3rd Annual Week of the Young Child

by Guam CEDDERS Department of Public Health & Social Services Guam Launch Project Bisita I Familia Project Kariñu Tinituhon WOYC

The Guam Early Learning Council, in collaboration with Early Childhood Agencies, facilitated training event in celebration of the 3rd Annual Week of the Young Child held on April 9-15.

Senator Nerissa Bretania Underwood, Ph.D., presented a legislated resolution to the ICC, congratulating them on sponsoring the Early Childhood Parent Conference held at Pacific Star Hotel on April 9. Pictured L-R: Laura Taisipic, DOE Parent Services; Cathy Tydingco, DOE School Program Consultant; Dr. Nerissa Bretania Underwood, Senator in the 33rd Guam Legislature; Karlyn Borja, Interagency Coordinating Council Chairperson; Elaine Eclavea, Guam CEDDERS Consultant; and Pauline Camacho, Project Kariñu Lead Family Partner.
Senator Nerissa Bretania Underwood, Ph.D., presented a legislated resolution to the ICC, congratulating them on sponsoring the Early Childhood Parent Conference held at Pacific Star Hotel on April 9. Pictured L-R: Laura Taisipic, DOE Parent Services; Cathy Tydingco, DOE School Program Consultant; Dr. Nerissa Bretania Underwood, Senator in the 33rd Guam Legislature; Karlyn Borja, Interagency Coordinating Council Chairperson; Elaine Eclavea, Guam CEDDERS Consultant; and Pauline Camacho, Project Kariñu Lead Family Partner.
Governor Eddie Baza Calvo signed the proclamation for the Week of the Young Child on April 11, 2016 at the Governor's Complex in Adelup. Attending the proclamation signing were representatives from various Early Childhood Agencies.
Governor Eddie Baza Calvo signed the proclamation for the Week of the Young Child on April 11, 2016 at the Governor’s Complex in Adelup. Attending the proclamation signing were representatives from various Early Childhood Agencies.
On April 15, early childhood providers and parent leaders gathered to attend a training on "Bringing the Protective Factors Framework to Life in Your Work: Social and Emotional Competence," at the Sinajana Mayor's Office during the Week of the Young Child. The training was facilitated by Vera Blaz, Guam CEDDERS Training Associate.
On April 15, early childhood providers and parent leaders gathered to attend a training on “Bringing the Protective Factors Framework to Life in Your Work: Social and Emotional Competence,” at the Sinajana Mayor’s Office during the Week of the Young Child. The training was facilitated by Vera Blaz, Guam CEDDERS Training Associate.

Guam LEND Team Meets Co-Director of the UH LEND Program

by Guam CEDDERS LEND
The University of Hawaii, Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disorders (LEND) Program, under the John A. Burns School of Medicine, recently sponsored the participation of two Guam LEND fellows and faculty to attend the Association of Maternal Child Health Program (AMCHP) Conference held on April 6-9 in Washington, D.C. The Guam Team met with Louise Iwaishi, M.D., Co-Director of the UH LEND Program. (L-R): Terrie Fejarang, Guam CEDDERS Associate Director and Guam LEND faculty; Dr. Iwaishi; Leone Rohr and Zenaida Okada, Guam LEND Fellows.

The University of Hawaii, Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disorders (LEND) Program, under the John A. Burns School of Medicine, recently sponsored the participation of two Guam LEND fellows and faculty to attend the Association of Maternal Child Health Program (AMCHP) Conference held on April 6-9 in Washington, D.C. The Guam Team met with Louise Iwaishi, M.D., Co-Director of the UH LEND Program. (L-R): Terrie Fejarang, Guam CEDDERS Associate Director and Guam LEND faculty; Dr. Iwaishi; Leone Rohr and Zenaida Okada, Guam LEND Fellows.

GSAT Advisory Council General Membership Meeting

by Guam CEDDERS Guam Systems for Assistive Technology
The GSAT Advisory Council held its General Membership meeting on Tuesday, April 19. Attending the meeting were (starting at left, counter clockwise) Evangelis Babauta Jr, ASL Interpreter; Barbara Johnson, Chairperson; Josephine Cortez; Lisa Ogo, Member-at-Large; Jennifer Vicente, GLSC-DLC Representative; Lou Mesa, Member-at-Large; Ben Servino, DISID Director; Roy Rosario, Member-at-Large; Rudy Ignacio, Vice Chairperson; and Carla Torres, ATP, Assistive Technology Special Projects Program Coordinator.
The GSAT Advisory Council held its General Membership meeting on Tuesday, April 19. Attending the meeting were (starting at left, counter clockwise) Evangelis Babauta Jr, ASL Interpreter; Barbara Johnson, Chairperson; Josephine Cortez; Lisa Ogo, Member-at-Large; Jennifer Vicente, GLSC-DLC Representative; Lou Mesa, Member-at-Large; Ben Servino, DISID Director; Roy Rosario, Member-at-Large; Rudy Ignacio, Vice Chairperson; and Carla Torres, ATP, Assistive Technology Special Projects Program Coordinator.

Guam ADOS-2 Cohort with Dr. Irina Zamora, ASD Trainer from USC

by Guam CEDDERS Guam Department of Education

Through a contract with the Guam Department of Education (GDOE), Division of Special Education, Guam CEDDERS has partnered with University of Southern California (USC) and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) to facilitate a comprehensive Autism assessment training to continue building the capacity of GDOE Early Intervention and Special Education providers in identifying and assessing children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).  The training includes didactic information, detailed examples and hands-on activities on the administration, scoring and interpretation of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2) using the Western Psychological Services (WPS) clinical training.  The ADOS-2 improves “the gold standard” instrument for observational assessment of ASD.  An interdisciplinary cohort of six GDOE Early Intervention and Special Education providers has been identified to engage in the intensive on-site and off-site training conducted by Irina Zamora, Psy.D., Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, USC Keck School of Medicine and CHLA, who is a licensed Psychologist and ASD trainer.  Dr. Zamora is on-site April 18-22, 2016 to conduct the first of two on-site training sessions.  Off-site consultation includes individual consultation calls with each cohort member.  The second on-site training sessions will be held in September 2016, which will result in each cohort member certified as a WPS clinical ADOS-2 administrator.

Guam ADOS-2 Cohort with Dr. Irina Zamora, ASD Trainer from USC. Pictured L-R: Tom Babauta, Special Education Licensed Clinical Social Worker; Nicole Duenas, Speech Language Pathologist; Jessica Atoigue, Autism Technical Assistance Provider; Dr. Zamora; Gajee Parsons, Early Intervention Provider; Marita Gogue, School Psychologist; Tricia Taitague, Emotional Disabilities Program Coordinator; and Paula Ulloa, School Program Consultant.
Guam ADOS-2 Cohort with Dr. Irina Zamora, ASD Trainer from USC. Pictured L-R: Tom Babauta, Special Education Licensed Clinical Social Worker; Nicole Duenas, Speech Language Pathologist; Jessica Atoigue, Autism Technical Assistance Provider; Dr. Zamora; Gajee Parsons, Early Intervention Provider; Marita Gogue, School Psychologist; Tricia Taitague, Emotional Disabilities Program Coordinator; and Paula Ulloa, School Program Consultant.

LEND Alumni and Faculty meets the Secretary of the Board of Family Voices

by Guam CEDDERS Uncategorized
LEND Alumni and faculty also met with Grace Williams, Secretary of the Board of Family Voices, a national advocacy organization of parents with children with special health care needs. Information on the organization was shared, in addition to strategies to access supports for various initiatives. (L-R): Zenaida Okada and Leone Rohr, LEND Alumni, and Grace Williams. Not shown: Terrie Fejarang
LEND Alumni and faculty also met with Grace Williams, Secretary of the Board of Family Voices, a national advocacy organization of parents with children with special health care needs. Information on the organization was shared, in addition to strategies to access supports for various initiatives. (L-R): Zenaida Okada and Leone Rohr, LEND Alumni, and Grace Williams. Not shown: Terrie Fejarang

AMCHP Conference

by Guam CEDDERS Uncategorized
LEND Alumni and faculty recently traveled to Washington, DC to attend the annual AMCHP Conference. Before the conference started, the team had the oppotunity to visit the national office of the Autism Society of America (ASOA) to meet with staff on April 5. L-R: Scott Badesch, President/Chief Executive Officer, ASOA, Zenaida Okada and Leone Rohr, LEND Alumni, and Terrie Fejarang, LEND faculty and Guam CEDDERS Associate Director. Not shown: Rose Jochum, Director of Internal Initiatives.
LEND Alumni and faculty recently traveled to Washington, DC to attend the annual AMCHP Conference. Before the conference started, the team had the oppotunity to visit the national office of the Autism Society of America (ASOA) to meet with staff on April 5. L-R: Scott Badesch, President/Chief Executive Officer, ASOA, Zenaida Okada and Leone Rohr, LEND Alumni, and Terrie Fejarang, LEND faculty and Guam CEDDERS Associate Director. Not shown: Rose Jochum, Director of Internal Initiatives.

Autism Month Celebration and Outreach Event

by Guam CEDDERS Uncategorized
Members of the Autism Community Together (ACT) non-profit organization facilitated the opening ceremonies of the Autism Month celebration and outreach event held at the Agana Shopping Center's Center Court on Saturday, April 3. Lou Mesa, President of ACT (holding the certificate) and the officers were joined by Congresswoman Madeliene Bordallo (to Lou's left) and First Lady Christine Calvo (to Lou's right) on stage to applaud the efforts of the community in promoting increased awareness of autism on island.
Members of the Autism Community Together (ACT) non-profit organization facilitated the opening ceremonies of the Autism Month celebration and outreach event held at the Agana Shopping Center’s Center Court on Saturday, April 3. Lou Mesa, President of ACT (holding the certificate) and the officers were joined by Congresswoman Madeliene Bordallo (to Lou’s left) and First Lady Christine Calvo (to Lou’s right) on stage to applaud the efforts of the community in promoting increased awareness of autism on island.

Association of Maternal & Child Health Program (AMCHP) Conference

by Guam CEDDERS Uncategorized
Margarita Torres Aldan, MPH, Director, Division odf Public Health Services and former Maternal and Child Health Program Coordinator, Commonwealth of the Northn Mariana Islands, is shown here receiving the "Maternal Child Health Bureau Director's Award" during the recent Association of Maternal & Child Health Program (AMCHP) Conference held on April 6-9 in Washington, D.C. Margarita received this award in recognition of her efforts in coordinating health care during the recovery period after the devastating impact of Typhoon Soudelor that struck Saipan on August 2, 2015.
Margarita Torres Aldan, MPH, Director, Division odf Public Health Services and former Maternal and Child Health Program Coordinator, Commonwealth of the Northn Mariana Islands, is shown here receiving the “Maternal Child Health Bureau Director’s Award” during the recent Association of Maternal & Child Health Program (AMCHP) Conference held on April 6-9 in Washington, D.C. Margarita received this award in recognition of her efforts in coordinating health care during the recovery period after the devastating impact of Typhoon Soudelor that struck Saipan on August 2, 2015.

Boys Town Consultant Conducts On-site Visit with Guam DOE GEIS and Deaf/Hard of Hearing Program Personnel March 28-April 1

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Training
Catherine Carotta, Ed.D., CCC-SLP, Associate Director, Center for Childhood Deafness, Boys Town National Hospital, (standing, at right) was on-island providing training and technical assistance to the Guam Department of Education, Division of Special Education from March 28 through April 1. Dr. Carotta facilitated training on “Family-Centered Practices for Children Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing” on March 28 and 29 at the GSAT Center Training Room attended by staff from the Guam Early Intervention System (GEIS) Program. The rest of the week was devoted to providing technical assistance and training to Special Education personnel working with the K-12 school population who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Catherine Carotta, Ed.D., CCC-SLP, Associate Director, Center for Childhood Deafness, Boys Town National Hospital, (standing, at right) was on-island providing training and technical assistance to the Guam Department of Education, Division of Special Education from March 28 through April 1. Dr. Carotta facilitated training on “Family-Centered Practices for Children Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing” on March 28 and 29 at the GSAT Center Training Room attended by staff from the Guam Early Intervention System (GEIS) Program. The rest of the week was devoted to providing technical assistance and training to Special Education personnel working with the K-12 school population who are deaf or hard of hearing.