NYSPEP eNews - 06-24-2014

The New York State Parenting Education Partnership (NYSPEP) eNews is published bi-weekly with the exception of monthly editions in July and December. Please share with friends and colleagues. Visit our website at www.nyspep.org and click "Join NYSPEP" to sign up for the NYSPEP eNews.

To announce an event or resource, send details to nyspep@nyspep.org. Please include your name and phone number, in case we have questions. 

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Early Care & Learning Council and NYS Head Start Collaboration Project - Healthy Active Living Summit 

RESOURCES: The Alliance of Children's Trust & Prevention Funds - Birth Parent National Network; Cornell Cooperative Extension: Parenting In Context - Why Spanking Should Be Discouraged; The Children's Bureau - Use of Research Evidence: Building Two-Way Streets; The Children's Bureau - Collaborative & Effective Evaluation in Tribal Communities; Harvard University - Center on the Developing Child; Brandis University: The Institute for Child, Youth and Family Policy - DiversityDataKids.org

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Early Care & Learning Council • NYS Head Start Collaboration Project

Healthy Active Living Summit

Wednesday, August 6, 2014 • 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

DoubleTree by Hilton Binghamton • Binghamton, NY

Keynote speaker, Dr. Diane Craft, will address early childhood obesity, the most prevalent health issue facing New York State's young children. Learn fun and easy activities that build healthy brains and bodies. Learn how to implement program strategies for improving nutrition, increasing physical activity, and changing caregiver practice. Early childhood professionals, educators, trainers, supervisors and staff are welcome to attend. 

For more information and to register, please CLICK HERE.

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The Alliance of Children's Trust & Prevention Funds

Birth Parent National Network

The Alliance of Children’s Trust & Prevention Funds has joined with Casey Family Programs and other key partners, including birth parents, to establish the Birth Parent National Network (BPNN). BPNN promotes birth parents as leaders and partners in child welfare system reform. BPNN invites organizations and birth parents to join as partners in promoting the voices of parents in child welfare systems reform.

For more information, please CLICK HERE. 

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Cornell Cooperative Extention - Parenting In Context

Why Spanking Should Be Discouraged

Authored by Eliza Cook and Kimberly Kopko, "Why Spanking Should Be Discouraged" research brief highlights research, summarized in a recent publication, which supports the elimination of spanking as a form of discipline. A companion parent page "To Spank or Not to Spank: Why Spanking Should Be Discouraged" offers strategies parents can use instead. 

To access the Research Brief, please CLICK HERE. 

To access the Parent Page, please CLICK HERE. 

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The Children's Bureau - Child Welfare Evaluation

Use Of Research Evidence: Building Two-Way Streets

Research and evaluation have the potential to improve child welfare practice and outcomes for children, youth, and families. Dr. Vivian Tseng challenges the traditional paradigm of moving from research to practice and suggests new ways to think about closing the gaps between research and practice. Available as a 10-minute video or PDF transcript.

To access the video and transcript, please CLICK HERE.

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The Children's Bureau - Child Welfare Evaluation

Collaborative & Effective Evaluation In Tribal Communities

There are eight federally recognized Tribes in New York State. Learn how intrusive research and judgmental evaluations have caused harm to indigenous peoples. A workgroup of experts introduce a vision for the future of Tribal child welfare and evaluation along with a guide for developing culturally and scientifically rigorous evaluation. Available as a 12-minute video or PDF transcript.

To access the video and transcript, please CLICK HERE.

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Harvard University Website

The Center On The Developing Child

New knowledge about the developing brain reveals that early experiences are built into children's bodies and that early childhood is a time of great promise and considerable risk. Key concepts include Brain Architecture, Serve and Return, Toxic Stress, Executive Function, and Innovation. This online website includes multimedia, news, publications, and more.

To access this website, please CLICK HERE. 

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Brandis University - The Institute for Child, Youth and Family Policy

DiversityDataKids.org

This website offers a comprehensive, equity-focused information system to monitor progress towards improved wellbeing for children of all racial/ethnic groups. Users can query the database, explore and overlay contextual child opportunity maps, read analysis of select policy and program areas relevant to child wellbeing, and access infographics, briefs and reports.

To access this website, please CLICK HERE.

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NYSPEP eNews 06-10-2104 - Fatherhood Edition

The New York State Parenting Education Partnership (NYSPEP) eNews is published bi-weekly with the exception of monthly editions in July and December. Please share with friends and colleagues. Visit our website at www.nyspep.org and click "Join NYSPEP" to sign up for the NYSPEP eNews.
To announce an event or resource, send details to nyspep@nyspep.org. Please include your name and phone number, in case we have questions.
About This Edition: NYSPEP supports fathers, grandfathers, foster fathers, adoptive fathers, and men who serve as primary caregivers for children. In appreciation, this edition includes a special section pertaining to fatherhood.

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: University Settlement Program - Building Resilience for Children Experiencing Toxic Stress
FATHERHOOD: U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services - Initiative: Fatherhood Buzz 2014: Celebrating Fatherhood!; ACF Family Strengthening Workgroup - Event: Celebrating Fatherhood! NYC; DTYCTS - New Website: DadsTakeYourChildToSchoolDay.com; The Osborne Association: Fatherhood Initiative Career Development Center; Fathers Incorporated - App: Fatherhood Resource; Fathers Incorporated - Photoblog Project: Faces Of A Fatherless Nation
RESOURCES: CDC - Web Resource: Essentials for Parenting Toddlers and Preschoolers

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University Settlement - Program:

Building Resilience for Children Experiencing Toxic Stress

Friday, June 13, 2014 • 8:30 AM - 1:30 PM

184 Eldridge Street, New York City

Network and learn about different ways to empower families in communities coping with violence. Multiple speakers will present. Breakfast and lunch will be served. This event is for professionals working in education, social services, early childhood, mental health, and medical settings.
For more information and to register, please CLICK HERE.

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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Fatherhood Inititative

Fatherhood Buzz: Celebrating Fatherhood!

Saturday, June 14, 2014 - National Event

Locally Participating Barbershops

The annual Fatherhood Buzz Barbershop Initiative is led by the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse. Community organizations and agencies team up with local barbershops as a trusted community resource for men to deliver information and resources to promote responsible fatherhood. This Fathers' Day weekend, over 250 community agencies and barbershops across the country will celebrate the millions of fathers who are actively engaged in the lives of their children.
For more information and to register or get involved, please CLICK HERE.

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Administration for Children & Families, Region 2 - Family Strengthening Event

6th Annual Celebrating Fatherhood!

Tuesday June 24, 2014 • 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Register by 6/12

Jacob K. Javits Federal Building, 6th Floor Conference Center • New York City

Register by Thursday, June 12th for this free event featuring speakers, workshops and exhibits on topics including Career Building, Fathers and Their Child's Education, Healthy Interpersonal Relationships, and Men's Health. Shawn Dove, Campaign for Black Male Achievement and Open Society Foundations, presents the keynote. Doors open at 8:15 AM. Open to fathers, mothers, human service providers and anyone interested in celebrating fatherhood.
For more information and to register, please CLICK HERE.

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DTYCTS - New Website

www.DadsTakeYourChildToSchoolDay.com

Mark Your Calendar: DTYCTS Day - Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Dads Take Your Child To School promotes father involvement by encouraging fathers and other significant male caregivers to take their child to school and remain involved throughout the year. Community-based organizations, stakeholders, Head Start and school administrators and staff are encouraged to plan local events across the state. In 2013, over 450 registered sites allowed thousands of dads across New York state to participate.
For more information and to register your site or get involved, please CLICK HERE.

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The Osborne Association - Fathers in the Criminal Justice System - Course

Father Initiative Career Development Center

3-Week Course • Locations in Bronx & Brooklyn

Focused on non-custodial fathers involved in the criminal justice system, this 3-week course offers effective co-parenting workshops,& job placement assistance, resume preparation, interview training, job search and retention support, career coaching, training on workplace socialization, financial literacy, and goal setting. Services also include free weekend activities for children & fathers, individual & family counseling, guidance with child support issues and arranging child visits, father to father peer groups, and financial incentives including free lunch, Metrocards, snacks, etc.
For more information and to register in the Bronx, call Darren Ferguson at: (718) 707-2712 or email: dferguson@osborneny.org.
For more information and to register in Brooklyn, call Shu-aib Abdur-Raheem at: (718) 637-6588 or email: sraheem@osborneny.org.

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Fathers Incorporated - Smart Phone App

Fatherhood Resource

Get connected to the Fatherhood Resource. This app includes a Fatherhood Hotline, Resources, and access to Fathers Incorporated social media links and related websites. This free app is available via Google play, App Store, and Amazon and via email or QR code.
To access links to this app, please CLICK HERE.

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Faces Of A Fatherless Nation

Fathers Incorporated is launching a unique photoblog project. Those who have experienced fatherlessness are encouraged to submit a photo and brief description of their experience. This project is intended to allow others to see the face of fatherlessness, an issue that resonates across socio-economic status, race, religion, gender, geographic and generational paradigms. Also, by helping others understand they are not alone, it is hoped some healing may be realized. The project is set to launch this month at www.FacesOfAFatherlessNation.com/.

For more information about this project, please CLICK HERE.

To contribute your photo and story, please CLICK HERE. 

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Center for Disease Control and Prevention - Web Resource

Essentials for Parenting Toddlers & Preschoolers

Designed for parents and primary caregivers of children age 2-4, this web resource addresses common parenting challenges like tantrums and whining by providinginformation on building a positive, healthy relationship with the child. Topics include communicating, structures and rules, discipline and consequences, giving directions, parenting skills practice, and videos. 

For more information and to access this resource, please CLICK HERE.

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NYSPEP eNews - 05-13-2104

The New York State Parenting Education Partnership (NYSPEP) eNews is published bi-weekly with the exception of monthly editions in July and December. Please share with friends and colleagues. Visit our website at www.nyspep.org and click "Join NYSPEP" to sign up for the NYSPEP eNews.
To announce an event or resource, send details to nyspep@nyspep.org. Please include your name and phone number, in case we have questions.

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: NYSPEP Membership Meeting - Planting the Seeds for Early Literacy; NYC Dept. of Health & Mental Hygiene Training - Circle Of Security; IMHA Workshop - Enhancing Attachment Through Play & Family Therapy; KWIC Grant Preparation Webinar - Early Head Start Child Care Partnership Model
RESOURCES: ACF Campaign Website - Birth to 5: Watch Me Thrive!; Sesame Street Toolkit - Food For Thought; NCTSN Factsheets - Working Effectively With Military Families; May 2014 Celebration - National Foster Care Month; Mental Health Website - Spanish Website

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NYSPEP May Membership Meeting & Training Institute

Planting the Seeds for Early Literacy:

Latest Research & Strategies for Professionals Working with Parents

Tuesday, May 20, 2014 • 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM 

Carondelet Hospitality Center • Latham, NY

REGISTRATION DEADLINE 5/13 - Only 15 Seats Remain! 

Keynote at 10:15 AM by Mary Haust, Parents As Teachers.
Karen Balsen, NYS Library; Barbara Lukas, WMHT/PBS Ready to Learn; Brigid Hubberman, Family Reading Partnership; and Dr. Stephen De Waal Malefyt, Albany Medical Center, Reach Out And Read, will present a panel discussion on Statewide Community Resources.
Select either Workshop Ages 0-3 The Seeds of Literacy Are Sown in Very Fertile Soil! with Sarah Hughes, RMC Research, Inc. and Mary Haust, Parents as Teachers or select Workshop Ages 3-5 Leveling the Playing Field: Infusing Rich Language into the Home Environment - Preparing Children to Begin School Ready to Learn & Thrive with Elizabeth Spiro, The Guidance Center of Westchester.
Included Perks: Continental Breakfast, Poster Sessions & Take One Table, Buffet Lunch, and a Free Bonus Booklet Born Learning: Recipies for Learning tips, ideas, and an overall research-based approach to helping young children develop verbal communication skills to the first 100 registrants through the door.
This event is sponsored in part by the New York State Office of Mental Health and the New York State Head Start Collaboration Office.
For more information and to register, please CLICK HERE.

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NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene - Training

Circle of Security

Monday, June 16 through Thursday, June 19, 2014

Union Square • New York City

Bert Powell, Co-originator presents the Circle of Security (COS) evidence-based DVD parenting education program. The training teached professionals to use the DVD to educate parents and caregivers. The DVD presents video examples of secure and problematic parent/child interaction, healthy options in caregiving, and animated graphics clarifying principles of attachement research. This is an accessible step-by-step process for use in group settings, home visitation, and individual sessions.
If you have questions, please email registration@circleofsecurity.org.
For more information about the COS parenting education program, please visit the website at www.circleofsecurity.net.
To register for the 4-day training, please CLICK HERE.

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Infant Mental Health Association of NY's Greater Capital Region - Workshop

Enhancing Attachment Through Play & Family Therapy

Friday, May 16, 2014 • 9:00 - 11:00 AM

Parsons Child & Family Center • Albany, NY

Mary Anne Assini, LCSW-R, RPT-S presents. Secure attachments help create the foundation for emotional regulation, ability to self sooth, healthy interpersonal relationships, and positive self-esteem. Learn how integrating play and family therapies can improve parent-child relationships and enhance attachment.
For more information and to register, please CLICK HERE.

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KWIC Grant Preparation Webinar

Early Head Start Child Care Partnership Model in Action

May 14, 2014 • 2:00 - 3:30 PM

Learn how to set up a family child care partnership for a competitive advantage to your grant application. Two NY grantees will discuss their EHS Family Child Care models. A question and answer session will follow. Sponsored by the NYS Head Start Collaboration Office, NYS Council on Children and Families, and the Kids’ Well-being Indicators Clearinghouse.

For more information and to register, please CLICK HERE. 

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Office of the Administration of Children and Families - Campaign Website

Birth to 5: Watch Me Thrive!

1 in 4 children from birth to age 5 is at risk of developmental delay or behavioral challenges. To promote healthy development and early identification of developmental delays and behavioral challenges, several agencies have partnered to launch a public campaign highlighting the importance of universal developmental and behavioral screening, and support for young children.
To learn more about this campaign, please CLICK HERE.

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Sesame Street - Online Toolkit

Food For Thought

This toolkit offers a selection of videos including "Growing Hope Against Hunger", "Try It! New Foods", and "Healthy Food on a Budget". Parents and caregivers can learn strategies for coping with uncertain or limited food access. Providers can access information and ideas for groups and programs who work with families to obtain healthy food.
To access this online toolkit, please CLICK HERE.

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National Child Traumatic Stress Network - Factsheet

Working Effectively with Military Families: 10 Key Concepts

This factsheet is for providers working with military families and outlines 10 key concepts when working with military families and, for each key con­cept, includes links to additional information.
To access this factsheet, please CLICK HERE.

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May 2014 - Celebration

National Foster Care Month

May is National Foster Care Month. Foster parents play an important role in family reunification as they provide information, compassion, mentoring, and other supports to birth parents.
To learn more and help celebrate National Foster Care Month, please CLICK HERE.

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Mental Health Website - Spanish Version

http://Espanol.MentalHealth.gov

This website provides information about prevention, treatment, and recovery from mental health conditions. The site focuses on the importance of engaging parents, young people, and professionals serving Spanish-speaking populations.
To access the website, por favor PRESIONA AQUI.

What Is The 66 Percent? - NYSPEP eAnnouncement

You've heard about the gap between the 1% and the 99%. But have you heard about the 66% yet? Among 4th-graders, 66% overall are not reading at grade level, according to The Annie E. Casey Foundation. For children from low income families, that statistic rises to 80%. Why does this matter? Because those children are less likely to graduate high school. And they will have less economic success.
If the students who dropped out of the Class of 2011 had graduated, our economy would likely have benefitted from nearly $154 billion in additional income over the course of their lifetimes, according to the Alliance For Excellent Education. A February 25, 2013 headline in the New York Post reads, "High School dropouts cost $1.8 billion every year".
NYSPEP knows your work with families is so important. You can help close the gap! Parenting Educators, along with managers, directors, coordinators, staff, and specialists in Home Visiting, Childcare, Early Education, Head Start, Early Care & Learning, Infant & Toddler Programs, Parent-Child Home Program, Family or Social Work, Reading or Literacy Programs, Child Care Resource & Referral Networks, and anyone who supports families with children are invited to attend. Connect with peers in other organizations. Get educated on the latest research. Learn how to help parents obtain the early literacy skills, tools, and resources they need to raise children who are ready for school and life.

Planting the Seeds for Early Literacy
Latest Research & Strategies for Professionals Working with Parents

Tuesday, May 20, 2014 • 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Carondelet Hospitality Center • 385 Watervliet-Shaker Road (Rte. 155) • Latham, NY
Just $35 Per Person!

Keynote by Mary Haust, Parents as Teachers, Binghamton School District
Poster sessions accompany a buffet lunch
Panel discussion on statewide community resources
Afternoon workshop on literacy strategies with parents

Early check-in begins at 9:30 AM. Enjoy continental breakfast and informal networking with professional peers who share similar interests. Keynote starts at 10:15 AM. This event is sponsored, in part, by the NYS Office of Mental Health.

Keynote Presentation

KEYNOTE: Digging Deeper; Sowing for Success. Mary Haust, Parents as Teachers. Parents play a critical role in determining whether or not children will experience inequality at the start, according to research. Parenting educators also play an important role in helping parents support language acquisition and early literacy. Learn what the research reveals about the inequality of language acquisition, how parents can bridge that gap, and how this research can influence parenting education practice. Participants will break into small groups to discuss challenges and solutions to engaging parents in literacy-based practices with their children.

Choose ONE Workshop

WORKSHOP AGES 0-3: The Seeds of Literacy Are Sown in Very Fertile Soil! Sarah Hughes, RMC Research, Inc. and Mary Haust, Parents as Teachers. Create pathways for learning using the NYS Early Learning Guidelines and NYS Pre-K Foundation for the Common Core. How can parents support these pathways at specific points in development? How can professionals support parents in their role of preparing a strong foundation for literacy? Attend and find out!
WORKSHOP AGES 3-5: Leveling the Playing Field: Infusing Rich Language into the Home Environment - Preparing Children to Begin School Ready to Learn & Thrive. Elizabeth Spiro, The Guidance Center of Westchester. An engaging conversation will follow a review of the current research on literacy acquisition. Partipate in modeling best practice techniques. Discover how to support parents in preparing children for school-readiness. This is an interactive workshop!

Network & Get Connected

Showcase your success with parents in promoting language acquisiton and early literacy skills with their children. Plan to describe your activity in 3 minutes or less and provide handouts. You may bring a standard tri-fold display board (approximately 36" x 48"). Attendees can view your table during meals and breaks throughout the day.
If you're not ready to present a poster session, you can still provide information about your work or organization as it relates to early literacy. Please, bring one item, such as a brochure, flyer, or business card for the Take-One-Table.
Please RSVP during registration. Space for the Poster Sessions and Take-One-Table will be provided on a first-come basis for those who RSVP. Questions? Please call the NYSPEP Coordinator at 518-445-1273.

BONUS: The first 100 registrants through the door will receive a complimentary booklet Born Learning: Recipes for Learning tips, ideas, and an overall research based approach to helping young children develop verbal communication skills. 

NYC: A few seats remain on the van to pick up & drop off registrants via the Amtrack train station in Albany-Rensselaer. Pick-up in Albany at 9:45 (7:15 out of Penn Station) and return on the 4:15 train out of Albany. ONLY confirmed individuals will be transported. Please call the NYSPEP Coordinator at 518-445-1273 to reserve / confirm a seat on the van.

Western / Finger Lakes Regions: The Carondelet Hospitality Center offers exceptionally afforable rooms. Please CLICK HERE for more information. To arrange a room and schedule your arrival, please contact Sister Patricia Conron at pconron@csjalbany.org or call 518-783-3536. Note: it may take up to 3 business days for a reply.  

REGISTRATION IS SOLD-OUT & CLOSED FOR THIS EVENT - THANK YOU!

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  Produced for NYSPEP by Prevent Child Abuse New York

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NYSPEP eNEWS 04-07-2014

The New York State Parenting Education Partnership (NYSPEP) eNews is published bi-weekly with the exception of monthly editions in July and December. Please share with friends and colleagues. Visit our website at www.nyspep.org and click "Join NYSPEP" to sign up for the NYSPEP eNews.

To announce an event or resource, send details to nyspep@nyspep.org. Please include your name and phone number, in case we have questions. 

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NYSPEP NEWS: NYSPEP Website - What's New at NYSPEP.org?; NEW! Credential Coordinator Email Address

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: NYSPEP Membership Meeting - Planting the Seeds for Early Literacy; NYSPEP Webinar - Credential Orientation; PCANY CAP Conference - Ideas, Inspiration & Innovation; with Pre-Conference Institute - Grant Writing; Los Ninos Services, Inc. and Fordham University - Young Child Expo; Adelphi University Program - How Young Children Communicate Trauma

RESOURCES: Zero To Three Mobile APP - Let's Play!

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www.NYSPEP.org

What's New On Our Website?

Our website is under construction with lots of exciting new changes! Check out of refreshed layout, navigation, and valuable new pages and content at www.nyspep.org.

Also, the Parenting Educator Credential Coordinator has a new email at credential@nyspep.org.

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NYSPEP May Membership Meeting & Training Institute

Planting the Seeds for Early Literacy:

Latest Research & Strategies for Professionals Working with Parents

Tuesday, May 20, 2014 • 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM 

Carondelet Hospitality Center • Latham, NY

$35 Per Person - Register Online

Keynote at 10:15 AM by Mary Haust ⇔ Continental Breakfast ⇔ Poster Sessions ⇔ Buffet Lunch ⇔ Panel Discussion on Statewide Community Resources ⇔ Workshop on Literacy Strategies with Parents; choose either Ages 0-3 or Ages 3-5. Early check-in starts at 9:30 AM. This event is sponsored, in part, by the NYS Office of Mental Health. Seats are filling up fast. Register now!

For more information and to register, please CLICK HERE.

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NYSPEP Webinar - PE Credential Orientation

Orientation & Application Process Tier I, II & III

Tuesday, May 06, 2014 • 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Wyn Frechette, Credential Coordinator credential@nyspep.org

Parenting Education is now recognized as a specialty requiring unique skills and knowledge. Many related professions provide a component of parenting education in support of parents and families with children. Learn how the Credential recognizes achievement, supports advanced learning goals, and sets a path for advancement. Attendance at this Orientation satisfies the application prerequisite. 

NEW! Credential Email Address: To contact the Credential Coordinator, please email credential@nyspep.org. 

For more information and to register, please CLICK HERE.

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Prevent Child Abuse New York - 19th Annual CAP Conference 2014

Ideas, Inspiration & Innovation - Register Now!

Monday, April 28 through Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Albany Marriott Hotel • Albany, NY

Ideas, Inspiration & Innovation, the 19th annual New York State Child Abuse Prevention Conference, offers highly rated workshops, quality programming, and national presenters will inspire and equip you to strengthen families, prevent child abuse, and improve outcomes for at-risk children and families. Co-presented by the New York State Children and Family Trust Fund, Office of Children and Family Services, and co-sponsored by the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children - New York (APSAC - NY).

For more information and to register, please CLICK HERE. 

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PCANY Annual CAP Conference 2014  • Pre-Conference Institute ALL NEW! 

Be Prepared to Win Grant Funding in 2014

Sunday, April 27, 2014 • 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Albany Marriott Hotel • Albany, NY

Jana Hexter, Grants Champion, presents Be Prepared to Win Grant Funding in 2014 for novice grant writers and those seeking to make grant writing more effective. 

For more information and to register, please CLICK HERE. 

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Los Ninos Services, Inc. and Fordham University

Young Child Expo & Conference

Wednesday, April 23 - Friday, April 25, 2014

New Yorker Hotel • New York, New York

The Expo focuses on early childhood development. Topics are divided between normal child development and addressing special needs of children with autism and other developmental disabilities and challenges. Presenters include: Robert C. Pianta, Ph.D.; Serena Wieder, Ph.D.; Ami Klin, Ph.D.; Edward Hallowell, M.D.; Catherine Lord, Ph.D.; and Michelle Gielan, Founder of the Institute for Applied Positive Research. A networking reception at the Skyroom Times Square will be held Thursday. 

For more information and to register, please CLICK HERE.

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Adelphi University, Institute for Parenting - Program

How Young Children Communicate Trauma

Thursday, April 10, 2014 • 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

UJA - Federation of New York • New York, NY

Theodore Gaensbauer, M.D. will examine trauma and memory from a developmental perspective. Learn how traumatic memories form and manifest in children under 18 months via preverbal memory capacities, and how trauma is remembered and exhibited in children with developed language and capacity for symbolic play. Effective therapeutic techniques will be discussed as well as the neurobiological mechanisms and implications for treatment.

For more information and to register, please CLICK HERE. 

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Zero-To-Three Network - Free Mobile App

Let's Play!

Zero To Three has launched a free parenting app with fun activities to support early learning. Activities are organized by age and by activitiy. Age groups are 0-18 months, 18-36 months, and 3-5 years. Routine activities include meal time, bed & bath time, shopping, commuting, chores, and a boredom busters category. Available at no cost through iTunes and the Google Play. 

To access the App for iTunes, please CLICK HERE. 

To access the App for Google Play, please CLICK HERE.

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The Power of the Spoken Word with Little Ones

As NYSPEP prepares for our member meeting and training institute "Planting the Seeds for Early Literacy" - a member sent us the following article written from a parent's perspective. For more information about our May 20, 2014 member meeting on early literacy, please visit our website at www.nyspep.org/.

The Power of the Spoken Word with Little Ones
by Karen Holtslag, MS

Language flows from humans like a spring of fresh water from the earth. Our first word is often “Ma.” My understanding of why that may be so came while nursing my infant who looked up at me with love in his eyes and gurgled a milky sound against my breast that came out “mmmmaaaa.” And so it begins. When he was close to a year old he would ride in my arms and point to objects around the room saying, “Dat!” (translation: “What is the word for that?”). He was hungry for language and was constantly keyed in to what his papa and I were saying.  As the old adage goes, “Little pitchers have big ears.”

Consequently I was very conscious of how I spoke to him, what words I chose and what message I wanted to convey. I became more sensitive to the ways we use our voice to augment our words and the impact that has on children. We may employ tone to convey danger, energy to excite enthusiasm, rhythm or melody to soothe. To bring added sweetness or humor to our communications, we can caress or be silly with sounds and vocalizations.

It is not necessary to talk down to little children. All words are new and interesting to them, and the full range of sounds is contained in their babbling. At times I detected Chinese or German inflections in my nine month-old baby’s gibberish. I realized that before he knew words he had the capacity to create all of the sounds of human speech. I decided it would serve him best to use the correct words with which he could learn to communicate and save the goochy-goo talk for playful silliness. These insights came to me within the context of the feedback loop between my little son and me. As he learned what words were all about, I became ever more aware of the power of our spoken words.

For young children, discovering language is like receiving a magical power. If they speak their needs and their parents respond by fulfilling them, they grow to feel trust in their world and trust in their ability to get what they need. This brings them confidence as they move out into the broader arenas of experience, like friendships and school. The words we choose to shape our children’s behavior and teach them about the world, also shape them. My son, pointing at a tulip and hearing our words “flower” and “pretty” was learning the name and quality of the thing he was seeing and experiencing.

So it is when a child does something and hears words spoken about her. She is learning a sense of herself from those words. If she likes to build with blocks and is adept and creative and is praised for that, she will identify with that quality, taking it as a part of whom she is. “I am a good builder.” If she does something wrong and as a reprimand is told she is a bad girl, she will come to see herself in that way. Whether the message is held consciously or unconsciously, she carries the shame of “I am bad.”

It is important to differentiate the behavior from the child. The names or epithets we assign to children inform their growing sense of self and can affect them throughout their lives. We can better use their misbehavior as teaching opportunities. The objective in reprimanding a child is to teach him right action. When he goes astray, it is most constructive to define the behavior as wrong, not the child.

When my son was a little boy I taught him to use words when he was upset and never try to solve problems by hitting. One day he was at the top of a sliding board and the boy behind him was pushing. In my son’s fear he defensively turned around and hit the other child.  When the boy cried my son was devastated. For three nights he had trouble falling asleep because of feelings of guilt over hurting someone. I needed only to explain again that words were powerful enough and hitting hurts both people. Now he understood that for himself. I told him that we all make mistakes and that is how we learn. He never has raised his hand to anyone since, nor does he carry the shame of believing he is bad because he made a mistake.

In my study of clinical hypnosis I learned the power of suggestion on the unconscious mind of an adult in trance. The mind of a small child is just as impressionable, if not more so. Rather than highlighting and emphasizing the inevitable “imperfections” in our children, we can make use of the opportunities presented by their mistakes for teaching a set of values and right action that can guide them. Explaining why it is wrong is the teaching piece. The feeling of discomfort for the child in having done a “bad thing” is the motivation to change, to avoid feeling that discomfort again.

There comes a point in our children’s development, at about age four or five, that I think of as the age of the never ending “Why?”. When I was a child I vowed to myself I would never say “Because I said so” to my child when he asked why something was so or why he couldn’t do something.  However when my numerous explanations from different angles with different nuances of meaning were still met with “why” from my five-year-old inquisitor, I too reverted to that age-old parental response.

Some of the repetition of the question comes from the gap between the child’s use of language and what they can truly comprehend. They feel that if they ask enough times, maybe they will get it.  Sometimes they are just experimenting with testing boundaries.  None of it is need be taken as bad behavior. When met with this verbal version of water torture, have patience and explain again, perhaps in different words or with different examples. But when the “why” comes again and yet again, “because I said so” is a valid response. If delivered in a spirit of good-natured patience, the lesson is imbued with the kindly authority of mommy and daddy, which is what defines the reality of a young child.

Little children are naturally eager to be noticed and “seen” and are hungry for the validation and acceptance of their parents. Therefore, let us find the best in them and name it, reflecting it back onto them, no matter how young they are, no matter what level of language they have. When they make a mistake, teach them with kindness a better way.  In the process they are learning language, proper behavior and a positive sense of themselves.

If we, as parents understand the power of our words on our little ones and speak to them always with loving authority, the words they associate with themselves will provide them with a sense of safety and positive self regard. The confidence this gives children allows them to move through life with a feeling of inner security and the belief that they are capable of learning how to be and behave in the world. It assures them that they are good and capable of doing good things. It allows them to meet life with openness and joy, their natural birthright as little children.

Karen E. Holtslag, MS is a counselor, teacher, workshop leader and Reiki Master practicing in Westchester, Dutchess and Ulster Counties.  She leads seminars and workshops and provides educational and case supervision for teachers and counselors.  Contact: k.holtslag@gmail.com

Dads Take Your Child To School (DTYCTS) Day & Beyond

The Responsible Fatherhood Coalition invites you to the 2014 Campaign Launch for DTYCTS Day and Beyond: Reemphasizing Community Resources.

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