NYSPEP Strong Roots - Presenters and Panelists - Rochester

New York State Parenting Education Partnership is pleased to announce our confirmed presenters and panelists for the Strong Roots Last a Lifetime training institute "Helping Parents Prepare Young Children for School Success" in Rochester, NY on Friday, November 04, 2016. This one-day training is designed for parenting educators and professionals who support parents / primary caregivers in their role of nurturing children.

Register at www.nyspep.org/strong-roots/. 
Advance registration is required and closes at 5:00 pm on October 24. 

EVENT ANNOUNCER

Judy Wolf
Cornell Cooperative Extension Tioga County (ret.)

Judy Wolf, serves on NYSPEP's Steering and Executive Committees and is Co-chair of the Credential Workgroup. She also has served on the National Parenting Education Network (NPEN) Council. A retired Extension Team Leader for the Family Development Program of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tioga County, she led a variety of programs from parenting skills workshops and home visits. Under her leadership, CCE Tioga has helped to define the Family Resource Center and supported others in implementing that model. 

MORNING PANEL

Panel Moderator

Alice McAdam, NYSFDC, NYSPEP-CPE
Hillside Children's Center

Alice McAdam ...is the Program Manager for Parents As Teachers at Hillside Children's Center.

Master Cadre Pyramid Model Trainer

Ellen Leopold, MS.Ed.
Children's Institute

Ellen Leopold a supports parents, grandparents, and teachers in identifying practices and strategies to support preschoolers' healthy social emotional development as a Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Health Consultant for Children's Institute. She has worked in education for more than 30 years and has consulted with Rochester city elementary, preschools, and day care centers on implementing the evidence-based PATHS and PATHS Preschool. She is a certified Pyramid Model trainer and coach under Aspire's New York Works for Children.

Regional Special Education - Technical Assistance Support Center (RSE-TASC) Behavior Specialist

Megan King
Regional Special Education Technical Assistance Support Center (RSE-TASC)

Megan King is a preschool behavior specialist with the Western region RSE-TASC. She works with preschools on utilizing evidence-based practices to promote social emotional competence in children. She has been in the education world for over 13 years, with a wide variety of experience and age ranges. Megan received her Master's degree in Special Education at Canisius College. She has a total of five teaching certifications in both general and special education. 

NYSPEP Credentialed Parenting Educator

Kara Georgi, NYSPEP-CPE
New York State Community Cafes Parent Leader

Kara Georgi is a NYSPEP Credentialed Parenting Educator, Certified Protective Factors Trainer, NYS Community Cafes Parent Leader, and Co-chair of the Alliance National Parent Partnership Council. Kara is also a Certified Teacher for Pre-K-6.

Child Care Resource & Referral Representative (CCR&R)

Carla Hibbard
Child Care Aware of Steuben and Schuyler

Carla Hibbard, Director of Child Care Aware of Steuben and Schuyler, manages a $1.5 million budget and staff of 17 to improve the quality, availability, affordability, and accessibility of child care. Previously, Carla worked as a Head Start Family Worker / Resource Advocate and as a Child and Adult Care Food Program Training Coordinator. She also coordinated professional training programs for Corning Incorporated, a Fortune 500 company. Carla serves on the NYS Early Care & Learning Council, Steuben County's Integrated Planning, and the Government Affairs Councils for Watkins Glen and Corning Chamber of Commerce.

Please visit www.nyspep.org/strong-roots for information and registration.

Parenting and LGBTQI Identified Persons

Background 
Recently, Donna Morrison of The Guidance Center of Westchester forwarded a newsletter on the topic of serving transgendered youth. She felt parenting educators would benefit from and be interested in the content.

In reflection, I thought of my own experience at age eight. An adult family friend transitioned gender. Sadly, I only met Shirley once. At that time, my parents introduced her as the estranged widow of our family friend, delivering toys that he would have wanted my brother and I to have.

Below are resources that may be helpful for parenting educators and professionals who support parents and primary caregivers who either identify as LGBTQI*, or who are raising children who self-identify, and their families.

Resources for Youth-Serving Organizations and Professionals

• NCFY Reports: Serving Transgender Youth explores services that transgender youth may need to navigate and provides steps adults can take to help transgender youth feel welcome


• Is Our Education System Criminalizing LGBTQ Students? assists understanding of pathways and disparities that may push LGBTQ youth out of school and into the juvenile justice system


• True Inclusion Assessment Tool enables homeless youth serving organizations to assess the current level of LGBTQ-inclusive and affirming practices in a non-judgmental manner

Resources for Parents and Prospective Parents

• PFLAG is the extended family of the LGBTQ community, founded in 1972 with the simple act of a mother publicly supporting her gay-identified son

• Our Trans Loved Ones: Questions and Answers for Parents, Families, and Friends of People who are Transgender and Gender-Expansive is a PDF guide focused on providing support for families and friends of transgender and gender-expansive children, adolescents, and adults

• Frequently Asked Questions From Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning (LGBTQ) Prospective Foster and Adoptive Parents is a PDF fact sheet offered by The Children's Bureau / Child Information Welfare Gateway.

Final Thoughts
I acknowledge the many colleagues, friends, and family who identify, or are raising children who identify, as LGBTQI or 'Two-Spirit'.

If you would like to suggest other supportive federal, state, not-for-profit, or grassroots resources on the topic of parenting and LGBTQI identified persons, please leave a thoughtful comment** below.

-Angelina M. Hart

* LGBTQI is the acronym for Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgendered, Questioning, or Intersexed persons

** Comments are screened prior to posting. We are unable to promote resources that advertise or promote for-profit products or services.  

NYSPEP Member Spotlight: Laurie Rivera

Laurie Rivera, Families Together in New York State

Laurie Rivera has served Families Together in New York State (FTNYS) for over 13 years. She is also a member of the NYSPEP Steering Committee and has volunteered to be the Announcer for the upcoming 2016 Strong Roots training institute in Latham, NY. 

In her current position as Program Manager with FTNYS, she manages the Family Peer Advocate Credential and the Parent Empowerment Program, in addition to the Information and Referral Line. She also co-coordinates the Legislative Awareness Day and Family Peer Support projects, and serves as staff liaison for the Board of Directors. 

Laurie brings a wealth of both lived and professional experience to her work with families and hopes that every struggling parent has a support person to lean on and empower them to be their own best advocate for their child. She was crowned “Mother of the Year” in 2016 at the Albany Tulip Festival and is the mother of four children. 

NYSPEP Member Spotlight: Gail Volk

Gail Volk, NYS Education Dept., Office of Early Learning

Gail Volk currently serves the Office of Early Learning at the New York State Education Department, where she is a member of the Upstate Review Team in the Office of Accountability. She also serves on the NYSPEP Steering Committee and is an active member of NYSPEP's Professional Development workgroup.

Previously, Gail helped to develop and implement health policies for the Western Suffolk BOCES school districts focusing on low-income areas. She also served as Executive Director of the Community Wellness Council of the Bellmores and Merricks, which fostered physical and emotional wellness. She developed partnerships among five school boards, the Parent-Teacher Association, clergy, legislators, and parents, who played a large role in social norms.

Additionally, Gail is a past President of the Child Care Council of Nassau and Director of Scholarships and Development for the American Foreign Service Association. She earned her Master’s in Higher Education Administration at New York University and holds a N-6 Teaching Certificate.

As a mother of two, Gail understands that becoming a parent can be a huge adjustment. Reflecting back on her experience as a new mother, she recalled one day in February when she looked out the window only to realize she needed to dress her infant baby from head to toe just to walk to the mailbox! After her second child, Gail moved to Long Island. There, apart from family and friends, she sought-out the support of community- and parent-resources with the intention of becoming the best nurturing parent she could be.

Gail is pleased to announce the availability of a diagnostic tool to map family and community engagement at: www.p12.nysed.gov/accountability/diagnostic-tool-institute/home.html

Announcing NYSPEP Strong Roots Professional Development Training Institutes

NYSPEP "Strong Roots" Last a Lifetime professional development trainings provide high-quality content developed by experienced professionals. Topics focus on the realities families face and are associated with effectiveness in parenting education.

Many parents find it difficult to prepare their young children for school success, and can be baffled or even intimidated by the school culture. This one-day institute will share information about the social and emotional development of both parents and their children, provide new strategies that can assist in helping parents support their school-age children, and will reveal the "hidden rules" that govern school relationships with parents.

"Helping Parents Prepare Young Children for School Success" will be repeated in four locations to increase access to parenting educators, family service providers, and para-professionals who support parents / primary caregivers in their role of nurturing children:

• Garden City - Friday, November 04
• Rochester - Friday, November 04
• New York City - Tuesday, November 15
• Latham - Monday, December 05

Start off with a facilitated panelist forum, composed of a regional mix of invited experts including: Pyramid Model trainers, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support specialists, and NYSPEP Credentialed Parenting Educators.

In the afternoon, participants attend the afternoon workshop of their choice: Birth to Pre-K with a focus on school readiness -OR- Kindergarten to Grade-6 focused on helping parents support their child's learning. Each workshop will impart specific skills, tools and resources to use with parents and primary caregivers of children for the selected age group. Participants will also have opportunity to connect with others and share during process activities and breaks.

For more information and to register, please visit www.nyspep.org/strong-roots
Advance pre-registration is required. 

Applications for NYSPEP Mini-Grants Now Available

2016-2017 NYSPEP Mini-Grants Are Here!

The New York State Parenting Education Partnership (NYSPEP), through funding from the NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH), is once again pleased to offer NYSPEP Mini-grants.

A limited number of grants, of up to $2,000 each, will be awarded to service providers in New York for the purpose of increasing access and/or reducing barriers to participate in evidence based and promising parenting education programs that support parents and primary caregivers of children in their role.

Awardees will also be eligible to present a poster session at the 2018 New York State Child Abuse Prevention Conference, slated to be held in the Capital District in the Spring.

In awarding these grants, NYSPEP is interested in how the funds will increase access and/or decrease barriers to participate in quality parenting education programs that promote one or more of the five Strengthening Families Protective Factors. NYSPEP is also interested in evidence that the funded program has a positive impact on parents' lives. Mini-grant funds are expected to be used with other funding or in collaborative work to support sustainability.

Please visit www.nyspep.org/mini-grants where you can find:

• 2016 Mini-Grant Application (fillable form*)
• 2016-2017 Reporting Template Sample
• Additional information including previous awardees

At least one grant will be awarded in each of the five OMH regions, if applications that meet eligibility and application requirements are received from each region. Applications received by 5:00 PM, Friday, October 14, 2016 are eligible for consideration. 

Selected applicants will be notified by email on November 23, 2016 with awards to follow by postal mail. The expenditure period starts December 1, 2016 and ends September 30, 2017. Reports are due October 15, 2017.

If you have a question, please email: nyspep@nyspep.org with the subject line: Mini-Grant Question.

Timeline Reminder for 2015-2016 Awardees

For those who received a mini-grant during the previous award cycle for 2015-2016, please note the important dates below.

• Expenditure Period Ends: September 30, 2016
• Reporting Template Due: October 31, 2016

* 2016-2017 Applicants can download and type directly into the fillable application form. Toggle back and forth between fields using the "tab" key to advance or the "shift" + "tab" keys to return to the previous field. Save the completed application file and email as an attachment to: nyspep@nyspep.org with the subject line: 2016 MG APP. Options to submit by fax or postal mail appear on the application form.

9/12 - SUNY Albany School of Social Welfare Presents Two Back-to-Back Workshops

On Monday, September 12, UAlbany's Continuing Education program presents two workshops by Charles Appelstein, MSW, an experienced national trainer and youth care specialist who has worked in child welfare for over 25 years.

"The Glass Ain't Half Full. Heck It's Overflowing!" Understanding & Responding to Kids & Families with Emotional & Behavioral Challenges Using a Positive, Trauma-Informed, Strength-Based Approach

8:30 AM - 12:30 PM. This workshop centers on the strength-based approach and incorporating positivity and creative cognitive behavioral strategies into individual practice with youths. 

"Use the Force, Luke!" Managing Number One, First & Staying Motivated to Make a Difference

2:00 PM - 5:00 PM. This workshop focuses on difficulties one faces when working with at-risk populations and provides strategies for self-management.

For more information and to register, please visit http://tiny.cc/UAlbanySSWCE

Online Course on Responding to ACEs Across the Lifespan

Restorative Integral Support for Post-Trauma Wellness: Responding to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Across the Lifespan 

Accumulated adversity and trauma in childhood is strongly associated with mental health, substance abuse, serious health problems, and homelessness. These interconnected concerns call for a comprehensive approach to helping people. The Restorative Integral Support (RIS) model guides the selection of interventions and services that can be combined within a flexible framework. Ideally, the whole community would be engaged in ACE Response. 

This free asynchronous online course was developed by Heather Larkin, Ph.D., and her team at the University of Albany. While designed for social service providers and program directors, this course can be useful for other family support providers. Continuing Education Units are optional and available for a fee at the conclusion of the course.

This training addresses intervention selection, leadership, policies, and organizational culture with an emphasis on provider self-care. The modules offer additional resources such as videos, webinars and articles. Complete the quizzes to advance to subsequent modules and accumulate credits towards optional continuing education hours.

PARTICIPANTS WILL: 

• Learn how research informs social work programs and practice that respond to the adversity and trauma characteristics / backgrounds of those served 
• Describe how “Restorative Integral Support” (RIS) applies research to assist families in achieving wellness after trauma and the potential for resilience and recovery 
• Identify and apply key elements of RIS to assessment and post-trauma wellness practice and program planning 
• Learn about emerging practices for supporting post-trauma wellness: the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), Integrative Restoration (iRest), Somatic Experiencing (SE), and Mindfulness Meditation (MM)
• Learn how to identify and increase opportunities for interagency collaboration, including provision of mutual support among agency leaders with coordinated advocacy efforts and strengthening knowledge of program and community services
• Identify and describe how your own self-care, relationship-building and role modeling skills contribute to a culture of recovery and wellness in your agency or community as well as specific ways that prevention of vicarious traumatization supports your ability to live up to the National Association of Social Workers’ ethical principles 

Module 1: ACE Overview explores the ACE Study, different ACE categories, prevalence of ACEs and their impact on society, and efforts to reduce and prevent them. 

Module 2: ACEs, Toxic Stress, and Consequences further explores ACEs, the neurobiology of early life toxic stress, and some of the long-term consequences of high ACE Scores.

Module 3: ACEs and Service Implications explains how and why service delivery systems are being transformed to address ACEs and the characteristics of an ACE-informed program.

Module 4: Resilience and Recovery covers resilience, protective factors, post-traumatic growth, and ways to support resilience and recovery.

Module 5: Self-care and Vicarious Trauma teaches you to stop, breathe, reflect, and apply information from previous modules to yourself while emphasizing how self-care is key to living well and effectively and ethically helping others.

Module 6: RIS Overview builds on previous modules, highlighting how implementation of RIS includes a culture of recovery helping to break ACE trajectory.

Module 7: RISing Program Leaders reveals what supports a RISing leader and how RIS guides program development.

Module 8: Evidence-Supported Interventions (ESI) overviews and offers examples of ESIs and examines how RIS guides their use.

Module 9: Emerging Practices offers examples of emerging practices through a RIS lens. 

Module 10: Community Examples of Holistic ACE Response illustrates community movements that promote holistic ACE Response, stressing how you can contribute to, and/or start, community efforts to reduce and prevent ACEs. 

Module 11: ACEs and Homelessness discloses the relationship between ACEs and homelessness and reviews ACE-informed homelessness programs that use the RIS model. 

Module 12: ACEs and Healthcare justifies how and why healthcare providers would respond to ACEs and clarifies some of the challenges faced by healthcare providers engaging in ACE Response efforts.

Module 13: Course Review and Applications demonstrates identifying RIS elements in real world program examples

Online Registration Instructions 

1. Create an account at www.ualbanymoodle.net/login/index.php 
2. Click the confirmation link that will be sent to you in order to automatically log into the University at Albany Moodle site 
3. Scroll down to “Course Categories”
4. Click the “School of Social Welfare” folder
5. Click the course title
6. On the subsequent page, look for the section titled “Administration” and click “Enroll me in the course”
7. Scroll down to select the blue “Enroll me” button. 

The course may be stopped and returned to at any time. 

QUESTIONS? Please email sswceu@albany.edu 

CEU APPLICANTS: If you’re applying for CEUs at the end of the course, you’ll receive 12 Self-Study CE hours when you have successfully completed all course module content and quizzes, and have paid the associated fee ($180 for NYS social workers -or- $90 for UAlbany SSW field instructors). Please email sswceu@albany.edu after you’ve completed payment to request a certificate by email. The University at Albany, School of Social Welfare is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers. 

New York State Department of Health: Preventing Zika Virus Infection in Pregnant Women

The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) has taken actions to detect and prevent Zika virus infection in pregnant women. 

Zika virus is spread to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito and has been known to spread through sexual transmission as well.

NYS DOH "KNOW ZIKA VIRUS" POSTER

The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting for several days to a week after onset and many people may not realize they have been infected. However, Zika virus can be passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus.

Infection with Zika virus during pregnancy is a cause of microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects and has been linked to problems in infants, including eye defects, hearing loss, and impaired growth. For these reasons, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and NYSDOH recommend special precautions for pregnant women.

To date, all cases of Zika virus detected within the continental United States, including New York, have been travel associated. Therefore, women who are pregnant should not travel to areas of the world with Zika virus transmission. However, if a pregnant woman or her male partner must travel to one of these areas, precautions should be taken to prevent Zika virus transmission through mosquito bites and sexual transmission.

Below are links to the poster (appearing above) that conveys this message, and is intended to serve as an educational tool that may be used to educate pregnant women regarding potential exposure to Zika virus and the potential risk of infection for her unborn baby.

ENGLISH KNOW ZIKA VIRUS POSTER: www.health.ny.gov/publications/13010.pdf

SPANISH KNOW ZIKA VIRUS POSTER: www.health.ny.gov/publications/13011.pdf

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Please visit www.health.ny.gov/diseases/zika_virus/pregnant.htm

Reflections on the Marshmallow Experiment

By Donna Morrison, Deputy Director, The Guidance Center of Westchester 

July 4th starts the official “s’mores” season in my family...you know the roasted marshmallow on top of a chocolate bar and graham cracker...yumminess? Then at a recent staff development training I had the opportunity to watch once again the “Marshmallow Experiment” video.

During the 1960s a classic longitudinal study was started by Michael Mischel at Stanford University. It has since become known as “The Marshmallow Experiment”. You can watch the original experiment as well as more recent replications on the internet. Basically the researcher presented two options to hungry four year‐old children. They could have one marshmallow right away or get two marshmallows fifteen minutes later when the researcher returned after “running an errand” as long as they didn’t eat the first one. One third of the children opted for one marshmallow. (Mischel, Walter; Ebbesen, Ebbe B. October 1970). 

I have four grown children of my own. I thought about how different they each are and how perhaps they would have completed the “Marshmallow Experiment” when they were four; 

My oldest was the “perfect child” and followed directions to the littlest detail. She lived to please and couldn’t tolerate any one being unhappy with her. She would have sat very patiently singing a song to herself while waiting happily for her second marshmallow to arrive. When she got it she would eat one and save one for later! Some of the videos of the “experiments” had two children in the room at once. My twins were problem solvers and worked together. They were also a bit “active” so I could see them wiggling, tapping the table, and wrestling with each other while they waited. They would probably agree to share one of the marshmallows and eat half each, when the other got his second marshmallow because he “waited” he would share it with his twin so they both would get one and a half! 

My youngest was a tester and a tornado! She had a questioning spirit and always asked “Why and How come!” She wanted it all, at all times! I could see her getting off her chair the minute the researcher turned to go to the door. She would grab the marshmallow, pop it in her mouth, and slip out the door behind the researcher, at which time she would follow her to the marshmallow stash, wait for the researcher to leave and then help herself to a full bag!

After several years they did a follow up of the original participants who then graduated from high‐school. Mischel found that the children who waited (for the second marshmallow) now possessed the habits of successful people (Beachman, 2009). They were positive, self‐ motivated, and persistent in their pursuit of goals (Beachman, 2009). These habits point to successful marriages, higher incomes, and better health. The study also showed that the participants who did not wait earned lower SAT scores, were indecisive, less confident, and stubborn; all predictors of unstable marriages, low incomes, and poor health (Beachman, 2009).

Self‐control in the early years is expressed by the ability to trust adults, internalize rules, delay gratification, control angry impulses, find internal ways to be more patient despite frustrations, empathize with others’ feelings, take turns, and find ways to cheer up when feeling sad (Honig & Lansburgh, 1991). Young children are expected to regulate their behavior and emotions. They are expected to “delay, defer, and accept substitutions without becoming aggressive or disorganized by frustration, and [to] cope with arousal, whether due to environmental challenge or fatigue” (Bronson, 2000 p. 71). Well, those are some high expectations!

Going back to my kids and reading about the long term outcomes, one would expect at least one of my kids to be in a low paying job, an unstable marriage, or at the very least stubborn and indecisive! Two of my four children have masters’ degrees, one is completing their master’s degree and one has two years of college and very successful in their chosen career. The youngest who would have eaten the marshmallow quickly, has multiple teaching certifications and has taught at the college level! 

Why don’t they follow the expected results? Maybe my kids are unique (I like to think they are!)? But more likely they started internalizing the boundaries and self ‐regulation skills they were learning at home and their quality Early Childhood Programs. Perhaps because they grew up with consequences for both their good, and not so good, behaviors? Perhaps they were held responsible for their behaviors? Perhaps when they were not so good I was able to acknowledge and not deny their behaviors? I know I wasn’t a perfect parent but I also know I would have eaten the marshmallow!

NYSPEP Professional Development Webinar Series to Address Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

New York State Parenting Education Partnership (NYSPEP), with support from the New York State Office of Mental Health and New York's Greater Capital Region Healthy Environments And Relationships That Support (HEARTS) Initiative out of University at Albany, along with Prevent Child Abuse New York, is pleased to offer an exclusive series of professional development webinars for parenting educators and family-support providers.

Presenter: Heather Larkin, Ph.D.

Heather Larkin, Ph.D., Associate Professor at the University at Albany’s School of Social Welfare, Director of the National Center for Excellence in Homeless Services, and Project Director of the HEARTS Initiative, will present the series.

This educational audio-visual series will address Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Focused topics offer flexibility to attend any of the webinars independently from the series. Pick and choose which webinars you want to attend, or register to attend the entire series. Following each presentation, registrants will have an opportunity to present questions.

Below are five webinars offered in the series. Please register for each webinar you would like to attend. Registrants will have an opportunity to complete a brief survey. A link to the pre-webinar survey will be provided in the automated registration confirmation email, which only needs to be completed once for any or all of the webinars in the series.

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Please visit www.nyspep.org/webinars to access links to previously recorded webinars, as they become available on the website. 

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1.) Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE): Overview and Implications

Wednesday, June 01 at 12 pm EST

Click Here to Register Now

This 90-minute webinar will review research findings on adverse childhood experiences (ACE), starting with the original ACE Study as well as extensions of the ACE Study. Distinctions between adversity and trauma will be addressed. We will present findings, including the health and social consequences of accumulated adversity and trauma, and discuss implications for ACE‐informed policies and programs.


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2.) ACE Response: Introduction to the Restorative Integral Support (RIS) Model

Wednesday, June 15 at 12 pm EST

Click Here to Register Now

Following a review of ACE research findings, this 90-minute webinar will provide a framework for ACE Response. The Restorative Integral Support (RIS) model is presented with key elements of ACE‐informed care.

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3.) Supporting Parents: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) and Responding to the Caregiver

Wednesday, July 13 at 12 pm EST

Click Here to Register Now

Following a review of ACE research, this 90-minute webinar applies the RIS model for ACE response specifically to supporting parents / primary caregivers and breaking intergenerational cycles of ACEs.


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4.) ACE Response: RIS Model Application for Community Capacity Building 

Tuesday, July 19 at 12 pm EST

Click Here to Register Now

Following a review of ACE research, this 90-minute webinar applies the RIS model for ACE response specifically to community capacity building, with an emphasis on the power of social networks and peer supports.

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5.) Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) & Substance Abuse Treatment Implications: Developing ACE‐Informed Substance Abuse Programs 

Tuesday, August 09 at 12 pm EST

Click Here to Register Now

Following a review of ACE research and implications, this 90-minute webinar focuses on breaking the trajectory from accumulated adversity and trauma to substance abuse problems, as well as the development of ACE‐informed substance abuse treatment programs.

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UPDATE! Social Work CEUs are available for the series. The University at Albany School of Social Welfare Continuing Education program is offering 6.25 CE hours for those who complete all 5 of the NYSPEP Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) webinar series in full. A CEU registration link will be sent after the final webinar in the series concludes. There is no cost to attend the webinars. The cost for CEUs is $46.25. 

To qualify, please ensure you: 

1. Register for each webinar in the series using the same name and email address 
2. Log-in to each webinar using your unique join link and fully attend each live webinar in the series 
3. Complete the pre-webinar survey and the FINAL post-webinar survey at the conclusion of the series using the same identifier (initials and date of birth). NOTE: The instructions have been modified: Moving forward, please ONLY complete the final post-webinar survey at the conclusion of the final webinar in the series, which will evaluate all five webinars. 
4. Retain all copies of the automated "thank you for attending" emails 

Kindly note, webinar activity reports will also be reviewed. Live attendance is required. CEUs cannot be given for recordings or partial attendance. Please contact sswceu@albany.edu with questions about CEUs. 

HEARTS agencies only: When 10 or more staff sign up for continuing education, each may receive 20% Off the CEU cost. To receive this discount, you must provide all the names to Heather Larkin - hlarkin@albany.edu - by Tuesday, July 19. 

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NYSPEP Announces Our 2016 Member Meeting

Please join the New York State Parenting Education Partnership (NYSPEP) on Monday, June 6 from 10 AM to 3 PM for Resiliency & Relationships: The Nature of Nurturing presenting Haji Shearer. 

REGISTER NOW (Deadline 5/26): www.nyspep.org/member-meeting 

All professionals who support parents and primary caregivers of children are welcome to attend.

What's Great in Our State 2016: A Celebration of Children's Mental Health Awareness

Finding Help, Finding Hope

TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2:30 - 4:30 PM
Huxley Auditorium, New York State Museum

Please CLICK HERE to pre-register for this FREE event!

Check-In / Free Registration: 2:00 PM
Formal Event: 2:30 - 4:30 PM
Refreshments & Children's Art Exhibit: 4:30 - 5:00 PM

Stop by the exhibit tables for free information.

NYSPEP Member Spotlight: NYSPEP Members on the NPEN Council

NYSPEP Members (left to right): Meg Akabas, Wales Brown, and Judy Wolf 

The New York State Parenting Education Partnership (NYSPEP) is proud to be an Organization Member of the National Parenting Education Network (NPEN). Like NYSPEP, NPEN is committed to advancing the field of parenting education so that all parents will have the information, resources, and support needed to provide a nurturing relationship and optimal environment that will encourage their children's healthy growth and development.  

NYSPEP is pleased to announce: three NYSPEP Steering Committee members are also seated on the NPEN Council. 

At NPEN's recent annual meeting in New Orleans, Council member Meg Akabas, a Tier II NYSPEP Credentialed Parenting Educator (NYSPEP-CPE), was confirmed as Chair-Elect. For the next two years, Meg will function as a vice-chair. In 2018, Meg's role will transition to NPEN Council Chair for an additional two years. 

Wales Brown, a Tier III NYSPEP Credentialed Senior Parenting Educator (NYSPEP-CSPE), was newly nominated to the NPEN Council and elected to the Secretary position. Wales is also a Fellow with Zero To Three. 

Judy Wolf, recently retired from the Family Development Program at Cornell Cooperative Extension - Tioga County, will serve her final year on NPEN's Council. Within NYSPEP, Judy serves as Co-Chair for NYSPEP's Credential Workgroup, which developed and administers the NYSPEP Parenting Educator Credential. 

NYSPEP warmly congratulates Meg, Wales, and Judy on their commitments and contributions to advancing the field of parenting education for the benefit of all children and their families!

NYSPEP Member Spotlight: Abbe Lynne Hahn Hook

Abbe Lynne Hahn Hook

Abbe Lynne Hahn Hook, Director of Programs and Services at The Early Care & Learning Council (ECLC), serves on NYSPEP’s Steering Committee, Professional Development Workgroup, and Communications Workgroup.

Abbe joined the Early Care & Learning Council in 2000 as a trainer. Currently, she is chiefly responsible for managing and overseeing all activities related to the delivery of training, technical assistance, and data collection by ECLC staff for Child Care Resource and Referral agencies and child care center directors in New York State. In the development and implementation of ECLC membership services and benefits, she is assisted by the ECLC coordinator.

Abbe holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology with a concentration in Management and a Master's degree in Early Childhood Education. Abbe is also a Fully Certified PITC Trainer through the Program for Infant/Toddler Care in California and holds a Level 3 New York State Early Learning Trainer Credential.

NYSPEP Member Spotlight: Britt Myrhol-Clarke

Britt Myrhol-Clarke

Britt Myrhol-Clarke is an Early Childhood Prevention and Intervention Program Specialist with the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH). Since the release of The Children’s Plan in 2008, OMH has taken steps to build systems to support the social-emotional wellness of children under age 5; and Britt has helped to develop the cross-system collaboration and public policies to support our youngest citizens.

Annually, Britt helps to coordinate New York State’s “What’s Great in Our State: A Celebration of Children’s Mental Health Awareness” event honoring programs, people and services throughout New York state.  

In addition to sitting on the Executive Committee for NYSPEP, Britt participates on: New York City Early Childhood Strategic Workgroup; NYS Pyramid Model Leadership Team; Early Childhood Advisory Committee Promoting Healthy Development and Strong Families workgroups.

Britt is a certified Circle of Security trainer and Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect educator. She lives and breathes early childhood and parenting- as a mother of three young girls who are 2, 3 and 4 years old.

2nd Annual New York Fathering Conference - Taking Care of Business: Equipping Dads for Parenting, Employment and Wellness

2nd Annual New York Fathering Conference  

Taking Care of Business, Equipping Dads 

for Parenting, Employment and Wellness 

Tuesday April 5, 2016  ▪  9:30 am - 4:30 pm  

Westchester County Center  ▪  White Plains, NY

ABOUT:
This conference features 21 all-new workshops presented by some of the most accomplished professionals in the fields of family strengthening, parenting, workforce development and health. Continental breakfast and boxed lunch is included with registration.

The New York Fathering Conference is presented by a coalition of government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and other individuals that work directly with fathers and families.


SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS INCLUDE:

• Kenneth Braswell, Executive Director, Fathers, Inc. 
• Dr. Ron Mincy, Columbia University

REGISTRATION:
http://nyfatheringconference2016.eventbrite.com


INFORMATION:
Please email: information@childfindofamerica.org

FREE Resources from Sesame Workshop - Divorce or Incarceration

Sesame Workshop offers FREE resources to help you help families through difficult situations, such as divorce or incarceration.

Little Children, Big Challenges: Divorce is designed to:

• Provide tools and language to help young children (ages 2-8) cope with and understand divorce at an age-appropriate level.
• Aid families in communicating and expressing feelings around divorce.
• Reassure children that they will be cared for, and that—together with their families—they can learn ways to adjust to their new life and have hope for the future.

Little Children, Big Challenges: Incarceration is designed to:

• Support, comfort, and reduce anxiety, sadness and confusion that young children (ages 3-8) may experience during the incarceration of a parent.
• Provide at-home caregivers with strategies, tips, and age-appropriate language they can use to help communicate with their children about incarceration.
• Inform incarcerated parents that they can parent from anywhere, and provide them with simple parenting tips highlighting the importance of communication.

Each Divorce or Incarceration kit includes:

• Sesame Street DVD featuring a Muppet story, live-action films showcasing real children and families, and an animated segment
• Guide for parents and caregivers 
• Children’s storybook

Kits are available in quantities of 50. 

All orders must contain the following information:

• Shipping Point of Contact NAME
• Shipping Point of Contact TITLE
• Shipping Point of Contact PHONE NUMBER 
• Shipping Point of Contact EMAIL ADDRESS
• Shipping Address Label FACILITY NAME 
• Shipping Address Label ATTN: 
• Shipping Address Label ADDRESS LINE 1
• Shipping Address Label ADDRESS LINE 2 
• Shipping Address Label CITY 
• Shipping Address Label STATE 
• Shipping Address Label ZIP CODE 
• NUMBER of Kits (MUST be a multiple of 50)

To order, please submit the information above in an email to:

• Divorce kits: divorce@sesame.org
• Incarceration kits: incarceration@sesame.org

Resources are provided for informational purposes only and do not represent an endorsement.

NYC Fatherhood & Family Enrichment Conference

NYC Fatherhood & Family Enrichment Conference 

Strong Fathers Build Strong Families,

Strong Families Build Strong Communities 

Saturday April 9, 2016  ▪  9:30 am - 3:00 pm 

Port Richmond High School  ▪  Staten Island, NY

FREE REGISTRATION! Visit www.therolecall.org and click the link to register for the NYC Fatherhood and Family Enrichment Conference.

This conference features keynote speakers, workshops, seminars, and resources from experts in the fields of Family and Fatherhood services. Lunch will be provided. The conference is open to the public. Fathers and mothers are welcome.

PRESENTER WORKSHOP PROPOSALS are due February 29, 2016. Please click the link to access the online submission form. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/13i4kAKBXNTZCMsy4u3FXt-1tVIapz3Kd7FtnHymggIA/viewform 

WORKSHOP AND SEMINAR TOPICS pertain to fatherhood and family such as: Fatherhood Engagement and Involvement, Positive Co-Parenting, New Fathers Workshops, Child Support Information, Family Financial Planning, etc.

SPECIAL WORKSHOPS ARE AVAILABLE FOR:

• Members of the Spanish speaking community (se habla español)
• Parents of children with autism

ONE SPECIAL WORKSHOP will be offered for school staff and officials, early childhood education, and community programs to learn how to develop and maintain a vibrant Fatherhood Program within their organization.

GENERAL QUESTIONS / SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: TheRoleCall@gmail.com ▪ 718-971-6682.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND? Community Center Directors, Educators, Pre-School Directors, Family Workers, Parent Coordinators, Elementary and Middle School Principals, Fathers and Mothers, and anyone interested in attending.

HOSTED BY The ROLE Call in partnership with Staten Island Borough President James Oddo and Healthy Families Staten Island. The ROLE Call, Healthy Families Staten Island and Borough President James Oddo are excited to help serve families and fathers by bringing this conference to Staten Island and the New York City area.

NYSPEP to Give Strength and Inspire Action at the 21st Annual New York State Child Abuse Prevention Conference

NYSPEP invites you to stop by our exhibit table and say "hello!" at the upcoming 21st Annual New York State Child Abuse Prevention Conference, April 11 - 13, in Albany, NY. The conference booklet lists workshops recommended for Parenting Educators and Family Support Providers. Several are presented by professionals who are connected to NYSPEP: 


MONDAY, APRIL 11 

• NYSPEP 2015-2016 mini-grant awardee, Jewish Family Service of Buffalo and Erie County - Angela Spengler, co-presents “Refugee Trauma Family Support”, 1:15 - 2:45 PM
• Meg Akabas, NYSPEP-CPE, presents “Respectful Parent, Respectful Child: Practical Strategies for Helping Parents Build a Lifelong Relationship of Respect Within Families”, 3:15 - 4:45 PM
• Jennie Knox, Credential Coordinator, presents the “NYSPEP Parenting Educator Credential Orientation”, 5:00 - 6:30 PM, open to the public. There is no cost to attend the Credential Orientation. However, seating is limited; priority to registered conference attendees. 

TUESDAY, APRIL 12 

• Donna Morrison, NYSPEP Steering Committee member, and Iva Jenkins present “The Importance of Early Childhood Social Emotional Development and Ways to Support It”, 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
• Donna and Iva also co-presents “The Impact of Domestic Violence on Early Childhood Development”, 1:45 - 3:15 PM
• Karen Sweeney, NYSPEP-CSPE, along with Anna Steinkraus and Elizabeth Wolfe, present “Protective Factors Framework: Children’s Social and Emotional Competence”, 1:45 - 3:15 PM
• Tim Hathaway, NYSPEP Steering Committee Co-chair, presents “Paper Tigers Documentary Screening and Discussion”, 6:00 - 8:00 PM

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13

• Community Cafe Parent Leaders, Kara Georgi and Katie MacIntyre, present “Community Cafes: Every Day Actions to Build Social Connections” in a two-part institute, 8:30 - 10:00 AM and 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
• Susan Perkins, NYSPEP Steering Committee Co-chair, co-presents “New York State Pyramid Model Implementation: Supporting All Children in Developing Positive Relationships and Social Competency”,  8:30 - 10:00 AM

For more information, please visit: www.preventchildabuseny.org/news_events/nys-child-abuse-prevention-conference/conference-information/

NYSPEP Webinar - Understanding the Protective Factors Framework: Resources for Building a Toolbox and Strengthening Families

New York State Parenting Education Partnership invites you to attend a 90-minute professional development webinar on Thursday, February 25 at 1:00 PM.

REGISTER NOW

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8698015857522769153

ABOUT: What are the five Protective Factors? What does each one mean? Get answers to these questions and learn how your work connects to these factors. 

This interactive webinar will demonstrate an experiential shift to strengths-based thinking, identify the role of culture and its impact on your work, and impart the importance of parent leadership and engagement with parents. 

You'll also begin to brainstorm how these factors can be used to evaluate and enhance your programming. We’ll also provide information to connect you with full Framework training and answer your questions after the presentation. 

WHO SHOULD ATTEND? Parenting Educators, service providers and agency staff who work with families and children, school educators, parent leaders, and anyone interested in learning about the Protective Factors Framework are welcome to attend. 

PRESENTERS: Karen Sweeney of Sweeney & Associates is a NYSPEP Credentialed Senior Parenting Educator, Family Development Credential Trainer, TEPE Tier II Parenting Educator, and Protective Factors Framework Trainer. 

Kara Georgi is a Certified Protective Factors Train the Trainer; NYS Community Café Parent Leader; Co-chair of the Alliance National Parent Partnership Council; and Certified Teacher Pre-K—6. 

CORE COMPETENCIES: This webinar relates to the following NYSPEP Parenting Educator Credential Core Competencies: Strengths Based Communication, Family Systems and Relationship Building, Community Systems and Resources, Social and Emotional Wellness, and Working with Diversity.

REGISTER: 
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8698015857522769153

NYSPEP Parenting Educator Credential Orientations

Announcing the 2016 Schedule for the Parenting Educator Credential Orientations

NYSPEP Parenting Educator Credential - Tier II - Sample Certificate

Attendance at a Credential Orientation is prerequisite for applying to the Parenting Educator Credential. The Orientation outlines the Tier System, Core Competencies, and provides information on how to obtain the application packet and complete the forms. The annual application portfolio submission cycle is held in July.

Choose from one of four webinars:

• Wednesday, January 27, 1–2 pm


• Monday, February 29, 2–3 pm


• Wednesday, March 23, 11 am–12 pm


• Thursday, May 12, 1–2 pm

-OR- attend in-person Monday, April 11 at the Child Abuse Prevention Conference in Albany, NY.

Details TBA: www.nyspep.org/calendar/.

NYSPEP eNews: Orientations, Webinars, Fatherhood, RFPs, Apps

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Get New York State Parenting Education Partnership's NYSPEP eNews in your inbox. Visit www.nyspep.org and click "Subscribe eNews / Join NYSPEP". There's no cost to become a subscribing member. Find professional development at: www.nyspep.org/calendar/. Questions or comments? Contact nyspep@nyspep.org or 518-445-1273 x106.

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PARENTING EDUCATOR CREDENTIAL ORIENTATIONS: Attendance is prerequisite for applying annually in July. Choose from one of four webinars:

• Wednesday, January 27, 1–2 pm 
• Monday, February 29, 2–3 pm 
• Wednesday, March 23, 11 am–12 pm 
• Thursday, May 12, 1–2 pm 

-OR- attend in-person Monday, April 11 at the Child Abuse Prevention Conference. Details TBA: www.nyspep.org/calendar/.

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NYSPEP WEBINAR: Karen Sweeney, NYSPEP-CSPE, and Kara Georgi introduce the Protective Factors Framework in a 90-minute interactive webinar Thursday, February 25, 1 pm. Registration TBA: www.nyspep.org/calendar/.

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FATHERHOOD GRANT RFP: The Fatherhood Research and Practice Network (FRPN) requests proposals for studying and evaluating fatherhood services. LOI dealine: February 5.

FATHERHOOD MEASUREMENT: FRPN's promising measures assess fatherhood program outcomes.

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CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS: Families Together in New York State seeks workshop proposals. Topics: Fatherhood, Latino Families, Kinship Care, and more. Submission deadline: February 12.

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PARENT / PROVIDER APPS: SAMHSA's free apps address suicide prevention, underage drinking, bullying prevention, and behavioral health after a disaster.