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Welcome to the ESIT Weekly
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In This Issue:
Fall Leaves by Jahla Brown, DCYF ESIT Partnership & Collaboration Specialist
“While our culture, traditions and religion may differ, we pride ourselves on working hard, educating ourselves as much as possible, striving for better lives for our children, loving our often large and blended families, and sharing as much of our history and customs as we can with anyone who chooses to really see us. We are not so different after all. People simply need to see us for who we are and not
who they expect us to be.”
- Natalie Morales, American journalist & TV personality
Please note that there will be no issue of the ESIT Weekly sent out next week, Friday, Oct. 17, due to ESIT’s Parent Institute for Engagement (PIE) and State Interagency Coordinating Council (SICC) meetings (Oct. 14-15). The ESIT Weekly will resume its regular schedule on Friday, Oct. 24.
Thank you!
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Last Call to Take the ESIT Weekly Newsletter Readership Survey!
Hi, ESIT Weekly Readers! Please take this quick survey to help the ESIT team gain more insight into how you interact with the ESIT Weekly & Racial Equity Corner newsletters:
ESIT Weekly Newsletter Readership Survey
Thank you in advance for your participation and insights! The survey closes Wednesday, Oct. 15 at 11:59 p.m.
- DCYF ESIT State Leadership Team
FY26 ESIT Fiscal Learning Opportunities
*CLAs and ESIT Provider Agencies, please widely share with your ESIT contractors*
Fiscal Workshops will include guidance on the following topics:
- Part C Purpose and Fiscal Requirements,
- State Lead Agency (SLA) Responsibilities, and
- ESIT Fund Sources and Contracts.
Workshops are two hours. All workshops will cover the same material.
Dates and Times
Accommodation Requests
Please submit the Training and Event Access Support request form at least two weeks prior to the event. DYCF may not be able to fulfill requests made less than two weeks in advance.
Questions?
Email ESIT Resource Allocation Manager, Kali Wraspir, at kali.wraspir@dcyf.wa.gov.
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Oct. 13 Indigenous Peoples' Day Celebrations
Join the Squaxin Island Tribe and the City of Olympia to celebrate Indigenous culture, history, and communities. This free, family-friendly community event will feature presenters, music, food, and educational resources:
Monday, Oct. 13 | 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Squaxin Park, Olympia |Get event details
Get ready for a day filled with festivities and appreciation for the abundant richness of Native communities, cultures, and history. Kick off the city‑wide Indigenous Peoples' Day Celebration at Pier 62! Event is free and event schedule TBA:
Monday, Oct. 13 | Noon - 4 p.m.
Pier 62, Seattle (1951 Alaskan Wy)| Get event details
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"Everything around us is there to care for us. To learn to appreciate is the meaning of life."
-Tiokasin Ghosthorse (Lakota)
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:
Unlearning Columbus Day Myths: Celebrating Indigenous Peoples' Day
Many students learn the phrase, "In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue". But Columbus was not the first foreign explorer to land in the Americas. Neither he nor those that came before him discovered America—because Indigenous Peoples have populated the Western Hemisphere for tens of thousands of years. European contact resulted in devastating loss of life, disruption of tradition, and enormous loss of lands for Indigenous Peoples in the Americas. It is estimated that in the 130 years following first contact, Native America lost 95 percent of its population. Learn more:
Native Knowledge 360° Essential Understandings about American Indians
This second Monday of October honors the history and culture of Indigenous Peoples in our country. It’s been an official national holiday since last year, replacing Columbus Day in most of the U.S. San Diego County is home to 17 tribal communities, the most of any county in the country. KPBS Education Reporter M.G. Perez takes us to a local high school celebrating a difficult history (watch time 2:44):
Indigenous Peoples Day celebrates a difficult history
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Fighting for the Puyallup Tribe: A Memoir, by Ramona Bennett Bill: A relentless advocate for Native rights, Ramona Bennett Bill has been involved in the battles waged by the Puyallup and other Northwest tribes around fishing rights, land rights, health, and education for over six decades. This invaluable firsthand account includes stories of the takeover of Fort Lawton as well as events from major Red Power struggles, including Alcatraz, Wounded Knee, and the Trail of Broken Treaties [...] her experiences at the Puyallup fishing camp established during the Fish War of the 1960s and 1970s, which led to the federal intervention that eventually resulted in the Boldt Decision [...] the 1976 occupation of a state-run facility on reservation land and the lobbying that led to the property’s return to the tribe.
Sources
ESIT is thrilled to welcome our new Senior Administrator, Tutrecia Baker!
Tutrecia Baker recently joined DCYF as the Senior Administrator for the Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT) program. She brings over 18 years of experience in public health and early learning. She was most recently a part of the leadership of the Washington Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program.
Tutrecia (ta-tree-sha) holds a master’s degree in organizational learning, innovation, and development from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, and a bachelor’s in communications from the University of Memphis. She has expertise in program management, workforce development, and quality improvement.
She is passionate about equity, collaboration, and building strong, family-centered systems that help every child thrive.
Welcome, Tutrecia, we are so glad you're here!
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Submit Your Nomination
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 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). To make a nomination, please complete the form linked below:
Nominate an ESIT Program or Colleague
Guiding Principles in Action
Read and download ESIT's Guiding Concept to learn ESIT's Seven Key Guiding Principles!
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DCYF and King County are partnering to host an ongoing meeting space to support ESIT Providers who work with immigrant and refugee families. The space will provide best practice training, guidance, resources, and reflective practice to ESIT Providers, in response to the evolving needs of families. Providers will have the opportunity to process, connect, and reflect with one another.
This statewide group will be held on the fourth Monday of each month, 9:30 - 11 a.m. In October, providers will engage in small-group collaboration to discuss scenarios and explore the use of resources from previous sessions in real-world practice.
Registration
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Register now!
Monday, Oct. 27 | 9:30 - 11 a.m.
Supporting Providers Working with Immigrant and Refugee Families Monthly Group
Questions?
For questions or to request access accommodations contact Technical Assistance Specialist, Molly Stryker, at molly.stryker@dcyf.wa.gov or King County ESIT Policy and Language Access Lead, Norma Lobo, at nrenteri@kingcounty.gov.
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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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Great Washington ShakeOut
This year's International ShakeOut Day is Thursday, Oct. 16, when millions of people worldwide will participate in earthquake drills at work, school, or home!
To learn more, visit DCYF's What's New blog.
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A Message from Secretary Senn: Federal Government Shutdown Will Not Impact DCYF Services
In the event that there is a federal government shut down on Oct. 1, I want to be very clear, there will be no impact on DCYF staffing or services and payments will continue to be made to you as scheduled.
Providers and contractors should continue to provide services as expected.
Even if DCYF services aren’t directly impacted, it is likely the federal government shut down still has an impact on you and your employees, not to mention the people we serve. I am very aware of this and want to acknowledge the stress, anxiety, and frustration this could have on you. I hope our continued payments and communication provide a bit of relief.
As this situation progresses, l will continue to keep you updated with any changes or developments.
Thank you for your partnership,
Tana Senn
Secretary
Read the full message in Español and Soomaali.
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ICYF Conference Agenda Now Available
The agenda for the upcoming 2025 Indigenous Children, Youth & Families (ICYF) conference is now available online. Taking place on Oct. 15-16, this virtual event gathers caregivers, Tribal partners, caseworkers, early learning providers, and juvenile rehabilitation staff to learn together and improve our shared practice.
To view the agenda and to register, read the web article.
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We are seeking to center black excellence for children and families in King County Early Support for Infants and Toddlers. Share your own story in a community conversation this fall!
We want to hear from Black and African American families who:
- Have children with delays or disabilities who are under age 8,
- Used Early Support services in the past 5 years,
- Didn’t know about or access services when children were Birth to 3.
Please complete this form to participate in a Community Conversation about Centering Black Excellence within Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT):
ESIT Centering Black Excellence: Community Conversations
Virtual and In-Person Community Conversations
- Saturday, Oct. 11 | 10 a.m. – Noon | Northgate
- Wednesday, Oct. 29 | 6 – 8 p.m. | Virtual on Zoom
View and download the flyer for more information. Participants will receive a $75 stipend upon completing a session.
For any questions or support, please e-mail bsk-wested@wested.org.
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