Did you know that the fight for civil rights didn’t just include adults? Kids, like 7-year-old Ayanna Najuma, braved harsh consequences to make their communities more inclusive. Learn more about and be inspired by their uplifting bravery (watch time 6:55):
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“When asked by an anthropologist what the Indians called America before the white men came,
an Indian said simply "Ours.”
-Vine Deloria Jr., (March 26, 1933 – Nov. 13, 2005, Standing Rock Sioux) author, theologian, historian, and activist for Native American rights
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:
United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People
Today the Declaration is the most comprehensive international instrument on the rights of Indigenous Peoples. It establishes a universal framework of minimum standards for the survival, dignity and well-being of the Indigenous Peoples of the world and it elaborates on existing human rights standards and fundamental freedoms as they apply to the specific situation of Indigenous Peoples.
Taylah Gray examines the history of Indigenous dispossession and Native Title. Tracked through legal cases, Taylah applies a legal perspective to the language of savagery and colonialism (watch time 13:52):
Media Recommendations
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God Is Red: A Native View of Religion, written by Vine Deloria Jr., foreword by Leslie Marmon Silko. Vine Deloria Jr.'s God Is Red remains the seminal work on Native religious views, asking new questions about our species and our ultimate fate... this classic work reminds us to learn "that we are a part of nature, not a transcendent species with no responsibilities to the natural world."
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Vine Deloria Jr. on Our Relationship to the Unseen (watch time 5:29): a rare interview with the renowned, beloved Native American intellectual Vine Deloria Jr. (1933 – 2005). Vine is well known for his books, Custer Died for Your Sins and God is Red.
Sources
As some of you may have heard our wonderful Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT) State Administrator, Val Arnold, will be retiring at the end of June 2025. For those of you who know her, you have likely seen her serving and giving to her community to support children and their families. After many years working in non-profits, she started her state government journey with the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction twenty years ago. The ESIT program has been fortunate to have Val working with and among us since 2019, and within her current role as the State Administrator of the IDEA Part C Program since July 2023. Val’s knowledge, strategic partnership work and deep commitment to early childhood and special education have been an incredible asset to the field.
Her influence and contributions as a supporter of “all things family,” living out her values as a supportive supervisor and leader, and engaging with you, as her partner and colleague, is something that has happened in many places and spaces. We are happy that she will soon have more time with her beautiful family at their Critter Creek homestead in the future!
As a result of this we are doing some key planning in anticipation of this leadership transition. We are interested in learning from our partners across the early support landscape about what is needed for the next era of Early Support as we are shaping the recruitment process for a new ESIT Senior Administrator. We will be reaching out to several of our groups to invite virtual participation and dialogue in February, and we will also have a survey available for anyone that would like to weigh in on the bright future with strong leadership in ESIT. Soon we will provide information about the posting of the position at DCYF and the timeline for bringing a leader into this role.
We will have more opportunities in the future to celebrate Val and to support the transition for a new Administrator in the upcoming months. Stay tuned!
-Judy King, Director of Family and Community Support, judy.king@dcyf.wa.gov.
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Orientation Webinar and Open Office Hours
The ESIT State Leadership office is pleased to announce the 90-day training and technical assistance period for the ESIT Statewide Integrated Monitoring System (E-SIMS). The entire E-SIMS Monitoring framework will rollout statewide beginning April 1 for all DCYF contracted ESIT Provider Agencies and CLA affiliated ESIT Provider Agencies.
The ESIT Accountability and Quality Improvement team has scheduled two statewide orientation webinars in February where participants (administrators, fiscal staff, FRCs, direct EI service providers) will be provided a high-level overview of the E-SIMS Monitoring framework with a primary focus on the newest component: Systems Analysis Program Review Onsite Visits.
Please join one of the following Orientation webinars:
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1 – 2:30 p.m. | Monday, Feb. 10
E-SIMS Orientation
Meeting ID: 821 2709 4718
Passcode: 899332
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9 – 10:30 a.m. | Tuesday, Feb. 11
E-SIMS Orientation
Meeting ID: 841 0508 9330
Passcode: 840161
E-SIMS Open Office Hours Q&A Sessions:
Questions? Please reach out to ESIT Accountability and Quality Improvement Manager, Tammy McCauley.
Join the ESIT State Leadership team for the February SICC Meeting:
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Time: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
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Date: Wednesday, Feb. 19
Teams Meeting Link
Meeting ID: 279 098 113 554
Passcode: Bk7pk9rn
Agenda TBD
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Dial in by phone
+1 564-999-2000,,672998631# United States, Olympia
(833) 322-1218,,672998631# United States (Toll-free)
Find a local number
Phone conference ID: 672 998 631#
Draft Minutes Posted for Review
The draft January APR meeting minutes and draft October meeting minutes have been posted to ESIT's SICC Meetings page for review. If you have any questions, edits or updates in regard to the draft minutes, or questions regarding the upcoming meeting, please contact ESIT Partnership and Collaboration Coordinator, E Renae` Antalan.
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 ESIT Accountability & Quality Improvement Manager, Tammy McCauley, with the subject: Add me to SICC DL.
Upcoming 2025 SICC Meeting Dates
- Wednesday, April 16 | Virtual
- July 15 – 16| In person, Seattle area (location TBD)
- Tuesday, July 15 – PIE Graduation
- Wednesday, July 16 – SICC Meeting
- Wednesday, Oct. 15 | TBD
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The ESIT State Leadership team is highlighting individual providers and ESIT provider agencies that are demonstrating one or more of the Seven Key Principles in their work in a new section of the ESIT Weekly titled Key Principles in Action. This new section will help us recognize the high-quality agencies and efforts of individual providers across the ESIT statewide system. Nominators will remain anonymous (though we may contact you for more details about your nomination).
Principles
- Families are equal partners who bring to the team skills, experience and
knowledge about their child; and, are the final decision makers as to what
will work best for their family.
- Early intervention recognizes that family relationships are the central focus in the life of an infant or toddler.
- Infants and toddlers learn best through everyday experiences and interactions with familiar people in familiar settings.
- The early intervention process, from initial contact to transition, must be responsive, flexible and individualized to reflect the child’s and family’s priorities, learning styles and cultural beliefs.
- All families, with the necessary supports and resources, can enhance their children’s learning and development.
- The role of the service provider is to work in a team to support Individualized Family Service Plan functional outcomes, based on child and family needs and priorities.
- Early intervention practices must be based on the best available current evidence and research.
Read and download ESIT's Guiding Concepts.
Submit Your Nomination!
To make a nomination, please complete the form linked below:
University of Washington is currently seeking children with Down syndrome (12 - 36 months old) to participate in its research study. Eligible children must be independently sitting, but not yet independently walking.
Participants will engage in play sessions with our research team using either a partial bodyweight support system (PUMA, Enliten LLC), a powered mobility device (Permobil Explorer Mini), or no mobility aids. Families will be asked to attend 3 - 5 one-hour in-person visits at the University of Washington and one 30-minute virtual visit. For more details, please see DS Mobility Aids flyer.
Participants will receive $25 for each in-person visit and $15 for the virtual visit. Free parking is provided. If you have any questions or know families who might be interested, please contact Mia Hoffman, NSF GRFP PhD Candidate, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Washington, at miahoff@uw.edu or (614) 561-7793 (text messages preferred).
Steele Lab | IMPACT Collaboratory
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is accepting applications for the Regional Telehealth Resource Center (RTRC) Program and the National Telehealth Resource Center (NTRC) Program for a four-year period of performance (Sept. 1, 2025, to Aug. 31, 2029). HRSA will make up to 12 RTRC Program awards and up to two NTRC Program awards, each up to $325,000 per year, to provide expert and customized telehealth technical assistance across the country.
What are the RTRC and the NTRC Programs?
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RTRCs provide technical assistance in the development of telehealth services and are geographically located to facilitate activities and distribute resources at the local level.
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NTRCs provide telehealth support and technical assistance to organizations that receive funding as a regional center and support health care providers across the country. One award will focus on telehealth policy, and the other will focus on telehealth technology.
Who is eligible?
Eligible applicants shall be domestic, public, or private, nonprofit, or for-profit entities that demonstrate experience providing technical assistance and understanding of telehealth services. This includes faith-based, tribal, and community-based organizations. Please view the funding opportunity on Grants.gov for complete eligibility information.
When are applications due?
Applications are due April 14, 2025.
Where can I find out more?
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Promoting Basic Functional Emotional Development
4 – 6 p.m. | Mondays | March 24 – June 23
Instructed by Lyn Bennett, OTR/L, DIR-Expert and Susan DeMilia, MA, CCC-SLP, DIR-Expert.
Parent-Child Relationship Programs are offering two in-person trainings in Seattle at the Silver Cloud located next to the University Village.
Promoting Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy
This workshop addresses the importance of helping pregnant women achieve a healthier mental and emotional state during pregnancy to help ensure a healthier mother-child experience and relationship. Activities allow for individualized and creative approaches that capture your client’s interest.
July 21 and 22 | 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. | In-person |$640
Promoting Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy
The fee covers tuition and all curriculum materials including two Promoting Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy books, one covering Theory and Practice and one on Activities, an assessment guide, and PDFs of 55 reproducible handouts/activities. Workshop held at Silver Cloud, University District. This workshop is eligible for 15 contact hours.
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Promoting First Relationships Level 1
In this level one workshop, participants learn a unique consultation and intervention strategy that they can integrate into their work, whether in high-risk, special needs, child care, or other early childhood fields.
July 24 and 25 | 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. | In-person |$640
Promoting First Relationships Level 1
The fee covers tuition, all curriculum materials, including the Promoting First Relationships manual and reproducible parent handouts. Workshop held at Silver Cloud, University District. This workshop is eligible for 13 contact hours.
ESIT professionals have access to PFR training at no cost. Please see the ESIT Training Calendar for more information.
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