Our weekly e-newsletter to providers combines grantee resources, stories of interest, exclusive educational opportunities, and grant information. In this issue:
Your organization is free to use our posts and images from our Child Abuse Prevention Month Toolkit. Our goal for the month of April is to reach as many individuals as possible to equip families with knowledge and resources to support child abuse prevention practices in Texas.
Each year, the Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) Division recognizes people across Texas who go the extra mile to serve their communities. We're looking for those people and organizations that have created solutions to problems, made positive, lasting changes for the community they live in, and brought people together with their resilience, care, and kindness.
Have a look at last year’s nominees!
PEI is currently accepting nominations for five award categories:
- Champion for Children and Families
- Outstanding Leader
- Community Collaboration
- Outstanding Youth
- Outstanding Parent/Caregiver
In alignment with PEI’s Five-Year Strategic Plan, PEI is developing a series of think tanks to dive deeper, problem solve, and brainstorm some specific challenges to creating a strong prevention infrastructure.
If you would like to participate in these think tanks to assist PEI grow prevention programming in Texas, please complete our Think Tank Availability and Interest Form below.
 This Spring and Summer, Sasha, Sarah, and the PEI Leadership team will hit the road for the 2022 Listening Tour. The pandemic forced us to shift our 2020 listening tour to virtual but we’re ready to visit our grantees and witness firsthand the amazing work being done by you.
Between May and October we would love to meet with your program staff; meet with parents and youth; talk to a group of home visitors; participate in parent cafes; attend a local meeting; participate in an open house or ribbon cutting event; meet with key stakeholders in your community; or connect with you virtually!
If your agency is interested in having PEI Leadership visit between May and October 2022, fill out this survey:
Please note, due to limited availability for in person visits we will be selecting the first fifteen grantees to complete the survey.
Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) is committed to ensuring our grantees have the training and professional development they need to navigate Texas families’ needs.
In order to ensure that PEI is offering the support you need to create opportunities for partnerships with families, we are asking you to complete the survey below to determine what topics require additional focus and support.
You can complete the survey on behalf of your overall organization’s input or share the link with your staff and sub awardees to fill out on their own.
Please take 10-15 minutes to complete this survey by April 13th.
Quality Incentive Project: Data Dive into the FY22 Scorecard
Date: April 13th
Time: 10:00 A.M. – 11:00 A.M.
Register
Join us to learn about the data behind the Quality Incentive Project (QIP) scorecards. We will review the data behind all of the QIP measures, including the FY2022 updates.
Parent Engagement Panel Webinar Part 2
Join PEI for a virtual panel discussion on how parent involvement has helped PEI and our partners better their services.
Date: April 26th
Time: 10:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M. CDT
Registration Deadline: April 20th
During our last conversation we highlighted how parent involvement is helping PEI and our partners improve services within the presenter’s communities. The feedback from the survey was overwhelmingly positive, and it was clear that participants wanted the opportunity to dive deeper. For our second part of the parent engagement conversation we are providing you the opportunity to connect with organizations doing the work.
Panelists:
During this webinar you will have the opportunity to participate in a deep dive breakout session to learn about an agency’s successes, challenges, tips, and tools that you can take back to your community.
After the deep dive session, there will be a wrap up that includes time to visit with all four panelist and to ask questions.
 To take these courses: Type or paste the course names below into the search bar on the PEI Learning Hub:
- Click on the course and select “request”
- On your transcript select “launch” to begin
- When the video is complete, go to "completed" courses in your transcript
- Select "evaluate" to provide feedback
For questions, contact PEITraining@dfps.state.tx.us.
Domestic Violence in Home Visiting
Domestic violence is a prevalent and recurring issue in home visiting. In this course, you will build your confidence to address domestic violence while working with families as their home visitor. Topics include the impact of violence on family systems, parenting, and child development. Common scenarios and strategies are presented for talking with parents about keeping themselves and their children safe. This course supports you in developing a non-judgmental approach in working with families whose background and circumstances may or may not be differ from your own.
This Achieve OnDemand learning experience qualifies for .3 IACET Continuing Education Units (CEUs). Full completion and/or attendance of the learning experience, a passing score on any post-test(s), and completion of the end of course evaluation are required to be awarded IACET CEUs.
Understanding Maltreatment Risks in Your Communities: Tools for Precision Primary Prevention
This presentation focuses on how to interpret the maltreatment risk maps and their implication for needed programs in the community. We focus on how these maps can inform strategic planning, needs assessments, and grant writing.
 Access the Essentials of Home Visiting live webinars through the Essentials of Home Visiting Portal free of cost.
Use this link to register for any webinars from Start EarlyTM
Being Present with Families
Date: April 13th
Time: 12:00 P.M. - 1:00 P.M. CDT
Register by: April 12th, 12:00 PM CDT
How do our personal values and experiences impact the work we do? The qualities of being nonjudgmental, present and an active listener will be covered as well as some potential barriers to active listening. This webinar complements the Basics of Home Visiting self-paced course.
Trauma in Families and Communities
Date: April 21st
Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CDT
Register By: April 20th, 12:00 PM CDT
As a home visitor, how can you support yourself and the families you work with in an intentional and trauma-informed manner? This webinar identifies common missteps in working with families impacted by trauma. We will examine different strategies you can employ to support your families who are experiencing trauma.This webinar complements the Impact of Trauma in Home Visiting self-paced course.
Observing the Parent-Child Relationship: What You See, Feel and Think
Date: April 27th
Time: 12:00 P.M. - 1:00 P.M. CDT
Register By: April 26th, 12:00 PM CDT
This webinar will describe a process for observing the interactions between the parent and the child that provides clues into the type and quality of dyadic relationship that exists. By using a process that allows for more awareness of perception, the home visitor can strategize how to best approach the work of enhancing and supporting the parent-child relationship and the quality of attachment which is vital for healthy child development. his webinar complements the Building Engaging and Collaborative Relationships with Families self-paced course. It also following webinars: Being Present with Families and Exploring Values and Beliefs Around Parenting.
NEAR@Home is a two-generation process that provides home visitors with the skills and support to discuss ACEs and resilience safely, effectively, and respectfully with parents, focusing on hope and avoiding labeling. The two components of NEAR@Home include the NEAR@Home Toolkit and the NEAR@Home Facilitated Learning Process, both designed to complement one another and provide a holistic, reflective learning process that helps professionals to develop both the knowledge and skills needed to feel confident and competent when partnering with families who have experienced trauma.
Near @ Home
NEAR@Home is a two-generation process that provides home visitors with the skills and support to discuss ACEs and resilience safely, effectively, and respectfully with parents, focusing on hope and avoiding labeling. The two components of NEAR@Home include the NEAR@Home Toolkit and the NEAR@Home Facilitated Learning Process, both designed to complement one another and provide a holistic, reflective learning process that helps professionals to develop both the knowledge and skills needed to feel confident and competent when partnering with families who have experienced trauma.
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Institute of the Advancement of Family Support Professionals
The Institute offers family support professionals everywhere the opportunity to learn new skills and grow their careers. Through engaging, online modules and a personalized learning map feature, professionals take charge of their growth and advancement.
Access the Institute of the Advancement of Family Support Professionals Home Visiting Modules through the Learning Institute Portal free of cost.
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 Do you have questions about renewing your Infant Mental Health Endorsement? Endorsement is an internationally recognized credential that supports and recognizes the development and proficiency of professionals who work with or on behalf of infants, toddlers, and their families.
Join First3Years during these upcoming virtual support hours to get questions answered and application help walking through how to take care of Endorsement renewal on:
April 20th from 9:30 to 10:30 A.M.
May 5th from 12:00 to 1:00 P.M.
May 17th from 9:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M.
June 3rd from 12:20 to 1:30 P.M.
June 13 from 2:00 to 3:00 P.M.
Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/491966641
The Essentials of Home Visiting self-paced online courses and live webinars for family professionals count towards training requirements to earn and renew an Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Endorsement® from the Alliance for the Advancement of Infant Mental Health.
2022 Texas WIC Nutrition and Breastfeeding Conference
Join Texas WIC from June 21st - 23rd for their Nutrition & Breastfeeding Conference. This year’s theme is “Reaching New Heights.”
More than 500 local and state agency staff will collaborate to discover innovative ways to reach new heights when serving and educating WIC families and communities.
Staff will have opportunities to earn continuing education credits and learn about trending topics related to maternal, infant and child health, breastfeeding, nutrition, and social engagement strategies to support public health.
Keynote Speakers include: Indy Rishi Singh, Laurel Wilson, Malak Saddy, and Kini-Ana Tinkham.
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Get Parenting Tips Posters are now available for order. This set of twelve posters features positive parenting stories, children's art, and tips endorsed by The Texas Pediatric Society. Posters can be ordered in English and Spanish. Order a set for your office space today! |
Our Activity Books feature artwork, puzzles, and language learning activities, and each box comes with crayons for children.
 All users of the PEIRS application are required to complete an IT cybersecurity training on an annual basis. This training is approved by the Department of Information Resources.
When you arrive on the website, select the option for HHS Information Security/Cybersecurity Training for Contractors FY2022.
Here are the latest updates on COVID-19 vaccine recommendations:
- The Food and Drug Administration has authorized a fourth Pfizer and Moderna dose for people age 50 and older, and people diagnosed with compromised immune systems
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that all adults who received two doses of Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine get third shots using Pfizer or Moderna.
- Adults who received the J&J vaccine and a second shot of Pfizer or Moderna are not yet eligible for a third dose, unless they are age 50 and older or have compromised immune systems.
You can now order four more free COVID tests! Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days. Visit the CovidTests.gov website, or call 1-800-232-0233 (assistance is available in more than 150 languages).
If you need a test now
- Locate providers in your area using Vaccines.gov or texting your zip code to 438829 (822862 in Spanish) to find a nearby clinic.
- Residents can also call 3-1-1 (512-974-2000) for more information regarding COVID-19 testing and vaccinations.
- Visit the Texas DSHS and HHSC websites for more updated statewide COVID-19 information and resources.
Thoughts, comments or suggestions to make PEI Grantee News work better for you? Send them to PEInews@dfps.texas.gov!
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