
DEC Standard 4
- Augmentative Communication Strategies for Young Children Training Series | I-Team EI | Six sessions from September 24-December 19, 2024 |Langevin House, Vermont Tech campus in Randolf, VT |Free | Details and registration information can be found on the I-Team EI Website
This training is for SLPs, ECSEs/EIs, DEs, OTs, PTs, teachers and paraeducators working with children from Early Intervention to Grade 2. Participants will increase their knowledge in assessment and identification, and implementation of augmentative communication systems for young children with complex communication needs.
DEC Standards 4 & 6
Recruitment & Retention
Recruitment and Retention
- Up to $5,000 in loan repayment for new graduates from Vermont colleges and universities! | Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships at UVM | Applications open June 2024 | Information and application
The State of Vermont, in collaboration with UVM and the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC) is offering a $5,000 loan repayment program to incentivize and retain any new graduate from VT colleges and universities. This is open Any student who graduated from December 2023 to June 2024 with a bachelor’s or master’s degree who plans on living and working full-time in Vermont for two years following graduation. Please share with your teams!
- Improving Staff Wellness and Job Satisfaction | Head Start Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center
This recorded webinar discusses compassion fatigue that many people working to support young children face. It offers ideas for how to support staff experiencing compassion fatigue. Discussion includes meaningful self-care strategies that improve wellness and job satisfaction that help foster staff resilience.
Consider these 8-identified areas of staff wellness, and what administrators can do to support a nurturing and fulfilling work environment. How does your program/team/center/agency grow wellness?
Mud & Play (here comes summer!)
- International Mud Day, June 29! | World Forum for Early Care and Education shares the following resources, in addition to the ones found on their website:
Playing with Mud: Why It’s Worth the Mess | Minnesota Children’s Museum | So many reasons why mud is great for young children to play with.
Let Them Eat Dirt (Or at Least Play in It) | Mayo Clinic | How playing in the mud is beneficial to children’s health!
Communication
- Language Development: Learning the Sounds of Language | Institute for Learning & Brain Science
This module is for professionals or families interested in learning about children’s communication in the first year of life.
Inclusion
- I-Team EI just attended the International Early Childhood Inclusion Institute in May, and recently shared the following resources in their newsletter:
STEMIE (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Inclusion in Early Education) Center offers strategies for including children, 0-5 years, in this learning. Technical assistance and professional development to increase engagement in both early education programs and at home.
The Inclusion Lab by the Office of Head Start is an app for professionals to use when supporting the inclusion of children with special needs.
Jargon-Busting
- The Talking Glossary of Genomic and Genetic Terms, provided by The National Human Genome Research Institute, features about 250 medical terms explained in an easy-to-understand way. Visuals and audio definitions accompany descriptions. This glossary may help CIS providers who are working with families navigating complicated terminology!
Substance Use
- Talking About Marijuana with Families and Staff | Head Start Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center
Many CIS professionals have requested more resources around this topic. This webinar shares strategies for talking with families about marijuana use. It offers ideas for how to make child safety a priority by using a strength-based approach.
- Talking with Families About Substance Use During Pregnancy | Head Start Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center
Another helpful webinar by Head Start that offers ideas for judgement-free conversations and supporting families to have healthy pregnancies.
Support for Children and Families Who Are Unhoused
Explore this tip sheet to learn how homelessness impacts areas of health and wellness for young children. Learn about strategies to identify and assess family needs in this context. Good for any CIS provider!
Hoping for any particular resources in this newsletter? Email julia.wayne@partner.vermont.gov