Bisita Needs Assessment Forums Held

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Technical Assistance Department of Public Health & Social Services Early Childhood Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Guam Early Intervention System Project Bisita I Familia

The Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services Project Bisita I Familia, in collaboration with Guam CEDDERS, began facilitating a series of focus group meetings with parents of children birth to five years and early childhood providers to pull together data and information about home visiting services for the updated Needs Assessment. First conducted in 2010, the Needs Assessment identifies communities with concentrations of defined risk factors, assesses the quality and capacity of home visiting services in the territory, and assesses the territory’s capacity for providing substance abuse treatment and counseling services.

The purpose of updating the territory-wide needs assessment is for grantees to gather more recent information on community needs and ensure that Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) programs are being implemented in areas of high need. The 2010 Needs Assessment identified the areas of Dededo, Yigo, and Mangilao as areas of high need and as such home visiting services are offered to families residing in these villages. Updates to the needs assessment will determine if home visiting services should continue and/or expand to other villages around the island.

The focus group meetings, facilitated by Early Childhood Consultants Mary Kidd and Elaine Eclavea, provided parents and early childhood providers the opportunity to examine and assess services currently being offered in the community. Parents provided feedback on the types of questions and modes of delivery to garner feedback from families receiving early childhood services. Early Childhood providers were given the opportunity to discuss current services and gaps in training, acceptance of services, and job satisfaction. The completed 2020 Needs Assessment will be submitted in September.

On February 25, Mary Kidd, Early Childhood Conusltant, facilitated a stakeholder input session with parents enrolled in Project Bisita I Familia, Guam Early Intervention System, Early Childhood Special Education Preschool, and Head Start Program at the Dededo Farmers’ Market Complex. This group of parents provided suggestions on the types of questions necessary for garnering feedback about home visiting and early childhood services on Guam.

On February 25, Mary Kidd (standing right), Early Childhood Consultant, facilitated the first focus group meeting with parents receiving services from early childhood programs at the Dededo Farmers’ Market Complex.

On February 25, Mary Kidd (standing right), Early Childhood Consultant, facilitated the first focus group meeting with parents receiving services from early childhood programs at the Dededo Farmers’ Market Complex.

Project Bisita Activities

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Technical Assistance Department of Public Health & Social Services Project Bisita I Familia
Project Bisita I Familia staff spent a few hours with Suruhana Rosalia Fejeran Mateo, or Mama Chai at Sagan Kottura located in Tumon.Staff were introduced to various traditional Chamoru healing methods and the plants needed.
Vera Blaz, CEDDERS Training Associate (front left), and Jenika Ballesta, CEDDERS Research Associate (kneeling front left), co-facilitated the Project Bisita I Familia Parent Cafe on October 18, 2019 at the Hilton Resort Guam. The theme for the cafe was “Building Strong Relationships with Your Children.” Thirteen parents participated in the event.
Jenika Ballesta, CEDDERS Research Associate (front right), and Vera Blaz, CEDDERS Training Associate (back middle), co-facilitated the Project Bisita I Familia Parent Cafe on November 22, 2019 at the Hilton Resort Guam. The theme for the cafe was “You Are Not Alone.” Six parents participated in the event.

Project Bisita Staff Attend CQI Training

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Technical Assistance Project Bisita I Familia
May 23, 2019: Vera Blaz, Guam CEDDERS Training Associate/Project Bisita I Familia TA and Training Coordinator (pictured second from right), and Jenika Ballesta, CEDDERS Research Associate/Project Bisita Data (not pictured), facilitated training on Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) with Project Bisita Staff using the CQI Toolkit, a resource for the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program developed by James Bell Associates under the Project Design Options for Home Visiting Evaluation (DOHVE).

Guam and CNMI Early Childhood Providers and Parents Engage in ASD Training

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Training Early Childhood Guam Department of Education Guam Early Intervention System Guam Launch Project Bisita I Familia Project Kariñu
Dr. Giacomo Vivanti from the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, begins his session on ASD on Guam, April 22.
On April 22, Yolanda Gabriel, Assistant Superintendent, Guam Division of Special Education, gave opening remarks to set the stage for the Guam training sessions.
On April 22, GDOE School Program Consultant, Cathy Tydingco (standing), discussed supports for students and families with ASD with the Department of Public Health and Social Services, Bisita and Karinu program providers.
On April 23, Guam participants discuss “What does it look like?” in regards to the current early childhood services and supports for young children with ASD.
On April 24, Dr. Vivanti discusses with parents on Guam the research on evidence-based practices for young children with ASD in inclusive preschool programs.
On April 25, parents and family members from the CNMI listen attentively to Dr. Vivanti as he talks about the strategies and interventions provided during the parent session held on Saipan.
On April 26, CNMI, FSM, and Palau participants take a group photo with Dr. Vivanti.
On April 26, Dr. Vivanti (seated in the center) takes a group photo with representatives from CNMI, Guam CEDDERS, and the delegation from FSM and Palau who traveled to Saipan for the training. (seated L-R) Robin Palacios, CNMI Early Intervention Program Director; Kim Arnold, FSM- Pohnpei State Parent; Dr. Vivanti; Ansina Kony, FSM-Chuuk State Special Education (SpEd) Coordinator; Nora Renguul, Palau SpEd Coordinator. (standing first row L-R) Dr. Josephine Cruz, Guam CEDDERS Training Associate; Elaine Eclavea, Guam CEDDERS Consultant; Francesca Morei-Misech, Palau Parents Empowered Executive Director; Nora Pangelinan, CNMI Data Management and Compliance Program Manager; Arthur Albert, FSM National Education Assistant Secretary; Beverly Nakamura, FSM-Chuuk State SpEd Teacher; June De Leon, Guam CEDDERS Associate Director. (standing back row L-R) John Bugulrow, FSM-Yap State SpEd Coordinator; Eris Wichep, FSM-Pohnpei SpEd Related Service Specialist.

Project Bisita I Familia Home Visitors Complete Course

by Guam CEDDERS Project Bisita I Familia
November 29, 2018: Vera Blaz, CEDDERS Training Associate/Project Bisita I Familia Training and TA Coordinator, poses with Project Bisita home visiting staff at the conclusion of the “Working with Young Children” course. The course focused on child development, positive guidance and discipline, social emotional wellness, special needs, and other topics related to working with children birth to eight years. Pictured left to right: Vera Blaz, CEDDERS Training Associate/Project Bisita I Familia Training and TA Coordinator; Ma. Gwen Yanesa, Veronica Santos, Iris Sablan, and Nicole Loren, DPHSS Project Bisita I Familia Home Visitors. Not pictured: Emraleen Roque, Project Bisita Data Clerk, and Maria Bontogon, CEDDERS Psychology Practicum student.

Working with Young Children Training Held

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Technical Assistance Early Childhood Project Bisita I Familia
November 8, 2018: Vera Blaz, CEDDERS Training Associate/Project Bisita I Familia Training and Technical Assistance Coordinator, faciltated training on early childhood topics, such as child development, diversity, caring, special needs, ethics, positive guidance and discipline, observation, and assessment. The participants include home visiting staff and CEDDERS Psychology Practicum student. Pictured clockwise: Vera Blaz (facing screen), Veronica Santos and Ma. Gwen Yanesa, home visitors; and Maria Bontogon, Practicum student. Not pictured: Iris Sablan and Nicole Loren, home visitors; and Emraleen Roque, data clerk.

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.