Repetitive behaviors are one of autism’s core features and can be motor or sensory based, such as hand flapping, or more cognitive in nature, such as intensely focused interests. Autistic people may engage in repetitive behaviors as a way to relieve anxiety or just for fun — and for this reason, they deserve careful management (watch time 3:15):
Learn more at The Transmitter, a new publication for the neuroscience community that offers news and analysis of the field, written by journalists and scientists.
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“For the Coast Salish people, our traditional foods are physical, mental, and spiritual medicine. That means that when we are actively on the land in pursuit of wild game, or fishing the river, or harvesting foods and medicines with good intention, and then generously sharing those with people, we are gifted with memories . . . both new and those of a distant past. Those memories are the medicine, that is what we are looking for.”
-Valerie Segrest, Muckleshoot, Native nutrition educator who specializes in local and traditional foods. NMAI Interview, August 2016.
Each week, DCYF ESIT Tribal Program Consultant, Brian Frisina, provides a key topic to help us get to know our Tribal Nation Partners better.
This week’s term is:
Food sovereignty: Valerie Segrest at TEDxRainier
The Indian tribes around the Puget Sound have practiced sustainable balance with its foods for thousands of years, but now the prairie lands and mountain berry meadows are disappearing and salmons runs are dwindling. Valerie Segrest, a member of Muckleshoot tribe and native foods educator tells us to listen to the salmon and cedar tree, who teach us a life of love, generosity and abundance, and to remember when we take better care of our land, we are taking better care of ourselves.
Valerie Segrest is a native nutrition educator who specializes in local and traditional foods. As an enrolled member of the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, she serves her community as the coordinator of the Muckleshoot Food Sovereignty Project and also works for the Northwest Indian College's Traditional Plants Program as a nutrition educator. In 2010, she co-authored the book "Feeding the People, Feeding the Spirit: Revitalizing Northwest Coastal Indian Food Culture". Valerie received a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from Bastyr University in 2009 and a Masters Degree in Environment and Community from Antioch University. She is a fellow for the Institute of Agriculture and Trade Policy (watch time 13:11):
Sustaining Traditional Foodways: Interview with Valerie Segrest
My name is Valerie Segrest and I am a member of the Muckleshoot Tribe located just south of Seattle, Washington, and my background is nutrition in herbal medicine and Food Systems specifically of the Pacific Northwest region specifically. After I got my degree in nutrition, I just felt like I couldn't be the kind of clinician who came home and counseled my people about a diet that I knew they didn't have access to and so I chose to focus on community nutrition efforts and specifically the food sovereignty movement which in our approach for by the Muckleshoot Food Sovereignty Project, founded in 2009.
Kelli Faryar interviews Valerie Segrest, enrolled member of the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and native nutrition educator. Read the entire interview:
Tahoma Peak Solutions
Valerie aims to inspire and enlighten others about the importance of a nutrient-dense diet through a culturally appropriate, common-sense approach to eating. Learn more about Valerie and her work, writing and news:
Sources
Food sovereignty: Valerie Segrest at TEDxRainier, posted to YouTube by TEDx Talks, Jan. 22, 2014.
Sustaining Traditional Foodways with Valerie Segrest by Kelli Faryar, Spring 2022. Rites of Green, Journal of Washington State Folklife.
Valerie Segrest, Tahoma Peak Solutions, Contact Valerie at valerie@tahomapeak.com.
The April SICC meeting is just around the corner! Please join us virtually:
Register for April SICC Meeting
Meeting ID: 268 403 090 182
Passcode: cEw6ko
Wed., April 17 | 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Draft Agenda *subject to change*
Teams
The ESIT State Leadership Team will be holding our upcoming SICC meetings via the Teams platform! You will not need to create a Teams account to join and participate in the meeting and you will be able to join from any device.
For Review
The draft February SICC meeting minutes, Meeting Materials and presentations have been posted to ESIT's SICC Meetings page for review. If there are needed changes to the February meeting minutes, please send your edits to Will Moncrease Jr.
SICC Direct List
If you would like your email added to the SICC direct email list to receive the agenda and meeting materials in advance of upcoming SICC meetings, email Will Moncrease Jr., with the subject: Add me to SICC DL.
Questions?
Please contact DCYF ESIT Partnership & Collaboration Manager, Will Moncrease, Jr., at will.moncrease@dcyf.wa.gov.
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Starting July 1, 2024, the Three Pronged Approach (TPA) will be the required protocol to gather information for vision and hearing as a part of the creation of the present level of development (PLOD) in every initial IFSP and annual review.
What is the TPA?
Developed by the Washington Sensory Disabilities Services (WSDS), the TPA is an objective and comprehensive protocol to identify risks factors for a child’s vision and hearing to lead to possible referral for medical evaluation and/or to Blind/Low Vision and/or Deaf/Hard of Hearing ESIT Providers.
The protocol includes tools to:
- review medical records and interview parents,
- identify developmental skills related to vision and hearing, and
- observe physical and behavioral characteristics.
Training is Available
Training modules on conducting the TPA are available now in the DCYF Training Portal for all ESIT Professionals. If you have questions, please contact your regional DCYF/ESIT Technical Assistance Specialist: Diana Golovkin at Diana.Golovkin@dcyf.wa.gov, Michelle Baker at Michelle.Baker@dcyf.wa.gov, or Iris Dunaway Dunaway@Iris.Dunaway@dcyf.wa.gov.
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Apply to be on the SICC
The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is recruiting members for the State Interagency Coordinating Council (SICC)!
Currently open positions to be filled:
- parents,
- public/private providers.
Below are the requirements:
- Parent of an infant, toddler, or child with a disability aged twelve or younger, who has knowledge of, or experience with, programs for infants, toddlers, and children with disabilities.
- Public or private provider of early intervention services.
Apply on the Governor's website, and under 'Board Information,' select Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities and Their Families, State Interagency Coordinating Council:
Apply for SICC Sub-Committees
The SICC Data, Finance, Personnel & Training, Public Policy, and Service Delivery Committees are accepting applications from qualified and interested individuals:
If you have any questions, please contact DCYF ESIT Partnership & Collaboration Manager, Will Moncrease, Jr., at will.moncrease@dcyf.wa.gov.
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Washington State has adopted policies and procedures to ensure public participation in the annual grant application (including any policies, procedures, descriptions, methods, certifications, assurance, and other information submitted with the application) for the Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part C funds. The annual grant Application and related documents will be published in a manner to ensure circulation throughout the state for at least a 60-day period, with a 30-day opportunity for public comment and public hearings, as appropriate, during that period per 34 CFR § 303.208(b).
For Public Review
DCYF's ESIT State Leadership Office posted the following materials for public review:
Submit Public Comment Online (April 1 – May 1)
The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is committed to adopting rules – also known as Washington Administrative Code or WAC – in an open manner. We welcome your input. Please use this web site to find current draft and proposed DCYF rules, and to give us your comments or suggestions:
Public Comment
Opportunities for public comment will begin April 1 and end May 1, including two virtual public hearings, to be held:
- April 18 | 1:05 p.m. – 2:05 p.m. | Join here
- April 23 | 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | Join here
If you would like to receive this notification in an alternate format or language, please contact the ESIT Partnership & Collaboration Manager at 564-999-0449 or dcyf.esit@dcyf.wa.gov.
For questions, please contact Lauren Thompson, ESIT Resource Allocations Manager, at lauren.thompson@dcyf.wa.gov.
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Do you work at a local ESIT Provider Agency and bill public and/or private health insurance for ESIT Services? You are invited to join a newly formed Insurance Billing Support Group!
What is the Insurance Billing Support Group?
This informal peer-to-peer collaborative space will be limited to those who are engaged in billing at the local ESIT program level, meeting the fourth Monday of each month. We hope to connect as peers, exchange ideas, and collaborate to find solutions to common challenge such as:
- What have you found to be the best coding to use for specific services?
- What strategies have worked for following up on denied claims?
- What procedures does your agency have in place to ensure timely filing?
A little about the facilitator
My name is Marsha Smith and I work for Steps, formerly Toddler Learning Center. We serve Island County, San Juan County and Anacortes. I have worked here for almost 6 years, and before this my experience came from the financial industry and working in the Island Hospital billing department. My love for numbers and money has helped me be a great advocate for families and staff. I enjoy sharing what I know, and most of all learning from my peers who do the same work.
Join us in April!
Mon., Apr 22 | 2 p.m.
Questions?
Can’t attend but interested in future events? Have questions? Email Marsha Smith, at Marsha.S@takingstepstogether.org.
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Schedule at a Glance
Program Search
IECC plans to offer STARS Credit and Clock Hours for this event.
The purpose of the IECC Conference is to provide opportunities for families and service providers to come together to learn, share and advocate on behalf of all young children, especially those with developmental delays, disabilities and/or other special health care needs.
IECC Partnership Opportunity
IECC is so thankful for its many community partners. Due to their support IECC has been able to shift its platform and offer the conference registration complimentary for all attendees the past few years. If your organization would be willing to partner with us please email the conference coordinator, Amanda Cardwell directly at amandacardwell@frontier.com.
The Washington State Department of Health, Early Hearing Detection, Diagnosis and Intervention (EHDDI) program worked with ESIT, family resources coordinators (FRCs), early support providers, deaf and hard and hard of hearing (DHH) adults, audiologists, and a family-to-family support organization to create three training modules. The training modules provide FRCs and early support providers with information and resources that are helpful when working with children identified as deaf or hard of hearing and their families. The trainings focus on the following topics:
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Special Providers and Services: Discusses DHH specialized programs and supports, and special considerations when working with children who are DHH with additional disabilities.
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Knowledge Building: Provides information about diversity in the DHH community, describes hearing levels, and technology options available.
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Bias Awareness: Provides information about communication opportunities, recognizing biases, and ways to support diverse families.
To access the trainings, please visit the EHDDI WaPortal page:
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Join us in person for the 2024 Fatherhood Summit where we will release findings from the State of Fathers in Washington Study and roll up our sleeves together to accelerate system transformation for fathers and families.
This year's event theme is Counting Fathers Because Kids Matter. We highly value the voices of fathers in this work, and some support for travel costs is available for dads to attend the event, including mileage, hotel, childcare expenses, meals for overnight attendees and compensation for lived experience for a limited number of fathers (contact us to learn more).
Overview
- This event is free.
- Doors open with continental breakfast at 7:30 a.m.
- Event begins at 8:30 a.m.
- Continental breakfast, lunch and refreshments will be provided.
- Visit our website for more details.
Keynote Speaker: Dr. David W. Willis, MD, FAPP
Dr. Willis is a senior fellow at the Center for the Study of Social Policy and a national expert in pediatrics, early childhood systems and early relational health.
Nurturing Connection for Fathers, Families and Communities:
“There is overwhelming research and understanding that makes it clear that all children and their families benefit from strong, positive and nurturing father and father-figure relationships to grow and thrive. To solve complex issues that often marginalize fathers’ roles, we must build bridges and listen to and trust one another. We will spend the day listening to one another and building bridges and connections around the findings in the State of Fathers in Washington Study to increase fathers’ access, equity and belonging.”
Fri., June 7 | 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
The Greater Tacoma Convention Center
Register and learn more:
Join Washington Sensory Disabilities Service (WSDS) consultants representing Washington State School for the Blind (WSSB) and Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Youth (CDHY), with other sensory statewide partners, as they host monthly 1 hour drop-in sessions to share and discuss resources related to ESIT services for children who are blind/low vision, deaf/hard of hearing, or deafblind. Each drop-in session will have a topical focus and will offer opportunities for open questions on any topic. ASL interpretation and Live Captioning will be provided.
April 22 WSDS Drop-In Session
Kerianne Christie (CDHY) and Jessica Chandler, from WSSB, facilitate a FRC panel discussion and answer questions.
Mon., April 22 | 1 p.m.
May 13 WSDS Drop-In Session
Kerianne Christie (CDHY) and Jessica Chandler, from WSSB, and Nancy Hatfield, from the DeafBlind (DB) Program, to facilitate a conversation about working effectively with Blind-Low Vision/Deaf and Hard of Hearing/DB Specialist. Bring your questions, comments, and suggestions!
Mon., May 13 | 1 p.m.
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Emergency Broadband Benefit Funds Available
The WA Office of Broadband has funds available to assist families with internet costs. More details on this benefit and how to apply are located here.
Discounted Internet Service Available to Low-Income Households
The federal Affordable Connectivity Program offers eligible households a high-speed internet plan for no more than $30 per month. More details on this program and how to apply are located here.
Digital Navigation Toolkit Available
Digital Health Navigators are individuals who address the whole digital inclusion process - connectivity, devices, and digital skills - to support community members and provide access to healthcare. The National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers (NCTRC) has released a new toolkit that provides helpful resource links relating to digital navigation.
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Workshops offered by the Infant Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) Workforce Collaborative are free for professionals who serve or support children prenatal to five and their families enrolled in Apple Health (Medicaid).
- IECMH Clinical Workshops are designed for clinical professionals involved in mental health assessment and diagnosis for children birth to five.
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IECMH Community Workshops are intended for all professionals who support the social-emotional well-being of babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and their families, as well as expecting families.
For more information visit:
CEUs and/or STARS hours are provided for most workshops.
Questions? Contact admin@wa-aimh.org.
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