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“May the stars carry your sadness away, may the flowers fill your heart with beauty, and may hope forever wipe away your tears.” -Chief Dan George
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:
Two Rivers Documentary Film
Two Rivers”, an award-winning documentary that was produced in 2003, tells the true story of a Native American Reconciliation group that began in the home of Glenn and Carolyn Schmekel in Twisp in 1997. Within five years many folks had joined, and together they launched social reconciliation initiatives that has brought about change in the Methow Valley and has continued to contribute to an effective means to connect across cultural, ethnic and racial divisions. The Methow Valley Interpretive Center represents part of this ongoing group of Native American and (mostly) European American folks working together in the Methow Valley to heal historical wounds and create lasting friendships. Here is a true story of how people from different worlds have created profound, lasting friendships, because they were willing to adopt an open attitude, experiment with new ways of connecting, and learn to speak, listen, and act from their hearts.
Stream the “Two Rivers” documentary here for free, the only place to watch this important film (watch time 56:50):
Two Rivers Documentary Film
Book Recommendation
Tribal Histories of the Willamette Valley by David G. Lewis: The Willamette Valley is rich with history—its riverbanks, forests, and mountains home to the tribes of Kalapuya, Chinook, Molalla, and more for thousands of years. This history has been largely unrecorded, incomplete, poorly researched, or partially told. In these stories, enriched by photographs and maps, Oregon Indigenous historian David G. Lewis combines years of researching historical documents and collecting oral stories, highlighting Native perspectives about the history of the Willamette Valley as they experienced it.
Sources
The ESIT State Leadership Team is thrilled to welcome our new Senior Administrator, Tutrecia Baker! We asked some fun "getting-to-know-you" questions as a chance to learn a little more about our newest team leader and member.
Q: What do you tend to find energizing or relaxing for you, outside of work?
A: Me time, nurturing solo adventures. Spending time with family and friends. I like to go to movies, community events, concerts, and travel with them. Exploring and looking for new adventures.
Q: Who is your favorite singer or band?
A: India Arie and Shania Twain.
Q: Name 3-5 famous people (past or present) that you would invite to your dream dinner party.
A: Oprah Winfrey, Judge Judy, and Lucille Ball.
Welcome, Tutrecia, we are so glad you're here!
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The ESIT state leadership team plans to highlight individual providers or 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 Guiding Principles in Action.
This 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). To make a nomination, please complete the form:
Nominate an ESIT Program or Colleague
Guiding Principles in Action
Read and download ESIT's Guiding Concept to learn ESIT's Seven Key Guiding Principle.
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DCYF ESIT is hosting two mental health focus groups to learn more about how Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) services are supported within the ESIT system.
You’re invited to share your IECMH experiences on how children and families within the ESIT system are supported through mental health services, such as, strengths within the system, barriers with offering services, and additional resources needed to better support children and families receiving IECMH ESIT services. This is not a webinar or training, but rather an opportunity for ESIT mental health providers and administrators supporting mental health services to participate in a focus group that will help guide recommendations for improvements within the ESIT system.
Register for the one group that best fits your role:
ESIT Agency Administrator Registration
Tuesday, Nov. 18 | 9-10 a.m.
IECMH Services in ESIT: Administrator Focus Group
ESIT Mental Health Provider Registration
Tuesday, Nov. 18| 11 a.m.-noon
IECMH Services in ESIT: MH Provider Focus Group
Accommodation Requests
ASL, live captioning, and other accommodations to fully participate in this event are available to you upon request. Please submit the Training and Event Access Support request form by Tuesday, Nov. 4. DYCF may not be able to fulfill requests made less than two weeks in advance.
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SICC Member Application
The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is recruiting members for two open positions on the State Interagency Coordinating Council:
- (1) Public or private provider of Early Intervention Services,
- (1) Member of the State Legislature.
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
SICC Sub-Committees Application
The SICC Data, Finance, Personnel & Training, Public Policy, and Service Delivery Committees are accepting applications from qualified and interested individuals:
Complete Sub-Committee Interest form
If you have any questions, please contact DCYF ESIT Community Collaboration Coordinator, E Renae` Antalan.
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2026 Unsung Hero Award Nominations Now Open!
The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is now accepting Unsung Hero Award nominations for 2026!
Do you know a parent, caregiver, guardian, or community member you’d like to recognize? Send us your nomination to strengtheningfamilies@dcyf.wa.gov.
Nominations must be received by Jan. 6, 2026. Nomination forms are available in English, Spanish, and Somali.
Twenty-eight new Unsung Hero Award recipients (one for each day of the month) will be honored at an in-person “Parent Recognition Month” dinner event in February.
Since 2011, nearly 400 parents and caregivers across Washington have received the Unsung Hero award.
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Resources for Families in Need During Federal Shutdown
Although the current government shutdown is not directly impacting DCYF programs or services, many benefits like SNAP are accessed by the children, youth, and families we serve.
Read more for ways to access food and other basic needs resources.
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WA Sees Increase in Families Receiving Child Care Subsidy
Washington children and families are accessing child care more than ever before.
In June 2025, the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) reported that more than 63,500 children received child care through the state’s Working Connections Child Care subsidy program, marking the first time the program has served that amount of children since 2010.
“We are thrilled to see increased access to high-quality child care in Washington State, so that it is affordable to more families who need help paying for child care,” says Nicole Rose, DCYF’s Assistant Secretary for Early Learning.
Read more at the DCYF What's New blog.
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Washington State Hands & Voices is pleased to invite you to participate in a short Plan-Study-Do-Act (PDSA) cycle aimed at enhancing how we share information about early intervention rights with families of Deaf or Hard of Hearing (DHH) children.
This cycle will run through Jan. 31, 2026, and is open to Family Resources Coordinators, DHH Specialists, Audiologists, and other professionals who support families of DHH children from birth to three years of age.
The focus of this PDSA cycle is a new resource:
The 12 Key Rights: A Parent’s Overview to DHH Early Intervention. This tool is designed to help families better understand their rights and support more informed, confident decision-making during early intervention.
What We’re Asking
- Participate in a brief PDSA cycle (with just 3–5 families of DHH children per provider),
- Introduce and discuss the 12 Key Rights document during a regular session,
- Ask families a few short feedback questions (a set will be provided),
- Reflect briefly on how the conversation went (with separate feedback forms for families and professionals).
A sample script and instructions will be included to help guide your conversations. Our goal is to learn how this tool can support meaningful family engagement and strengthen partnerships between families and professionals across disciplines.
To get started, each participant is asked to complete this Participant Registration form and a packet will be sent to you within 48 hours. Christine Griffin, Program Coordinator, will send each provider a packet to support implementation.
Contact
For questions or additional support, email Christine Griffin at gbys@wahandsandvoices.org, call or text at (425) 268-7087.
Thank you for considering this opportunity. Your participation and insights are vital as we continue working to improve tools and strategies that make a real difference for families.
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A research study at the University of Washington is currently recruiting for a play-based research study investigating mobility aid use for young children who can sit independently (including prop sit) but are not yet walking. The study is open to children with genetic or neuromuscular conditions that affect mobility and muscle tone, such as Down syndrome, hypotonia, developmental delay, spinal muscular atrophy, Rett syndrome, Angelman syndrome, or cerebral palsy. Our goal is to explore how mobility aids can support independent exploration and play.
The Study Includes
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3–5 short visits to UW (under 90 minutes each),
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$25 compensation per visit, with free parking or public transit,
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Play-based activities using two mobility aids: a partial bodyweight support system and a powered wheelchair.
View and download the Early Intervention Mobility Aids Flyer.
Watch a short video about the study and mobility aids here: Get involved in mobility aids research!
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Go Baby Go UW (University of Washington) is excited to invite families to bring their kids to drive their Go Baby Go cars, use their mobility devices, and join in the fun! There will be Go Baby Go cars available for new families to try, a spin art activity, and other switch adapted toys to explore. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with the Husky ADAPT community, experience accessible play options, and enjoy a morning of creativity and movement. Parking is free!
Sunday, Nov. 2 | 10 a.m.–Noon
Location: UW Haring Center, Experimental Education Unit
RSVP Today for Ready, Set, Play!
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Caregivers of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) infants are at significantly higher risk of perinatal mental health challenges which can impact early relational health and infant development, particularly feeding – a complex, relationship-based process that can become a source of immense stress for families. Every family who leaves the NICU should have the support they need. Yet current post-discharge systems of care are fragmented and inequitable. Northwest Center’s Hospital-to-Home care model works to change this by integrating siloed services, reducing points of contact for families, and ensuring universal screening for resource and mental health needs alongside infant developmental and feeding therapy. This session will highlight both the need for this support and our ongoing efforts to create more equitable, coordinated NICU-to-home transitions that optimize outcomes for infants and their families.
Register and learn more about the session and presenters:
Monday, Nov. 3 | 9-10:30 a.m. | Free Zoom event
Strengthening Supports for NICU Caregivers and their Infants Post-Discharge
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A PhD student from the UW School of Nursing is conducting a study to better understand how childhood hardships might shape the way parents think and feel about their preterm child’s chronic medical conditions (such as heart, lung, stomach/digestive, or brain/nervous system challenges).
Who can participate:
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Parents or guardians aged 18 or older
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Raising a preterm child (ages 2–5)
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Child has one or more chronic medical conditions
What’s involved:
You’ll join one Zoom session (up to 90 minutes), complete 6 surveys, and have time for questions and a short break.
Earn $100 for participating
Learn More Here
Contact: Avery Park, PhD Student Investigator
Email: averyp88@uw.edu | Text: 909-815-4212
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