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.

GDOE Provides School-Level Support for Assessments

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Technical Assistance Continuing Education Developmental Disabilities Disability Studies Early Childhood Guam Department of Education

On November 18, the Guam Department of Education (GDOE), in partnership with Guam CEDDERS, provided school-level support to aimswebPlus trainers at Juan M. Guerrero Elementary School. The training session included 10 school-level trainers and centered on how to generate data reports using the new aimswebPlus portal. AimswebPlus is the universal screener used by the GDOE to identify students who may be at-risk in reading and math. School-level trainers will use the skills gained in the session to assist their colleagues at each grade-level in generating reports. Teachers will use the data in the reports to adapt instruction and interventions in order to meet the unique needs of students in their class. The training session was facilitated by Guam CEDDERS Training Associate Josephine Cruz, and consultants Nieves Flores and June Quitugua.

Guam CEDDERS Training Associate Josephine Cruz (pointing to the laptop screen) assisted teachers in generating data reports. L-R: Lalaine Ocampo, 4th grade teacher; Josephine Cruz; Michelle DeGuzman, 1st grade teacher; and Kasaundra Penaflor, Kindergarten teacher.
Guam CEDDERS consultant Nieves Flores (standing) answered questions for teachers at Juan M. Guerrero Elementary School. Seated L-R: Joe Fernandez, 3rd grade teacher;
Mi’ami Hayes, 2nd grade teacher; Aurelia Perez, 5th grade teacher; and Marianne Gutierrez, 5th grade teacher. (Not pictured: June Quitugua,Guam CEDDERS consultant)

Guam Early Learning Council Convenes First Meeting

by Guam CEDDERS Continuing Education Department of Public Health & Social Services Early Childhood Guam Early Intervention System Guam Launch Information Dissemination Project Kariñu

On September 4, the Guam Early Learning Council convened its first meeting under the new administration with Co-Chairperson Elaine Eclavea at the helm. New council members were provided with orientation in the development of the council and the timeline of early childhood initiatives on Guam. Early Childhood Program Administrators provided an overview of their respective programs as well as updates on services provided to families over the last eight months. Workgroup facilitators also reported on the status of the goals and activities for their focus areas as related to the Guam Early Childhood State Plan, which was last published in 2015. The next quarterly meeting will take place in December. Workgroup members spent the afternoon participating in the Karinu/Guam LAUNCH Early Childhood Evaluation Forum.

Members reviewed the progress of activities over the past year as well as data from the Wilder Survey used for Guam LAUNCH Evaluation reports and learned about the latest research in the Early Childhood field. Commitments on next steps and meeting dates were made to ensure that activities will continue.

On September 4, Guam Early Learning Council Workgroup Members posed for a photo at the end of the Karinu/Guam LAUNCH Early Childhood Evaluation Forum held at the Outrigger Guam Resort.
Elaine Eclavea (standing), Guam CEDDERS Early Childhood Consultant and Guam Early Learning Council Co-Chairperson, reviewed a new grant opportunity with council members.
Bonnie Brandt (standing), Guam CEDDERS Training Associate and Karinu/Guam LAUNCH Lead Evaluator, reviewed data from results of the Wilder Survey as workgroup participants looked on.
Members of the Guam Early Learning Council Family Engagement Workgroup
(FEW) showed their great collaborative skills as they erected a structure made from uncooked spaghetti noodles, rope, tape, and a marshmallow during the afternoon session. The FEW members built the tallest structure in the room at 20.25 inches.

CNMI Early Intervention Engages in Professional Development

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Technical Assistance Early Childhood
On August 28 & 29, Elaine Eclavea (standing), Guam CEDDERS Early Childhood Consultant along with Keith Villaluna (not pictured), Guam CEDDERS Data Specialist facilitated professional development trainings for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) Public School System IDEA Part C, Early Intervention Program staff in Saipan. The trainings focused on the CNMI Early Intervention Coaching Procedures called the LATTE, the Tiers of Intervention (TOI), and the Child Outcome Summary (COS) and Early Childhood Outcomes (ECO) data.

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.

GPPT/Project Fitme Participates in Head Start Fitness Fair

by Guam CEDDERS Early Childhood Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention
March 30, 2019: (L-R) Kunta Kinte Edmond, UOG Social Work Intern, Bobbie Afjelle and Ashley Babauta, Guam Positive Parents Together, Inc. (GPPT) Project Fitme Deaf/Hard of Hearing Parent Support Group, provided information to parents on early hearing screening and deaf/hard of hearing during the 2019 Guam Head Start Program Fitness Fair held at the Dededo Sport Complex.
March 30, 2019: Kunta Kinte Edmond, UOG Social Work Intern, plays the “Simon Says, Exercise!” Fitness Game with the children during the 2019 Guam Head Start Program Fitness Fair at the Dededo Sports Complex. The children had the opportunity to have fun while exercising.

Village Play Time Held at the Agaña Heights Community Center

by Guam CEDDERS Early Childhood Guam Department of Education Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention
March 29, 2019: Kunta Edmond (left), UOG Social Work Intern, and Bobbie Afjelle, Guam’s Positive Parent’s Together, Inc. (GPPT), Support Staff (right), demonstrate a motor skills activity using common household items with parents and their children during the Village Play Time event held at the Agaña Heights Community Center. This activity helps children strengthen fine motor skills by pouring, transferring, and matching items.
March 29, 2019: Staff from the Department of Education Early Childhood Preschool program read aloud “Green Eggs and Ham” by Dr. Seuss with the children and parents during story time at the Village Play Time event held at the Agaña Heights Community Center. This event allows children to participate in developmentally appropriate activities with their parents.
March 29, 2019: Kunta Kinte Edmond (left with back to camera), UOG Social Work Intern, Bobbie Afjella (middle), Guam Positive Parents Together, Inc., and Tanya Simer, CEDDERS Hearing Screening Paraprofessional, use recyclable household products to demonstrate an activity with a parent and her child during the Village Play Time event held at the Agana Heights Community Center. The Village Play Time event gives parents and young children the opportunity to interact with others as well as learn about different developmentally appropriate activities that can be done at home.
March 29, 2019: Staff from the Department of Education Early Childhood Special Education Preschool program read aloud “Green Eggs and Ham” by Dr. Seuss to children and parents during story time at the Village Play Time event held at the Agana Heights Community Center. This event allows children to participate in developmentally appropriate activities with their parents.

Learning Community Meeting Conducted on Zoom

by Guam CEDDERS Early Childhood Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention
November 16, 2018: Susan Dugan, Guam’s Positive Parents Together, Inc. (GPPT) Project Fitme Coordinator, facilitated a Learning Community Meeting via the Zoom meeting platform. Ms. Dugan shared information she learned when she attended the Hands & Voices Leadership Conference on September 14-16 in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Topics that were covered in the workshops she attended included developing collaborative leadership skills for members of family organizations that support infants and children who are deaf or hard of hearing, supporting families without bias; and poverty & diversity. Information from a workshops titled, “Chronic Loneliness: A Health Concern for Children Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing,” and “The Space Between Us: Parent Panel,” was also shared.

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.

Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Brochures Presented to Village Mayor’s Offices

by Guam CEDDERS Early Childhood Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention

Oct. 3, 2018: The Guam Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (Guam EHDI) Project provided copies of the Guam EHDI brochures and the Neni Directory to the Barrigada and Mangilao Mayors’ offices. These publications promote the importance of early childhood development, developmental screening, and contact information on early childhood programs, supports, and services for families.