Birth to Three Blog
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
Keep Reading
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
Keep Reading
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.
Keep Reading
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.
Keep Reading
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/
Keep Reading
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.
Keep Reading
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.
Keep Reading
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
Keep Reading
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
Keep Reading
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.
Keep Reading
UCONN Early Intervention Course with Stipend Starts January 2017!
November 17, 2016
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 young children and their families.” – Mary Beth McLaughlin (ASD) “I have grown so … Continue reading
Keep Reading
CDI – access to supports
November 3, 2016
Child Development Infoline is a key Birth to Three partner, but also connects people with a much wider array of supports. The United Way, together with the Office of Early Childhood, the Departments of Education and Public Health, has issued an updated reference guide available here. For more information about CDI, or to access their supports go to cdi.211ct.org .
Keep Reading
Infant and Toddler Food FACTS
November 3, 2016
Birth to two years is a critical period for developing healthy food preferences and eating habits and preventing childhood obesity. Baby Food FACTS provides a comprehensive analysis of the nutritional content of food and drink products marketed to parents for their babies and toddlers (up to age 3), the messages used to promote these products, and how well the marketing messages correspond with expert advice about feeding young children. Click Here for the Summary sheet in English Click Here for the Summary Sheet in Spanish .
Keep Reading
New MOU with BESB-DORS
November 2, 2016
The CT Office of Early Childhood and the Board of Education and Services for the Blind, Dept. of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) recently established a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate supports for families of children who have confirmed visual impairment, legal blindness, or are deaf/blind. Please click here for the details and the full MOU.
Keep Reading
Third Party Medical Record Requests
October 31, 2016
Efforts to protect the confidentiality of young patients’ medical records have recently produced requests by at least one large medical center that the B23 provider include a copy of the parent’s photo ID with signature (e.g., driver license) with the signed authorization so that signature verification may be obtained. A per-page fee may also be charged. Here are links to two medical centers’ information and Authorization to Release forms: CT Children’s Medical Center – medical record information Yale New Haven Health – medical record information
Keep Reading
Research Supporting Parent-Led Intervention for Children with Autism
October 28, 2016
As noted in Disability Scoop, for the first time, researchers say they have evidence that parent-led intervention for young kids with autism continues to yield gains several years later. Children who participated in an intervention between the ages of 2 and 4 displayed less severe symptoms six years later, exhibiting fewer repetitive behaviors and better social communication, according to findings published this week in the journal The Lancet.
Keep Reading
New trainings and webinars added to the Calendar
October 28, 2016
Please check out the Birth to Three training calendar for recent additions of trainings and webinars that may be of interest! Some topics include: Annual CT. Down Syndrome Conference with discounted rates for Birth to Three personnel, Fragile X Conference, webinars on dual language learners and gluten-free diets in the pediatric population. The Natural Learning Environments training on November 16th still has a few spots left. Don’t get closed out!
Keep Reading
“Save Birth to Three” Facebook Clarification
October 25, 2016
Despite what some have heard there have been no cuts to the funding of the Birth to Three System. Last year there was a $6 million deficit and the Connecticut General Assembly covered it. This year Birth to Three was allocated the same amount of state funds (a.k.a. “level” or “flat” funded) so there is another shortfall predicted this year. The State has to change how Birth to Three programs are paid, both for families with children who are eligible for Medicaid and for those who are not. The new billing rates have not been proposed yet and will not … Continue reading
Keep Reading
Fragile X Conference SOON
October 11, 2016
Targeting Social Skills and Behavioral Strategies for School, Work and Fun Saturday, November 12, 2016 8:00 am – 5:00 pm University of Connecticut Health Center Farmington, Connecticut Featuring Internationally Renowned Fragile X and Autism Spectrum Disorder Experts Jennifer Epstein, PsyD Licensed Clinical Psychologist Jane Thierfeld Brown, EdD Yale Child Study Jonathan Picker, MBChB, PhD Boston Children’s Hospital $60 per person, which includes breakfast, lunch and a conference binder. CEU credit & Attendance Certificate available on request. Online Registration or http://www.eventbrite.com and search for “Fragile X” Register by October 29, 2016 In lieu of Online Registration, pay by Check, made payable to “NFXF” … Continue reading
Keep Reading
Birth to Three Unsung Hero
October 11, 2016
Many of you may have read or heard about the Office of the Child Advocate’s recent report on Baby Dylan. Dylan was 13 months when he was removed from his biological parents by the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and put in a relative placement with a cousin of his mother. In this placement, Dylan was badly abused and neglected, resulting in broken bones, malnourishment and near death. What you may not be aware of is that Birth to Three was involved in this case. A social worker with one of our programs made nine separate reports to the caseworker … Continue reading
Keep Reading