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Nature Observer by Jahla Brown, DCYF ESIT Partnership & Collaboration Specialist
“You are where you are today because you stand on somebody’s shoulders. And wherever you are heading, you cannot get there by yourself. If you stand on the shoulders of others, you have a reciprocal responsibility to live your life so that others may stand on your shoulders. It’s the quid pro quo of life. We exist temporarily through what we take, but we live forever through what we give.”
-Vernon Jordan, American business executive and civil rights attorney
Black Artists Shaping the World
Dedicated to the work of contemporary Black artists from around the world, this book is an exuberant introduction to artists from Africa and of African descent for young readers. Written by award-winning Black children’s author Sharna Jackson, this engaging book introduces young readers to twenty-six contemporary artists from Africa and of the African diaspora, working in everything from painting, sculpture, and drawing to ceramics, installation art, and sound art. These include prominent American artists Kerry James Marshall, Faith Ringgold, portraitist to Michelle Obama, Amy Sherald [to name a few]. This volume will serve as revelation to a new generation of aspiring young artists. Illustrated in color throughout.
Learn more about this book and where to find it:
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“Since the beginning, Native Peoples lived a life of being in harmony with all that surrounds us.”
-Nowa Cumig by Dennis Banks
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:
Tribal Lifeways
Tribal Lifeways—the traditional ways in which tribal people have lived since time immemorial, including religion, culture, recreation, economy, and all that encompasses a tribal society. Lifeways differ from tribe to tribe.
(for On Sovereignty Article)
Since Time Immemorial: Tribal Sovereignty in Washington State
On Sovereignty
Tribal Homelands/The First Nations of North America by Carol Craig (Yakama) and Shana Brown (Yakama descendant).
We might think of a nation as being a lot bigger and maybe far across the sea. Each nation has different languages, religions, customs and holidays from our own.
Some people find it hard to believe that such nations are right here in the United States. But they are here. In what is now called Washington State, there are over 29 distinct Indian nations, each with its own government, citizens, laws, and traditions.
Read full article:
Indigenous Lifeways
As an indigenous women led organization we ensure our matriarchal indigenous beliefs are instilled in all programming we conduct.
Grounded in this traditional knowledge and wisdom as well as respectful land-based practices and ceremonies, we proactively utilize modern tools and resources to help build individual and community capacity to restore health and balance for all people and our environment.
We are working to revitalize and preserve our native languages, traditions and cultures. We are deeply rooted in the frontlines of activism, engaging with our communities in proactive response to climate adaptation; cultivating green pathways in local economic development; and building capacity for both individuals and the community.
Learn more about Indigenous Lifeways, their mission and trainings:
Sources
The Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT) program is recruiting for the Parent Institute for Engagement (PIE) program. PIE is a 12-month leadership program for parents and caregivers of children who have received services through ESIT. We will help you build and strengthen your skills, and support you to become strong leaders, advocates, public speakers and active members in your state.
If you are interested in this opportunity, please submit an application by Fri., Sept. 20. We will notify selected individuals the week of Sept. 23.
Check out, download and share the flyer:
For more information on how to apply, contact Vanessa Allen, ESIT Family Engagement Coordinator at Vanessa.allen@dcyf.wa.gov.
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Back in February, DCYF ESIT successfully introduced the ESIT Credential for Family Resources Coordinators. It is now time to develop an ESIT Credential for Educators, and your input is essential. Regardless of your “title” at your agency, if you provide special instruction on IFSPs, we want to hear from you. This includes all:
- Educators
- Paraeducators
- OSPI Certified Teachers
- ESIT exemption holders
Please join us for an hour-long focus group opportunity. This will be a time to share your experiences as an ESIT Service Provider and offer the ESIT State Leadership Team a glimpse into ways we can better support this important role through the credentialing process.
Register for one
Thurs., September 5 | 3 - 4 p.m.
OR
Mon., September 9 | 9 - 10 a.m.
Questions or Accommodations?
Please contact ESIT Workforce Development Specialist, Lori Holbrook, at dcyf.ESITtraining@dcyf.wa.gov or call 360-999-7558.
ASL interpretation and other supports are available to fully access this event. Complete this form to make a request. DCYF may not be able to accommodate requests made less than two weeks prior to the webinar.
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The Family Outcomes Surveys will be distributed to families beginning Wed., August 28.
We have contracted with WSU for another year and their team will be sending the surveys and facilitating data collection and analysis. The team at WSU will follow the process outlined below:
WSU Data Collection Process
Data collection
- First questionnaire with incentive | August 28
- Email reminder 1 | Sept. 3
- Postcard reminder | Sept. 9
- Email reminder 2 | Sept. 12
- Replacement questionnaire | Sept. 24
- Email reminder 3 | Sept. 27
- Telephone contacts | Oct. 7 – Nov. 8
Data collection will close on November 8 and we will present preliminary information during the January SICC Annual Performance Report Meeting. If you have questions about the ESIT Family Survey, please contact ESIT Data Systems and Analysis Manager, Kim Hopkins, at kim.hopkins@dcyf.wa.gov.
T-DMS Modules
We are all eagerly anticipating the launch of our new ACORN Data System. The ESIT T-DMS modules are available as an optional training resource until we make the transition to ACORN. We previously communicated these modules were archived; however, they have been restored to the DCYF Training Portal. While the completion of T-DMS modules is optional, the ACORN self-guided training modules must be completed by system users as part of the ESIT Initial Training Requirements.
Updated SAW FAQ Available
An updated SAW FAQ is available on ESIT's ACORN Data Management System page. Please use this updated guide to help create your SAW account and access ACORN. The changes to the process outlined in this document will help us reduce the number of duplicate accounts in ACORN and will reduce errors with caseload migration.
ACORN Mini Training Webinars
We are pleased to announce the launching of a series of Mini Training Webinars that will take place on Wednesdays from 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
The Training Webinars are going to be hosted as Zoom webinars. We will provide a 10-15 min targeted training in the beginning of our meeting and will answer any questions that were submitted by COB Tuesday of each week.
The ACORN FAQ will be updated following the Mini Training Webinars and posted to the ESIT Website.
ACORN Bugs, Glitches and Improvements
We have two forms available to submit feedback.
The first form collects bugs and glitches that users encounter while exploring the system. If you would like to report bugs or glitches, please submit these here.
The second form collects all feedback for system improvements. If you would like to submit ideas for improvements and changes, please submit these here.
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ACORN Go-Live Date and DMS Blackout Dates
The go-live date for Phase I of ACORN, has not been set and will not be established until the final work product has been completed by the Public Consulting Group.
Supplemental activities currently under development that will support an effective launch include new system-based trainings for specific User roles, a timeline extension to increase the percentage of Users accessing the features in the training environment (sandbox), and tiered support systems post launch.
The Go-Live date will be announced through a formal GovDelivery, with ample notice for “blackout” planning to ensure timely data entry.
ACORN Trainings
These supplemental training resources are currently available on our website:
We continue to develop new training content weekly. In the upcoming weeks, we will release trainings that cover the following topics:
- Acorn for Transition Service Partners
Questions?
If you have specific questions about ACORN development and support activities, please contact ESIT Data Systems and Analysis Manager, Kim Hopkins, at Kim.Hopkins@dcyf.wa.gov.
For technical assistance with accessing and/or navigating the ACORN training environment please contact ESIT.Help@dcyf.wa.gov.
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We are currently seeking clinicians who provide early intervention services to participate in a research study. We invite those interested in using a digital, switch-accessible play kit with their clients for four weeks. The switch kit was co-designed with families and clinicians, and can be thought of as a high-tech switch adapted toy. You can learn more about the switch kit in this video here.
All participants will be provided with a switch kit, including an iPad, to be used for the duration of the study.
The study will include two, 1-hour sessions with the research team and completion of surveys during the 4-weeks you are using the switch kit. Participants will receive compensation of $50 and will have the opportunity to keep the switch kit for your clinic, without the iPad, upon the study's completion.
Questions?
For more details, kindly refer to the attached flyer. Should you have any inquiries or express an interest in participating, email Mia Hoff, PhD student, University of Washington, at miahoff@uw.edu, or by phone at (614) 561-7793 (text messages are preferred).
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Speech learning starts in the womb and a critical amount of learning already happens before infants turn age 1. My lab conducts research that helps us understand whether and how speech learning during the first year of life can be predictive of later language acquisition and if there are strategies that we can use to help improve speech learning during this period. In a most recent study (Zhao, Boorom, Kuhl & Gordon, 2021), we have demonstrated that how infant brains process speech at 11 months of age is highly predictive of their individual grammar skills at 6 years of age, measured with SPELT-3. More importantly, we were able to identify children who exhibited atypical language development at 6 years of age based on their infant brain data. We are currently conducting a large-scale study to further understand early signs of atypical language development in infant brains, with the hope to improve early diagnosis and early intervention. On the other hand, infant speech learning before the age of 1 is highly malleable by environmental factors, such as the quantity and quality of speech input. In a series of studies (Zhao & Kuhl, 2016, Zhao, Llanos, Chandrasekaran, & Kuhl, 2022), we have shown that even a lab-based music intervention affects infant speech learning. The goal of the course is to give an overview of the state-of-the-art neuroscience research in infant speech learning, and to discuss potential ways to incorporate research findings into SLP clinical practice.
What Can Infants’ Brain Activities Tell Us About Speech Learning?
Wed., September 25 | 7 - 8:30 p.m.
Cost
- WSLHA Members - $35
- WSLHA Non-Members - $50
- ASHA CEU Members - $5
- ASHA CEU Non-Members - $7
For additional information and to register, visit the WSLHA website at: https://wslha.org/.
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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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