Jennifer Johnson, Ed.D. Administration on Developmental Disabilities
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OSEP National Early Childho od Conference - February 20 05 1 Spreading the Good Word -- Input from Multiple Stakeholders on Increasing High Quality Preschool Inclusion Opportunities
description
Spreading the Good Word -- Input from Multiple Stakeholders on Increasing High Quality Preschool Inclusion Opportunities. Inclusive Early Care and Education Policy Forum Sponsored by the Childcare Bureau and Administration on Developmental Disabilities May 15-16, 2004. Jennifer Johnson, Ed.D. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of Jennifer Johnson, Ed.D. Administration on Developmental Disabilities
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Spreading the Good Word -- Input from Multiple Stakeholders on Increasing High Quality Preschool Inclusion Opportunities
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Inclusive Early Care and EducationPolicy ForumSponsored by the Childcare Bureau and Administration on Developmental DisabilitiesMay 15-16, 2004
Jennifer Johnson, Ed.D.
Administration on Developmental Disabilities
Administration for Children and Families
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Administration for Children and Families
Overview:
Primary agency responsible for federal programs that promote the economic and social well-being of families, children, individuals, and communities
Programs aim to achieve the following:
Families and individuals empowered to increase their own economic independence and productivity;
Strong, healthy, supportive children communities that have a positive impact on the quality of life and the development of;
Partnerships with individuals, front-line service providers, communities, American Indian tribes, Native communities, states, and Congress that enable solutions which transcend traditional agency boundaries; and
Services planned, reformed, and integrated to improve needed access.
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ACF also has a strong commitment to:
Working with people with developmental disabilities, refugees, and migrants to address their needs, strengths, and abilities and
Collaborating across agencies to achieve program outcomes
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Administration for Children and Families
Administration Developmental
Disabilities
Child Care Bureau Head Start Bureau
Organizational Structure of ACF
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Overview of the Inclusive Early Care and Education Policy Forum in March 2004
Development of the Policy Forum
Issues relevant to respective agencies
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Overview of the Inclusive Early Care and Education Policy Forum in March 2004
Goals of the Forum:
To explore and address the inclusion of children with disabilities in early care and education settings
To discuss supporting the needs of all families in accessing and comfortably relying on early care and education.
Key issues discussed:
Increasing access to and retention in early care and education settings;
Creating early childhood environments that foster full participation for all children;
Creating effective training and technical assistance systems; Leveraging funding sources; and Increasing collaboration across programs and services.
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Participants
Parents
Researchers
State 619 coordinators
Part C coordinators
State Child Care Administrators
Representatives of ADD Programs – DD State Councils and UCEDDs
Representatives from national organizations – e.g., DEC, Easter Seals, Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies
Representatives of federal agencies/bureaus – e.g., OSEP, Head Start Bureau
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Agenda
Opening remarks and participant introductions
Opening Plenary
State Administrator’s panel
Research presentations
Small group topical discussions Policies and strategies that support training and technical
assistance, and Policies and strategies that support funding for inclusion.
Large group discussion of next steps
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State Administrators Panel
Nancy Guy – State Child Care Administrator, North Carolina Department of Human Resources, Division of Child Development
Rosanne Griff-Cabelli – Part C Coordinator, Division of Management Services, Delaware Division of Health and Social Services
Russell Hoyt – Section 619 Coordinator, Early Learning Services, Massachusetts Department of Education
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Research Presentations
Robin McWilliam (Vanderbilt University) – facilitating inclusion in the classroom
Mary Louise Hemmeter (University of Illinois) – positive behavioral supports
Mary Beth Bruder (University of Connecticut) – historical perspective of inclusion
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Suggestions for Next Steps
From there, three main categories emerged:
Comprehensive, cross-system approaches to early childhood inclusion
Workforce development: early care and education as a profession, and
Accountability for inclusion initiatives
Primary reaction centered on implementation – how to create inclusive systems at the State and local level.
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High Quality Inclusion Opportunities for Preschool-Age Children with DisabilitiesPolicy ForumDecember 13-15, 2004
Joy Markowitz
Director, Project Forum
National Association of State Directors of Special Education
(NASDSE)
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Project Forum
Overview Cooperative Agreement with OSEP
Funded through September 30, 2005
Purposes:
To facilitate communication between the U.S. Department of Education and state and local administrators of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA); and
To synthesize national program information that will improve the management, administration, delivery, and effectiveness of programs and services provided under IDEA.
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Each year Project Forum does the following:
1. Collaborates with the Regional Resource Centers to maintain the National State Policy Database.
2. Compiles three research or policy syntheses.
3. Writes two synthesis briefs (less than 10 pages).
4. Convenes two policy forums and writes proceedings.
5. Conducts twelve Quick-Turn-Around (QTA) activities.
6. Disseminates documents described above.
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Purpose of the Policy Forum in December 2004
Continue dialogue among stakeholders about increasing high quality inclusion opportunities for preschool-age children with disabilities
Generate options for resources and strategies that will promote high quality inclusion opportunities
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Objectives of Policy Forum
Create and strengthen linkages among federal, state and local policymakers, national organizations, researchers and practitioners
Review available research on practices and policies that facilitate inclusion opportunities
Raise awareness among stakeholders about activities at national, state and local levels that promote inclusion opportunities
Describe policy, practice and research barriers to inclusion opportunities
Generate suggestions for next steps at national, state and local levels to promote inclusion opportunities
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Participants
Local preschool providers
Parents
Researchers
State 619 coordinators
Technical assistance providers
Representatives from national organizations – e.g., DEC, NAEYC, NAECS, Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies
Representatives of federal agencies/bureaus – e.g., OSEP, OESE, Child Care Bureau, Head Start Bureau, ACF
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Agenda
Opening remarks and participant introductions
Research panel
Overview of Child Care Bureau and Administration on Developmental Disabilities Forum on Inclusion held March 2004
Panels from Wyoming and Kentucky
Large group reaction to panels
Small group discussion of next steps
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Research Panel
Joan Lieber (University of Maryland) – Inclusion Research & Results from ECRII
Virginia Buysee (University of North Carolina) – Cost, Quality and Outcomes of Preschool Inclusion
Susan Sandall (University of Washington) – Building Blocks for Including and Teaching Preschoolers with Special Needs
Robin McWillilam (Vanderbilt University) – Child Level Findings and Engagement
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Suggestions for Next Steps
Categories
Awareness/public relations
Data collection/analysis
Financing strategies
Monitoring/accountability
Policy
Professional development
Research
Technical assistance and dissemination
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Communities of Practice – An OSEP TA Initiative andOpportunity for Collaboration
Shelly deFosset
Associate Director
Partner & Family Collaboration Unit
National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center
(NECTAC)[email protected]
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Preschool LRE Community
The goal is to form and support a Community where interested individuals can come together to address issues of common interest and need regarding the inclusion of young children and their families in their communities.
Part C Settings Community
This community is interacting around the many issues, concerns, successes, examples of practice, research, training and materials all related to enhancing services in natural environments for young children and their families.
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Future Activities
Ongoing resource sharing
Practice Groups around issues of identified concerns
National Inclusion Institute August 2005
