2009 Conference Call Series on Early Childhood Inclusion

1. 2009 Conference Call Series on Early Childhood Inclusion Effective Strategies for Supporting Local Partnerships to Promote Inclusive Practices March 17, 2009 1

2. Presenters and Facilitators Susan Rohrbough, National Child Care Information and Technical Assistance Center (NCCIC) Ruth Littlefield, 619 Coordinator, New Hampshire Joan Izen, PTAN Project Director, New Hampshire Mary Peters, 619 Coordinator, Wisconsin Marcia Flaherty, Director of instruction, Manitowoc Public Schools, WI. Debbie Cate & Kathy Whaley, NECTAC

3. Gain information about conceptual frameworks that can be used to better understand characteristics of partnerships and interagency relationships.   Gain information about state level strategies to promote and support interagency partnerships and relationships at the local level.   Gain information about tools and resources used by state and local partners to promote and sustain inclusive practices. Webinar Goals

4. Information Sharing • Collaborative principles & practices • Role & function strategies • Cross-system, cross-sector considerations

5. Partnership Information • Collaborative leadership • Collaboration frameworks • Duration and intensity • Elements of successful partnerships

6. Collaborative Leadership • Collaborative Leadership is developed by a group that is partnering to solve agreed upon issues. Leaders of the group use supportive and inclusive methods to insure that those they represent are part of the change process. Source: Turning Point. (n.d.). Fundamental concepts: Facilitator’s guide. Retrieved February 5, 2009, from www.collaborativeleadership.org/pages/curriculum/manual_sections/Cl_fundamental_concepts_manual_facilitators_guide.pdf

7. Collaborative Leadership Guiding Principles • Assessing the Environment • Developing clarity • Building trust • Sharing power and influence • Developing people • Self reflection

8. Collaboration Communication Coordination Cooperation Collaboration Pyramid Source: Kagan, S.L. (1991). United we stand: Collaboration for child care and early education services. New York, NY: Teachers College Press.

9. Collaboration Continuum Key Relationships and Work

10. PEOPLE SYSTEMS RESOURCES • Shared vision • Mutual respect • Attitude, beliefs, and values • Skills • Knowledge • Effective communication systems • Detailed, comprehensive planning • Service delivery • Policies and procedures • Ongoing evaluation and improvement • Adequate funding • Resource management • Time • Staffing • Environment (i.e., facility and space) • Equipment and supplies Key Elements of Successful Partnerships

11. PEOPLE STRATEGY ACTION • Shared vision • Mutual respect • Attitude, beliefs, and values • Skills • Knowledge • Strategic and operational planning • Individual and group engagement • Team-building and group process • Determine convener(s) and facilitation • Provide small and large group experiences • Build on assets and strengths Partnerships Into Action

12. SYSTEMS STRATEGY ACTION • Communication systems • Comprehensive planning • Service delivery • Policies and procedures • Ongoing evaluation and improvement • Systems development & implementation • Joint, coordinated service efforts • Procedural guidance • Assessing our work • Establish cross-system, cross-sector work groups • Provide professional development opportunities • Set meeting and communication schedule Partnerships Into Action

13. RESOURCES STRATEGY ACTION • Adequate funding • Resource management • Time • Staffing • Environment (i.e., facility and space) • Equipment and supplies • Diversify resources • Partnership management • Environment/ space assessment • Determine community assets • Create a Partnership Management role or position • Conduct a review of setting and space Partnerships Into Action

14. Cross-system, Cross-sector Considerations • Creating/using frameworks or models • Acknowledging the role of, and attention to, ‘people’ • Responding proactively to system effects • Managing resources

15. State Dialogue with New Hampshire and Wisconsin:Sharing Experiences and Lessons Learned

16. New Hampshire: Partnerships • People: Identified shared vision for inclusion of preschoolers with disabilities in child care • Systems: Worked cross-systems to develop strategy for improvement • Resources: PTAN and State Personnel

17. New Hampshire PTAN Child Care Inclusion Project • DOE Bureau of Special Education • Priority: Preschool LRE • DHHS Child Development Bureau • Priority: Decrease expulsion of children with challenging behaviors • Priority: Increase child care placement options for parents of children with special needs.

18. Services for Young Children & Families in WisconsinBirth to Six Collaborations • Comprehensive System Approach • Mental Health & Social Emotional • Development • Early Care and Education • Parent Education • Family Support • Health and Medical Home www.collaboratingpartners.com

19. Networks and Community Partnerships Wisconsin Networks & Community Partnerships • Wisconsin Early Childhood Collaborating Partners Regional Action Teams • Braided Funding for Regional Minigrants, Community Collaboration Coaches • Action Plans for regional initiatives and personnel development across sectors

20. System of Personnel Development Wisconsin State Personnel Development Grant • Priority Areas: Early Transitions, Early Educational Environments, and the Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards • Statewide training conducted • Includes information for community approaches to expanding service delivery options for children with disabilities

21. New Hampshire’s Effective Partnership At the local level - People: common goal of inclusion, need to build respect, skills and knowledge Systems: Need to coordinate efforts for young children and develop systems Resources: Assessment of what each partner can bring to the table (more than fiscal)

22. Promoting Preschool Partnerships Pilot Project PTAN Advisory Committee Development of a Self-Assessment Tool Accessing Services Acquire/Share info Planning/Provide services Admin support

23. Early Childhood Program Support Leadership Wisconsin Early Childhood Program Support /Leadership • Preschool Discretionary Grants • Common role in each region • SPP Priorities Environments, Child Outcomes, and Transitions (B 6, 7 & 12) • Support LEAs and community approaches • Regional Services Network

24. Statewide Support Personnel Development www.preschooloptions.org - Mini Grant Process http://www.cesa4.k12.wi.us/programs- services/special/ec/mini-grants/index.htm

25. Using the Collaboration Tool in New Hampshire to Promote Inclusion Pilot Project: 2 communities, urban and rural Preschool Special Ed Coordinator Child Care Director Parent of a child who receives services from both programs Pilot Teams meet with Advisory Committee - Used facilitators - Decision makers Revisions to Self-Assessment Tool and Action Plan Form - Minor language changes - Evidence box Planning for statewide implementation

26. State WideTraining

27. Inclusive Practices in Wisconsin • Building collaborative relationships • Establish multi-agency planning councils • Inclusive staff development: Convenient times, substitute teachers, systematic and continuous • Respectful itinerant services

28. Impact of the Self-Assessment Tool - Better lines of communication - Preschool special education coordinator includes child care colleague in all staff communications - Common and consistent language used- Less “we”-”them”- Using same communication notebook - Parent feels more connected and heard- Shared daily journals for children- Parent feels more empowered

29. Inclusive Practices in Wisconsin • Children are the center of our conversation • Individual needs considered • All early childhood environments respected • Problem solving together • Support one another

30. What is the one lesson you have learned that you would like to share in partnering to promote inclusive practices?

31. Application to My Work Sharing program practices – opportunity for questions

32. ResourcesWrap-up and Next Steps

33. Resources • NCCIC Collaborative Continuum • New Hampshire’s Self-Evaluation Tool • New Hampshire Preschool Technical Assistance Network, PTAN • Preschool Inclusion in New Hampshire: Promoting Partnerships to Make it Better! • Wisconsin Early Childhood Collaborating Partners • Pre-Kindergarten Children with Disabilities: A Guide for Making System and Program Level Decisions • NECTAC Inclusion page

34. PACT: Partnerships, Alliances, and Coordination Techniques • PACT is an initiative of NCCIC, a service of the Child Care Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services • PACT gives State, Territory, and Tribal policymakers—particularly CCDF Administrators and their partners—the resources they need to build more comprehensive and collaborative early care and school-age programs for serving children and families

35. PACTMaterials • PACT consists of an introduction and six training modules: • Fundamentals of Collaborative Leadership • Creating, Implementing, and Sustaining Partnerships • Communication Strategies • Financing • Managing and Facilitating Successful Partnerships • Building Capacity to Evaluate Partnership Initiatives • Modules include intersecting and complementing concepts to provide users with a comprehensive package • Materials are available on NCCIC’s Web site at http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/pact