September 17, 2020 Allegheny County Infant/Toddler Early Intervention Plan In September 2020, the Allegheny County Department of Human Services Office of Behavioral Health released a plan and guidance on in-person Early Intervention (EI) services for infants and toddlers in the county. These documents were developed to inform EI program providers and participants of the strategies that will be implemented to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 as in-person services resume. About Because in-person Early Intervention services are provided in people’s homes and communities, the successful implementation of in-person services relies heavily on the team effort or EI professionals and participating families to follow the health and safety guidelines detailed in the Allegheny County Infant/Toddler Early Intervention Health and Safety Plan for Resuming In-Person Services. Program staff will work with families to offer quality Early Intervention services in the safest manner feasible. In addition to this plan, Allegheny County EI Providers and the EI SC Entity are expected to follow the Allegheny County Guidance for Conducting In-Person Infant/Toddler Early Intervention Services which outlines how and when EI in-person service provision will be carried out in Allegheny County during the Red, Yellow, and Green phases of reopening in Pennsylvania. These plans and guidelines were informed by existing best practice guidance from numerous sources, including the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Office of Governor Tom Wolf, and local Allegheny County government officials. Featured Topics The Allegheny County Infant/Toddler Early Intervention Health and Safety Plan for Resuming In-Person Services features information on numerous topics, including the following: required training and education; health screenings and responses; conducting in-person visits; and EI Intervention Therapist and Provider caseload and staffing reviews. More Information For more information, read the full plan and guidance. Early Intervention providers are encouraged to share this document and its content on their websites and social media platforms.
July 9, 2020 Virtual Service Delivery Webinar Series To support family-facing providers in their online work with children and families, Brazelton Touchpoints Center is offering a series of free one-hour webinars and an online learning community that will explore how to manage the challenges posed by virtual service delivery and share strategies providers have found for building and sustaining strong relationships with families virtually. About In partnership with Parents as Teachers and the Rapid Response Virtual Home Visiting (RR-VHV) Collaborative, Brazelton Touchpoints Center will build on lessons learned from virtual home visiting, adapted for all family-facing providers. All professionals who work with families of young children—including those who work in health care, early care and education, early intervention, child welfare, and family support—are encouraged to attend these webinars. Brazelton Touchpoints Center is pairing the webinars with an online learning community where webinar participants can engage with one another and BTC facilitators on topics and strategies discussed in the webinars. Featured Webinars Engaging Families Using a Strengths-Based Approach in the Virtual World Wednesday, July 22 | 2 – 3 p.m. | Register Partnering with Families Virtually Wednesday, August 5 | 2 – 3 p.m. | Register Providing Staff Support and Supervision Virtually Wednesday, August 19 | 2 – 3 p.m. | Register Developmental Screenings on Your Screen Wednesday, September 2 | 2 – 3 p.m. | Register Challenging Conversations with Families Virtually Wednesday, September 16 | 2 – 3 p.m. | Register Taking Care of Yourself as a Virtual Service Provider Wednesday, September 30 | 2 – 3 p.m. | Register Registration To register and learn more, visit the Brazelton Touchpoints Center website. Participants can register for the entire series or for individual webinars. More Information For questions, email touchpoints@childrens.harvard.edu.
July 7, 2020 A Routines-Based Approach for Young Children with Disabilities Are you interested in learning about a routines-based approach for providing early intervention to young children with disabilities? Join ZERO TO THREE on July 15 for their free webinar, “Where Intervention Happens: A Routines-Based Approach for Young Children with Disabilities.” About Throughout the day, children learn during their everyday routines, including during child care. Ensuring that infants and toddlers with disabilities get the most intervention possible and the most relevant intervention possible means building their caregivers’ capacity. This webinar will address the assessment of child and family needs, the use of a primary service provider, collaborative consultation, data collection, and how to train staff to use a routines-based approach. This webinar is best suited for early intervention professionals, as well as caregivers who have or would like to have an early intervention professional working with them. Registration To register and learn more, visit the event webpage. For those who are unable to attend the session, please note that all registrants will receive a link to the webinar recording 24 to 48 hours after the session.
July 2, 2020 ZERO TO THREE Annual Conference Are you interested in learning about the latest early childhood research and connecting with thousands of fellow educators from around the world? Join ZERO TO THREE from October 5-9 for their Virtual Annual Conference! About This year’s virtual conference will give participants the added flexibility to be connected safely to thousands of colleagues from around the world; be inspired through an immersive experience into the latest research and education; and be prepared to move their practice forward in our changing and challenging world. The conference package includes five days of exceptional programming and 30 days of exclusive, on-demand access to recorded sessions. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are included. Pre-Conference Forums will be available as well from September 22 to October 1 for an additional fee. Each Forum package includes a single two-day Forum event and 30-day access to the recorded session. CEUs are included. Featured Sessions The conference features many presentations and breakout sessions, including, but not limited to the following: Bringing Self-Compassion and Care Home: Learning by Nurturing Supporting Healthy Development Through Meaningful Relationships With Mother Nature, a Growing Global Movement Operation HealthySteps: Promoting Safe Childcare Practices Across a Large Medical System Where Trauma and Grief Collide: CPP With Child Traumatic Grief How to Incorporate Mindfulness Techniques Into Family-Based Practices With Infants and Toddlers Interrogating Whiteness in Early Intervention Equity and Inclusion in Family Engagement Programs See the full schedule. Registration To register and learn more, visit the event webpage. Member and group discounts are available. If you require any assistance with your registration, contact the Customer Support team at 855.868.1192
June 17, 2020 Transitioning Your Child from Preschool EI to Elementary School Are you interested in learning about options for developing an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for your child as they transition from preschool early intervention (EI) to elementary school? Join the PEAL Center on July 1 for their webinar, “Transitioning Your Child From Preschool Early Intervention to Elementary School.” About In this webinar, participants will learn about: the importance of informed decision making in determining educational placement, options for developing an IEP as a child transitions, the impact of adult perspectives on children’s opportunities, and a Student Snapshot tool families can use in preparing for the transition. Registration To register and learn more, visit the event webpage.
May 6, 2020 Navigating Transitions For Preschool Families During COVID-19 We would like to invite you to join us for a live informational webinar from the Bureau of Early Intervention Services and Family Supports. This live web series is about what families can expect during the closure of face-to-face Early Intervention Services. These sessions will assist in navigating transitions during COVID-19 for preschool families. The live informational webinars will be recorded and posted on the EITA (Early Intervention Technical Assistance Portal) Portal for those who are unable to join live. Registration There is no need to register for this event because this is a public webinar to help families maneuver through this difficult time. To attend, you can very simply join from PC, Mac, iOS, or Android on May 14 at 2 p.m. Attendees can also join us by phone if they choose. When dialing in, callers can access the webinar by entering 855.880.1246 on your keypad and using the following Meeting ID: 934 2568 0965. More For Preschool Families During COVID-19 For more information on this live webinar series or on Early Intervention Technical Assistance (EITA), contact Sarah Holland at saholland@pa.gov. To find resources that support early intervention (EI) work during COVID-19, click here. Share this flyer with your network.
Navigating Transitions During COVID-19 for Infant/Toddler Families We would like to invite you to join us for a live informational webinar from the Bureau of Early Intervention Services and Family Supports. This live web series is about what families can expect during the closure of face-to-face Early Intervention Services. These sessions will assist in navigating transitions during COVID-19 for infant/toddler families. The live informational webinars will be recorded and posted on the EITA (Early Intervention Technical Assistance Portal) Portal for those who are unable to join live. Registration There is no need to register for this event because this is a public webinar to help families maneuver through this difficult time. To attend, you can very simply join from PC, Mac, iOS, or Android on May 13 at 2 p.m. Attendees can also join us by phone if they choose. Attendees can also join us by phone if they choose. When dialing in, callers can access the webinar by entering 855.880.1246 on your keypad and using the following Meeting ID: 988 8060 8928 More For Infant/Toddler Families During COVID-19 For more information on this live webinar series or on Early Intervention Technical Assistance (EITA), contact Sarah Holland at saholland@pa.gov. To find resources that support early intervention (EI) work during COVID-19, click here. Share this flyer with your network.
May 5, 2020 Promotion, Prevention, and Intervention Services for Children Join the Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children (PennAEYC) on May 13 for their webinar “Promotion, Prevention, and Intervention Services for Children” to better understand how to support children, families, and staff as they seek to support young children during the COVID-19 pandemic. About Join Brandy Fox, Director of Cross-Sector IECMH Initiatives for the Pennsylvania Key, for a conversation about early childhood services grounded in a promotion, prevention, and intervention framework. Learn about the general landscape of early childhood services and “where” they fall on this continuum. Identify simple steps that may help families navigate these services to best meet the needs of their children. Registration To register, visit the event webpage.
April 9, 2020 Navigating Early Intervention Services During COVID-19 Families are invited to join a live informational webinar from the Bureau of Early Intervention Services and Family Supports about what families can expect during the closure of face-to-face Early Intervention services. There is no need to register. A recording of the event will be available on the Early Intervention Technical Assistance (EITA) portal after the event for individuals who are unable to attend. Professionals may be asked to sign off if participant levels get close to capacity. Available Sessions The following sessions will be available: For Families fo Children Receiving Infant/Toddler Early Intervention Services | 12 – 1 p.m. Join from PC, Mac, iOS, or Android: https://paiu.zoom.us/j/904942246 Join by Phone: 312.626.6799, Meeting ID: 904 942 246 For Families of Children Receiving Preschool Early Intervention Services | 2 – 3 p.m. Join from PC, Mac, iOS, or Android: https://paiu.zoom.us/j/380197977 Join by Phone: 312.626.6799, Meeting ID: 380 197 977
December 18, 2019 Online Resource: Supporting Children with Hearing Loss To support families and professionals who interact with children with hearing loss, Early Intervention Technical Assistance (EITA) developed an online resource titled, “Getting Started: Supporting Children with Hearing Loss.” About In the first section of their free course, EITA says that “families who have just received word that their child is deaf or hard of hearing can display a wide range of reactions,” with most wondering what caused the hearing loss in the first place. To increase family and professional knowledge and awareness about hearing, hearing loss, and available supports in Pennsylvania, EITA created the “Getting Started: Supporting Children with Hearing Loss” course. In it, EITA highlights important information and resources, including first steps, communication and language resources, best practices, and more. Click here to view the resource. More Information For more information and to access the resource, visit the EITA website.
