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This fall DCYF ran a procurement for home visiting expansion. We are thrilled to announce the following programs were awarded funds to serve additional families:
- Catholic Charities of Dioceses of Yakima (PAT) 18 families in Yakima County
- Chinese Information & Service Center (Parent Child+) 13 families in south King County
- Eastern Washington University (Early Head Start Home Based) 10 families in Spokane County
- El Centro de la Raza (PAT) 18 families in King County
- Horn of Africa Services (Parent Child+) 13 families in King and Pierce Counties
- Hummingbird Indigenous Family Services (Family Spirit) 14 families in King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties
Join our next office hours at 3 p.m. on March 20, 2025.
It’s a busy spring and the newly updated Foundational and Opt-in Calendars have been updated and include foundational trainings for new home visiting staff and learning offerings for continuing home visiting staff. If you have any questions or difficulty with any registration, please check the calendars for the contact information.
2025 Child Care Complex Needs Fund
DCYF is pleased to announce that the 2025 Child Care Complex Needs Fund application deadline has been extended. The application is now open and will close on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at 5 p.m. PST. Visit DCYF's Child Care Complex Needs Fund webpage for more information.
Tribal Early Learning Funds Now Available
DCYF is excited to share that a fourth round of Tribal Early Learning funding (TELF) is available to tribal early learning programs and tribal-serving organizations. This funding opportunity supports tribal children, prenatal to five, in early learning programs across Washington state in a culturally appropriate and inclusive manner.
Applications are due by 5 p.m. on Monday, March 31, 2025.
Visit DCYF's Tribal Relations webpage for information and to apply.
Technical assistance office hours are available:
- Tue., March 4, 2025, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. | Zoom Link
- Thu., March 13, 2025, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. | Zoom Link
For questions, please contact Apolonio (polo) Hernandez, Tribal Early Learning Fund Specialist, at apolonio.hernandez@dcyf.wa.gov or (509) 564-5027.
Establishing Effective Community Advisory Committees
Strong community relationships are a core element of home visiting practice. They ensure that services are responsive and customized to changing community needs, and they also ensure that community members have a strong knowledge of the home visiting program.
One way of promoting this is through an advisory committee. Advisory committees are made up of parents, professionals or experts in the field and community volunteers who can provide input and advise on issues, policies community needs. Generally, when setting up an advisory committee we recommend:
- Clearly communicate membership criteria, expectations, and the selection process
- Recruit members from various backgrounds, lived experiences, and expertise to ensure a broad range of perspectives
- Regularly evaluate the committee’s contributions and share outcomes with members and stakeholders
Parents as Teachers programs recently spent time brainstorming ways to effective establish and sustain community advisory committees in their program. Some practical ideas included:
- Create clear feedback loops, ensuring committee recommendations inform decision-making processes
- Set a consistent meeting schedule with accessible in-person and virtual options
- Acknowledge and appreciate members’ time, insights, and impact
PAT Challenge Grants
The following Washington State programs were awarded the 2024 Parents as Teachers Challenge grants:
- Suquamish Indian Tribe of the Port Madison Reservation
- Institute for Family Development
- Grays Harbor Public Health and Social Services
- Lydia Place
Start Early is happy to announce some Core Competencies news!
We have newly available translations, on our website Washington State Home Visiting Core Competencies. You can now find both sets of competencies (Home Visitor and Supervisor) as well as three companion documents, in five languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, Somali, and Spanish.
If you are interested in an overview of the What, Why, and How of the Core Competencies, there is also an introduction video on the website.
Have you taken a look at the companion documents yet?
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Team Discussion Guide– Program Supervisors can use this discussion guide at team meetings or in-service trainings to promote a shared exploration and understanding of the relationship of the Washington State Home Visiting Core Competencies to the type of home visiting offered by your program and the actual job responsibilities of home visitors on your team.
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Home Visitor Self-Assessment & Development Plan– This form supports home visitors’ ongoing growth and effectiveness by supporting them to identify their own strengths and abilities for each of the eight competency areas, as well as identify and prioritize one area for growth and development.
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Supervisor Self-Assessment& Development Plan – This form supports supervisors’ ongoing growth and effectiveness by supporting them to identify their own strengths and abilities for each of the five supervisor competency areas, as well as identify and prioritize one area for growth and development.
If you’re interested in learning more about how to integrate the Washington State Home Visiting Core Competencies in practice, consider joining the upcoming Community of Practice.
CQI Summary
Over the last quarter CQI coaching calls have included the use of both model- specific data and DOH-specific data for improved reporting and alignment with program goals. Teams have also participated as a group to conduct root cause analysis mapping, improving team buy-in and engaging in problem solving together. Below are examples of PDSA tests conducted:
Enrollment and Outreach
- Send thank you notes to referral agencies.
- Request that each HV bring a family from their caseload to group connection.
CQI Summary
Over the last quarter CQI coaching calls have included the use of both model- specific data and DOH-specific data for improved reporting and alignment with program goals. Teams have also participated as a group to conduct root cause analysis mapping, improving team buy-in and engaging in problem solving together. Below are examples of PDSA tests conducted:
Enrollment and Outreach
- Send thank you notes to referral agencies.
- Request that each HV bring a family from their caseload to group connection.
Staff Engagement and Retention
- Conduct team meeting off-site at local goods store (ex: Ikea) to connect purchased items to visits and support team bonding.
- Utilize onboarding checklist.
- Supervisor formally embeds data review into Reflective Supervision.
- Provide team meeting agendas on a quarterly basis allow for better preparation and set expectations.
Family Engagement and Retention
- Coordinate partnership with Home Depot/Lowes to obtain additional "kid kits" for distributions to families.
- Conduct parent cafes to encourage peer support while reducing staff load.
- Create and distribute winter boxes including activities, books, and handouts allowing for continued engagement despite weather-related obstacles.
- Update flyers each month to highlight new group connections.
- Implement a book/clothing exchange for families to attend.
Caregiver Mental Health
- Utilize visit checklist to ensure assessments are completed at appropriate visit.
- Identify HV confidence self-rating to understand where focus should be (training, resources, etc.).
- Commit assessment questions to memory and ask family questions in a more casual way to allow for more organic conversation.
Cross-Model Activities
PAT Presentation Proposal Opportunity
Parents as Teachers invites you to submit a presentation proposal to the largest annual home-visiting conference to support professional development to better serve children and families. The conference provides a variety of learning experiences and offers innovative information in a wide range of subject areas. The 2025 Parents as Teachers International Conference will be held in San Juan, Puerto Rico, at the Puerto Rico Convention Center on Oct. 13-16, 2025. For more information, visit Parents as Teachers International Conference.
Each month, DCYF ESIT Tribal Program Consultant Brian Frisina will provide a key topic to help support us all in getting to know our Tribal Nations partners better.
This month’s topic is:
Understanding Tribal Treaty Rights in Western Washington
Why Treaties Matter
The U.S. has ratified more than 370 treaties with American Indian nations. Yet many Americans know little about the these legally binding treaties, that shaped, and continue to impact, the country today (watch time 5:20):
Treaties: An Introduction
The United States recognized tribes as sovereign nations and the rightful owners of the land through the signing of treaties that carry the weight of the U.S. Constitution. Tribal sovereignty is further recognized with the government-to-government relationship that the tribes have with the federal government. Read to learn more.
Book Recommendation
Below are resources and opportunities to engage:
Webinar Series Supporting Black Parents: Join Brazelton Touchpoint Center for Parenting While Black: Nurturing Legacy, Love, and Liberation, a FREE four-part webinar (each 1-hour in length) series by, for and among Black parents. The webinar series runs through April 7, 2025.
Each webinar includes live Spanish language translation and closed captioning.
Can't attend the live webinars? Register now to receive the recordings. For more information and to register, visit Brazelton Touchpoint Center webinar.
19 Children's Books that Celebrate Black History Month: From Black History Month to Juneteenth and beyond, these meaningful reads teach, engage and empower young readers. Save the Children is dedicated to fostering learning at home for children of all ages, whether they're toddlers, kindergartners, or independent readers. Discover inspiring stories that celebrate Black history and culture!
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