Category: Uncategorized

The Faces of Birth to Three

September 1, 2016

Whose faces do you picture when you think of “Birth to Three families”?    😛  😯    😆 I’m asking for your help with collecting photos of real people who receive early intervention supports.  Please ask a few families of your choice to send me one or more photos that tell their story.  If their photo is selected, I will ask for their consent to use it  for Public Awareness purposes, including the FY16 annual report to the Governor and legislature. Preferred photos:  child with family member(s), activity based, good lighting and clarity of images, high-resolution digital preferred      NO professional portraits please Send photo files/prints to: eileen.mcmurrer@ct.gov with “Faces of B23” in the subject … Continue reading


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Infant Mental Health Collaborative meetings

May 9, 2016

Join your colleagues at various locations around the state on May 18, June 9, 20, 27 or 28 to: Promote awareness of infant mental health Promote use of relationship-based practices throughout infant/early childhood communities Expand skills, knowledge & best practice in field of infant mental health Identify gaps/needs in programs & communities related to infant mental health Advance knowledge of the competencies & endorsement in infant mental health Identify & explore opportunities for collaborative training & reflective supervision This is for EVERYONE serving infants, toddlers/very young children and their families!!! For times, locations and to RSVP:  contact Anne Giordano   Giordano@educationconnection.org   860-567-0863 X236


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Your Voice Needed – ECCS Community Discussions

May 4, 2016

The OEC and United Way Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems (ECCS) group is hosting four community discussions on how to increase Connecticut’s ability to detect and address developmental challenges and delays in children aged 0-5 through developmental promotion, monitoring and screening, and supporting linkage to follow up services when there are developmental concerns. We want YOUR input on the ECCS work and Action Plan. Audience: ECE and family child care providers, Early Childhood community members and stakeholders, families, Birth to Three providers   Format: Open forum setting with a guided presentation, Q & A, and brief opinion survey When and Where: Monday, May 9, 3:00-4:30 PM: Energize … Continue reading


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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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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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Translation & Interpretation Services

December 10, 2015

Looking for translation of a family’s IFSP into Farsi? The State of Connecticut Contract # 14PSX0152 lists twenty vendors who can provide document translation and/or face-to-face interpretation. Anyone may contact these agencies to purchase their services.  If your agency receives 60% or more of your funding from a combination of state and federal sources, you may purchase their services at the contracted rates (which are often lower than those offered to the public).  Agencies differ in their rates per language, and in the languages they can provide. Go to http://www.biznet.ct.gov/SCP_Search/ContractDetail.aspx?ID=15293 to see how these vendors may support your effective communications … Continue reading


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Honoring Military Families – access to resources

November 5, 2015

November is the Month of the Military Family.  Mili­tary families embody strength, resilience, and courage.  They make tremendous sacrifices as they contend with separation from their families and  adjustments to new living situations and communi­ties. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network has a number of excellent resources, webinars, and links to partner organizations to support the well-being of our nation’s military families. Please share this link with your active and retired military families, with our thanks! Visit>>


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Meet Sesame Street’s First Character with Autism!

October 23, 2015

“Fuzzy favorites Grover, Abby and Elmo are joined by their newest muppet pal, Julia, a character with autism, in Sesame Street Workshop‘s new nationwide initiative. Launched Wednesday morning, Sesame Street and Autism: See Amazing in All Children aims to reduce “the stigma of autism” with the introduction of the first muppet with autism.  The initiative, created for communities and families with children ages 2 to 5, includes a free downloadable app that incorporates video, digital story cards designed to make daily life tasks easier for families of children with autism and storybook materials for providers, organizations and caregivers. ” (article found … Continue reading


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ED Launches a New Early Learning Webpage

September 28, 2015

Visit ED’s updated early learning webpage where you can learn about the Department’s early learning work. The webpage will make it easier for the public to learn about ED’s key early learning activities; initiatives and programs; ED’s interagency early learning work; the latest from ED’s technical assistance centers and research projects; and resources for families.   Please share the link to the webpage widely!  


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Check Out This NEW COS Online Module!

May 15, 2015

Source: Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center and the Center for IDEA Early Childhood Data Systems – May 15, 2015 This new free online module draws from the work of the Early Childhood Outcomes Center and is designed to help early intervention and preschool special education staff understand the Child Outcomes Summary (COS) process. It provides key information on the process and practices that contribute to consistent and meaningful COS decision-making. The first three sessions are available for use now and are meant to provide a basic understanding of the COS process. They include: Session 1: So What’s This All About? … Continue reading


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Linda Bamonte, DPT was published!

February 10, 2015

Congratulations to our own Linda Bamonte, DPT for her article in this recent APTA Journal!


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Transition Conferences – whose job is it anyway?

August 29, 2014

Years ago we learned that Part C of the IDEA requires that the service coordinator convenes a transition conference between 9 months and 90 days before the child’s 3rd birthday. Part B of the IDEA requires that the LEA participate in that meeting. Since our compliance is measured by whether or not the conference was held on time (and not whether the LEA participated), we are the ones who must schedule and hold the conference on time. Please be sure to invite the LEA to the conference with enough notice so they can make it. You also want to allow … Continue reading


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OSEP Determinations

July 1, 2014

Last week Connecticut received the state’s “determination letter” from the US Dept. of Education Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) and for the 7th year in a row… “The Department has determined that Connecticut meets the requirements of Part C of the IDEA.”   That may not sound like a lot but it means a great deal. The only way we could continue to meet all of the requirements of Part C of IDEA year after year is through your efforts ensuring that families have timely initial IFSP meetings, new services, and transition conferences.  This is in addition to all the … Continue reading


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Act Early Webinar

June 13, 2014

Learn the Signs. Act Early. Improving Early Identification for Children with Autism and other Developmental Disabilities Friday, June 27 1 EDT,  12 CDT,  11 MDT,  10 PDT  You are invited to participate in this ECTA Center webinar which will feature the “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” campaign.  You will learn about the program components, tools, and resources. And you will learn how these tools and resources have been used in coordinated, cross sector developmental monitoring, screening and Child Find to improve early identification for children with autism and other developmental disabilities.  LTSAE Factsheet Presenters: Camille Smith, CDC  – “Learn the … Continue reading


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Oops…

May 13, 2014

You may have seen an empty email around noon on May 13th.  We are working with Mail Chimp to get blog posts sent to your inbox but something went wrong. When in doubt, it is probably a good practice to add this blog to your RSS feeds in Outlook or another feed service, or just check the blog tab at Birth23.org once a week.


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