Our goal for each participant is to have a productive learning experience and an opportunity to share with colleagues from across the state through quality, research-based sessions, and productive organizational meetings.
Plan to attend the 2019 Michigan DEC Annual Conference!
The theme for our conference this year is 'Promoting and Supporting Resilience.'
Keynote speaker is Dr. Rosemarie Allen.
Dr. Rosemarie Allen has served as a leader in early childhood education for nearly 40 years. Her life's work is centered on ensuring children have access to high-quality early childhood programs that are developmentally and culturally appropriate. She is currently an Assistant Professor in the School of Education at Metropolitan State University of Denver. Her classes are focused on ensuring teachers are aware of how issues of equity, privilege, and power impact teaching practices.
Rosemarie also served on President Obama's "My Brother's Keeper" (MBK) initiative, Early Childhood Task Force. In that roles she was the national expert on implicit bias and culturally responsive practices, speaking at conferences across the country. She also created a course for MBK which was distributed nationally in efforts to reduce and ultimately eliminate preschool suspensions.
Dr. Allen earned her B.A. from California State University, M.Ed from Lesley University and EdD in Equity and Leadership in Education at the University of Colorado, Denver.
Other Highlights:
- Screening of the film 'Resilience' with a facilitated conversation on how to promote resilience in families
- Jane Scandary Award for excellence in the field of early intervention/early childhood special education
- Sessions on personal bias, mindfulness, resilient classrooms, empathy, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, life skills and much more
- Faculty track including sessions on the Early On Center for Higher Education, Inclusive Classroom Profile, and Brazelton highlights
- Family track with sessions on family leadership and advocacy
- Poster session
Close the Agenda
Registration: Friday - 7:30am to 8:30am Foyer Area
Sign In
Thank you for attending the Michigan DEC Annual Conference. We are so glad that you are going to be with us! As you begin the conference day, please remember to sign in and secure your conference packet. We look forward to spending this time together learning more about the important practices and issues that benefit and impact children birth to eight.
State Continuing Education Clock Hours (SCECHs)
Please make sure that during the sign-in process you have registered for any desired State Continuing Education Clock Hours (SCECHs) using your name and Personal Identification Code (PIC). To earn SCECHs you MUST register before beginning the conference day and sign out at the conclusion. Once the conference is underway, we are unable to continue the SCECH registration process, so please let us assist you in signing in and out for the day.
On Site Payments
For any unpaid balances or questions regarding the conference registration fee, please stop by the payment area. Registration fees may be paid on site by cash, check or credit card. Attendees must be paid in full prior to attending the conference unless other arrangements have been made in advance.
Coffee and Morning Refreshments
Once you have signed in, received your conference materials, and registered for any SCECHs, please help yourself to the complimentary coffee and morning refreshments that are available outside the French Auditorium. We plan on starting our day’s activities at 8:30am with all participants in the French Auditorium.
Vendor Displays: Friday - 8:00am to 2:15pm
Welcome: Friday - 8:30am to 8:45am French Auditorium - Room 118
Jane Scandary Award Presentation
Join us in honoring this year’s recipient of the Jane Scandary award for excellence in the field of early intervention/early childhood special education. Ms Scandary was one of Michigan’s important pioneers in early intervention who after a lifetime of dedication and hard work in the field passed away on February 9, 2017. To honor her legacy, Ms Scandary’s family established a memorial fund and has asked that contributions go toward remembering her work and toward honoring those who follow in her footsteps of dedication and vision. Last year’s recipient was Barbara Corbin from Kent County Early On. This year we will be honoring another deserving individual who brings energy and inspiration to the field in the spirit and work of Ms Scandary.
French Auditorium - Room 118
Morning Breakout Sessions 1: Friday - 9:00am to 10:30am
A - Developing Awareness of Personal Bias of Children with Disabilities
Elaine Tadajweski
People often have their own subconscious lens through which they see persons with disabilities. We will examine several of these "lenses" and discuss how those constructs can affect the way individuals interact with young children with disabilities. We will also discuss ways to avoid the limitations that may emanate from such constructs.
(Birth-8)
B - Meditation and Mindfulness for Adults
Jana Curtis
This session will focus on providing definitions for meditation and mindfulness and on discussing how from a scientific standpoint these practices influence the body and the brain. We will determine ways to incorporate these practices into our daily lives and discuss how these practices can influence our classrooms in positive ways. We will address common misconceptions surrounding these topics and answer questions that typically hold people back from beginning a daily practice.
(Birth-8)
C - Your Classroom Blueprint: 5 Critical Practices for Building a Resilient Classroom
Alyssa Nicol
How do we embed trauma-informed practices throughout our daily routine? Come to this session for research-based strategies you can use in your classroom tomorrow for group times, jobs, planning/recall, and problem-solving to build resiliency and promote early social-emotional skills. You will walk away from this session with lots of concrete strategies a blueprint of the 5 Critical Practices for Social-Emotional Development.
(3-5)
D - Early On Center for Higher Education Early Intervention Community of Practice
Kari Holmberg
Learn about upcoming projects and activities of the Early On Center and how they support pre-service professionals working with infants and toddlers with delays and/or disabilities and their families. Included are opportunities for collaboration with other colleagues teaching and/or working within the field.
(Birth-3)
E - The Resiliency Toolbox
Tracy Trautner
In this session, participants will have the opportunity to think about how stress affects them in their own lives and how that can be applied to their work with young children in classroom settings. The session will discuss three types of stress: toxic, tolerable, and positive stress. Finally, the session will identify five ways that caregivers and parents can build resilience in young children.
(Birth-5)
F - Empathy Turns Educators into Rock Stars
Lisa Goyette and John Ball
Offering empathy to individuals with special needs along with their families can go a long way in transforming an average educational experience into an exceptional one. In this seminar, learn specific tools you will be able to use in cultivating an empathetic environment that benefits everyone and significantly enhances the classroom!
(Birth-8)
G - Film Screening - RESILIENCE: The Biology of Stress & The Science of Hope
Alison Arnold
The devastating impact of childhood abuse, neglect, and dysfunctional household environments can be life-long. The growing prevalence of children impacted by ACEs is one of our nation's most critical health concerns. The ground-breaking ACE Study was designed to answer 2 questions: 1) How common are ACEs in the general public; 2) How do the neurophysiological and emotional impacts of ACEs toxic stress play out long-term? The documentary RESILIENCE: The Biology of Stress and the Science of Hope reveals how toxic stress triggers hormones that wreak havoc in the brains and on the bodies of children, putting them at a greater risk for disease, homelessness, prison time, and early death. This session will provide screening and discussion of the documentary film which addresses the issues of trauma and toxic stress and offers examples of workable, effective solutions that show dramatic results.
(Birth-8)
French Auditorium - Room 118
H - Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: A Silent Epidemic – Part 1 (Session 1 of 2)
Emily Rusnak
FASDs are exceptionally common in society, though few recognize or understand the disorder. Come join us for part 1 of this 2-part presentation as we explore the basics of FASD, including prevalence, common symptoms/signs of the disorder, and how we've come to have so many with the disorder...yet so few diagnosed.
(This breakout is a 2-part session. Please make certain you register to attend both sessions 1H and 2H)
(Birth-8)
Morning Breakout Sessions 2: Friday - 10:45am to 12:15pm
A - Learning Fair and CMU Child Development and Learning Lab Tour
Facilitators and Guides
- Learning Fair – This Interactive session is an opportunity for participants to roll up their sleeves and dig into an idea that supports young children with disabilities, their families, and/or professionals. The session begins with explanatory or introductory information and then moves on to involve participants through interactive, participatory activities.
- Lab Tour – This session also includes a 20-minute tour of the NAEYC accredited Child Development Learning Laboratory (CDLL). This Reggio-inspired program serves 3-5-year-old children enrolled in Head Start and tuition programs. Visit the four observation booths to see learning in action!
(Birth-5)
B - Michigan Mandatory Special Education Eligibility Categories for Birth to Three
Jorri Novak
In this session, learners will be given an overview of the Michigan Mandatory Special Education (MMSE) guidance related to eligibility categories, released by the Michigan Department of Education. Eligibility categories that will be reviewed include Early Childhood Developmental Delay (ECDD), Speech and Language Impairment (SLI), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and Other Health Impairment (OHI). Strategies that focus on how practitioners can use the guidance in their daily work will be provided.
(Birth-3)
C - Essential Skills for Life and Learning
Kevin Zoromski
This session will discuss the skills children need to learn to build a solid foundation for both academic and life success. From birth, children begin learning about the world around them. Through this session we will discuss what it means to be ready for school, developing emotional and social intelligence and the importance of communication and language development. Come and learn about the critical skills children need to learn and how you can incorporate them into everyday interactions with young children.
(Birth-5)
D - Family Leadership
Lisa Cook-Gordon and Barb Schinderle
This session is for families, professionals, community members and anyone who is interested in learning about the importance of partnering with families in decision-making to plan, design, and implement programs and services for young children.
(Birth-8)
E - Take a Walk in My Shoes: Experience the Impact of Vision and Hearing Loss
Beth Rice
What do young children with vision impairment or hearing loss experience daily? Demonstrations and simulations will allow you to understand the developmental and educational impact of these impairments on the students you serve. Leave with knowledge and resources for providing appropriate and universal accommodations. Also, receive instruction on effective strategies to support children in inclusive settings.
(Birth-8)
F - Building Capacity for Trauma-Sensitive Classrooms and Trauma-Informed Schools
Stacy Gatz
Teachers struggle to meet the needs of today’s students, even at the preschool level. Data indicates that preschool students are expelled at higher rates than those in K-12 combined. Children today exhibit behaviors hindering learning without identifiable diagnoses or educational eligibility. How can educators help? Make an instructional paradigm shift for teaching to trauma, a primary focus of education reform.
(Birth-8)
G - Film Screening - RESILIENCE: The Biology of Stress & The Science of Hope
Alison Arnold
The devastating impact of childhood abuse, neglect, and dysfunctional household environments can be life-long. The growing prevalence of children impacted by ACEs is one of our nation's most critical health concerns. The ground-breaking ACE Study was designed to answer 2 questions: 1) How common are ACEs in the general public; 2) How do the neurophysiological and emotional impacts of ACEs toxic stress play out long-term? The documentary RESILIENCE: The Biology of Stress and the Science of Hope reveals how toxic stress triggers hormones that wreak havoc in the brains and on the bodies of children, putting them at a greater risk for disease, homelessness, prison time, and early death. This session will provide screening and discussion of the documentary film which addresses the issues of trauma and toxic stress and offers examples of workable, effective solutions that show dramatic results.
(Birth-8)
H - Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: A Silent Epidemic – Part 2 (Session 2 of 2)
Emily Rusnak
Our continued discussion on FASD will focus our attention on the diagnosis of and intervention models for FASD. We will explore why diagnoses are so important for developing effective clinical pathways, then we’ll address the development of FASD-informed communities to implement best practices for supporting children with an FASD.
(This breakout is a 2-part session. Please make certain you register to attend both sessions 1H and 2H)
(Birth-8)
Poster Session: Friday - 10:45am to 12:15pm
Poster Presenter Dialogue
Stop by our poster tables during the second breakout session in the morning and talk with our presenters about their displays, experience, next steps and how their work may align with your efforts on behalf of children.
Lunch: Friday - 12:15pm to 1:15pm
A Conversation over Lunch: Viewpoints of Michigan’s Early Intervention Service Providers
Jane Widell
This session will provide early interventionists an opportunity to participate in doctoral research. During a focus group discussion, participants will share their views on 1) knowledge and competencies they think they need to provide early intervention services for infants and toddlers and 2) how they learned what they need to know to do their jobs in the field of early intervention.
(Birth-3)
Room 120
Keynote: Friday - 1:15pm to 2:00pm French Auditorium - Room 118
Promoting Resilience: It's All About You
Rosemarie Allen
One of the most critical protective factors that support resilience is close, positive relationships with caregivers or other caring adults. Educators have the potential to change the trajectory of a child’s life. What role do you play? How are you ensuring the well-being of children despite adverse early experiences? This presentation will include strategies to increase children’s ability to cope with adversity and techniques that enhance healthy development in vulnerable children. The role of implicit bias, negative perceptions of children’s behaviors, and utilizing culturally responsive and culturally affirming practices, will also be discussed.
Afternoon Breakout Sessions: Friday - 2:15pm to 3:45pm
A - Highlighting Active Learning and Research
Holly Hoffman
This presentation highlights opportunities for learning and research through the Early On Center for Higher Education faculty grant. An overview of Brazelton Touchpoints training opportunity as a result of this grant will be provided, as well as lessons learned while facilitating a multi-faceted training program for professionals and university students. Participants are encouraged to ponder various research questions, scenarios, and possibilities throughout this session to support their teaching, scholarly endeavors, and service interests.
(Birth-8)
B - ACES Research and Impacts on Schools and Students
Ericka M Taylor
Key findings of the ACES research will be discussed. Understanding traumatic childhood experiences is essential to building resiliency within educators and the students. By building awareness and knowledge of these experiences, educators can utilize strategies in resilience to become even more effective in building positive relationships with students and families.
(Birth-8)
C - Implicit Bias: Awareness is Halfway There
Rosemarie Allen
When children are engaged in persistent behaviors that are difficult to manage, adults frequently experience powerlessness, especially when working with young children they describe as defiant or oppositional. This workshop presents information regarding the relationship between children’s behavior and the adult’s responses to undesired behavior. The role of implicit bias on behavioral expectations will be discussed and strategies will be will provide for aligning practitioner expectations with those of children and families.
(Birth-8)
D - Dialogic Reading: Engaging All Students in Literacy
Danya Stump
Dialogic Reading incorporates five different types of questioning to use to engage students with literacy. The various levels of questioning allow for adaptations to be made so that learners of all abilities can be actively engaged in shared reading experiences. The CROWD strategy can easily be used by families during evening story time.
(3-5)
E - Lessons Learned from Social Emotional Pilot
Barbara Corbin and Erin Touw
For the past three years, our service area has been focused on improving social-emotional outcomes for children in Early On. During this session, we will review our charge, data, and strategies for change. We will show the social and emotional workshops, training and supports we have provided for staff to increase awareness, understanding, and competence in this area. We will share tools and ideas you can use with both staff and families. We will also discuss our plans for future work in the area of social and emotional supports.
(Birth-3)
F - Advocacy in Action in Early Childhood
Samantha Riggleman and Christy Callahan
Acting on legislative issues that are important to the advancement of policies and opportunities for young children with exceptionalities is essential. Explore CEC and DEC policy issues to learn how you can be an advocate. In addition, the Michigan Early Childhood Policy Platform will be shared and discussed. Connect with your congressional leaders because your voice makes a difference!
(Birth-8)
G - Healthy Brain Development and Attachment in Young Children
Tracy Trautner
Attachment is a key component to healthy development at an early age. Through healthy relationships, early experiences, proper nutrition, and physical activity a young child will have the necessary tools to navigate life, including moments of adversity.
H - The Inclusive Classroom Profile (ICP)
Jorri Novak
This session will provide a brief overview of the Inclusive Classroom Profile (ICP) as well as ways in which it can be used for program coaching and mentoring. The Inclusive Classroom Profile, authored by Dr. Elena Soukakou, is a structured observation rating scale designed to assess the quality of 12 inclusive classroom practices that support the developmental needs of children with disabilities, 2½ - 5 years of age, in typical early childhood settings. Ratings on the ICP indicate the extent to which program staff members are intentionally adapting the classroom's environment, activities, and instructional supports to encourage a child’s active and meaningful participation in the group.
(3-5)