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Please note that there will be no issue of the ESIT Weekly sent out Friday, Dec. 30.
The ESIT Weekly will resume its regular schedule next year, on Friday, Jan. 6, 2023.
Thank you for your readership and happy holidays from ESIT!
Washington's Native and Strong Lifeline
Washington’s Native and Strong Lifeline is the first program of its kind in the nation, dedicated to serving American Indian and Alaska Native people in crisis.
The Native and Strong Lifeline launched on Nov. 10 and gives anyone calling the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline from a Washington state area code the option to talk to Native crisis counselors who are tribal members and descendants closely tied to their communities. These counselors are fully trained in crisis intervention and support, with special emphasis on cultural and traditional practices related to healing.
Volunteers of America Western Washington (VOA), one of our state’s three 988 Lifeline crisis centers, administers this line and is in charge of answering these calls. The line is part of VOA’s tribal services programs, which focus on providing resources and support to indigenous people with special attention to culture and community connection. The all-Native crisis counselors and staff who do this work are a testament to this indigenous-centered approach.
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Each week, DCYF ESIT Tribal Support Specialist Brian Frisina provides a key topic to help us get to know our Tribal Nations partners better.
This week’s topic is:
Acknowledging the Winter Solstice is a Decolonial Act for Indigenous People
The winter solstice is an event that has been observed for millennia by many of our Indigenous ancestors. While some Tribal Nations have traditionally held special ceremonies during celestial events like the winter and summer solstices, others may have simpler ways of observing these moments. Some Tribal Nations have maintained teachings around solstice time, while others may be seeking to revive the teachings, practices and ceremonies that were forcibly taken from us.
Read more ways to learn about and celebrate the Winter Solstice:
Decolonizing the Holidays and Honoring Winter Solstice Teachings
Many Indigenous people are actively working toward reconnecting to their original teachings while also decolonizing colonial practices that have conditioned our lives. On this episode of While Indigenous, we talk decolonizing the holidays and reconnecting to more meaningful Indigenous winter solstice teachings. Featured Guests: Dr. PennElys Droz (Anishinaabe/Wyandot) and Ella Robertson (Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota) (listen time 26 min.):
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Sources
Image source: Happy Solstice, MemesBams, Best Winter Solstice Images Free to Download in 2022. © 2022 MemesBams.
Acknowledging the Winter Solstice is a Decolonial Act for Indigenous People, by Sarah Sunshine Manning, December 14, 2019. © 2022 NDN Collective.
While Indigenous: Decolonizing the Holidays and Honoring Winter Solstice Teachings on Apple Podcasts. Copyright © 2022 Apple Inc.
This meeting will focus on ESIT's State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP) and provide updated information on the SSIP. Stakeholders will be asked to participate and provide input and feedback on the current SSIP plan.
SSIP Strategic Planning Stakeholder Meeting
January 12 | 9 - 11 a.m.
If you need accommodations or ASL interpretation, please email ciara.saalfeld@dcyf.wa.gov by December 29.
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Note: There will be no Hot Topic Roundtable in December.
You are invited to register for the next Hot Topic Roundtable (HTRT) scheduled for Tuesday, January 17, from 8 – 9 a.m.
This is an optional time for peer networking and learning from each other. ESIT State Leadership Team staff will be present to answer policy-related questions and facilitate the conversation. HTRT sessions take place on the third Tuesday of the month.
During the January session, we will focus on the topic of Natural Environments - Beyond the home. Natural environments include all kinds of community settings, from: parks to places of work, grocery stores to the homes of relatives, childcare centers and play groups. Join us as we discuss common challenges and creative strategies to providing services in a wide range of natural environments.
Natural Environments – Beyond the Home
January 17 | 8 – 9 a.m.
Please send accommodation requests for this meeting to ESIT's Technical Assistance Manager, Cynthia Gosling, at cynthia.gosling@dcyf.wa.gov, by January 3, 2023.
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Mark your calendars! The January SICC meeting is just around the corner, please join us virtually:
ESIT Annual
Performance Report (APR)
Wed., Jan. 18 | 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Registration & Agenda TBA
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Registration open!
The first of two CSPD Strategic Planning Meetings will be held virtually on Thursday, Jan 19, 2023, from 12 – 4 p.m. This meeting will include a review of the CSPD framework, small group work for current strengths/needs assessment in each subcomponent (in-service, preservice, recruitment & retention, and personnel standards) and opportunities for input on the proposed ESIT credential.
If accommodations are required for participation, such as ASL interpretation, please email DeEtte.Snyder@dcyf.wa.gov by January 5.
CSPD Strategic Planning Meeting Session #1
Thurs., January 19 | 12 – 4 p.m.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. The agenda for the meeting will be emailed to each registered participant the day prior to meeting.
Save the date
The second strategic planning meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 23, 2023, from 12 – 4 p.m. Participation at both meetings is recommended, so save the date! The registration link will be available soon.
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These training opportunities are being offered as part of our State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP) and ESIT provider course fees are covered by DCYF/ESIT. These groups are for ESIT providers only.
Register for the Foundations of Reflective Practice Training provided by WA-AIMH
Reflective practice is the regular consideration of how one’s beliefs, values, and responses impact behavior, interactions, and relationships with others. This workshop introduces the concept of reflective practice and how this supports work with infants, young children, and families. Participants will gain understanding of how their relationships with families in turn impact caregiver-child relationships through a parallel process. They will consider how their own background and emotional responses to infants, children, and families impact their work and will learn strategies for incorporating reflection into their everyday practice. We are excited to announce that the May 1 training will be provided in Spanish. Please register for one of the training options below.
- January 10 | 1 – 4 p.m.
- February 7 | 9 – 12 p.m.
- March 21 | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
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May 1 | 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. (Spanish)
Register for the Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Series provided by WA-AIMH
This five-part introductory series provided by the Washington Association for Infant Mental Health explores core concepts including centering caregiver child relationships, cultivating reflective practice, supporting early attachment, and understanding when young children need advanced support. We are excited to announce that one of these training opportunities (May 22 option) will be provided in Spanish. Please register for one of the training options below.
- Jan. 26, Feb. 2, Feb. 9, Feb.16, Feb. 23 | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- Feb. 28, March 7, March 14, March 2, March 28 | 1 – 4 p.m.
- April 13, April 20, April 27, May 4, May 11 | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
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May 22, May 26, June 2 | 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. (Spanish)
Register for the Introduction to Reflective Supervision for Supervisors training provided by WA-AIMH
This training is for Supervisors who have participated in reflective supervision and want to become Reflective Supervisors. This training covers skills and best practices, followed by a monthly reflective supervision peer group to share your journey as you put your reflective supervision skills into place with your team. Please register for one of the training options below.
- May 9, 10, 11, 12 | 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
- June 5, 6, 8 | 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Questions?
Email DCYF ESIT Special Projects Coordinator, Ciara Saalfeld at ciara.saalfeld@dcyf.wa.gov.
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This training opportunity is being offered as part of our State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP) and ESIT provider course fees are covered by DCYF/ESIT. These groups are for ESIT providers only.
Providers participate in 14 hours of workshop training and come away with foundational knowledge in attachment theory and promoting secure caregiver-child relationships, development of self for infants through preschoolers, understanding and intervening with challenging behaviors, building caregiver reflective capacity, and use of PFR consultation strategies. Providers receive reproducible, illustrated parent/caregiver handouts that contain easy to understand information about trusting relationships and healthy social-emotional development that can be shared immediately with the families that they work with. Providers are able to bring the knowledge that they have learned directly to families. Please see the attached flyer for more information on PFR Level 1 and how to register. Choose one of four options below:
- Option 1: February 27, 28 | March 1, 2 | 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- Option 2: March 13, 15, 16, 17 | 1 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Option 3: April 3, 4, 6, 7 | 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- Option 4: May 15, 16, 17, 18 | 1 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
To register, email pcrp@uw.edu and include agency name and workshop option.
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This training opportunity is being offered as part of our State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP) and ESIT provider course fees are covered by DCYF/ESIT. These groups are for ESIT providers only.
Level 2 Certified Provider Training
For ESIT agencies who do not currently have a PFR Level 3 Agency Trainer, DCYF has limited spots available for providers to participate in PFR Level 2 Training. If your agency already has a PFR Level 3 trainer, they are able to provide PFR Level 2 training to your current PFR Level 1 providers. Click here to visit PFR's website to learn more details about Level 2 Certified Provider Training.
Level 3 Agency Trainer Training
For ESIT agencies who have a certified PFR Level 2 provider interested in becoming a PFR Level 3 Agency Trainer, DCYF has limited spots available for providers to participate in PFR Level 3 training. PFR Level 3 trainers are able to train current PFR Level 1 providers at your agency to become PFR Level 2 trained. Click here to visit PFR's website to learn more details about Level 3 Agency Trainer Training.
To sign up, contact DCYF ESIT Special Projects Coordinator, Ciara Saalfeld at ciara.saalfeld@dcyf.wa.gov.
There are limited spots available for each Level 2 and Level 3 opportunities.
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This training opportunity is being offered as part of our State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP) and ESIT provider course fees are covered by DCYF/ESIT. These groups are for ESIT providers only.
Exciting news! ESIT has openings in our Reflective Consultation groups offered through the University of Washington. Reflective Consultation is monthly, protected time that gives providers the opportunity to explore their work with families and young children in a safe, supportive space. It offers a time to think about their own needs, and to think about the emotional needs of both parents and children. It also provides an opportunity to hear and learn other perspectives. Participants report feeling increased joy and competence in their work, and increased empathy for the families they work with. Reserve your spot as soon as possible! There are several spots still available in all three group options:
- First Wednesday, monthly | Starting January 4 | 11 a.m.
- Second Monday, monthly | Starting January 9 | 10 a.m.
- Second Tuesday, monthly | Starting January 10 | 3 p.m.
To reserve your spot, please contact DCYF ESIT Special Projects Coordinator, Ciara Saalfeld at ciara.saalfeld@dcyf.wa.gov.
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The end of the year is rapidly approaching, as is the due date for Unsung Hero nominations!
Since 2011, with your help, we have honored 309 parents and caregivers in Washington for the roles they have taken with their families, schools and communities. They have been recognized because they have shown strength, courage and empathy in their communities. We also acknowledge that for the past two years parents and primary caregivers have been called upon more than ever to be the buffer for the traumatic experiences that our world has been facing. Parents and caregivers around Washington State are supporting their children, families, and communities in exceptional ways through this pandemic and we want to show our appreciation. Please help us in honoring 28 more in February 2023 by nominating a parent/primary caregiver/guardian for the Unsung Hero award. The nomination form is available in three languages (English, Spanish and Somali) and can also be found here on our website.
All nominations must be submitted by January 3, 2023. The nominations can be emailed to strengtheningfamilies@dcyf.wa.gov.
For more updates, subscribe directly to these great newsletters:
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