GMHA Medical Records Staff Receive Training on Guam ChildLink-EHDI

by Guam CEDDERS Department of Public Health & Social Services Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention
On September 26, Guam Memorial Hospital Authority (GMHA) Medical Records staff received training to input hearing screening information of infants born at GMHA into Guam ChildLink-EHDI. Pictured from left to right: Geraldine Dollaga, GMHA Medical Records staff; Sera Rios, GMHA Medical Records Administrator; Nova Naguit, GMHA Medical Records staff; and Joseph Mendiola, Guam EHDI Evaluator/Performance Monitor.

DISID Facilitates National Disability Employment Awareness Month Meeting

by Guam CEDDERS Department of Public Health & Social Services
On August 23, 2018, Department of Integrated Services for Individuals with Disabilities (DISID) Director Ben Servino met with community representatives to plan for the National Disability Employment Awareness Month scheduled for October. This year’s theme is “America’s Workforce: Empowering All.” The yearly event celebrates the contributions of workers with disabilities and educates the community about the value of a workforce inclusive of their skills and talents. Individuals who attended the meeting included a parent of an individual with a disability, representatives from Guam CEDDERS, National Family Caregiver Support Program, Guam State Rehabilitation Council, Developmental Disabilities Council, Guam Client Assistance Program, Department of Public Health and Social Services, ICan Resources, and Pacific Ability Resources Inc.

Kariñu Holds Peer Family Support Group Meeting

by Guam CEDDERS Project Kariñu
Karinu staff and parents pose for a photo after the Peer Family Support Group meeting on July 17, 2018 at the Pacific Star Resort and Spa.
Pauline Camacho, Karinu Lead Family Partner, assists Jamie Freitas, parent, as she demonstrates how to make Spam Musubi to parents who attended the Peer Family Support Group on July 17, 2018.
Children who attended Karinu’s Peer Family Support Group on July 17, 2018 enthusiastically raise their hands to answer questions about good touch and bad touch during a presentation by Healing Heart and the Department of Public Health and Social Services Bureau of Social Services Administration.
Parents take turns introducing each other at the start of the Karinu Peer Family Support Group on July 17, 2018.

Help Me Grow Care Coordinators Training

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Training Department of Public Health & Social Services Guam Early Intervention System

Elaine Eclavea, Guam CEDDERS Early Childhood Consultant, and Vera Blaz, CEDDERS Training Associate (not pictured), facilitated the Help Me Grow Care Coordinators training on April 30, 2018 at the GSAT Conference Room.  Twenty staff from Guam Early Intervention System (GEIS) and Department of Public Health and Social Services attended the training.

Guam CEDDERS Attends Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Proclamation Signing

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Demonstration Services Department of Public Health & Social Services
Guam CEDDERS participated in the proclamation signing for the “Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies” facilitated by the Department of Public Health and Social Services Bureau of Family Health and Nursing Services Maternal Health and Child Health Program. This year’s theme is “Healthy Families = Healthy Babies.” Lt. Governor Ray Tenorio presided at the event held on May 9, 2018 and attended by government representatives.

Project Bisita Training and Events

by Guam CEDDERS Department of Public Health & Social Services Project Bisita I Familia
Vera Blaz, Guam CEDDERS Training Associate and Project Bisita I Familia TA and Training Coordinator, facilitated training on November 20 on the impact of domestic violence in early childhood for Maternal Child Health Program staff and Project Bisita home visiting staff.
On September 18-20, Ellie Jimenez (seated third from right), Healthy Families America national trainer, provided training on “Facilitating Change: Motivational Interviewing.” Project Bisita I Familia home visitors, Kariñu service providers and family partners, and Department of Education Guam Early Intervention System service providers were in attendance. The training focused on understanding the stages of change, which can provide insight into the process of change and how to best support the process with families. Guam CEDDERS staff Vera Blaz, Jenika Ballesta, and JJ Mendiola participated in this training.
Participants at the Parent Café pose for a photo.
Project Bisita I Familia held a Parent Café on November 16 at the Pacific Star Resort & Spa. The Parent Café theme was “Taking Care of Yourself.”
Participants at the Parent Café pose for a photo.
Project Bisita I Familia held a Parent Cafés on November 30 at the Pacific Star Resort & Spa. The Parent Café theme was “You Are Not Alone.”
Vera Blaz (second from right), Guam CEDDERS Training Associate and Project Bisita I Familia TA and Training Coordinator, facilitated orientation training on October 11 for new home visiting staff. Home visitors learned about the development of the home visiting program as well as how to administer and score the Ages and Stages Questionnaires Third Edition (ASQ-3) and the Ages and Stages: Social Emotional (ASQ: SE).

Project Bisita Celebrates First Graduation

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Technical Assistance Department of Public Health & Social Services Project Bisita I Familia

 

On December 1, 2012, Project Bisita I Familia home visitors embarked on a journey to provide a new kind of home visiting services to families on Guam. Grounded in its mission to improve the well-being of Guam’s children, birth to 8 years of age, and their families, through evidence-based home visiting services, Project Bisita I Familia has made a difference in the lives of many families.

Project Bisita is a free and voluntary program that was developed to encourage positive parent-child interactions, give parents the knowledge to support their child’s health, growth, and development; strengthen parents’ confidence, prevent child abuse and neglect, promote effective communication between parents and children, and improve coordination of services with other programs. Project Bisita uses the Healthy Families America® (HFA) home visiting model. In 1992, Prevent Child Abuse America® launched the HFA home visiting model to address high rates of child abuse occurrences to children under five. The program was designed to promote positive parenting, enhance child health and development, and prevent child abuse and neglect.

Project Bisita began its pilot home visiting program with three (3) full-time home visitors serving eight (8) enrolled families. As of September 2017, Project Bisita had 58 families enrolled in the program. These families started out receiving home visiting services once a week. Since the program is strength-based and family-driven, the families would set manageable goals with short time frames. Activities that emphasized healthy development and positive discipline were also given to parents to use in the home. As families achieved their goals, the home visits decreased in number. When goals had been met and evidence of positive outcomes were seen, families received home visiting services twice a month. As families became more self-sufficient, services decreased to once per month and then once per quarter.

On September 16, 2017, ten families with a total of 11 children graduated from the program. These families met their goals with positive outcomes and have transitioned out of the home visiting program. The children are now enrolled in the following Department of Education programs—Preschool Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) Program, Head Start Program, or Kindergarten. Being a part of Project Bisita has given these families a hand up and a head start to future success in school and in life.

 

Project Bisita I Familia Team Present at MIECHV All-Grantee Meeting

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Technical Assistance Project Bisita I Familia
The Guam Project Bisita I Familia team shared program accomplishments during the “Display Cafe” session at the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting All-Grantee Meeting in Washington D.C. on September 6. At the request of the federal project officers, the ChildLink-Bisita database system was showcased for other state projects to see due to its comprehensiveness yet simplicity of use. Pictured from left to right are: Sherill Tinio, Home Visitor; JJ Mendiola, Data Manager; Margarita Gay, Project Director; Jenika Ballesta, CQI Coordinator; Audrey Topasna, Project Coordinator; Relida Sumayo, Home Visiting Supervisor; Maria Dixon, Administrative Assistant; and Diana Santos, Community Assesment Worker.

Rescreen Clinic at DPHSS Central is Now Open!

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Training Department of Public Health & Social Services Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention
Marie Wusstig, Guam CEDDERS Training Associate and Guam EHDI Project Coordinator, conducts a hearing screening for Khaelid John Wolford, Son of Kathyleen Wolford (left), during the Rescreen Clinic. The event took place Friday, August 18, at DPHSS Mangilao.
Carah Mendoza (center) seems to be thinking, “what are you guys doing to me?” while undergoing hearing screening on August 18 at the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) Screening Clinic. Conducting the hearing screening are Lea Balano, DPHSS nurse aide (left) with assistance from Charlene Mendoza (Right), Carah’s mother.