Page 1 I Tellai, The Bridge Guam CEDDERS Newsletter Volume 10, Issue 4 September 5, 2004 Inside this issue: Page Interdisciplinary Trainees Graduate CMHI Evaluation Award 1 Fo’na Snapshots 2-3 CIMAP Institute 4-5 PACIFIC Project Summer Institute 6-7 Advisory Council Officers PepNet Meeting 8 CEDDERS Presents at OSEP Leadership CEDDERS Presents at OSEP Directors Conference 9 I Famagu’on-ta Eval Brief & Presentation 10-11 Zero to Three Training 2008 Tinituhon Family Fair 12 Håtsa Update-Power Walkthrough Training 13 CSEFEL Training 14-15 CNMI Officials Study Guam Child Care Zero to Three Training for Child Care Directors & Parent Night 16 Child Care Licensure Update 17 A Vision for Electronic Birth Certificates GEHDI TA Visit 18 Standards for Character Ed Personnel Transitions 19 Calendar of Events 20 Eighteen Graduate Trainees Launch Careers in Speech Pathology Congratulations to the eighteen Project Fo’na students who completed their master’s degree program requirements in Speech and Language Pathology and celebrated their accomplishments during a graduation ceremony held on August 16 on Guam. Project Fo’na, which means “to move forward” in the Chamorro language, is supported by a personnel preparation grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, and is a collaborative effort between the University of Guam CEDDERS and San Jose State University. Program graduates come from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia, and Guam. See Project Fo’na. Pages 2 - 3 CMHI Evaluation Team Receives National Award Guam CEDDERS' CMHI Evaluation Team, comprised of Mariles Benavente, Bonnie Brandt, Jessica Camacho, Lolita Leon Guerrero, Elaine Roberto, Keith Villaluna; and Youth Evaluation Team Members, Clinton Cellona, Brandy and Brittany Martinez, and Tia Santos, received an Excellence in Evaluation Award in the category of Involving Family Members and Youth at the summer System of Care Training Institutes. The award was presented during the Excellence in Evaluation Recognition Event by Dr. Gary Blau, Chief, Child, Adolescent and Family Branch of the Federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). This inaugural annual event was sponsored by SAMHSA to acknowledge evaluation team accomplishments, emphasize important evaluation areas, and to showcase examples of evaluation "best practices." All System of Care communities funded from 2002 – 2006 were eligible to compete for the awards in 3 categories: Evaluation Operations, Involving Family Members and Youth, and Evaluation Data Use and Dissemination. A panel of judges composed of family members, youth, program partners, the Child, Adolescent and Family Branch, and local and national evaluation members reviewed submissions using guidance established for each category. Review areas for the Involving Family Members and Youth category included: Planning and Reviewing; Collaboration and Advocacy; Evaluation Role; Cultural and Linguistic Competence; and Local Evaluation. The Guam CEDDERS CMHI Evaluation Team's application documented its efforts in each area and reflected the Team's ongoing commitment to System of Care values and principles. Accepting the award on behalf of Guam CEDDERS Evaluation Team was Tia Santos, Youth Evaluation Team Member. Photo with caption (L-R) Tia Santos, Youth Evaluation Team Member and Bonnie Brandt, Guam CEDDERS CMHI Lead Evaluator, hold the “Gold Level” Award for Excellence in Evaluation in the category of “Involving Family Members and Youth.” Page 2 Project Fo’na Graduates Individual photos with names and entity that they are from: 2008 Fo’na Graduates Melanie Arciaga, Guam Amalia Badua, Guam Stephanie Bamba, Guam Leann Bull, CNMI Henoleen Camacho, CNMI Joysleen Daniel, Pohnpei, FSM Merleen Daniel, Guam Rowena Dimla, Pohnpei, FSM Daniel Domaoal, Guam Nicole Duenas, Guam Rosario Hocog, CNMI Francis Glenn Lujan, Guam Robin Malicsi, Guam Janice Sablan, Guam Erica Santos, Guam Julianne Serrano, Guam Richard Tumanda, Guam Paul Zerzan, Guam Page 3 Fo’na Graduation Snapshots Photos with captions: Platform guests during the Fo’na graduation included (L-R) Dr. Michael Kimbarrow, Chairperson, Department of Communicative Disorders & Sciences, San Jose State University and Commencement Speaker; Dr. Robert Underwood, University of Guam President; Dr. Velma Sablan, Project Fo’na Director; Dr. Helen Whippy, UOG Senior Vice President; Dr. Gloria Weddington, Program Coordinator, San Jose State University; & Dr. Heidi San Nicolas, Guam CEDDERS Director. June Quitugua (left), Guam CEDDERS Inclusive Communities Initiative Area Coordinator, congratulates Joysleen Daniel after the Fo’na graduation ceremony. Joysleen currently serves as the coordinator for Speech Services and the Deaf/Hard of Hearing Program for the Pohnpei State Department of Education. Page 4 Pacific CIMAP Makes Print Materials Accessible To Students Groundbreaking developments in making print materials accessible and available to students in our Pacific region recently took place. After ten months of planning and coordination, the Pacific Consortium for Instructional Materials Accessibility Project (CIMAP) hosted its Summer 2008 Institute from July 29 – August 9 on Guam at the Westin Hotel. Approximately 60 Jurisdiction Implementation Team (JIT) members from 9 Pacific island entities were engaged in an intensive training with the theme of crafting and transforming instructional materials for students with print disabilities using technology. The institute was facilitated collaboratively by the Guam CEDDERS Pacific CIMAP Project staff and eight project partners and consultants. The first week of training focused on developing and accessing instructional materials for students with vision impairments (VI). Dominic Gagliano, Vice President of Blindness Sales for HumanWare and Dave Wilkinson, Western Blindness Product Specialist for HumanWare, provided the training on the operation of the following equipment and software: Braille Producers (Kurzweil, Duxbury, Juliet Pro), BrailleNote, VoiceNote, Mountbatten Braille Writer System, Jot-a-Dot Brailler Writer and Victor Reader Stream. During the second week, training focused on various Assistive Technology (AT) for individuals with learning disabilities (LD) and those with physical disabilities needing print accessibility. Scott Marfilius, Assistive/Educational Technology Consultant, provided technical assistance and training in the use of the Kurzweil 3000 & accessories, Windows Eyes Screen Reader, ViewPlus Tactile Graphics–Spot-A-Dot-IVEO, Classmate Reader and Don Johnston Solo. Once instruction and practice was completed with each device and software, Donna McNear, VI Teacher/Consultant, guided participants in seeing “What it would look like in the classroom.” This gave the teachers the opportunity to reflect and see the different ways the equipment and software can be used to provide timely educational materials in appropriate accessible formats for students with disabilities. Photo with caption: Pacific CIMAP Project Staff, Partners, and Consultants take a group photo during the 2-week regional institute held on Guam, July 29-August 9, 2008. (Sitting, L-R) Dr. Mike Sharpe, CIMAP Project Evaluator, University of Minnesota; Carrie Karnos, Manager of Scanning and Validation Operations, Bookshare.org; Donna McNear, CIMAP Project Lead Consultant, Minnesota; Dr. Lisa Friendly, Director, Bookshare.org; Scott Marfilius, Assistive/Educational Technology Consultant, Wisconsin; Dr. Joy Zabala, Project Manager, AIM Consortium. (Standing, L-R) Guam CEDDERS/CIMAP Staff: June De Leon, Project Director; Mike Terlaje, Coordinator; Connie Guerrero, Policy Specialist; Joseph (JJ) Mendiola, Data Coordinator; Dolores (Dee) Palomo, AT Center Assistant; Mary Kidd, Training Associate, Dr. Heidi San Nicolas, Principal Investigator/Guam CEDDERS Director; & Jonas Macapinlac, Disability Media Specialist. Not shown are HumanWare’s Dominic Gagliano and Dave Wilkinson. Page 5 Pacific CIMAP Institute In addition, Lisa Friendly and Carrie Karnos from Bookshare.org, demonstrated and provided hands-on activities to access resource materials from Bookshare.org and convert them into appropriate accessible formats. Also joining the institute was Joy Zabala, Project Manager for the Accessible Instructional Materials (AIM) Consortium. Ms. Zabala facilitates the collaborative work of 15 states to address National Instructional Materials for Accessibility Standard (NIMAS) implementation issues; sister project to the Pacific CIMAP. As in all projects, assessment is very crucial to the success of the project’s goals and objectives. Mike Sharpe, Pacific CIMAP Project Evaluator, was on-site to evaluate the effectiveness of the Institute and provided daily feedback for improving technical assistance provided to the entity teams. At the conclusion of the Institute, a set of equipment and software, worth a total of about $300,000, was packed and shipped to each of the nine island entities – American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, Yap, Guam, Palau and Republic of the Marshalls. As a final activity, each entity crafted an action plan showing how they plan to provide timely educational materials in appropriate accessible formats for students with disabilities using the technology learned. Project staff will be conducting site visits to provide assistance, as needed, in implementing the action plans. For more information on Pacific CIMAP, visit http://www.guamcedders.org and click on Project Resources. Photos with caption Team Kosrae focuses on developing a lesson for students with print disabilities using the assistive technology provided by the CIMAP project. Participants from Palau pool their ideas under the watchful eye of Connie Guerrero, Policy Specialist with the CIMAP Project. Harvey Fritz, a member of Team Chuuk, tries out the Mountbatten Braille Writer System. Team Guam members, (L-R) Lee Wright, Franklin Artero, and Bing Santos, make the right connections during an equipment set-up session. Page 6 PACIFIC Project Holds First Institute Guam CEDDERS facilitated “The PAC6 Journey” GSEG III: Regional Assessment Institute #1 through the Pacific Assessment Consortium (PAC6) Implementing Fully Innovative Change-the PACIFIC Project-on August 4-8, 2008 at the Westin Resort Guam. The Institute supported the six Pacific entities of American Samoa, CNMI, FSM, Guam, Marshall Islands, and Palau to “improve local capacity for reporting and analyzing participation and performance data of students with significant cognitive disabilities on alternate assessments based on alternate academic achievement standards (AA-AAS) to inform critical changes in assessment, curriculum, and instruction.” The PACIFIC Project builds upon the outcomes from the GSEG I: PAC6 Planning Project, which sup-ported the individual jurisdictions with planning for the enhancement or redesign of their comprehensive system of state assessments (including alternate assessments), standards and instructional supports, and the GSEG II: PAC6 Implementation Projects which supported each of the six jurisdictions to improve their capacity to accurately report on the performance and participation of students with disabilities in their statewide assessment systems. The PACIFIC Project brought two familiar faces back to the region to present at the August 2008 Institute. Mr. Michael Burdge and Ms. Jean Clayton, Technical Assistance Specialists from the University of Kentucky’s Inclusive Large Scale Standards and Assessment (ILSSA) Group returned to the region with their Director, Dr. Donna Wickham, to provide realistic and workable ideas for meaningful application of how students with significant cognitive disabilities are included in the accountability system. Consultants from the National Center on Educational Outcomes at the University of Minnesota also provided support during the Institute via online discussion forums. During the week, about 65 general education and special education teachers, school administrators, Special Education Program Coordinators, Curriculum Specialists, and Evaluation Specialists from all six Pacific entities were tasked to develop a Teachers’ Guide for implementing an AA-AAS within their jurisdiction. Each day they were given a section of the Guide to develop, which increased their current knowledge, research and best practices in the development and implementation of an AA-AAS, resulting in an individualized entity specific assessment structure for the implementation of an AA-AAS. The Guide also included considerations for professional development activities during the 2008-2009 school year. Photo with caption PAC6 partners proudly display their entity canoes and signs that represent the “PAC6 Journey” during the regional institute held on Guam the week of August 4th. (Sitting, L-R) Mitch Ioanis, FSM National Early Childhood Coordinator; Suzanne Lizama, CNMI Acting Special Education (SpEd) Coordinator; Helen Sengebau, Palau Acting SpEd Coordinator, Ruthiran Lokeijak, Marshall Islands SpEd Director; Moe Vaatausili, American Samoa SpEd Director. (Standing, L-R) June De Leon, PAC6 Project Director, Guam CEDDERS; Dr. Dan Robertson, PAC6 Project Evaluator, UOG; Jean Clayton, Trainer/Consultant, Inclusive Large Scale Standards and Assessment, University of Kentucky (ILLSA-UK); Jonas Macapinlac, PAC6 Dissemination Coordinator, Guam CEDDERS; Mike Burdge, Trainer/Consultant, ILLSA-UK; Dr. Donna Wickham, Director, ILSSA-UK; June Quitugua, PAC6 Project Coordinator, Guam CEDDERS; Dr. Mary Spencer, PAC6 Project Regional Expert, UOG; & Dr. Heidi San Nicolas, Director, Guam CEDDERS. Not shown: May Camacho, Guam Acting Special Education Assistant Superintendent. Page 7 Pacific Institute As requested by participants, the Institute also hosted two “Brown Bag” lunch meetings as a refresher on topical areas that were introduced in previous Institutes. The first lunch meeting covered “developing standards based IEPs” and the second lunch addressed “scoring and rubrics” of an AA-AAS. One activity planned for the next three (3) years of the PACIFIC Project is to begin developing locally made video clips to support training activities on AA-AAS and how the system impacts changes in curriculum, instruction, and assessment for students with significant cognitive disabilities. As a kick-off to this activity, Institute participants previewed the first locally developed project video featuring Mrs. Angelina Ngemaes, a special education teacher in Palau and one of her students, Dirraingas Edeyaoch. The video was developed as an awareness tool for telling a teacher’s story about providing instruction using the general education curriculum for students with significant cognitive disabilities. Mrs. Ngemaes shared that she didn’t believe her students with significant disabilities could participate in general education lessons, because they needed to be taught functional skills, not academics. But, as she began developing and teaching standards based lessons, she noticed that her students could participate in the lessons and enjoyed being in the general education classroom, something she didn’t think could ever happen. As a result of the changes in the way she provided instruction and her student responses to the instruction, she now believes that even students with significant cognitive disabilities can actively participate in the general curriculum with supports. If you would like to view the video, you may access it on the PAC6 website at www.pac6.org under “Announcements.” The PACIFIC Project is funded by a U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, General Supervision Enhancement Grant Photos with caption After long periods of concentrated cerebral efforts, Institute participants “get up and move” to get the blood flowing during a break. The Guam Team brainstorms during one of the periods set aside for entities to develop implementation strategies specific to their local school system. Ruthiran Lokeijak, (left) Special Education Director from the Republic of the Marshall Islands gets input from consultant Mike Burdge (right). Page 8 Photo with caption: Advisory Elects New Officers Guam CEDDERS Advisory Council Members elected new officers during their June meeting. Cecilia Perez Cruz takes over the helm as Chairperson, with new member Marlon Molinas serving as Vice Chairperson. Present during the election were (front, seated) Vice Chairperson Molinas; (Standing, L-R) Louise Toves, Manny Cruz, out-going Chairperson Evelyn Claros, Chairperson Cecilia Cruz, Reina Sanchez and Rudy Colet. The Advisory Council was instrumental in developing the goals and objectives in the Guam CEDDERS’ new Core Five-Year Plan and is helping to address the Tri-Agency Work Plan. Photo with caption Identifying Post Secondary Training Needs for Personnel Who Work with Deaf /HH Youth & Adults Guam CEDDERS Associate Director, Terrie Fejarang, met with Special Education Coordinators from the region on August 6 to discuss and begin drafting a Needs Assessment Report on the training needs of personnel from their islands who work with youth and adults who are deaf or hard of hearing (HH). Through the support of PEPNet West (Post-secondary Education Programs Network) based at the National Center on Deafness located at California State University, Northridge, training will be identified based on the priorities identified in the reports. Participating in the meetings were (Photo at left, seated, L-R) Mitch Ioanis, Pohnpei, FSM, Ruthiran Lokeijak, Marshalls, Moe Vaatausili, American Samoa. (Standing, L-R) Helen Sengebau, Palau, Ms. Fejarang, & Suzanne Lizama, CNMI. Page 9 Photo with caption Pacific CIMAP Partners Present at OSEP Leadership Conference in Baltimore The 2008 OSEP Project June De Leon, Guam CEDDERS Associate Director and Director of the Pacific Consortium for Instructional Materials Accessibility Project (CIMAP), participated in a panel discussion addressing “State Response to the National Instructional Materials Standard (NIMAS): An Opportunity” during the 2008 OSEP Leadership Conference held on August 27 in Baltimore, Maryland. With the theme of the conference being “Leading Together To Improve Outcomes,” this particular session focused on implementation practices to ensure timely delivery of accessible instructional materials to students with print disabilities. Panelists shared the experiences on innovative strategies, opportunities, and challenges from the areas they represent. Joining Ms. De Leon in the photo above were (L-R) Carmen Sanchez, panel facilitator, Arthur Albert, Executive Director, Special Education Program, Federated States of Micronesia; Chuck Hitchcock, Director, NIMAS Technical Assistance Center, and Betsy Burgess, Director of Outreach, Bookshare.org. Associate Director Serves As Panelist in OSEP Conference in D.C. The 2008 OSEP Project Directors’ Conference invited June De Leon, Guam CEDDERS Associate Director and Director of Pacific CIMAP, to share strategies used in Pacific CIMAP designed to address the NIMAS implementation requirements. The session featured a panel which discussed the impact of statutory requirements on States’ capacity to deliver accessible instructional materials and the effect that the timely delivery of these materials will have on parents and students. The Conference took place on July 21-23 in Washington, D.C. (Sitting, L-R) Chuck Hitchcock, NIMAS-TA Center; Diane Golden, Missouri Assistive Technology; Jeff Diedrich, Michigan’s Integrated Technology Supports; & June De Leon. Page 10 I Famagu’on-ta Disseminates Evaluation Report In July, Guam CEDDERS’ Children’s Mental Health Initiative (CMHI) Evaluation Project produced and began disseminating the annual update on the evaluation of I Famagu’on-ta, Guam System of Care. The Evaluation Report provides information on characteristics of children and youth enrolled in I Famagu’on-ta and shows that after 2 years, children and families continue to experience positive outcomes. Youth continue to do better in school, have less involvement in the juvenile justice system, and are experiencing better behavioral and emotional health. The report also showcases how one family became empowered through collaboration and the Wraparound process and experienced positive changes in their lives. The Evaluation Report is being widely disseminated to families, service providers, policy makers, and community stakeholders. To request a copy of the July 2008 I Famagu’on-ta Evaluation Report contact the CMHI Evaluation Project staff at 735-2618, 735-2397 or 734-6531 (TTY). Alternative formats (e.g. Braille, large print, or audio tapes) of the Evaluation Report will be made available upon request. GEIS Staff Meet with ZERO TO THREE Consultant Photo with caption On September 5, the Guam Early Intervention System (GEIS) staff met with Sarah Merrill, Training Specialist from the National ZERO TO THREE Organization to discuss the latest trends and research in learning strategies for young children. (Seated, L-R) Laura Taisipic, Ms. Merrill, Melinda (Cookie) Treltas, Vilma Gray; (Standing, L-R) Clare Aglubat, Janet Green, Denise Aguon, Bertha Cabrera, Francine Isezaki, Pauline Owen, Glorianna Guerrero, & Cecille Loyola. Page 11 Eval Team Presents at System of Care Institute in Nashville Bonnie Brandt, Lead Evaluator for Guam CEDDERS’ Children’s Mental Health Initiative (CMHI) Evaluation Project and Tia Santos, Youth Evaluation Team Member, presented a poster paper at the July 2008 System of Care Training Institute in Nashville, Tennessee. The poster presentation titled, System of Care Values and Principles in Evaluation: Strategies and Lessons Learned, showcased five guiding principles that the Guam CEDDERS CMHI Evaluation Team developed and uses to guide its evaluation activities to ensure that the evaluation of I Famagu’on-ta reflects core System of Care values and principles. Photo with caption Tia Santos, Youth Evaluation Team member staffed Guam's System of Care display table during the July 2008 System of Care Training Institute in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo with caption (L-R) Juan Martin, Wrap Coordinator; Bonnie Brandt, CMHI Lead Evaluator; Annie Unpingco, I Famagu’on-ta Prin-cipal Investigator; Tia Santos, Youth Evaluation Team Member; and John Uruo, Family Partner, conducted a poster session during the System of Care Training Institute in Nashville, Tennessee in July. Page 12 Family Fair Draws Nearly 200 Family Members The 1st Annual Early Childhood Family Information Fair was held on Saturday, August 23rd at the Agana Shopping Center. The Fair was a collaborative event spearheaded by Project Tinituhon, Guam’s Early Childhood Comprehensive System comprised of various public and private early childhood service agencies and organizations. Targeting families with young children to increase public awareness of the importance of the early years, the outreach event provided an opportunity for parents and grandparents of young children birth to five to meet with service providers and obtain information about the many services and support available in the community. In addition to the service providers who shared information, special performances were made by several child care centers including: PNG Child Care and Learning Center (Model Child Care Center), Sr. Kathy Bromwell from Maria Artero Catholic Preschool and Kindergarten, Doc’s Day Care Center, and School of Creative Arts. The Young Learner Center displayed art projects from children enrolled at their center. A total of 190 participants, including parents, grandparents, and adult family members, attended the event. Participants indicated that they had a total of 298 children who were between the ages of birth to five years. After visiting the various service provider tables, participants filled out a quick survey on their overall satisfaction with the event. Of the 190 participants, 150 participants completed the exit survey, and a total of 111 or 74% indicated that they were highly satisfied with the event. Some of the participant comments included: “Great info, the kids had a great time.” “Great job.” Highly appreciated.” Text in colored box: Family Fair Collaborators ?Guam Public School System ?Guam Early Intervention System ?Special Education Preschool Program ?Head Start Program ?Catholic Social Services ?Department of Public Health & Social Svcs ?Health Education Department ?Women, Infants, & Children (WIC) Program ?Immunization Program ?ALEE Shelter ?Discovery Toys ?Discover ‘Uzeum ?Guam Parent Information & Resource Center (PIRC) ?Bureau of Social Svcs Administration Child Protective Svcs ?Work Programs Section ?Medicaid/MIP Program ?Bureau of Family Health & Nursing Svcs ?Guam CEDDERS ?Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention (Guam EHDI) Project/Guam EHDI Family Support Group ?Guam Humanities Council, Motheread/Fatheread Family Literacy Program ?Guam Police Department, Office of Highway Safety ?Sanctuary, Inc. Page 13 McREL Power Walkthrough Training for School Administrators As part of the 2008 Leadership Academy, Project Håtsa sponsored a two-day training on “Power Walkthrough”, a classroom seminar and software, for 38 school administrators on June 25 - 26. With the exception of two elementary schools, every school was represented during the training conducted by Elizabeth Hubbel, a lead consultant in Educational Technology at Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL). McREL’s Power Walkthrough software is utilized with a handheld device and allows administrators to conduct classroom observations with the use of technology. The software is based on “effective instructional strategies, student engagement, teachers’ use of technology, and other factors that research shows to influence student learning.” The two-day training involved increasing participants’ understanding of the strategies in Classroom Instruction that Works, a meta-analysis of research on effective instruction completed by Robert Marzano. In addition, administrators spent the second day developing their skills observing, evaluating, and recoding observations using the software and the Palm T|X handheld device. This software allows administrators to “upload observation data to the computer and generate customizable reports on individuals or groups of teachers, entire schools, and even districts.” Project Håtsa is Guam Public School System’s Teacher Quality Enhancement project and is administered in collaboration with University of Guam. Photo with caption (L-R) Dr. Nieves Flores, Project Håtsa Director, “beams” data using a hand held computer to Evangeline Iglesias, Principal of Finegayan Elementary School, and Christine Terlaje, Principal of Talofofo Elementary School, during a practice session involving the use of Power Walkthrough, an educational software designed by the Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) . Page 14 CSEFEL Training Focuses on Social Emotional Development Guam Head Start and the Department of Public Health and Social Services’ “Project Tinituhon,” in collaboration with Guam CEDDERS, hosted the first training workshop for Project Kari?u on June 23, 24, and 30. Project Kariñu is a project facilitated by Guam CEDDERS that aims to provide training and support to service providers working with young children. It focuses on guiding the social and emotional development of children ages birth to five years. Twenty-eight professionals from various public and private organizations attended the “Train-the-Trainer” workshops. The team included representatives from Honey Bear Kid’s Center, Adventures in Learning Child Development Center, Amazing Kids 2 Child Development Center, PNG Child Care and Learning Center; Guam Parent Information Resource Center; Catholic Social Services, Sanctuary, Incorporated; Guam Public School System – Head Start Program, Early Intervention System, and Preschool Special Education; Guam Community College and University of Guam CEDDERS; Department of Public Health and Social Services, Child Care and Development Fund Program, Child Welfare Services; Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, I Famagu’on-ta, Guam System of Care; and civilian personnel serving Guam’s military commands. Consultants Dr. Amy Santos and Dr. Mary Louise Hemmeter shared with participants some of the most recent evidence-based training to build capacity for the effective intervention of young children with challenging behaviors. Participants were also provided training to enable them to train others in their organizations on the training modules developed by the Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL). Demonstration sites were identified and participants agreed to collect and report information on child outcomes and improvements. CSEFEL is focused on promoting the social emotional development and school readiness of young children from birth to age 5. The Center is a national resource center funded by the Office of Head Start and Child Care Bureau disseminating research and evidence-based practices to early childhood programs across the country. Using the “Pyramid Model for Supporting Emotional Competence in Infants and Young Children,” CSEFEL developed an extensive number of training materials, to include videos, and print resources. The “Train-the-Trainer” workshops focused on the top of the Pyramid which supports working with children with the most challenging behaviors. Staff from CSEFEL agreed to conduct the training and provide technical assistance for the training cadre over the next three years to build capacity for supports and services in this area. To learn more about CSEFEL, visit their website at www.vanderbilt.edu/csefel Photo with caption Present during the CSEFEL training were (seated, L-R) Angelina-Marie Cruz, Lydia Fausto, Rosemarie Camacho, Michele Huffer, Dr. Amy Santos, CSEFEL co-trainer, & Lorna Soriano. (Middle row, standing L-R) Annie Pineda, Maiomihna Ngiriarikl, Elaine Eclavea, instructor on record, Dr. Mary Louise Hemmeter, co-trainer, Mary Kidd, Ama Underwood, Akemi Camacho, Pauline Camacho, Cindy Chugrad, Gloriana Guerrero, Carmelita Connelley & Pauline Owen. (Back row, L-R) Abe Mora Jr., Charlita Harper, Arlene Cura, Brigette Flores Lobo, Marijul Taitano, Sarita Choffat, Monica Cruz, & Liz Borja. Not Shown: Lavina Camacho, Elisa Duenas, Dr. Clare Ann Camacho, & Leona Balagbagno. Page 15 CSEFEL Training Photo with caption Child care providers proudly share their display of classroom rules as part of the small group projects in the course, Promoting the Social Emotional Competence of Young Children: Building Supportive Relationships, Designing Supportive Environments and Social Emotional Teaching Strategies, conducted by Carmelita Ogo Connelley, at the Catholic Social Services Conference Room on June 21. A total of 48 participants from child care centers and the Parent Information Resource Center completed part of the Pyramid Model, from the Center on the Social Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL). Also participating were observers from Guam Head Start and the Guam Public School System, Special Education Preschool Program, who attended the sessions in preparation as trainers of the CSEFEL Pyramid Model Photo with caption CNMI Child Care Officials Tap on Guam Experience Officials from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) Child Care Program visited their counterparts in May from the Guam Department of Public Health & Social Services to learn about Guam’s experience in establishing a Model Child Care Program for Inclusive Practices. (Seated, L-R) Guam’s Abe Mora, Jr., Program Coordinator III, and Julie Celeste, Management Analyst IV, review materials as CNMI representatives Linda Torres, Administrative Manager, Maribel Loste, Child Care Administrator, and Jen Guerrero, Eligibility Specialist, focus on a presentation by Guam CEDDERS professionals, Mary Kidd and Liz Borja, on Guam’s Model Child Care Program and strategies to develop a quality rating system for child care providers, including implementation of a 15 contact hour requirement for training/professional development. Site visits to two model centers followed at “Good Day” Child Learning Center in Yigo and M.G. Huffer Adventures in Learning Child Development Center in Yona. Page 16 Consultant Shares Info on Infant/Toddler Development with Child Care Directors Photo with caption Sarah Merrill, Training Specialist from Zero to THREE, was on Guam from September 2-6 to provide training and technical assistance to various groups involved in child care. Her first activity (above photo) involved sharing information with Child Care Directors on September 3. Attending the three-hour session were (front, L-R): Sister Barbara Ungacta, Jeanette Reilley, Tricia Henricksen, Zenaida Ubas (Didi Aparna), Maggie Huffer, Julie Rivera, Vanessa Singleton, Sister Jessica Qiupit, Lorna Soriano, Sarah Merrill, Consultant, Sabina Tamondong, Cora San Nicolas, & Eri Yamamoto. (Back row, L-R) Roy Henricksen, Joe Soriano, Delisa Denusta, Daphne Parr, Rita Tydingco, Delena James, Maria Zenaida Unsay, Joshua Singleton, Carlina Arriola, Ama Underwood, & Dee Cruz. Photo with caption Margaret Johnson smiles as she observes her son Terrance try out his skills in sorting common household materials during Sarah Merrill’s Parent Night presentation on September 4. Ms. Merrill highlighted the latest findings in brain research and ways parents can stimulate growth and development in infants and toddlers. Page 17 Proposed Rules & Regs for Child Care Generates Public Input Over the last eight weeks, Guam CEDDERS, through work with the Department of Public Health and Social Services, has facilitated several forums to obtain input on the 2008 Proposed Rules and Regulations for Licensed Child Care Facilities. Attendees, including parents, caregivers, child care center directors and owners, and other interested members of the public, shared their opinions, with many giving emotional testimony focusing on questioning the reason for the updates, its potential economic impact on families and the community. Some maintained that there is really no reason to change the rules that govern the child care industry, even though the existing requirements have not been updated since they were first established in 1978. Concerns gathered from the forums are highlighted in the chart below. Potential strategies to address the concerns are also noted. All these points continue to be very seriously reviewed and discussed at many levels including policymakers and stakeholders. The Governor’s Early Learning Council, co-chaired by First Lady Joann Camacho and Elaine Eclavea from the University of Guam CEDDERS, is facilitating the collaborative development of next steps to keep the updating process in motion, with the ultimate goal to adopt the updated requirements. In some states, the impetus for updating standards was the death of a child who was under the supervision of licensed caregivers. Guam officials do not want to wait for such a reason to push improvements in our system. This is not the first time the child care licensure standards have been examined. In fact, two previous attempts were made but were never finalized, approved, or implemented for a variety of reasons. Guam CEDDERS, in collaboration with DPHSS, will be continuing the effort for the adoption and implementation of the updates. Next steps include consideration of new recommendations, conducting additional research, and making necessary revisions to address concerns raised by the community while ensuring that high standards, based on research and best practice, are implemented. This is an adaption of an article written by Lydia Tenorio that originally appeared in the September issue of Nene News. Photo with caption The July 17 Community Forum held at the Dededo Community Center was well-attended by parents, services providers, and other stakeholders. Table with two columns: First column: Concerns Bulleted items: * Lower ratios * Increase in licensing costs * Increase in tuition and operational costs * Increase in playground requirements * Increase in personnel training requirements * Length of document * Administrative fines and due process * Increased inspections Second column: Recommendations Bulleted items: * Phase in ratios * Phase in increases * Pro-rate licensure fees based on enrollment capacity * Develop public private partnerships which support families placing their children in quality child care program * Increase tax incentives to parents with children in child care * Look at additional local supports for parents and families to augment the federal resources being put into quality child care * Continue to work very closely with our federal partners to review and ensure that federal funding support is maximized * Conduct more research on addressing accessibility and local environmental conditions * Provide more training and technical assistance to * Length of document - Adjustments under consideration * Administrative fines and due process - Adjustments under consideration * Increased inspections - Adjustments under consideration Page 18 “Power Lunch” Targets Electronic Birth Certificates What steps must be taken to facilitate Guam’s move from the current system to an electronic birth and vital statistics system? This was a question asked during a “Power Lunch” hosted by Guam CEDDERS on August 7. Electronic birth certificates have been around in various mainland communities for several years and have been identified as a “best practice” that is of vital importance in addressing quality data and electronic linkages including Homeland Security issues. The recent passage of the Intel Reform Law underscores Guam’s need to move towards electronic formats and develop the ability to electronically and securely store data. Having had a small but successful pilot of an electronic tracking system through the Guam Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (GEHDI) Project, Guam CEDDERS facilitated a well-attended meeting with key government agencies to address this critical issue. During the meeting, a teleconference call was made with the National Association for Public Health Statistics and Information Systems (NAPHSIS) to assist Guam in making the transition to expanding electronic data sharing capability. Participants agreed to move forward by requesting on-going technical assistance from NAPHSIS and to hold a follow up meeting during the September GEHDI Project site visit by the Center for Disease Control. Guam EHDI Receives TA Visit Quansheng Song, Technical Consultant from the University of Maine, visited Guam during the week of June 24-29, to provide technical assistance for the Guam EHDI project. During the visit, data linkage refinements between Guam Memorial Hospital Authority (GMHA), Guam Public School System –Guam Early Intervention System, Department of Public Health and Social Services, and the Guam ChildLink Data Tracking and Surveillance system were addressed. One of the major outcomes of this visit was that GMHA, Guam’s largest birthing center, is fully linked to the Guam ChildLink System and all hearing screening data is now electronically transmitted to the GEHDI Server. Photo with caption (L-R) Joseph Mendiola, Guam CEDDERS Data Coordinator, Tony Tainatongo, GMHA Systems Programmer, Vince Quichocho, GMHA Director, Information Technology Services, & Quansheng Song, University of Maine. Page 19 Project Menhalom Facilitates Adoption of Character Education Standards for Grades 6 - 12 Project Menhalom is now in its third year of implementation, which calls for the selection of a district-wide Character Education Curriculum for the public middle schools. In an effort to ensure sustainability, Menhalom’s Project Leadership Team decided to utilize the GPSS Curriculum and Instruction Division’s Textbook Adoption process in the selection of the curriculum, which would allow the use of local funding after the grant period. To begin the adoption process, Connie Guerrero, Guam CEDDERS Training Associate, facilitated ED894: Character Education Content Standards and Performance Indicators from June 3 – July 1. The graduate students represented personnel from all of the public middle schools who participated in extensive discussions and research to develop content standards and performance indicators for Character Education for grades 6-12. Currently, standards only exist for grades K-5. The students also conducted a “blind review” of the top curricula recommended by the U.S. Department of Education’s What Works Clearinghouse and ranked the curricula according to the recommended standards. Ms. Guerrero is scheduled to present the steps of the adoption process, completed during the graduate course, to the Project Leadership Team on Wednesday September 10. She will also present the next steps in the process, obtain feedback from other school personnel, and work closely with GPSS’ Curriculum and Instruction Division to complete the adoption process. Personnel Transitions Two Guam CEDDERS staff members have recently transitioned to explore other opportunities. Mike Terlaje (left), headed our Guam System for Assistive Technology (GSAT) Center for the last seven years. The Guam Options for Alternative Loans for Assistive Technology (GOAL-AT) and the Get Guam Teleworking (GGT) Loan Programs were established under his leadership. Mike also coordinated the equipment acquisition and training for the Pacific Consortium for Instructional Materials Accessibility Project (CIMAP) for the region. Carmelita “Lita” Ogo Connelley made her mark in the two years that she worked with Guam CEDDERS. She was responsible for teaching courses for child care providers, was a major contributor of articles appearing in Nene News, a quarterly newsletter for parents and child care givers, and coordinated activities under Project Tinituhon, a grant to develop a strategic plan for an Early Childhood Comprehensive System (ECCS) for Guam. Both Mike and Lita will be missed. Page 20 Calendar of Upcoming Events September 2008 * Sep 3-6-PAC6 Visit: Saipan, CNMI * Sep 4-6-Zero to Three Training TA and Parent Night, Westin Resort & Spa * Sep 5-Guam CEDDERS Advisory Council Mtg, GSAT Training Ctr., 3:30 pm * Sep 6-Birth to Five Conference Social Emotional Development, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Westin Resort & Spa * Sep 9-10– CDC EHDI Site Visit * Sep 12-13-CNMI Evaluation Site Visit * Sep 14-Regional System of Care Pre-Conference, * Sep 15-17-Regional System of Care Conference, Westin Resort & Spa * Sep 16-AS Site Visit to Guam EHDI * Sep 18-Passenger Relations Training, GSAT Training Center, House 19 Dean Circle * Sep 17-20-CIMAP Visit: Pohnpei * Sep 19-20-CNMI Evaluation Site Visit * Sep 23-GSAT Advisory Meeting, GSAT Training Center, 4 p.m. * Sep 24-Guam Tri-Agency Meeting, Guam Marriott Resort & Spa,11 a.m.-2 p.m. * Sep 25-Passenger Relations Training, GSAT Training Center, House 19 Dean Circle * Sep 27-ED894/ED658 Augmentative & Alternative Communication Needs 101, Jesus & Eugenia Leon Guerrero Bldg., Lecture Hall, Room 131, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. * Sep 29-CIMAP Visit: Saipan, CNMI October 2008 * Oct 1-4-CIMAP Visit: Marshall Islands * Oct 2-FSM Site Visit to Guam EHDI * Oct 2-3-PBIS Conference, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Westin Resort & Spa * Oct 4-ED894/ED658 Augmentative & Alternative Communication Needs 101, Jesus & Eugenia Leon Guerrero Bldg., Lecture Hall, Room 131, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. * Oct 11-ED894/ED658 Augmentative & Alternative Communication Needs 101, Jesus & Eugenia Leon Guerrero Bldg., Lecture Hall, Room 131, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. * Oct 13-14-CIMAP Visit: Palau * Oct 17-Lecture Series: ”The Right to Communicate” - Augmentative & Alternate Approach, Jesus & Eugenia Leon Guerrero Bldg., Lecture Hall, Room 131, 11:30 a.m.—1 p.m. * Oct 18-ED894/ED658 Augmentative & Alternative Communication Needs 101, Jesus & Eugenia Leon Guerrero Bldg., Lecture Hall, Room 131, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. * Oct 20-24-Yap Monitoring Site Visit * Oct 24-Lecture Series: ”Ending the Silence” - Abuse & Neglect (Protection & Advocacy), Jesus & Eugenia Leon Guerrero Bldg., Lecture Hall, Rm 131, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. * Oct 25-ED894/ED658 Augmentative & Alternative Communication Needs 101, Jesus & Eugenia Leon Guerrero Bldg., Lecture Hall, Room 131, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. * Oct 27-30-CIMAP and PAC6 Visit: America Samoa * Oct 31-Lecture Series: Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities, Jesus & Eugenia Leon Guerrero Bldg., Lecture Hall, Room 131, 11:30 a.m.—1 p.m. November 2008 * Nov 7-Lecture Series: Assistive Technology & Transition From School to Adult Life, Jesus & Eugenia Leon Guerrero Bldg., Lecture Hall, Room 131, 11:30 a.m.—1 p.m. * Nov 10-13-PAC6 Visit: Yap, FSM * Nov 12-13-CIMAP visit: Yap, FSM * Nov 19-22-CIMAP Visit: Kosrae, FSM * Nov-PepNet Needs Assessment Site Visits, TBA December 2008 * Dec 1-12-Yap and Palau Monitoring Visit * Dec 5-Guam CEDDERS Advisory Council Meeting, GSAT Training Ctr., 3:30 pm * Dec 21-UOG Commencement Ceremony Advertisement: JOIN US For a Special Lecture Series by Diane Bryen, Ph.D. * October 17, 2008, “The Right to Communicate-Augmentative & Alternative Approach * October 24, 2008, “Ending the Silence-Abuse & Neglect (Protection & Advocacy) * October 31, 2008, Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities * November 7, 2008, Assistive Technology & Transition from School to Adult Life2 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Jesus & Eugenia Leon Guerrero Building, Lecture Hall, Room 131, For more information call 735-2490/1. University of Guam, Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, & Service (Guam CEDDERS) Newsletter Guam CEDDERS, Office of Academic & Student Affairs, University of Guam, UOG Station, Mangilao, Guam 96923 Phone: (671) 735-2480/1 Fax: (671) 734-5709 TTY: (671) 734-6531 Email: heidisan@uog9.uog.edu I Tellai is a quarterly publication of Guam CEDDERS. Director: Heidi San Nicolas, Ph.D. Editors: Terrie Fejarang, June De Leon, & Ginger Porter Layout & Design: Margaret Johnson This issue of I Tellai was made possible by contributions from the following Guam CEDDERS staff members: Bonnie Brandt, Liz Borja, Carmelita Ogo Connelley, June De Leon, Terrie Fejarang, Mary Kidd, Joseph Mendiola, June Quitugua & Lydia Tenorio from DPHSS. Alternative formats (e.g. Braille, large print, or audio tapes) of I Tellai will be made available upon request. Please contact Margaret Johnson at (671) 735-2477 (v), (671) 735-6531 (TTY), or (671) 734-5709 (fax) for more information. The University of Guam is an equal opportunity employer and provider.