Author: uwcadmin

National Service Coordination Resources: What’s new and where are we going?

October 27, 2021

Curious to learn about resources, tools and activities to support states and programs using the DEC/ITCA Joint Position Statement on Service Coordination in Early Intervention and the Knowledge and Skills for Service Coordinators (KSSC)?  Register today for the next DEC SC CoP web conversation happening on December 9, 2021 from 10:30-11:30am ET. It will be recorded and available on the DEC SC CoP website if you are unable to join live.


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New information on Child Trauma

March 31, 2017

  Infographic: Addressing Child Trauma in CT           The Child Health and Development Institute (CHDI) has published a new infographic showing the tremendous progress made in CT in addressing childhood trauma, as well as plans to address gaps in care for young children. CHDI also released an Issue Brief “Supporting Young Children Who Experience Trauma: The Early Childhood Trauma Collaborative.” It discusses the effects of trauma on young children and ways Connecticut can support young children who experience trauma.  


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Family Preparedness Plan and recommendations released

March 31, 2017

  Governor Malloy Announces the Release of the Family Preparedness Plan  On Wednesday, March 29th, Governor Malloy announced the release of the Family Preparedness Plan, a step-by-step toolkit for parents who want to have a plan in place for a friend or family member to care for their children in the event that they are detained or deported. The toolkit urges families to have a designated “standby guardian” and contains a list of immediate steps that can be taken by parents or family members to ensure their children are cared for in the event of immigration enforcement. It also reminds … Continue reading


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World Down Syndrome Day = 3/ 21

March 13, 2017

Rock Your Socks on World Down Syndrome Day! What does 3/21 mean to you? CT Down Syndrome Congress invites you to consider it in the way families of a child with Down syndrome might: the uniqueness of the genetic triplication that leads to Down syndrome. They also encourage you to Rock Your Socks =  wear the brightest, eye-catching, possibly mis-matched socks you can find.  When you are asked, “What’s with the socks?” you have an opportunity to explain that you are celebrating all the wonderful things about people with Down syndrome while helping to advocate for  individual rights, inclusion, and respect.


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Immigrant and Refugee Families – information and resources

March 6, 2017

Governor Dannel Malloy and OEC Acting Commissioner Linda Goodman recently sent a letter and list of resources to all state-funded early care and education providers. The letter is in response to the recent presidential executive order on immigration matters and corresponding implementation memos from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.  It provides guidance  to state-funded early care and education providers outlining suggested protocols to develop and implement. While this letter was sent to state-funded providers, the guidance could be useful to any early care and education provider across the state.  Some of the protocol will be different for services provided in … Continue reading


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Public Hearing Regarding DORS-BESB Children’s Services Policy Manual

February 28, 2017

This is your chance to provide feedback on BESB children’s services and collaboration with the Birth to Three system. You can also provide written testimony and comments via email below. NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING  The State of Connecticut, Department of Rehabilitation Services, Bureau of Education and Services for the Blind (BESB) will be conducting a public hearing on Wednesday, April 12, 2017 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at 184 Windsor Avenue, Windsor, CT and simultaneously by teleconference. The purpose of the hearing is to offer the public, consumers, advocates, agencies and organizations the opportunity to provide comments pertaining to … Continue reading


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Healthy Food on a Budget – SNAP4CT

February 24, 2017

Are you supporting a family that struggles to provide healthy, tasty food on a budget? SNAP4CT is a resource for busy people to find healthy, budget-friendly recipes, locate nearby farmers’ markets,  and find tips for healthier living. Families that qualify for SNAP receive at least $16 per month for groceries. Click here to apply for SNAP Click here to learn what $16 can buy Everyone can enjoy the information, subscribe to a weekly newsletter, or send a question to the SNAP4CT panel of Nutritionists. Let’s get cooking!  


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FFY17 Part C Federal Application Draft Available for Comment

February 17, 2017

The Draft FFY17 (7/1/17-6/30/18) Part C Federal Application is now available for public comment. It can be found here. https://www.birth23.org/aboutb23/fedapp/ Written comment on the application must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 18, 2017. Comments should be sent: by e-mail to Alice.Ridgway@ct.gov. by Fax to 860-622-2789 or by mail at 450 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford, CT, 06103-1835; Two public hearings concerning the proposed application will be held. Monday, March 20th, 2017 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Office of Early Childhood, 450 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford, CT, 06103-1835, Meeting Room H Plaza Level Wednesday, March 22nd, 2017 from 3:00 to … Continue reading


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Household Safety – storing and discarding medications

February 17, 2017

Home visitors  are in an ideal position to support families’ household safety efforts.  An important topic for discussion concerns medications – both prescription and over the counter how to store them when used by a household member, and how to get rid of them when they are no longer needed. Safe Storage information:  Know what medicines are in your home, keep them locked up, make them less appealing and more tips are provided here. Poison Control Hotline 1-800-222-1222     Toddlers may mistake a pill for candy. Disposal of unwanted medications:  NO medications should be flushed down the toilet or poured down the sink.  Information on drug … Continue reading


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Easy ASQ online enrollment

January 25, 2017

Connecting families to the Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ) is quick and easy via the online enrollment options on CDI’s website. Online questionnaires: Click here for English       Click here for Spanish Mailed questionnaires, Click here Every family of a child that is not receiving Birth to Three supports and services can benefit from this free developmental monitoring program. This includes parents: who decline the evaluation whose children are determined not eligible whose children are eligible but choose not to enroll in Birth to Three who exit before or at 36 months who want to know more about age-appropriate developmental skills ASQ developmental monitoring continues until 60 months of … Continue reading


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Research: Diminished Attention to Eyes and Autism

January 20, 2017

“Mechanisms of Diminished Attention to Eyes in Autism”  Am J Psychiatry. 2017;174:26-35, 1-2. J.M. Moriuchi, A. Klin, W. Jones The reduced attention to other people’s eyes in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is due to passive insensitivity to social signals in others’ eyes, rather than gaze aversion, conclude US investigators in findings that could ultimately point to novel therapies for the condition. In two experiments, researchers showed that children with ASD did not look away faster than typically developing children from direct gaze but reacted less to implicit social cues for eye-looking. “These results contradict the hypothesis that children … Continue reading


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Terrific Opportunity for Early Interventionists in Birth to Three!

January 13, 2017

LAST CALL  – ONLY 4 SLOTS REMAIN.    NEED TO CONTACT Gabriella Freye by WEDNESDAY, January 18th!!!      The University of Connecticut, Mary Beth Bruder, is offering a course including a series of 3 modules on early intervention.  The course will allow for graduate credit or a stipend, as well as attainment of the CT. Birth to Three Early Intervention Specialist Credential after successful completion of  the 3 modules.   Please contact Gabriela Freyre-Calish, MSW at 860-679-1563 or freyre@nso2.uchc.edu.   Here’s what your colleagues are saying: “This course provides early interventionists with the essential tools needed to understand and apply the research that guides how we provide services to … Continue reading


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Activity Based Teaming: Training and TA

January 12, 2017

Applications have gone out to program directors for the two-day training in April 2017 and follow-up TA for 6 months.  The training will be on Evidence-based practices in Early Intervention by national experts, Dathan Rush & M’Lisa Shelden.  Program Directors should submit the application for their team by January 24, 2017.  Contact Linda Bamonte for more information.


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Natural Learning Environments Training – February 2017

January 12, 2017

Going Deeper Into Natural Learning Environments, a one-day training, has been added to the calendar for February 22, 2017 (Snow Date February 24th).  This is an essential training for anyone providing Early Intervention to families and a pre-requisite for any teams applying for the Activity-Based Teaming Training and TA with Rush & Shelden in April.  Register on the Birth to Three Calendar.


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LEARN Disability Summit at Mohegan Sun

January 6, 2017

LEARN Young Children & Families and Student Support Services are proud to present this 0 – 21 Disability Summit. Registration is open now. Free to registered participants. When: March 11, 2017   10 AM – 4 PM Where: Mohegan Sun Convention Center, Uncasville, CT More information is available at http://www.learn.k12.ct.us/  


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Webinar – Partnering With Diverse Dads: Challenges and Successes

December 21, 2016

Join an informative Webinar where experts will discuss strategies and tips for engaging diverse dads in all types of settings, including pediatric practices.  This free 90 minute webinar on Monday, January 9, 2016 at 12:00 PM (Central) hosted by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) FamilY Partnerships Network (FPN) and Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health (COPACFH) is a follow-up to “Don’t Forget the Dads: The Important Role of Fathers in Child and Family Health”, held in May 2016, and in direct response to participant comments requesting practical strategies for engaging dads of diverse backgrounds. Register.


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Support for Using Naturalistic Interventions in Autism

December 15, 2016

This open access article “Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions: Empirically Validated Treatments for Autism Spectrum Disorder” discusses support and evidence for use of naturalistic interventions, generalization to everyday activities, and parent involvement when working with families who have children on the autism spectrum.


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Transition Updates in SDE Bureau Bulletin

December 7, 2016

Below is a link to an important blog post by the CT State Department of Education Bureau of Special Education.  It clarifies expectations for LEAs when children from Birth to Three are referred for Early Childhood Special Education. Birth to Three Transition Update Please read it. Thank you to the Birth to Three Program Directors and Maria Synodi for addressing this important time in the lives of many of the families we support. To subscribe to the CSDE Bureau Bulletin after you click on the link above (and read it) click on the white Home link in the black menu bar at the … Continue reading


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Congratulations to Teams Finishing TA with Rush & Shelden!

December 1, 2016

An additional 9 teams and 3 Master Coach groups are finishing up TA with national experts, Dathan Rush and M’Lisa Shelden.  According to these experts, Connecticut teams have been well prepared through TA from the state and programs, and are reaching fidelity with these practices at a swift pace.  That doesn’t mean it has been easy!  As one Early Interventionist put it: “This process has been a difficult but rewarding challenge for this 23 year Veteran!!  I just got back from ASHA convention and I am happy to report that there were many sessions offered on the idea of “coaching” … Continue reading


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Autism Workshop December 13, 2017

December 1, 2016

An Autism Workshop will be held on Tuesday, December 13, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Edmund and Arlene Grossman Auditorium, Cell and Genome Sciences Building, 400 Farmington Avenue, Farmington. The workshop is sponsored by the Institute for Systems Genomics, and will feature speakers from the UConn Storrs and Farmington campuses, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, and The Jackson Laboratory.  See Birth to Three Calendar for more information.  


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