Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) - Saving Native Culture and Identity 

ICWA - The Indian Child Welfare Act, prioritizes placing Native children with Native families and gives tribal governments jurisdiction over decisions about the placement of children who are members or eligible members of a tribe. The future of ICWA will be decided by the Supreme Court likely this year. Aidan Gover discusses the importance of why this act should be kept.

Aidan Gover is currently a student at Legacy Highschool, he would like to raise awareness to certain race and income issues within the United States after living in Broomfield and seeing the difference between both of these areas, especially after seeing the outcome of people he knew growing up. Seeing how his father and other members of his family have affected the lives of many people through raising awareness of all sorts of problems throughout the world and spreading their culture in their community, Aidan would like to do the same.

He currently is in 10th grade and a member of the environmental club and track team at Legacy High School. When he grows up, he would like to pursue a degree in the material science field as he likes learning about topics in science and mathematics and to set an example for other individuals within the Native American and indigenous peoples community throughout the world.

Saving Native Culture and Identity 

Gen Z Voices: Attending school on a tribal reservation, and outside of it, led Aidan Gover to discover the disparities in education. He says funding is key.

Colorado high schooler Aidan Gover has moved around a lot — and that’s meant jumping from school to school. A member of the Otoe Missouria Tribe of Oklahoma, Gover spent some time attending a grade school on the Oklahoma reservation where his grandmother lives. 

After moving to Colorado, Gover noticed some glaring differences among the schools he’s attended here and the one on the reservation, which had outdated textbooks, far less challenging classes and fewer resources.

“It's like being on an alien planet. Like socially, it's different. Even the landscape in school is different,” Gover told CPR. “And then also the economic difference, which I believe is connected to that education difference.” Read full article:

Tribal Reservation School Funding Disparities

Governor Jay Inslee has proclaimed May 2024 as Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month in Washington State. This proclamation highlights the importance of maternal mental health and the need for increased awareness, education, and support for parents before, during, and after pregnancy.

During Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month, HCA is committed to providing resources and support for parents. Here are some resources that may be helpful:

1. Washington State Perinatal Support Network: offers support groups, resources, and referrals for parents experiencing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.
2. Crisis Connections: offers 24-hour crisis line for anyone experiencing a crisis, including new and expectant parents.
3. Mental Health America of Washington: provides information and resources for mental health support and treatment options.

Resources

We encourage you to take advantage of these resources and reach out for support if you or someone you know is experiencing mental health challenges. Together, we can raise awareness, reduce stigma, and ensure that all parents receive the care and support they need.

• Pregnancy Services
• Pregnancy Care resources
• Postpartum and newborn resources

The ACORN Training Environment went live on May 1 and users can now explore our new data system and participate in self-guided trainings! To access ACORN, please follow this guide to create/ validate your Secure Access Washington (SAW) account. You will want to use your current DMS username to create the SAW account. Once the account is active, you can log into the ACORN training environment and you should see the Case Management Module listed on the right side of the screen.

Access to ESIT ACORN using SAW:

SAW Instructions

Please contact the ESIT Helpdesk if you do not see the case management module link displayed.

Save the Date: July Combined PIE-SICC Meeting

You are invited to ESIT's upcoming July combined Parent Institute for Engagement & State Interagency Coordinating Council Meeting, which will be hosted in-Person! 

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 Providers. 

The protocol includes tools to:

1. review medical records and interview parents,
2. identify developmental skills related to vision and hearing, and
3. 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.

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 here for SICC board!

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:

Complete 2024 Committee Interest form!

If you have any questions, please contact DCYF ESIT Partnership & Collaboration Manager, Will Moncrease, Jr., at will.moncrease@dcyf.wa.gov.

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:

1. Special Providers and Services: Discusses DHH specialized programs and supports, and special considerations when working with children who are DHH with additional disabilities.
2. Knowledge Building: Provides information about diversity in the DHH community, describes hearing levels, and technology options available.
3. 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:

Early Hearing Detection, Diagnosis and Intervention (EHDDI) Program

There are many published early support programs that focus on coaching parents and other caregivers to use language-enhancing strategies with their young children with communication delays during daily routines. This presentation will review common characteristics of these programs and describe and provide examples of core strategies (e.g., positive behavior supports, responsivity, environmental arrangement, expansion, mands/models). Participants will learn how to pick the best strategies for each family on their caseload, based on specific child communication skills, as well as parent strengths, values, and preferences. Best practices in supportive coaching methods will also be reviewed and discussed.

Sat., May 18 | 9 - 11 a.m. | Live Webinar (recording available)
Presenter: Dr Heather Moore, PhD, CCC-SLP
Cost: WSLHA Members $35 and Non-members $50

Register for webinar now!

Read more about the webinar.

Join Us for this Special 8-hour Course Specifically and Only for Parents!

Tuesdays & Wednesdays| May 21 - 29 | 5 - 7 p.m. 

Register: Introduction to DIR® & DIRFLOORTIME®

IMPORTANT: DIR 101 for Parents is not for professionals. This is an 8-hour introductory course specifically and only for parents. It does not qualify as a DIR 101 for professionals and cannot be used as the prerequisite requirement for DIR 201. If you are both a Parent and Professional, you must join a 12-hour DIR 101 as a professional.

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.

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.

Register for May Drop In

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.