CHILDHOOD CONVERSATIONS TOGETHER WE WILL CONFERENCE
- Experience: Entry, Developing & Proficient, Advanced
- Topic: Early Intervention, Preschool Special Education, Social Emotional Learning, Parent and Family, Special Needs, Grade Level Reading, Trauma/Mental Health, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Community and Healing, Play-Based Learning and/or Multiple Modalities, After School
- Age: Infants; Toddlers; Preschool; Children 5-9; Tweens; Special needs and/or disabilities
SESSION I (10:30 AM – 11:45 AM)
SESSION II (12:45 – 2:00 PM)
SESSION III (2:15 – 3:00 PM)
SESSION I (10:30 AM – 11:45 AM)
- Appreciative Inquiry – Using the belief that the mind goes in the direction of the question; this presentation examines why and how to use positive inquiries. The five principles of Appreciative Inquiry are used to create affirmative environments. Adjusting how we ignite change from deficit-based to strength-based investigations leads us to building on vitality. The presentation looks at why modifying, “What’s wrong?” to “What would be helpful?” brings about new possibilities. (All, All, All)
Scott Noyes, Empowering Programs - Enhancing Well-Being through Social and Emotional Learning – Join us as we explore the impact of SEL on children, families, and entire communities. Discover the power of the CASEL framework and its core competencies, unlocking a world where self-awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making lay the foundation for a brighter future. From dynamic strategies to fostering strong home to school partnerships, we’ll guide you through the practical implementation of SEL. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of a movement that transcends traditional education – join us and ignite the flame of Social and Emotional Learning! (Entry, Developing & Proficient, Early Invention, Preschool Special Education, Social Emotional Learning, Parents and Family, Community Collaborations, Trauma/Mental Health, After School, Toddlers, Preschool, Children 5 – 9, Tweens)
Ashton Gauthier, Connecticut Network for Children and Youth, SEL4CT - 5 Ways to Develop and Improve Your Attitude at Work – Unlock the power of a positive attitude at our engaging workshop designed to transform your work environment and enhance your professional mindset. This positive workplace attitude boost workshop focuses on key elements that contribute to a positive work atmosphere, fostering productivity and well-being. (All, Social Emotional Learning, Parents and Family, Children 5 – 9, Tweens)
Tiana Brown, Norwalk Housing Authority - Mornings Made Easy and Joyful: The Power of Play – Did you know legislation was passed that will mandate learning through play in preschool and kindergarten beginning with the 2024/2025 school year? This session will explore how teachers can start off mornings smoothly, by actively engaging children in purposeful play. No more morning worksheets, student complaints, expensive or unusual materials, or hours of planning! This session will guide teachers in creating fun-filled, stress-free morning transitions that engage students and start out the day with higher order thinking. Teachers will learn some practical, easy ways to create morning material bins using materials that can already be found in your school and explore ideas for implementing morning provocations/challenges. What a great way to start the day, fostering joy, belonging, independence, problem solving, teamwork, executive function skills, and learning through play. Not only are these activities fun, but they can also be linked to the existing curriculum, can be extended to play/learning centers, and address CT Standards and the upcoming mandate. This session is hands on-so get ready to PLAY! (All, Social Emotional Learning, Parents & Family, Preschool Special Education, Community Collaborations, Special Needs, Play-Based Learning and/or Multiple Modalities, Preschool, Children 5 – 9, Infants, toddlers, Special needs and/or disabilities)
Christine Nuzzolo and Brianna Beckstrand, Enfield KITE (Key Initiatives to Early Education)/Enfield Public Schools - Childhood Exposure to Domestic Violence – This workshop will introduce the different types of domestic violence and the power and control dynamic. Attendees will explore different tactics of those who use violence and how the violence impacts children and families. Attendees will be provided information on resources they can utilize within their individual practices, programs and both personal and professional settings to work towards the reduction of violence in families. Attendees will also be able to identify both local, state and national resources that promote both anti-violence programming and prevention. (All, Parents and Family, Early Intervention, Preschool Special Education, Community Collaborations, Trauma/Mental Health, After School, Infants, Toddlers, Preschool, Children 5 – 9, Tweens, Infants, toddlers, Special needs and/or disabilities)
Kelly Annelli, Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence
SESSION II (12:45 – 2:00 PM)
- Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Kit Project for Programs, Providers, and Parents – The Northeast Early Childhood Council (NECC) established a Mental Health Task Force (MHTF) to address the needs of local children, birth through age 8, and their families. As a result of academic disruptions caused by COVID-19, social-emotional skills are now among the most significant challenges faced by young learners returning to the classroom. Additionally, parents have indicated that they are seeking support to help their children with their Social-Emotional Development. The MHTF worked collaboratively to create the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Kit Project in response to this identified need. This workshop will provide information about creating and implementing the SEL Kit Project, which provides a “toolbox” of resources that programs, providers, and parents can use to support social-emotional learning (SEL) with young children. Join us to learn more about how the SEL Kit was developed, the purpose of its contents, and ways to engage community partners to implement and fund the project in your communities. We will also share information about hosting Social-Emotional Learning & Support Workshops to engage parents & caregivers in the utilization of the Sparkler app, its SEL play activities and the ASQ-SE. Hear what our local parents/caregivers had to say about the Kit, the Workshops, and its impact on their families. (All, Early Intervention, Preschool Special Education, Social Emotional Learning, Parents and Family, Community Collaborations, Trauma/Mental Health, Play-Based Learning and/or Multiple Modalities, After School, Infants, Toddlers, Preschool, Children 5 – 9)
Kristine Cicchetti and Christine Rosati Randall, Northeast Early Childhood Council (NECC) - Care for the Caregiver: Put Your Own Oxygen Mask on First – The very real impact of overwhelm on mental and physical wellbeing cannot be overstated. Early childhood educators have been the backbone of getting our communities back on our feet and our children back on track since the pandemic began. Now it’s time to take care of ourselves and get one another’s backs! Together we’ll learn some basic self and other care practices to calm the nervous system and build a team that will support all its members in these challenging times. Our Goals: Learn how stress can impact the nervous system and body, earn and practice some basic stress reduction exercises, create a self-care plan and team care plan to ensure the sustainability of our hard work & leave with a nervous system reboot! (All, Early Intervention, Preschool Special Education, Social Emotional Learning, Parents and Family, Trauma/Mental Health, After School, Infants, Toddlers, Preschool, Children 5 – 9, Tweens, Infants, toddlers, and Special needs and/or disabilities)
Peg Oliveira, Gesell Program in Early Childhood at the Yale Child Study Center - Building Stronger Bonds: Empowering Families through Parent Engagement – This workshop explores effective ways to engage parents and families in programs, fostering a collaborative and supportive environment. Discover innovative approaches that go beyond traditional involvement and involve digital platforms. Learn how to create open lines of communication, build partnerships, and leverage resources to strengthen the connection between classrooms and families. Empower parents to actively participate in their children’s learning journey, promoting a more inclusive and enriching educational experience for all. (All, Preschool Special Education, Parents and Family, Community Collaborations, After School, Preschool, Children 5 – 9)
Amanda Michaud and Connie Rogala, Farmington Extended Care & Learning - Do, Re, Me and You: Using Music to Foster Healthy Social Relationships – Music is a core part of early development and continues to be a way in which we, as humans, not only understand ourselves but the world around us. The educational and therapeutic applications of music provide opportunities to create a safe space for exploration. For young children, music-based strategies can develop trust and positive working relationships with adults and children in their lives. In this workshop, we will explore how music-based activities can be delivered through a trauma informed lens to create opportunities for social emotional learning. (All, Early Intervention, Preschool Special Education, Social Emotional Learning, Parent and Family, Special Needs, Trauma/Mental Health, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Community and Healing, Play-Based Learning and/or Multiple Modalities, After School, Toddlers, Preschool, Children 5 – 9, Tweens, Infants, toddlers, and children with special needs and/or disabilities)
Jona Shook, MT-BC, Infinity Music Therapy Services, LLC - Connecting Hearts, Empowering Minds: Relationship Building and Family Engagement for Stronger Communities – This workshop will explore innovative ways to strengthen bonds between parents, educators, and the local community. We will identify components of Family Engagement and the impact it has from the early years through adulthood. Through information and interactive activities participants will collectively walk away with practical ideas and strategies that enhance family engagement. By uplifting each other, we can ignite the power to see not just the vision but the result. It’s about relationships, kindness, togetherness, and engaging on a level that meets each other just as we are. Be ready to feel welcomed, valued, and motivated! (All, Preschool Special Education, Parent and Family, Infants, Toddlers, Preschool, Children 5 – 9, Tweens, Infants, toddlers, Special needs and/or disabilities)
Malissa Griffith
SESSION III (2:15 – 3:00 PM)
- Finding Hope: Wes’ Journey of Healing from His Mental Health Struggles – Join Wes Woodson in a presentation about his journey to finding both his voice and emotional healing while living with mental health conditions. Wes always wanted to be perfect and accepted by others, even if it meant hiding his true emotions under the surface. Starting in third grade Wes began to believe that he needed external validation to prove that he was good enough especially as one of the few students of color in a mostly white community. However, that external validation never lasted. Wes struggled with anxiety and depression and eventually found his voice in therapy. Wes is a national mental health advocate and shares his story with students, parents and caregivers, and the community. He hopes to inspire others to feel less ashamed of their own mental health challenges and help caring adults understand how to effectively support youth. Q&A to follow. (All, Parent and Family, Social Emotional Learning, Trauma/Mental Health, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, After School, Tweens)
Wes Woodson, Minding Your Mind - Gaps in Family Resources – This workshop will be a discussion of resources and gaps critical for family success and how home visiting works to connect families and advocate for those resources. Participants will be invited to share their experiences and concerns and we will develop a list of recommendations for follow up on the local or state level. (All, Early Intervention, Preschool Special Education, Parent and Family, Community Collaborations, Trauma/Mental Health, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Spanish Speaking, Community and Healing, After School, Infants, Toddlers, Preschool, Children 5 – 9, Tweens, Infants, toddlers, Special needs and/or disabilities)
Emily Diaz and Lisa Candels, EdAdvance, Parents as Teachers Program
A Conscious Discipline Approach to Home Visiting – Participants will learn the basic outline for using Conscious Discipline in a home visiting setting. Using a hands-on approach, participants will create safe space baskets as a model to share with families. Participants will learn how to incorporate ACES conversations into home visits to deepen a families’ understanding of how their personal experiences impact the way they parent. Participants will have an opportunity to learn ways to connect families to resources as they identify needs. (Entry, Early Intervention, Parent and Family, Social Emotional Learning, Trauma/Mental Health, Infants, toddlers, Special needs and/or disabilities)
Shannon Haney, Putnam Family Resource CenterIntegrating Strengths-Based Approaches into Your Work – Presenters will provide an overview of the Strengthening Families Protective Factors Framework (SFPFF), a research-informed approach aimed at increasing family strengths, supporting child development, and reducing the likelihood of child abuse and neglect, and the five protective factors that compose the framework, parental resilience; social connections; knowledge of parenting and child development; concrete support in times of need; and social and emotional competence of children. Presenters will then facilitate a semi-structured conversation and activities using human-centered design methodologies to explore. (All, Early Intervention, Preschool Special Education, Social Emotional Learning, Parents & Family, Trauma/Mental Health, After School, Infants, Toddlers, Preschool, Children 5 – 9, Tweens)
Jacquelyn Rose and Annika Anderson, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center- Child Development, Concerns, and Making a Referral to the Birth to Three System – This workshop will outline the referral process for the Birth to Three system. This includes what Birth to Three is and what the process is from referral to exit. This presentation will outline the details on who can make a referral, and how to make that referral. Further it will include resources for all families referred to the Birth to Three system, including what resources families can utilize if they are ineligible for the Birth to Three system. (Entry, Early Intervention, Preschool Special Education, Social Emotional Learning, Parent and Family, Community Collaborations, Special Needs, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, After School, Infants, Toddlers, Special needs and/or disabilities)
Rebecca Smith and Nicole Cossette, Office of Early Childhood – Birth to Three