Month: February 2016

HMG Networking Breakfast schedule

February 25, 2016

The Office of Early Childhood Family Support Services Division is pleased to share the 2016 calendar of Help Me Grow Networking Breakfasts. Help Me Grow program staff regularly host community networking breakfasts that bring together service providers to identify gaps and barriers in service,  share information, learn about new initiatives and develop solutions to challenging family issues. Join a breakfast near you!


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CT. DEC Open Meeting Discussing the New DEC Recommended Practices

February 18, 2016

CT DEC is excited to announce the upcoming event that is open to all interested members of the ECE community. ece 2016 Special Educators with a Purpose : Keynote speaker, Mary Beth Bruder from UCONN Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities.  “Building our Capacity for Evidence Based Practice: Our Responsibility to Those We Teach” and Discussion of the new DEC Recommended Practices.  All attendees will receive a copy of the DEC Recommended Practice.  March 22nd, 6-9 p.m. in the Community Room, Goodwin College.  Please RSVP to ctdecearlychildhood@gmail.com    


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Together We Will – Stipends For Parents

February 18, 2016

The 23 rd Annual Together We Will Conference on April 6, 2016 is offering stipends to parents who would like to attend.  Please use the following forms to request a stipend: 2016 TWW Family – eng       2016 TWW Family – span     Find more information on the conference on www.birth23.org/calendar.


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New DEC Recommended Practices Videos

February 11, 2016

A new video about the DEC Recommended Practices was recently posted here dec-sped.org/rpvideos.  Mary McLean, the chair of the DEC Recommended Practices Commission, offers an overview of the 2014 Recommended Practices in the top video and if you scroll down you’ll see another short video about, “Evidence Syntheses of the DEC Recommended Practices.”


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When It Comes to Language Development Not All Toys Are Created Equal!

February 9, 2016

A new study looks at the role of toys ( electronic “learning” toys vs. traditional toys vs. books) in promoting language development.  The results were significant – traditional toys and books supported language development and high quality parent-child communication more than electronic toys.


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EASTCONN Hosting 3rd Annual Infant/Toddler Conference: Let’s Talk

February 9, 2016

This Conference on March 11th,  will place an emphasis on development of language skills for children 0-3, including supporting language with quality children’s books. Supporting Dual Language Learners will be an integral component to this professional learning, as well as supporting children to understand language and use language for social interaction. See Birth to Three Calendar for more information.  


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Lead Exposure in Young Children

February 8, 2016

Parents who are worried about lead poisoning may contact their child’s medical provider to request evaluation for lead exposure with a blood test. Infants and toddlers in Connecticut are screened for lead exposure and parents of children with a blood lead level of 10 micrograms per deciliter  (mcg/dL) or greater receive information about: identifying and eliminating sources of lead dietary approaches to reducing lead in their children’s bodies typical developmental milestones, so they may identify a delay as soon as possible how to refer their child for a Birth to Three developmental evaluation You can’t see, smell, or taste lead in water. … Continue reading


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CPAC Family Connections Mentor Program

February 8, 2016

Family Connections is a statewide program that helps connect parents who have infants and toddlers involved in the CT Birth to Three System with experienced parent mentors who also have children with special needs and have been through Birth to Three. The CT Parent Advocacy Center (CPAC) is recruiting new volunteers for this valuable mentoring program.  Please share this opportunity with parents who may be interested! More information Application for Interested Parents


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AAP Releases Updated Immunization Schedule

February 8, 2016

Immunizations prevent illnesses with potentially devastating health and developmental consequences.  An updated 2016 schedule was recently published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)  and the American Academy of Pediatrics. The updated schedule was also approved by the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The “Recommended Immunization Schedule for Persons Aged 0 through 18 Years,” changes the order of the vaccines to group them by the recommended age of administration,  adds three recently licensed vaccines, and includes footnotes and a catch-up  schedule. Please discuss the 2016 schedule with your families and help ensure they  … Continue reading


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Have you joined your colleagues at Birth to Three’s Natural Learning Environment training yet?

February 5, 2016

  The Provider Support Team has been busy offering trainings around the state on “Going Deeper Into Natural Learning Environment Practices”.  The trainings have been filling so fast that we will be adding two additional trainings in March and April.  Be on the lookout for postings on the Birth to Three Calendar!


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Connecticut Launches Safe Sleep Campaign Promoting Safe Sleep Environments for Infants

February 5, 2016

In April 2014, the Office of the Child Advocate issued data from 2001-2013 reporting that the number of Connecticut infants who died where unsafe sleep conditions were present was almost three times the number of infants who died of child abuse. The public health alert also stated that infants in Connecticut are more likely to die from unsafe sleeping conditions than from child abuse, car accidents, choking, drowning, falls, or any other form of accidental injury.  The statewide campaign will distribute information to parents of newborns discharged from the hospital through a variety of means including door hangers, posters, booklets … Continue reading


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