From the Desk of the NYSPEP Coordinator - 2013 In Review

NYSPEP is an amazing collaborative of volunteer members who recognize the importance and positive impact of nurturing parenting upon children’s social-emotional development across the lifespan. In 2013 we partnered with the Early Childhood Advisory Council (ECAC), NYS Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse (OASAS), and Healthy Families New York (HFNY) Training and Development Team to offer our audiences valuable trainings.

We’ve also adjusted our internal structure. We discovered the Executive Committee and Steering Committee were largely redundant. We've maintained our Steering Committee, which meets monthly by conference call and twice annually in person. We dissolved the Executive Committee but maintained its core of active Steering Committee members in the Capital District. Now known as the A-team, this group is committed to meet bi-weekly in person and by conference call. Other Steering Committee members join, as they are able.

NYSPEP supports parenting educators and related professionals who serve parents and primary caregivers of children. You may have heard of our Parenting Educator Credential, annual Strong Roots Last A Lifetime training institutes, or professional development webinars. Did you know? There’s a lot more going on behind the scenes…

TRAININGS, CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS & WEBINARS 

I was surprised upon tallying year-end numbers to discover how many events NYSPEP was involved in. NYSPEP hosted twenty (20) events including webinars, training institutes, member meetings, and live orientations. We tabled and attended an additional nine (9) professional conferences and workshops for a total of twenty-nine (29) events in 2013!

NEW PARENT KIT & COMMUNITY CAFÉS

Our New Parent Kit, a project with leadership from the NYS Council on Children and Families, is now in the design and illustration phase. NYSPEP also formally adopted the parent-led Community Café initiative with leadership from the NYS Office of Children and Family Services / Children and Family Trust Fund.

WEBSITE & BROCHURE REDESIGN 

Earlier this year, we officially transitioned to www.nyspep.org. We’re currently updating some of the layout, navigation, and content on our website. We also redesigned our brochure, which is available on our website.

NYSPEP PARENTING EDUCATOR CREDENTIAL & VETTING 

Over fifty-five (55) applicants have been awarded the Credential, which was vetted by professionals in academia. We rolled out Tier III with Tier IV slated to open in June 2014.

MAINTAINING CONNECTIONS 

NYSPEP continued its involvement with Dads Take Your Child To School (DTYCTS) and Stronger Families NY Coalition. NYSPEP is one of the sponsors for the Young Child Expo & Conference in 2014.

EXPANDING OUR REACH 

NYSPEP, pediatrician Dr. Howard King, and other key supporters are currently exploring connections between pediatricians and parenting educators. We also met with Radio Disney, the Assistant Vice Chancellor for the Education Pipeline (SUNY Admin), the SUNY Teacher & Leader Education Network Coordinator at State University of New York, and the Director of Kinship Care Navigator – to name a few. Additionally, NYSPEP connected with Warren County Department of Social Services and the New York County Office of the District Attorney representing New York City’s collaborative Polo Rangel Initiative.

PARENTING MATERIALS 

NYSPEP distributed materials at all our events and provided cases of Parent Tip Magnets for DTYCTS Day 2013. Additional NYSPEP materials were distributed through partners such as Prevent Child Abuse New York’s Parent Helpline.

MARKETING RESEARCH & CONTENT DEVELOPMENT 

We recently surveyed key informants to discover how NYSPEP is perceived and what representatives from key systems want and need. We reviewed the data from that survey. Our Professional Development workgroup will incorporate some of the feedback into a field survey for January 2014 that will assist with developing our upcoming Strong Roots training institutes.

COMMUNICATIONS & SOCIAL MEDIA 

NYSPEP membership is now at 2,000 - double the number since I came on board last year! We produced twenty-five (25) outbound NYSPEP eNews and announcements. We introduced the Member Spotlight feature on our blog, which generated a lot of positive responses. We responded to forty (40) inquiries submitted through our website’s Contact Us form. There have been about one hundred (100) additional emails and phone calls that we’ve responded to.

LOOKING AHEAD 2014 

Resources (funding and volunteers) are crucial to what NYSPEP can accomplish. NYSPEP is never short on ideas, goals, or visions, but we don’t always have enough resources to carry these as far or as fast as we’d like to. Although we’ve chipped away at this, more work is needed. We also hope to build regional teams of NYSPEP volunteers.

Our membership is growing. We hope to implement an annual member survey to discover what members want and need. I also enjoy reaching out, meeting new people, and introducing people to each other. I look forward to getting out of the cubicle, making new connections, and expanding our membership.

NYSPEP recently received three inquiries from bi-lingual parenting educators asking if the Credential is offered en Español. The answer is ‘not yet’. Translations require additional resources. We look forward to when we are able to embrace bi-lingual and eventually multi-lingual support for the professionals we support and the families they serve.

Finally, based on the success of our Member Spotlights, I’m planning a new feature series on our blog to provide glimpses of NYSPEP behind-the-scenes and keep our members informed of all the various threads that knit NYSPEP together.

As NYSPEP is a true collaborative, our workgroups, Steering Committee, and other members will have additional ideas about what they’d like to see NYSPEP accomplish in 2014 and beyond.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED 

NYSPEP is comprised of volunteers who are passionate about parenting education and families, as well as the fields that serve and support children and families. Individuals volunteer to achieve various aspects of a project through small teams that meet by conference calls. A core group of Steering Committee members in the Capital District meet face-to-face bi-weekly to weave these fibers together.

Individuals can volunteer for a workgroup such as Credential or Professional Development or commit to a particular initiative such as the pediatrician project. Volunteers who can assist with a single task such as presenting a training webinar, previewing a facility for Strong Roots events, or assisting NYSPEP to expand connections or make in-roads with cross systems are appreciated.

Angelina M. Hart, NYSPEP Coordinator

We’re always looking for volunteers or interns in the Capital District who can type and spell accurately, have good grammar, and are familiar with basic html to assist with our eNews, blog, social media channels, and entering data into the database. If you're interested in volunteering or interning in our office, please email your resume with cover letter to nyspep@nyspep.org. To find out more ways you can get involved with NYSPEP, please call 518-445-1273 and ask for the NYSPEP Coordinator.

NYSPEP Member Spotlight: Susan E. Perkins

Ms. Susan E. Perkins serves as Co-chair of the NYSPEP Steering Committee and is actively involved in several NYSPEP initiatives behind-the-scenes. She is the Senior Policy Analyst for the New York State Council on Children and Families. She has represented the Council as a principle member of the New York State Parenting Education Partnership (NYSPEP) since its inception in 2006. At the Council, she works closely with the staff of the Head Start Collaboration Project, the Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems (ECCS) initiative, and the Early Childhood Advisory Council (ECAC) on early childhood, parenting and family literacy issues across the state.

In 2009, Susan was appointed Young Child Wellness Expert, the state project manager, for NY Project LAUNCH, a SAMHSA initiative to improve the systems that serve young children and address their physical, emotional, social, cognitive and behavioral growth. Prior to joining the Council, Susan was an Even Start Family Literacy coordinator for seven years and an adult educator, specializing in child and family development/parenting education, for Cornell Cooperative Extension for seven years.

Susan holds graduate and undergraduate degrees from the Pennsylvania State University, is a member of the Association for the Education of Young Children and serves on the board of the NYS Family Engagement Coalition, formerly the Parental Information & Resource Center (PIRC), Cornell University’s Parenting Work Team and is an honorary board member of Literacy Volunteers-Rensselaer County.

ANNOUNCEMENT: NYSPEP Webinars Begin MONDAY, DECEMBER 2nd

During December, NYSPEP will deliver valuable trainings via webinars. NYSPEP Webinars are free to attend! There are no associated travel expenses, no detours or delays, and no long commutes to add to your busy holiday schedule.

NYSPEP Webinars are an excellent way to enhance your professional development by providing information that can assist you in delivering optimal quality service to families and children. Our webinars are developed and presented by field experts who are passionate about the topics they teach. You're invited to register and attend the upcoming webinars listed below.

The only requirements are a computer or mobile device with internet access. Listen by using your computer's speakers or dial-in. CLICK HERE to test your connection. Please contact your IT Administrator if you need assistance.

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NORMAL CHILD DEVELOPMENT: BIRTH TO AGE THREE 

Monday, December 2, 2013 • 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM 

Meg Akabas, NYSPEP-CPE, Founder of Parenting Solutions, & Author 

SYNOPSIS: The first years of life bring an abundance of physical, social, and emotional milestones, which are vitally important in determining future development. Understanding and educating parents about normal child development serves to reassure parents about their child's development or to accept when intervention might be necessary. Early intervention is critical to successful outcomes; parenting educators and related professionals can support parents and guide them to proper resources. Learn the behaviors that signify normal development along with the corresponding critical needs of infants and toddlers at each of the stages. 

AUDIENCE: Parenting educators, family life educators, Head Start and Early Head Start workers, social workers engaged with families, home visitors, family development or support staff, parents and primary caregivers of children ages 0-3, and other interested participants.

PRESENTER: Meg Akabas, NYSPEP-CPE, founder of New York City-based Parenting Solutions, and author of 52 Weeks of Parenting Wisdom: Effective Strategies for Raising Happy, Responsible Kids

For more information and to register, please CLICK HERE.

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A PREGNANT WOMAN NEVER DRINKS ALONE: 

ADDRESSING FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDERS

Thursday, December 12, 2013 • 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM 

- OR - 

 Tuesday, December 17, 2013 • 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM 

Margo B. Singer, FASD State Coordinator, NYS OASAS 

SYNOPSIS: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) refers to the wide range of physical, cognitive, and behavioral birth defects caused by maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy with possible lifelong implications. It is 100% preventable and affects as many as 1 in 100 births each year. Learn what Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) is and the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure throughout the lifespan; who is at risk and challenges of unplanned pregnancy; tips and techniques for working with women; new evidence-based practices and screening tools to help women address risky use of alcohol; federal, state and local resources for professionals and families; and how to help children who may have a FASD.

AUDIENCE:  Parenting educators, child care workers, home visitors, residential care staff, social workers, health care professionals, disability specialists, parent advocates, CASAC counselors, and anyone who works with women of childbearing age or with children who may have a FASD.

PRESENTER: Margo B. Singer, FASD State Coordinator, NYS OASAS Bureau of Prevention Services.

Please select one of the following.

For more information and to register for the morning session on Thursday, December 12th, please CLICK HERE.

For more information and to register for the afternoon session on Tuesday, December 17th, please CLICK HERE.

Recognizing and Supporting Grandparents as Parents

CHICAGO, IL, September 30, 2013 – Many of us celebrate our parents in May or June. But for over 5.4 million individuals, that appreciation comes in September – Grandparent’s Month – as the time to recognize the men and women who raise them; and with September coming to a close, we would like to express our appreciation for them as well.

According to the Population Reference Bureau, the rate of grandparents raising children has more than doubled since 1970, increasing from 3%, to 7% in 2010. As the number of children being raised in “grandfamilies” continues to grow, so does the importance of our communities to support these grandparents in ways that most assist their unique situation.

Grandparents are impacted differently than other parents including increasing health costs due to advancing age and fixed or a lower monthly income due to retirement. Similarly, children who come to live with their grandparents often face a new environment, away from friends and familiar faces, even if only a few blocks away, a situation that may result in isolation or bullying.

In situations such as these, support from the community can make all of the difference. Neighbors and friends can help these new-again parents by doing simple things such as offering to babysit which gives these grandparents well deserved respite, bringing home-cooked meals, combining grandparent errands with their own, or simply by taking the time to express our gratitude for the important decision they have made.

For those who are grandparents themselves, supporting peers who are raising children can be done in a different but equally important way. Offering to start or lead a grandparent-specific support group can give people a chance to not only sit down with others who are in a similar situation, but share tips and stories in a group setting that can be beneficial to the social and mental health for grandparents.

Simply being around like-minded people can be a huge help to grandparents by further building their support system of friends and confidants, and by helping children open the door to friendships with other nearby children. For other ideas specific to grandparents, GRAND Magazine, a magazine that is a good friend and partner to Prevent Child Abuse America, contains a wealth of information and support for grandparents nationwide.

But even if you don’t know a grandparent in need directly, you can still play a role in helping these families by volunteering at daycare programs or pre- and post-school programs that give grandparents who are still working a safe-place to leave the children while they are out providing for their family. It is also important that community members ensure grandparents get access to the same community services available to other parents. In many ways the wisdom and experience of our grandparents is a gift and resource they are happy to share with others.

Grandparents who are raising children again do so with joy and grace, but that doesn’t mean a little help would go unappreciated. So this September, I encourage people to not only recognize the important job that many grandparents have undertaken, but also to take their lessons of love and generosity and pass it on in our own special manner. Together we can support not only the men and women raising their grandchildren, but also the healthy development of children everywhere.

To subscribe to GRAND Magazine (delivered to your inbox at no cost), please CLICK HERE.

To read A Grandfather's Impassioned Call To Action by Jim Hmurovich, President and CEO of Prevent Child Abuse America, please CLICK HERE.

NYC SAMHSA TRAINING 9/16

Trauma Informed Care 

A Change in Perspective

Monday, September 16, 2013 - 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM 

455 1st Ave - New York, NY 10016 

• Definition of trauma
• Effect it has on the brain
• 4 strategies to reduce the likelihood of re-traumatication
• 2 ways it affects people developmentally, psychologically and physiologically
• 2 action steps to implement in trauma-informed practices 

RSVP: email name, organization & contact number to Dira Severino dseverino@health.nyc.gov

Dads, will you Take Your Child To School on September 17th?

https://sites.google.com/site/dtyctsny/

NYSPEP Member Spotlight: Donna Morrison

Donna Morrison is an active member of NYSPEP's Professional Development workgroup. She also has volunteered to represent NYSPEP on the Stronger Families Coalition.

Ms. Morrison currently serves The Guidance Center of Westchester in New Rochelle, NY as the Early Childhood Director. She oversees six programs that comprise the Early Childhood Department including a New York State Education Department Licensed Therapeutic Nursery, Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) classes, and a unique mental health consultation called "Foundations in Feelings" for child care settings.

Ms. Morrison has served the Early Childhood field for over 25 years in various settings including public schools, private day cares, and most recently Head Start. She is a professional workshop presenter for the National, New York State, and Westchester Associations for the Education of Young Children. Ms. Morrison identifies herself as "An Early Childhood Educator passionate about Mental Health whose job is to listen to the children, believe the children, and speak for the children and their families".

Her professional affiliations include: New York State Parenting Education Partnership (NYSPEP), National Association for the Education of Young Children, National Head Start Association, Zero to Three, Early Childhood Network of Yonkers and Mt. Vernon (SOC) the 0-6 subcommittee for Westchester County Committee on Children and Families.

Ms. Morrison is currently co-developing NYSPEP's upcoming Strong Roots Training Institute workshop on Reflective Practice and is slated to present in Buffalo and New York City.