eNotes
April 16, 2024Updates from the ECTA Center
2024 International Early Childhood Inclusion Institute May 7-9
Registration for the 24th annual Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute's International Early Childhood Inclusion Institute ends April 19. The Institute takes place in Chapel Hill, NC, May 7-9, 2024. For more than two decades, the Inclusion Institute has drawn people from across the nation and around the world. The event, which will once again be offered in a hybrid format welcoming participants virtually and in-person, is designed for anyone caring for or teaching young children (from birth to age 8) with disabilities in inclusive environments. Attendees include classroom teachers and assistants, government officials, family members, faculty, and researchers, many of whom return each year to:
- develop collaborative relationships and cross-agency systems that support early childhood inclusion.
- discover evidence-based practices, resources, and tools for promoting opportunities for inclusion.
- meet, learn from, and problem-solve with peers.
Leadership Coaching Program Cohort
Part C and Part B, Section 619 leaders can apply for an intensive technical assistance (TA) opportunity offered by the Early Childhood Technical Assistance (ECTA) Center. The Leadership Coaching Program (LCP) Cohort supports states in improving skills in co-developing and leading equitable and inclusive access, experiences, and positive outcomes for children and families in state early intervention (EI) and early childhood special education (ECSE) programs. Activities will include:
- monthly one-on-one coaching sessions scheduled by state/entity leader and their assigned coach
- regular virtual cohort meetings
Applications are due by Friday, May 3, 2023, and should include a letter of support signed by a representative of the agency's leadership (for example, supervisor or director). States/entities will be notified by May 31, 2024. The kickoff call for participating states/entities on June 26, 2024, 12:00 - 2:00 PM EDT.
Part C Indicator 4: Family Outcomes Data FFY 2021
There are four main topics covered by the family outcomes data for IDEA Part C Indicator 4. This indicator addresses how helpful early intervention has been in supporting families to:
- Know their rights
- Effectively communicate their child's needs
- Help their child develop and learn
This video presentation on Part C Indicator 4: Family Outcomes Data FFY 2021 covers state approaches, including types of surveys used, populations of families surveyed, and ways to deliver and receive surveys. The data quality characteristics include response rates and representativeness. The performance data section covers national trends. Key national resources are also shared.
Multiple Language Translations Available for High-Quality Inclusion Indicators
Language translations are available for the Indicators of High-Quality Inclusion. Translated by the Oregon Early Childhood Inclusion Initiative, the indicators are available in Arabic, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Hmong, Russian, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese. The state, community, local program, and early care and education indicators respond to the evolving needs of the early childhood education system.
Announcements
Secondary Analyses of Child Care and Early Education Data
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is soliciting applications for awards to support researchers conducting secondary analyses of data to address key questions of relevance to the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF). CCDF is the primary federal funding source for child care subsidies and helps eligible low-income working families access child care and improve the quality of child care for all children. CCDF also aims to improve implementation of high-quality child care programs to
- promote children’s healthy development and learning and
- support the education, training, and well-being of child care workers through efforts that include child care licensing, quality rating and improvement systems (QRIS) and professional development opportunities.
Applications for Secondary Analyses of Child Care and Early Education Data are due May 20, 2024.
News from the Field
Young Children Misbehave. Some are Suspended for Acting Their Age
In Young children misbehave. Some are suspended for acting their age, a Hechinger Report analysis of school discipline data from 20 states found widespread use of suspensions for students of all ages for ill-defined, subjective categories of misbehavior, such as disorderly conduct, defiance and insubordination. Suspension can be particularly damaging when doled out to younger students, said Iheoma Iruka, a professor of public policy at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Being kicked out of the classroom can fracture kids’ trust in their teachers and the institution early on. Those early impressions can stay with students and cause long-lasting harm, Iruka said, particularly to students for whom school is the most consistent part of their lives.
Governors Are Calling for Investments in Early Care and Education
Child care is both hard to find and increasingly expensive for families. The average price of licensed child care for a U.S. family is nearly 33 percent of the median household income for single-parent families. The child care workforce is underpaid and undervalued and threatens the child care supply as providers seek employment in fields that pay more. In Governors Are Calling for Investments in Early Care and Education, a Center for American Progress analysis of the 2024 State of the State address finds that more than half of the nation’s governors highlighted child care and/or pre-kindergarten - 28 of the 38 governors who had given addresses as of February 22, 2024.
Immunization Kit Available
April 22-29 is National Infant Immunization Week. It highlights the importance of protecting children 2 years old and younger from vaccine-preventable diseases. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, fewer children are up to date on all their vaccines, especially children living in poverty and those in rural areas. How Early Care and Education Can Help Children Keep Their Vaccinations Up-to-Date: A Toolkit for Early Care and Education Providers explains how early care and education professionals can help. The materials explain how partners can raise awareness about the importance of vaccines for infants and young children and encourage parents and caregivers to talk to their child’s doctor about staying up to date on their child’s vaccinations. The Public Health Foundation (PHF), in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with input from the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), National Center on Health, Behavioral Health, and Safety (NCHBHS), National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), Pennsylvania State University Extension - Better Kid Care, and Child Care Aware of America, developed the toolkit.
Research
Talk Therapy Cuts Risk of Postpartum Depression
In Talk Therapy Cuts Risk of Postpartum Depression, a National Institutes of Health-supported research team at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health thought that an intervention to reduce anxiety during pregnancy might lessen mental health risks after childbirth. This could improve outcomes for both mothers and children. Prenatal anxiety has also been linked to reduced growth and developmental outcomes for infants. Results of the trial, conducted in Pakistan, suggest that the approach could help avert postpartum mental health challenges in low-resource regions. Based on input from pregnant women, the team developed an anxiety-focused intervention, Happy Mother-Healthy Baby, based on cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). CBT is a type of psychotherapy that trains people to modify specific thoughts and behaviors.