New Jersey First Steps Infant/Toddler Leadership Institute

AGENDA
New Jersey First Steps
Statewide Initiative
8:30-9:00
PRESENTS
Breakfast/Registration
Best Practices in Leading
Infant/Toddler Professionals
9:00-9:15
Opening Remarks
9:15-10:15
Keynote Address
Dr. Myra Crouch, CEO/Education Strategist
Comprehensive Community Initiatives
NEW JERSEY FIRST STEPS INFANT/TODDLER
LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE
10:30-12:00
AM Break-Out Sessions
12:15-1:30
Lunch • Raffles
1:45-3:15
PM Break-Out Sessions
Keynote Address
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Myra Crouch
“Are You There Yet?
Mapping Your Path to Quality Professional Development that Matters”
CEO/Education Strategist
Comprehensive
Community Initiatives
Dr. Myra Crouch, CEO/Education Strategist & Consultant
Whatever role you play in supporting young children and their families,
one thing is for sure, you must be all you can be to deliver on quality early
care and education. Join in this session to renew the path you are on to be
professionally developed with the right skills, right credentials and
right focus to prepare the next generation to be successful.
Are you there yet?
“Are You There Yet?
Mapping Your Path
to Quality Professional
Development that Matters”
Programs for Parents, Inc.
500 Bloomfield Ave.
Montclair, NJ 07042
SRCCRC/EIRC
900 Hollydell Court
Sewell, NJ 08080
years of professional development sessions
locally, at state and national events. She has
managed and directed Head Start, Early Head
Start programs and has provided training and
technical assistance to various early childhood
programs. Myra has served as Adjunct Faculty,
teaching early childhood development courses.
In the presenter’s former position as Chief
Program Officer for the Council for Professional
Recognition, she was responsible for leading
the national CDA credentialing program that
supported professional development experiences
of the early care and education workforce.
Prior to this position, Ms. Crouch served as the Director of Education and
Technical Assistance Services where she provided strategic development
in support of the Office of Head Start’s Regional Training and Technical
Assistance Centers. Myra co-chaired STGi’s Early Childhood Advisory Board
and led strategic activities aimed at raising awareness at the national level,
including activities involving the business community’s investment in
early childhood programs. She also has extensive expertise and a wealth
of knowledge as it relates to strategic planning, public policy, program
design and management. Myra is currently serving as a Senior Director
for DLH Danya supporting the Office of Head Start Monitoring System.
2 City Hall Plaza, 3rd Floor
Rahway, New Jersey, 07065
Dr. Myra Crouch has delivered 25
Friday, September 30, 2016
8:30 am - 3:30 pm
Continental breakfast and lunch will be served
Cost: $45/person
Crowne Plaza Monroe
390 Forsgate Drive, Monroe Township, NJ 08831
New Jersey First Steps
Infant/Toddler Leadership Institute
Please return the following form to Denise Abbott,
with your check for $45, made payable to “SRCCRC/EIRC”.
Any questions, please call (856) 582-8282 ext 176.
Each year the Leadership Institute brings together 150 directors, managers and family
child care providers for training to enhance their leadership skills and demonstrate best
practices in infant/toddler programs. The Institute identifies recent initiatives that will
impact implementation of state standards to improve the quality of infant/toddler
programs in New Jersey.
SRCCRC/EIRC Attention: Denise Abbott
900 Hollydell Court, Sewell, NJ 08080
All registrations must be postmarked by 9/19/16
The NJ First Steps Initiative has two predominate goals:
1. To improve the quality of infant/toddler care across the state.
Name____________________________________________________________
2. To increase the availability of quality early care programs for families with infants
and toddlers, by providing professional development, technical assistance, consultation
services, program assessment and resources for both center staff and family child
care providers.
Title______________________________________________________________
Center Name___________________________________________________________
Center Address__________________________________________________________
BREAK OUT SESSIONS
AM Sessions 10:30-12:00
1. Best Practices and Policy Directions for Infant/Toddler Professional Development
- Dr. Myra G. Crouch, CEO/Education Strategist, Comprehensive Community Initiatives, Inc.
Preparing the next generation of competent early care and education professionals is a worthy
and important goal. Join this session to examine the current and future direction in professional
preparation programs, policy and practice. Come and contribute to the discussion of what it will
take to prepare the infant and toddler workforce.
2. “Games We Play… The Art of Building a Team”
- Lou Warren-Groomes, M.Ed., Early Childhood Consultant
Designed specifically for directors and leaders responsible for building an effective team vital to
the successful operation of their child care program. Participants will recapture their “child-like
spirit” through playful, non-threatening games and activities that can be incorporated in their
staff meetings and/or trainings with the goal of strengthening relationships, cultivating caring
connections and cohesiveness among the members of their team. Come prepared to interact
with other leaders/directors and… have FUN!
3. Overview of Early Intervention System
- Christina Broderick, Regional Family Support Coordinator, The New Jersey Early
Intervention System for Infants and Toddlers
Early Intervention is a system of support and services provided to children birth to three years
of age who have developmental delays or disabilities. The goal of Early Intervention is to partner
with families to assist in meeting the developmental and health-related needs of children.
Determination of a child’s early intervention services is based on the individual needs of the
child and family.
4. How to Boost Your ITERS-R Scores
- Alicia Jenks, NJ First Steps Infant/Toddler Specialist, CCCC
- Paula Hartley, NJ First Steps Infant/Toddler Specialist, SRCCRC-EIRC
Join us for a closer look at the ITERS-R indicators to help you assess your infant/toddler
environments. In this workshop we will discuss simple but significant changes you can make
and the reason why these changes matter. We will also identify challenges and discuss strategies
to achieve the ITERS-R score you’re striving for.
5. La Propagación de Enfermedades Contagiosas en el Centro de Cuidado Infantil
- Ada Ortolaza, Bilingual Health Aide/Child Care Site Evaluator
Camden County Department of Children’s Services
Las enfermedades contagiosas impactan a miles de niños, sus familias y proveedoras de cuidado
infantil. Venga y obtenga información en cómo reducir la propagación de enfermedades
contagiosas y aprenda como poder mantener un ambiente sano y saludable para el proveedor
y niños en el centro de cuidado infantil.
________________________________________________________________________
PM Sessions 1:45-3:15
1. What is Infant Mental Health and How to Establish Supportive Approaches
in an Early Childhood Education Setting
- Jean Budd LPC, NCC, IMH E®IV
The confusion in defining mental health as it is pertains to infants and children and not adults
will be eliminated through a clear definition of the variables supporting Infant Mental Health.
The approaches and considerations labeled as best practices in promoting positive Infant
Mental Health are outlined and applied to a framework to support families and children. These
strategies are explained in alignment with the protective factors which are evidence-based in
preventing child abuse.
2. Diversity: A Necessary System of Value in Professional Development
- Ana I. Berdecia, M.Ed. & Certified JMT Coach
Examine how cultural consciousness leads to better understanding and collaboration
between diverse children, families, and staff. This approach is rooted in evidence-based
strategies that help families feel their language and cultures are valued. An appreciation for
the early-multi-linguistic professional development conversations, plans, activities and policies
will be addressed.
3. Sharing Development with Parents of Infants and Toddlers
- Sue Leggoe, Early Childhood Consultant
Camden County Board of Education: Partners in Parenting Program
Participants will explore the technique of guided interactions and how these interactions
support the development of parents and teachers in observing infants and toddlers. How
they can provide a learning environment based on observations will also be described. We
will look at infant/toddler milestones and how parents and teachers can support behavior
necessary for development.
4. Grow NJ Kids: A Second Year Review
Andrea Breitwieser,M.S., Grow NJ Kids Coordinator, DFD, NJDHS
Shonda Laurel, Supervisor, DFD,NJDHS
Kim Friddell, Ex. Director, Impact, Vineland,
Cheryl Bush and De Niqua Matias, co-directors, Clinton Hill
A representative of William Paterson College TBA
A panel of state, regional and local experts will provide a second year overview of the Grow
NJ Kids process. Center directors who have gone through the process and are rated will
share their excitement in raising the level of quality in their program. The panel will discuss
successes and challenges, current ratings and data on NJ’s Quality Rating and Improvement
System….Have you tried it?
5. ¡Ven a Leer Conmigo! – Come Let’s Read!
- Georgina Criado-Hall, Director of Credentialing-Professional Impact NJ
Este taller está diseñado para proporcionarle a los participantes ideas innovadoras para
promover la alfabetización en infantes y caminantes en su cuidado.
Phone Number____________________________________________________
Email Address_____________________________________________________
Professional Impact NJ (PINJ) Registry # ________________________________
(Don’t have a Registry Number? PINJ can assist at the conference)
Workshop Choices:
AM
1. Best Practices and Policy Directions for Professional Development for Infant
and Toddler Care Professionals
2. “Games We Play… The Art of Building a Team”
3. Overview of Early Intervention System
4. How to Boost Your ITERS-R Scores
5. La Propagación de Enfermedades Contagiosas en el Centro de Cuidado Infantil
PM
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What is Infant Mental Health and How to Establish Supportive Approaches
in an Early Childhood Education Setting
Diversity: a Necessary System of Value in Professional Development
Sharing Development with Parents of Infants and Toddlers
Grow NJ Kids: A Second Year Review
¡Ven a Leer Conmigo! – Come Let’s Read!
(Please put the numbers of your choices in the boxes below.)
AM
SESSION
1st choice
2nd choice
3rd choice 4th choice
5th choice
PM
SESSION
1st choice
2nd choice
3rd choice 4th choice
5th choice
DIRECTIONS
Take the Parkway South to exit 129 (Woodbridge).
Follow the signs for the New Jersey Turnpike South (I-95) and get off at exit 8A.
Bear left after the toll booth towards Jamesburg-Monroe. Follow exit ramp.
Make the first right into the Crowne Plaza Monroe Parking lot.
From the south: Take the NJ Turnpike, North to exit 8A then follow the above
directions after 8A