eNotes
November 10, 2022Updates from the ECTA Center
Second AFIRM Module: Naturalistic Intervention for Toddlers in the Childcare Setting
The second module of the Autism Focused Intervention Resources and Modules (AFIRM) for toddlers is available. Naturalistic Intervention for Toddlers in the Childcare Setting is an evidence-based practice (EBP) consisting of a collection of techniques and strategies. They are embedded in typical activities and/or routines that the toddler participates in to naturally promote, support, and encourage target skills/behaviors. The module, developed in partnership with ECTA, takes approximately two to three hours to complete.
Targeted Leadership TA Series
Pursuing Equity in Funding and Access to Services, the third of the four-part targeted leadership technical assistance webinar series, is available online. In this session, participants:
- Explored strategies to identify specific populations who may not be benefiting.
- Explored multiple financial, geographic, and demographic differences and individualized regional program, local program, or district needs, both historical and current to help inform actions like monitoring and allocation of funds
- Discussed challenges and opportunities for how allocations could meet the demographic and regional differences of communities.
Other webinars currently available in this series include Leading from the Middle, and Driving Partnerships by Listening and Defining Common Interest. The final webinar will be Building on Team Capacity and Planning for Leadership Transition.
Collinsville Illinois Schools Earn Inclusion Award
Collinsville Community Unit School District No. 10 in Illinois has been recognized by its Community Inclusion Team (CIT) for participation in a federal initiative to implement, sustain, and scale up high quality preschool inclusion. Co-led by ECTA and the National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations (NCPMI) with partners across the Illinois early care and education system, the initiative uses indicators to analyze the level of preschool inclusion in a community and to implement change throughout.
News from the Field
Be a Part of Early Intervention
The Division of Early Childhood (DEC), in conjunction with the Early Childhood Personnel Center (ECPC), and the Department of Education, has launched a recruitment campaign, Be a Part of Early Intervention. It includes a 10-minute video that explains what EI is, how early interventionists work with children and families, and what the requirements are of an early interventionist. The campaign also offers those interested in EI the opportunity to discover programs of study that can lead to a career as an early interventionist and explore EI job openings across the country.
Promoting Early Intervention in Louisiana: Recommendations for Increasing Enrollment in EarlySteps
Louisiana EarlySteps (IDEA Part C) participated in a technical assistance activity to increase the referral rate to early intervention following decreases in referrals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite Child Find efforts, Louisiana Early Steps program enrolls fewer young children than could benefit from the program. This data underscored the importance and urgency of improving enrollment. Drawing upon data, best practices, and engagement of EarlySteps families and partners, Promoting Early Intervention in Louisiana: Recommendations for Increasing Enrollment in EarlySteps provides concrete, practical recommendations to help improve enrollment. The recommendations and strategies included in the report could help other Part C programs to increase their referral rates and the number of children and families identified and served.
Child Care Rescue: How States Are Using Their American Rescue Plan Act Child Care Funds
Child Care Rescue: How States Are Using Their American Rescue Plan Act Child Care Funds, provides state-by-state descriptions of how states are using or plan to use American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) child care discretionary funds. These funds help to increase families’ access to help paying for child care, support the child care workforce, improve the quality of child care, and build the supply of child care.
Recognizing that the COVID pandemic placed immense pressure on an already fragile child care child care system, Congress included significant new funding for child care in the ARPA signed into law by President Biden in March 2021. This funding supplemented existing funding for the federal Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) program, which provides funds to states to help families afford child care and improve the quality of care, and which has long been vastly underfunded.
Response Strategies When Families Share Hard Things
Early interventionists often work with families and young children experiencing trauma. When families share something upsetting or surprising, early interventionists can be unsure about how to respond. Response Strategies When Families Share Hard Things, developed by the National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations (NCPMI), provides in-the-moment response strategies to use when families share difficult or traumatic experiences.