Region 1&2 ECSE Snippets
September 2023
The Region 1&2 ECSE Snippets purpose is to provide monthly communication with practitioners regarding regional happenings, upcoming trainings and resources. It is each practitioner's responsibility to check with their district/supervisor regarding use of the resources and participation in professional development opportunities.
If you have any suggestions for resources, trainings, or regional happenings to spotlight please send them to Wendy Carter at wcarter@bric.k12.mn.us.
Region 1&2 Spotlight
Upcoming Professional Development
Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI)
Resource Highlights
Equity
Autism Resources
Family Engagement
Housekeeping
Laporte's new Pyramid Model Innovation Team!
The Laporte school district's Early Childhood program was accepted as a new Pyramid Model Innovation Team! They are pictured here starting their first monthly Implementation Team meeting. You can find more information from the National Center for Pyramid Model Implementation at the NCPMI website: https://challengingbehavior.org/. This website includes a large variety of free resources for supporting young children's healthy social emotional development.
MDE Training Opportunities
MDE Early Childhood Screening Open Office Hours
Join your peers to discuss new screening program guidance and best practices the third Tuesday of each month, 1200-1:00 p.m., Sept. 12, 2023, through April 16, 2024.
Register for Early Childhood Screening Open Office Hours.
Wednesday, September 13, 202 8:00-12:00 via Zoom
While this learning is designed for leaders new to early childhood special education leadership, anyone is welcome to join for items of interest/need. There will be a time for leaders to break into regional groups to make connections and establish some “go to” colleagues.
Cost: Free
Registration: New ECSE Leaders Forum Zoom
Critical Therapy and Teaching Strategies to Support Access to Communication and Assistive Technology for Young Children – Part 1.
The young child's ability to participate and "engage" in real activity must be supported for communication to develop. Communication does not happen in isolation; young children need to play, move, and interact with activities with communication.
Everyone involved in supporting young children who need and use augmentative or alternative communication (AAC) to express themselves must recognize that the child's personal play and mobility experiences are critical to AAC use. This session will explore these issues, especially as they relate to the development of language itself and laying a foundation for the use of AAC devices and strategies. Presenter: Karen Kangas
Friday, September 29, 2023
12:30–3:30 p.m.
Delivered remotely via Zoom
Cost: Free
Registration: https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIsfu6oqzsiGf82oedXPxesqb1mO69rCK0
Part 2 of This Session
Karen will return on Friday, December 1, 2023, with more exciting information and strategies to share.
Register for Critical Therapy and Teaching Strategies to Support Access to Communication and Assistive Technology for Young Children - Part 2 here: https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIsceutqTsvGQvleLvFScrA1DYHdzmH8gg
Early Education Enrollment Announcement
The opening training for Early Education Enrollment is set for Tuesday, October 3, 1:00-2:00 p.m. The session link will be on the MDE calendar. Questions? Contact Avisia Whiteman.
Region 1&2 Part B and C Due Process Webinar Training
This regional training will be held in person on Wednesday, October 11th, from 8:00-3:40, facilitated by Wendy Carter, Region 1&2 PDF.
Each session includes viewing a 3 part webinar, intended for practitioners and leaders, addressing due process requirements and quality practices from identification to transition. The last hour of each session we will be joined virtually by representatives from MDE for a live Q and A.
If any participants would like to view the webinars on their own and then join for the 1 hour Q&A, please email Wendy Carter at wcarter@bric.k12.mn.us to receive the zoom link to join. Clock hours for joining this training virtually will be given for the 1 hour Q&A time.
Participants may register for 1 or both of the sessions.
Cost: Free
Registration: https://www.bric-k12.com/page/regionalevents
Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health (MACMH)
Save the date for the 6th annual Infant & Early Childhood Conference at Minneapolis Marriott Southwest in Minnetonka, Minnesota, along with a virtual option. The event is designed for professionals who work with very young children, prenatal to age 6, and their families and caregivers.
November 5 - 7, 2023
Minnetonka, MN
Cost: varies and is the responsibility of individual districts.
DEC Annual International Conference on Young Children with Disabilities
Connect with 1000+ Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education Professionals and Families at #DEC2023! In-person and online opportunities are available!
November 28-December 1, 2023
The Hilton Minneapolis
Minneapolis, MN
Check out the link above for conference details, rates, and registration information.
Cost: varies and is the responsibility of individual districts.
Help Me Connect
Low Incidence Disabilities "Quick Cards"
A series of Low Incidence Disabilities “Quick Cards” have recently been posted to the MDE webpage. These Quick Cards summarize the most important information about low incidence disabilities, assistive technology, accessible educational materials, screening, reevaluation and referrals. Many contain links and QR codes for further reference. Please read and refer to the introductory Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) Teaming and Collaboration Quick Cards document first for the purpose and list of acronyms used throughout all the quick cards.
The Vivian Act
The Minnesota legislature passed a law known as the Vivian Act in 2021. The law is named for Vivian Henrikson who was identified with congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) shortly after birth. Vivian's mother, Leah Henrikson, University of Minnesota physician Dr. Mark Schleiss, and other parents of Minnesota children affected with cCMV introduced the idea for the bill. Parents advocated for passage of the legislation to promote education, awareness, and early detection of cCMV. To learn more about this act, please visit the Minnesota Department of Health’s link. https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/cytomegalovirus/vivianact.html
Beginning (or Continuing) the Journey to a More Equitable Classroom
As educators, we must take a look inward and evaluate our own thoughts, ideas, and practices, as we acknowledge our past mistakes and strive for equity. Doing this kind of thinking, reflecting, and improvement can be overwhelming, uncomfortable, or upsetting. It is also a necessity.
This article from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) outlines four steps that early childhood educators can take to understand our own biases and to take action to advance equity. Beginning (or Continuing) the Journey to a More Equitable Classroom
STAR Autism Support Media Center
Help Me Connect: Resources for Families
Minnesota Help Me Connect is an online service navigator that connects expectant and parenting families with young children to services in their local communities that support healthy child development and family well-being. The Center for Inclusive Child Care has a podcast highlighting this resource. Listen as their guest, Shawn Holmes of the Minnesota Department of Health and the Help Me Connect Coordinator, shares an overview of the amazing resources this website provides. (Length: 23:41)