Month: May 2017

Child Welfare Credential Pilot Project

In partnership with the Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare, we’ve developed and launched a pilot training program in “Understanding Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health.”

In partnership with the Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare (CASCW), we’ve developed and launched a pilot training program in “Understanding Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health.”

The program includes online and in-person coursework that draws on infant and mental health principles. Coursework aims to help individuals understand early social and emotional development and work with parents with special considerations. The program also includes online reflective consultation.

Funding

This partnership is funded, in part, under the auspices of Federal Title IV-E Funding, Minnesota Department of Human Services (Contract # 439481), the Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare at the University of Minnesota School of Social Work.

Project staff

Mary Harrison, Ph.D., LICSW, IMH-E® (III-C), Research Associate

Christopher Watson, Ph.D., IMH-E®[IV], Research Associate

Related resources

Child Development in Child Welfare

We partner with the Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare to offer online training and reflective consultation, publications, and events that apply child development research to the child welfare system.

We partner with the Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare (CASCW) to offer online training and reflective consultation, publications, and events that apply child development theory to professional development and services within the child welfare system.

Ongoing work includes:

  • Development, launch, and evaluation of a pilot training credential program for professionals in the field. The program focuses on understanding infant and early childhood mental health.
  • Annual Experiential Learning event for child welfare students at Lifetrack Families Together Therapeutic Preschool.

Partners include the University of Minnesota Extension Children, Youth, and Family Consortium and the Center for Leadership Education in Maternal & Child Public Health.

Funding

This partnership is funded, in part, under the auspices of Federal Title IV-E Funding, Minnesota Department of Human Services (Contract # 439481), the Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare at the University of Minnesota School of Social Work.

Project staff

Mary Harrison, Ph.D., LICSW, IMH-E® (III-C), Research Associate

Christopher Watson, Ph.D., IMH-E®[IV], Research Associate

Related resources

Centers of Excellence Professional Development System

We’re helping the Minnesota Department of Education’s early intervention and early childhood special education programs maintain and grow an accessible, evidence-based professional development system for Minnesota.

We’re helping the Minnesota Department of Education’s early intervention and early childhood special education programs maintain and grow an accessible, evidence-based professional development system for Minnesota.

The Minnesota Centers of Excellence For Young Children with Disabilities maintains a website and oversees professional development facilitators throughout the state. Facilitators work directly with the leaders of local programs to determine what type of professional development will best serve their needs. Professional development efforts focus on improving program quality and implementing the three state-supported innovative practice models:

  1. The Pyramid Model: Strategies and supports regarding the social and emotional development of all young children.
  2. Family-Guided Routines-Based Intervention: Resources to support early interventionists in providing functional intervention with natural environments.
  3. Classroom Engagement: Improving child outcomes in classrooms by increasing child engagement.

Funding

Minnesota Department of Education

Project staff

Deborah Ottman, Principal Investigator

Karen Anderson, Program/Project Specialist

 

CLASS® Learning Modules

Learn about the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS®) and how it applies to Minnesota quality initiatives. Learn to use the CLASS® to identify and promote opportunities for learning during book reading.

Now What Exactly is CLASS®?

Get an overview of the CLASS®. Gain an understanding of the areas and dimensions captured by the Pre-K CLASS®, why the CLASS® is used in Minnesota’s Quality Improvement efforts, and the CLASS® observation process.

Learning Opportunities during Book Reading

Learn how to use the CLASS® to identify interactions that help expand children’s learning during book reading activities. Obtain strategies to promote such interactions.

Assessing Trainers of Early Childhood Practitioners

This report summarizes research and best practices on assessing early childhood trainer skills and competencies.

This report summarizes research and best practices on assessing early childhood trainer skills and competencies. It was completed under contract with Child Care Aware of Minnesota and made possible with a grant from the Minnesota Department of Human Services using federal funding.

Assessing Trainers of Early Childhood Practitioners: A Review of Current Literature (PDF)