Billy Frank Jr. Day is March 9
Billy Frank Jr. Day is a day to recognize the life and legacy of Billy Frank Jr., a Native American environmental leader and activist. The day is celebrated on March 9, Frank's birthday.
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“I don’t believe in magic. I believe in the sun and the stars, the water, the tides, the floods, the owls, the hawks flying, the river running, the wind talking. They’re measurements. They tell us how healthy things are. How healthy we are. Because we and they are the same. That’s what I believe in. Those who learn to listen to the world that sustains them can hear the message brought forth by the salmon.”
-Billy Frank Jr.
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:
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
Sources
Kerianne Christie is the Birth to Three Outreach Services Coordinator at the Washington Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Youth (CDHY). She was nominated for her commitment to the "families are equal partners" Guiding Principle.
One way Kerianne demonstrates this commitment is through active listening with families.
“As communicators we become uncomfortable in silence, but sometimes silence is where the learning is happening," Kerianne says. "If we ask someone a question and we don’t give them that time to fully process it, they are either going to give us an answer they think we want, or we’ve interrupted their process, and they won’t be able to give us an answer that is truly reflective of what they are feeling.”
Kerianne works tirelessly to ensure families have access to services that are tailored to their communication preferences and future goals for their young children. Recently, Kerianne helped facilitate a family night in Pasco in eastern Washington. The event brought families together and encouraged collaboration and communication.
"Families are equal partners," Kerianne says, also means seeking parent-voice in everything she does.
“It’s crucial to involve parents in every step of the decision-making process and journey through early intervention," she explains. "As early intervention providers, we can visit with families, we can have conversations with families, but at the end of the day, we’re only there for an hour, and then we’re gone.”
Valuing families as equal partners also looks like sharing all the resources available so parents can make the best choices for their families.
Kerianne believes when parents are treated like equal partners as their children’s first teachers, children experience more belonging and better outcomes.
Kerianne adds, “When a parent has the tools to interweave intervention strategies into their daily lives, they make sure their child has full access to everything that is happening so their child can be a full part of their family and the community at large.”
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In a new section of the ESIT Weekly titled Key Principles in Action, the ESIT State Leadership team is highlighting individuals and ESIT provider organizations that demonstrate one or more of ESIT's Seven Key Principles. 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).
Read and download ESIT's Guiding Principles.
Submit Your Nomination!
To make a nomination, please complete the form linked below:
Washington state has adopted policies and procedures to ensure public participation in the annual grant application (including any policies, procedures, descriptions, methods, certifications, assurances, 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:
Public Comment
Opportunities for public comment will begin April 1 and end May 1, including two virtual public hearings, to be held:
- April 17 | 1:05 – 2:05 p.m.
- April 22 | 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
If you would like to receive this notification in an alternate format or language, please contact Sara Foster, ESIT Administrative Assistant IV at 360-480-2477 or dcyf.esit@dcyf.wa.gov.
For questions, please contact Lauren Thompson, ESIT Resource Allocations Manager, at lauren.thompson@dcyf.wa.gov or Valerie Arnold, ESIT State Administrator, at valerie.arnold@dcyf.wa.gov.
In collaboration with the State Interagency Coordinating Council Personnel and Training Sub-Committee, the ESIT State Leadership Office is pleased to announce the soft roll out of the newest ESIT Credential. This credential is for Developmental Specialists (formerly Special Educators), and Developmental Associates (formerly Paraeducators under Supervision). ESIT professionals in these roles provide special instruction on Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs).
This ESIT Credential will be available April 1 and will be required beginning July 1. Join us to learn more about the ESIT Credential for Developmental Specialists and Associates.
ESIT Agency Administrators
During this webinar, we will discuss how to support your current staff through the credentialing process and considerations for hiring.
Developmental Specialists and Developmental Associates
During this webinar, we will provide information about the ESIT Credential with an opportunity to ask questions such as how this will impact your work, the application process, and qualifications. Choose one of the following:
Accommodation Requests
To request language interpretation services, or other accommodations to fully participate in this webinar, please request Training and Event Access Support at least two weeks prior to the event.
Questions?
Contact ESIT Workforce Development Specialist, Lori Holbrook, at dcyf.ESITtraining@dcyf.wa.gov or (360) 999-7558.
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Thanks to everyone who was able to join ESIT for the Feb. 19 State Interagency Coordinating Council (SICC) Meeting!
The draft February meeting minutes and materials have been posted to ESIT's SICC Meetings page for review. If you have any questions in regard to the draft February meeting minutes or any of the upcoming meetings, please contact ESIT Partnership and Collaboration Coordinator, E Renae` Antalan at erenae.antalan@dcyf.wa.gov.
Upcoming 2025 SICC Meeting Dates
- April 16 | Virtual
- July 15 (PIE Graduation) – July 16 (SICC Meeting) | Virtual
- Oct. 15 | Virtual
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The ESIT State Leadership Office is pleased to announce the 90-day training and technical assistance period for the revised Transition Policy: Parental Opt-Out option, beginning April 1. The revised Policy will give families the opportunity to opt-out of the notification to Part B Special Education services during the transition window.
The ESIT Accountability and Quality Improvement team has scheduled two statewide orientation webinars in May where participants (administrators, fiscal staff, FRCs, direct EI service providers) will be provided an overview of the revised policy and process for parents to opt-out.
Please join ONE of the following Orientation webinars:
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May 20 | 9 – 10:30 a.m. | Join Meeting
Meeting ID: 817 7548 7092 Passcode: 042149
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May 21 | 1 – 2:30 p.m. | Join Meeting
Meeting ID: 847 7992 9959 Passcode: 685353
Open Office Hours:
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June 5 |Noon –1 p.m. | Join Meeting
Meeting ID: 810 0705 9062 Passcode: 198482
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June 10 | 9 – 10 a.m. | Join Meeting
Meeting ID: 810 0705 9062 Passcode: 198482
The Parent Opt-Out policy will be available to parents starting July 2025.
Join University of Washington's Center for Child & Family Well-Being for a free monthly online community drop-in with Shayla Collins.
Every third Thursday of the month | 7 - 8 p.m. | Download Flyer
Washington Caregivers Recognized During Parent Recognition Month
DCYF honored 28 Unsung Hero Award recipients in February – one for each day of the month – as part of Parent Recognition month. Read the full message (Spanish).
DCYF Convenes First Meeting of Family Separation Task Force
On Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, the governor-appointed Family Separation Response Task Force, led by DCYF, held its first meeting. Read the full message (Spanish | Somali).
Updates from the Family Separation Response Task Force
State partners convened on March 4 for the second meeting of the Family Separation Task Force. Read the full message.
Information and Resources Related to Recent Immigration Enforcement Actions
In early February, DCYF Secretary Tana Senn communicated the agency’s ongoing position on protecting sensitive information in light of recent immigration enforcement threats and actions potentially impacting Washington state families. Read the full message (Spanish | Somali).
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