I Tellai The Bridge Guam CEDDERS Newsletter Volume 10, Number 3 June 6, 2008 Inside this issue: Page New 5-Year Core Grant 1 J DeLeon: Employee of the Year 2 PAC6 Site VisitsCNMI Parent Forums 3 Teens Join CMHI Eval Project 4 Consultants Conduct CMHI TACMHI Outcomes Shared 5 Pat Trohanis Tribute 6 NIMAS Directors’ MeetingPAC6 Presentation at PacRim 7 Guam Early Learning Council 8 ICC Under New LeadershipNew Developed Products 9 Power of Play ConferenceChild Center ADA Assessments 10 Updating Child Care Licensure 11 Project Håtsa Achieves Milestones 12 Teacher Seeks NBPTS Certification Transition Video Ad Completed NATTAP Conference Tri-Agency/ADD Meeting 13 GSAT Conference 14 Transit Driver Training PEPNet Conference 15 Calendar of Events 16 Page 1 Guam CEDDERS Awarded New 5-Year Core Grant The University of Guam CEDDERS received notice of its Core Grant award that provides for an annual grant of at least $520,000 for the next five years beginning July 2008. Funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families, the grant will support Guam CEDDERS’ continuing status as a federally designated Center for Excellence. The award was based on Guam CEDDERS’ grant application which incorporated input from stakeholders, including members from its Advisory Council, individuals with disabilities and their families, service providers, and other community members. Guam CEDDERS offers technical assistance and training to personnel who work with individuals with disabilities, cutting across a broad range of disciplines throughout the lifespan. Guam CEDDERS addresses core function areas of health, transportation, quality assurance, early childhood and child care, community supports, education, assistive technology and many other areas. In addition, Guam CEDDERS provides technical assistance to agencies and non-profit organizations, conducts research and evaluation studies, and develops and disseminates high quality information in a variety of formats. “Guam CEDDERS was established in 1993 as a training, technical assistance, and research center with initial funding of less than $10,000,” said Guam CEDDERS Director Dr. Heidi San Nicolas. “Fifteen years later, we have grown to a staff of over 50 individuals funded through federal grants and local and regional contracts, who work in partnership with community organizations, government agencies, individuals and families to improve services for individuals with disabilities and their families.” “The grants that Guam CEDDERS has obtained over the years have brought about positive systemic change in services for individuals with disabilities and their families,” said UOG President Dr. Robert Underwood. “I commend them for securing another $2.6 million dollars over the next five years.” Currently, Guam CEDDERS manages approximately $10M worth of grants which supports its mission to “create pathways that enhance, improve, and support the quality of life of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families." Guam CEDDERS personnel pose for a group photo during a Staff Retreat held in May Page 2 June De Leon Selected UOG Employee of the Year June De Leon, Guam CEDDERS Associate Director for Program Development, Technical Assistance & Outreach, was named University of Guam Employee of the Year during the Annual Employee Recognition Ceremony held on April 4. Ms. De Leon’s award was under the Category II competition for Non-Faculty employees. In her nominating letter, Dr. Heidi San Nicolas, Guam CEDDERS Director, noted that “Ms. De Leon has taken the lead in identifying and developing new grants for Guam CEDDERS. In this area, Ms. De Leon has had an exceptionally stellar year.” Through her leadership and unwavering determination and perseverance, combined with her special talents at developing and maintaining relationships on the local, regional, national, and federal levels, she spearheaded the development of the initial GSEG Pacific Assessment Consortium (PAC6) grant, a planning grant that focused on assessment standards in schools across six jurisdictions, including American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. Ms. De Leon also led the development and submittal of a grant application to implement the alternate assessment standards plans across the six jurisdictions. These projects are designed to build capacity and provide lasting changes in assessment and alternate assessments for students with disabilities within the Pacific Region. Ms. De Leon also led the effort to obtain funding for the Pacific Consortium for Instructional Materials Accessibility Project (CIMAP) grant as well as numerous other federal grants, regional and local contracts. Letters from regional Special Education Coordinators provided additional support to June’s nomination for this prestigious award. Helen Sengebau, acting Special Education Coordinator for the Republic of Palau, shared that “June was very instrumental in helping us move our students, especially those with severe disabilities, out of isolated and segregated classrooms and into their neighborhood schools and communities. As you can imagine, this was first met with strong opposition from many, if not most, of the parents of these students. With June’s knowledge and patient guidance, we were able to deal with parent concerns in a positive manner, helping us to provide accommodations for our children then and over the years.” Ms. De Leon serves as a role model for our university family in terms of dedication, commitment, and professionalism. Her charismatic personality, enthusiasm, and drive for excellence are personal traits that have led to high quality outcomes. Her infectious laughter and “can do” spirit play an important part in her ability to inspire and motive all who work with her. Congratulations, June!! Photos with captions: The festivities to recognize Ms. De Leon’s accomplishments continued during the CEDDERS Staff Retreat held in May. June De Leon (left), displays the certificate and Legislative Resolution presented to her during the University of Guam’s Annual Employee Recognition Ceremony. Dr. Helen Whippy (right), former Interim President, holds a specially designed Latte Stone which has an inscription commending Ms. De Leon for her selection as UOG Employee of the Year. Page 3 Creating Supports In the Region…Consultants Visit PAC 6 Sites Mike Burdge and Jean Clayton, from the University of Kentucky’s Inclusive Large Scale Standards and Assessment (ILSSA) Group and project partners for the Pacific Assessment Consortium (PAC6), recently joined Caroline MaGee from the University of Oregon’s Western Regional Resource Center (WRRC) and June Quitugua, Guam CEDDERS Training Associate, in conducting site visits to the six participating jurisdictions, including American Samoa, CNMI, FSM, Guam, Palau, and the Marshall Islands. The group met with each entity’s Leadership Assessment Teams and observed their progress in implementing policies and practices relating to alternate assessments. Photo with caption: Mike Burdge and Jean Clayton, consultants from the University of Kentucky, met with the CNMI Leadership Assessment Team. CNMI Parent Forums Elicit Input Parents are their child’s first teachers!! This message was reinforced during the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Island (CNMI) Parent Forums that were held in Rota and Saipan in May. The CNMI Public School System, in partnership with the Special Education State Advisory Panel (SESAP), hosted these forums to provide an opportunity for parents to share information on how the school has facilitated parental involvement as a means for improving special education services and support to their child and family and to provide recommendations for improvement. SESAP parent members, in partnership with Guam CEDDERS, presented a series of questions to generate discussions to gather information on how the school has facilitated parental involvement. Twenty parents attended the parent forum in Rota and 38 parents attended the parent forums in Saipan. During the meeting, Guam CEDDERS shared preliminary results of the parent surveys that were disseminated in May 2008. Of the 718 CNMI Part B Parent Surveys that were disseminated to students with IEPs in Rota and Saipan, 310 surveys or 44% were returned. The return rate for this school year has doubled from a 20% return rate for last school year. In July, the SESAP Parent Focus Group will convene a meeting to review the final results of the parent survey and develop CNMI SESAP Parent Training Activities for the upcoming school year. The activities will reflect the prioritized needs identified by parents of students with disabilities in Rota, Tinian, and Saipan. Photo with caption: Over 30 families of preschool children receiving services from CNMI Public School System participate in a Parent Forum held on May 22, 2008 in Saipan. Page 4 Teens Join the CMHI Evaluation Project The Guam CEDDERS’ Child Mental Health Initiative (CMHI) Evaluation Project is tasked to create an evaluation component for I Famagu’on-ta, Guam’s System of Care program. A system of care is a comprehensive approach to providing services to children with serious emotional and behavioral needs that is guided by a set of principles, including the belief that all services and supports should be youth guided. This past February, the CMHI Evaluation Project decided to put this principle into action and formed a Youth Evaluation Team. The purpose of this team is to assist the CMHI Evaluation Project in all aspects of planning and conducting youth focused evaluation activities. The Youth Evaluation Team is composed of four teens, two female and two male, ages 15 - 17, who are either currently receiving services from I Famagu’on-ta or have graduated from the program. Orientation sessions were conducted on March 21 and 28th during which the teens learned about the purpose and activities of the CMHI Evaluation Project and the proposed roles and responsibilities of the Youth Evaluation Team. They also learned about focus groups and how focus groups are used in evaluation. At the end of the orientation, the teens signed a commitment statement which detailed the roles and responsibilities of the Youth Evaluation Team. Over the next few weeks, Elaine Roberto, Guam CEDDERS Interviewer, and Allyson Iseke, Guam CEDDERS Graduate Student Research Assistant, conducted a series of training sessions with the Team designed to develop the attitudes and skills needed for them to be successful. The first activity of the Youth Evaluation Team was to plan and conduct focus groups with teens from the Project. Working under Elaine and Allyson’s direction, the Youth Evaluation Team provided input to all aspects of logistical planning for the groups, including scheduling, location, types of refreshments to be served, and how to group participants. The next step was to actually determine what questions would be asked in the focus groups and what process would be used to engage the teens. Traditionally, focus groups rely on a question and answer format. However, to ensure high levels of youth engagement, a decision was made to use interactive activities instead. Four activities were developed and then presented to the team. The team then reviewed the activities, provided input and revisions and validated their effectiveness through a role playing exercise. Prior to the actual focus groups, the Youth Evaluation Team practiced facilitating the activities and recording participants’ responses. Four focus groups were then conducted on March 17 and 18 with 21 teens from I Famagu’on-ta. The youth facilitators did a great job of engaging the teens with energizers, demonstrations, and personal sharing of their own responses to questions. As a result, the teen participants openly shared their experiences, concerns and dreams. At the conclusion of each focus group, participants completed an evaluation of the session, as well as a survey about their experiences with their Wrap Coordinator and the services received through Guam’s System of Care. The next activity planned for the Youth Evaluation Team is to assist in the design of a poster of the focus group data for presentation at the National System of Care Training Institutes, which will be held in Nashville in July. One member of the Youth Evaluation Team will be co-presenting with Bonnie Brandt, Lead Evaluator, and Ms. Roberto at the conference. Photo with caption: Youth Evaluation Team members conducted a Youth Focus Group with the help of Allyson Iseke, Guam CEDDERS Graduate Office Assistant. (L-R) Brandy Martinez, Ms. Iseke, Brittney Martinez, Tia Santos, & Clinton Cellona. Page 5 Consultants Provide TA to CMHI Eval Study Guam CEDDERS Children’s Mental Health Initiative (CMHI) Evaluation Project had two site visits in April related to the national evaluation of I Famagu’on-ta. Dr. Ranilo Laygo, the Lead Evaluator for Project Ho’omohala, Hawaii’s System of Care Grant, provided on-site technical assistance related to the analysis and local use of data collected for the national Longitudinal Child and Family Outcome study on April 1-4. Prior to accepting this position, Dr. Laygo was the national evaluation’s Site Liaison for Guam and was instrumental in assisting the CMHI Evaluation Team plan and implement data collection for the national evaluation studies. During his visit, Dr. Laygo ascertained the data our community desires for local evaluation reports and social marketing activities and provided technical assistance to Guam CEDDERS’ Bonnie Brandt, Lead Evaluator, and Keith Villaluna, Data Coordinator, on data analysis techniques. He also met with Guam CEDDERS staff to discuss opportunities for future collaborative research activities. During the week of April 7th, Jennifer Dewey, Guam’s Site Liaison from Macro International, conducted a site visit related to the close out phase of the national evaluation. During her visit, Ms. Dewey presented Guam’s data collected for the national studies to the I Famagu’on-ta staff and community stakeholders. She also met with the CMHI Evaluation Team to gather input on “lessons learned” during the implementation of the national evaluation, and to plan for a gradual close out of Guam’s data collection for the national studies. Photos with captions: Ray Laygo, visiting Lead Evaluator, Project Ho’omo-hala, shared insights with I Famagu’on-ta. Jennifer Dewey, Ph.D., Guam’s Site Liaison for the CMHS National Evaluation Team, presented data collected for the national study to I Famagu’on-ta staff on April 9. CMHI Eval Team Shares Outcomes At Social Work Conference The Children's Mental Health Initiative (CMHI) Evaluation Team presented its evaluation findings of Project I Famaguo'n-ta's approach for providing supports to high-risk youth who are experiencing serious social, emotional, and behavioral issues during the Guam National Association of Social Workers Conference held on March 28. The team reported that after two years of receiving services, children and youth continued to show improvement in areas such as academics, juvenile justice, and behavioral and emotional health. The outcome data was based on youth and families who were enrolled in the research study and have received services for at least two years. The Evaluation Team will be publishing its findings in a report to be released later this year. Photo with caption: Claudine Tenorio, (center) presented Certificates of Appreciation to Bonnie Brandt, (left), and Mariles Benavente, (right), Guam CEDDERS CMHI Project Evaluators, for their presentation, entitled “Five Years of System of Care on Guam: What the Research is Telling Us,” at the Guam National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Conference on March 28th. Page 6 Pat Trohanis: “Ties To Guam” Last year, Guam lost a long-time advocate for Early Intervention. Dr. Pat Trohanis, Director of the National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (NEC*TAC), passed away in North Carolina after a valiant battle with cancer. For many years, Pat and the NEC*TAC Center subcontracted with UOG CEDDERS to provide technical assistance in early intervention to the Western Pacific Region. He worked closely with Elaine Eclavea, Health, Wellness, and Prevention Initiative Area Coordinator, in designing and delivering high quality technical assistance and training for the Pacific Basin region. Dr. Heidi San Nicolas, Guam CEDDERS Director, remembers first meeting Dr. Trojanis in the Fall of 1988 when he traveled to Guam to participate in the first ever Interagency Leadership Conference that was held on Guam. During this meeting, Dr. Trohanis was presented with a token gift from Guam: a neck tie. He was a collector of unique neck ties and wore them nearly every day. Over the years, he ended up with two special "Guam" ties. One featured the fingerprints of young children from Guam with the title, "Thumbs-Up Guam", and the other was a hand-made pastel tie featuring an island baby design. During this past year, both ties have migrated back to Guam via different routes. One tie was given to Ms. Eclavea by Dr. Shelley DeFosset, NEC*TAC Associate Director. Dr. DeFosset shared that she thought it appropriate that the tie be returned to Guam in remembrance of Dr. Trohanis’ work and love for the island. The second tie came back to Guam by a totally different route via USDOE OSEP Project Officer, Glinda Hill. Ms. Hill serves as Project Officer for CEDDERS' Consortium for Instructional Materials Accessibility Project (CIMAP) grant and attended the OSEP Early Childhood Conference this past Fall. During the conference, Pat's wife donated a number of ties to be auctioned for charity in honor of Pat's life and contributions. The second Guam tie was on display, but was not part of the auction. Ms. Hill inquired if she could go ahead and bid on the tie and give a donation so that she could then "send the tie" back to Guam. Ms. Hill was a long time colleague of Dr. Trohanis, and this May, she presented the tie to Dr. San Nicolas and June De Leon to display on Guam in his memory. Hence, there were two ties from Guam that have now come back to Guam in memory of Pat Trojanis! The two ties will be encased in a display case that will eventually be placed in CEDDERS new building. Dr. Trohanis’ never-ending enthusiasm, positive outlook, and integrity were much appreciated by Guam and the region. His outstanding contributions to the development of early intervention services and supports will always be greatly appreciated. An upcoming issue of the Journal of Early Intervention will feature tributes to Pat's life and work, as well as his last article noting the progress in providing services to young children with disabilities and their families. Photos with caption: (L-R) Glinda Hill, OSEP Project Officer, models one of Dr. Trohanis’ ties while June De Leon, Guam CEDDERS Associate Director, & Dr. Heidi San Nicolas, Guam CEDDERS Director, look on. Dr. Pat Trohanis (standing) is shown here facilitating a lively discussion during a 3-hour presentation, entitled “Including Young Children with Disabilities,” in 2004 on Guam. Page 7 NIMAS Project Directors’ Meeting in D.C. To assure a coordinated effort among the seven National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standards (NIMAS) related projects funded by the U.S. Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), a Project Directors’ Meeting was held on May 6-7 in Washington, D.C. The purpose of the meeting was to maximize the outcomes of these investments through discussion of common, challenging areas of implementation and how to best address them collaboratively. Each project presented a 15-minute report on the purpose and goal of the project that answered the question, “How has my OSEP-funded project contributed to the implementation of NIMAS?” One of the OSEP-funded NIMAS-related projects, the Pacific Consortium for Instructional Materials Accessibility Project (CIMAP) supporting the NIMAS implementation in the six Pacific Basin entities, was represented at the meeting by Dr. Heidi San Nicolas, Principal Investigator, June De Leon, Project Director, and Connie Guerrero, Policy Specialist. The CIMAP presentation is available at www.guamcedders.org/main/index.php?pg=pacific_cimap. Photo with caption: NIMAS-related Project Directors (Standing, L-R) Julia Myers, National Instructional Materials Access Center (NIMAC); June De Leon, Pacific CIMAP; Julia Freedman, Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D); Jim Fruchterman, Bookshare.org; Skip Stahl, NIMAS Development Center; Joy Zabala, Project Accessible Instructional Materials (AIM); Chuck Hitchcock, NIMAS Technical Assistance Center, and OSEP Project Officers for NIMAS-Related Projects (sitting, L-R) Beverly Brightly (NIMAC); Jo Ann McCann (RFB&D); Bonnie Jones (NIMAS Dev Center & NIMAS TA Center); & Glinda Hill (OSEP). PAC6 Presentation at the 24th Annual PacRim Conference June De Leon, Pacific Assessment Consortium (PAC6) Project Director, with project partners Jean Clayton and Mike Burdge from the University of Kentucky’s Inclusive Large Scale Standards and Assessment (ILSSA) Group, and Caroline MaGee from the University of Oregon’s Western Regional Resource Center (WRRC) presented at the 24th Annual Pacific Rim Conference on Disabilities on April 15, in Honolulu, Hawaii. The presentation, Pacific Basin AA-AAS Development Informs Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities, highlighted progress of the PAC6 towards full implementation of an alternate assessment based on alternate achievement standards (AA-AAS) in the six Pacific entities. To view the presentation, including the PAC6 video, select the link under “Announcements” at www.pac6.org. Photo with caption: PAC6 Partners pose after their workshop presentation at the PacRim Conference in Honolulu on April 24th. (L-R) Caroline MaGee, WRRC; Jean Clayton, ILSSA; Mike Burdge, ILSSA; & June De Leon, Guam CEDDERS. Page 8 Governor Appoints Guam Early Learning Council Governor Felix Camacho signed Executive Order 2008-03 to establish the Guam Early Learning Council (GELC) in April 2008. The Council, comprised of executive level administrators from organizations which provide services and supports to young children, birth to five, and their parents, held their first meeting on June 4 at the Westin Resort and Spa. The Council, which is chaired by the First Lady Joann Camacho, was established to support the federal Head Start Reauthorization Act, which mandates the governor of each state to designate such a council. The Council also supports the system sustainability goal of Project Tinituhon, Guam’s Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems grant, which Guam CEDDERS administers on behalf of the Department of Public Health and Social Services, Maternal Child Health Bureau. Project Tinituhon, which means “the beginning” in Chamorro, strives to support Guam’s youngest children by providing needed services and supports to ensure their healthy well-being and school readiness. Elaine Eclavea, Guam CEDDERS Health, Wellness, and Prevention Initiative Area Coordinator and Project Tinituhon Director, has been designated as the co-chair of the Early Learning Council. The Governor’s office, in partnership with Guam CEDDERS, applied for and was awarded a $10,000 technical assistance grant from the National Governor’s Association in April. The orientation and awareness meeting was one of the activities outlined in the grant. During this meeting, the members were given an overview of the status of health and education of children on Guam. Additionally, the members were given information on goals, objectives, and roles and responsibilities of the GELC. The wisdom of members was shared as the group began to look at their next steps in order to achieve positive outcomes for young children and their families. The Council will now work to advance Guam’s policy agenda for at-risk children ages birth to five and promote linkages to family support, health, mental health, and other developmental services. A Governor’s Early Childhood Summit scheduled for September 13, 2008 will further refine and develop Guam’s Policy Agenda for Early Learning. The policy agenda will provide the framework for Guam’s Strategic Plan for Early Learning for the delivery of quality services and support within a collaborative and cooperative system. Photos with caption: Governor Felix P. Camacho, announced the establishment of the Guam Early Learning Council in April. The first meeting of the Guam Early Learning Council was held on June 4. Attending were (sitting, L-R) Estella Gapas, Director, PNG Learning Center; Thelma Hechanova, Senior Advisor, Office of the Governor; Julie Rivera, Senator Judith Won Pat, First Lady Joann Camacho, Elaine Eclavea, Heidi San Nicolas, Guam CEDDERS Director; (standing, L-R) Vice Mayor Louise Rivera; Pauline Camacho, Director, PIRC; Doris Tolentino, GPSS/Head Start; Sarah Thomas-Nededog, Executive Director, Sanctuary; Lydia Tenorio, Acting Chief Human Services Administrator, DPHSS; Millie Lujan, Program Coordinator, Sanctuary; Ruth Leon Guerrero, Administrator, Dept. of Labor; Stasia Borja, Parent; Lilly Acfalle; PeterJohn Camacho, Acting Director, DPHSS; Narissa Bretania-Shafer, GPSS; Claire Camacho, Department Chair for Education; GCC; Patricia Mantanona, GPSS/GEIS; Mary Fejeran; & Carmelita Ogo Connelley, Guam CEDDERS. Page 9 ICC Conducts Orientation Under New Leadership Fifteen child service agencies shared information about their services, eligibility requirements, and how families could access these services during a two-day seminar held for members of the Guam Interagency Coordinating Council (ICC). Led by the newly governor-appointed Chairperson, Elaine Eclavea, Guam CEDDERS Health, Wellness, and Prevention Initiative Area Coordinator, the purpose of the seminar was to provide an orientation and awareness on the new proposed regulations for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act for Infants and Toddlers (IDEA Part C), the role and responsibilities of the ICC, and information on services available for young children with disabilities. As required under IDEA Part C, the ICC’s role is to advise and assist the Guam Public School System (GPSS) in the provision of early intervention/ special education services for young children, birth to five, with or at risk for disabilities, and their families. Among the agencies that gave a brief presentation were the Department of Public Health and Social Services Child Development Block Grant, Medicaid Program, Child Protective Services, Fluoride Treatment Program, Food Stamp Program, DISID, Guam Head Start, Guam Early Hearing Detection and Intervention, Project Tinituhon, I Famagu’on-ta, Educational and Developmental Intervention Services, Guam Early Intervention System of Services, and GPSS-Preschool Special Education Services. Twenty–four ICC members and their alternates attended the May 10th event. Nineteen members returned for Day 2. An ICC strategic planning session is scheduled for July 2008 to develop a plan that will guide the ICC in working closely with GPSS and other child serving agencies to service systems for young children with disabilities and their families. Photo with caption: The Guam Interagency Coordinating Council (ICC) recently met with newly appointed Chairperson, Elaine Eclavea, Guam CEDDERS Health, Wellness, and Prevention Initiative Area Coordinator. The members include, (kneeling, L-R), Dr. Lee Meadows, John Carlos, & Abraham Mora. (Back row, L-R) Brigette Flores-Lobo, Pat Mantanona, Joseph Mendiola, Arlene Cura, Evelyn Claros, Charlie Harper, Elaine Eclavea, Nieves Flores, Matilde Rivera Naputi, Lois Gumataotao, Bing Opena, & Glenda Leon Guerrero. New Developed Products: The poster (left) and brochure (right) are two products developed to support the Guam Early Hearing Detection (Guam EHDI) Project. In addition, a 30-second radio ad has been finalized and will begin airing in June to publicize the program. Guam CEDDERS facilitated the development of the Guam Early Intervention System’s “Family Guidebook.” Page 10 Families Make Positive Connections At Power of Play Conference Dozens of families attended the Power of Play Conference held on April 5 at Tamuning Elementary School. Parents and children participated in a range of developmentally appropriate activities and received resources and information during the Conference. Sponsors of the Conference included the Department of Public Health & Social Services, Guam CEDDERS, Guam Community College, Guam Early Intervention System, Head Start, and Guam Public School System’s Division of Special Education. Here’s what three parent respondents had to say about the Conference: "We had a great time! This is a wonderful offering for young families!" "My child enjoyed playing with the different activities and she made friends as well. .I can't wait for next year's "Power of Play!" "My children look forward to this every time it is offered! It's a good idea." Two More Child Care Centers Undergo ADA Assessments Two of Guam’s licensed child care centers recently opened their doors for accessibility assessments. Following the standards set forth by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Joseph Mendiola, from Guam System for Assistive Technology (GSAT), took measurements of parking, pathways, bathrooms, and classrooms at the Maria Artero Catholic Pre-School in Agana Heights and My School Child Development Center in Tamuning. Each center will receive assessment reports of recommendations that may be used to justify future funding to support structural changes to be ADA compliant. Photos with captions: Mr. Mendiola measures the step at the entrance of My School Child Development Center as part of an ADA Assessment. Joseph Mendiola, from the Guam System for Assistive Technology (GSAT), a unit under Guam CEDDERS at the University of Guam, confers with Sister Kathy Bromwell from the Maria Artero Catholic Pre-School on ADA standards. Page 11 Updating Child Care Licensure Requirements Efforts are currently underway to incorporate the latest research findings into the Guam Rules and Regulations for Licensed Child Care Facilities. These “Regs” were initially established in 1978. Yes, that’s right…the same rules that were developed 30 years ago are still in place. The latest developments in brain research highlight that the first years of life are critical to a child’s overall development. Over 50% of children are cared for regularly in settings outside their homes, and these are the youngest children in our community, so, the urgency to update these basic regulations is even more pronounced. Additionally, federal requirements mandate lower ratios and other provisions. In order for the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) to continue to make Child Care and Development Funds available to centers and families to help defray costs, centers will need to be in compliance. The main purpose of licensing is to provide a baseline of protection for children in care, away from their parents. This means minimal requirements are set that aim to reduce risks of injury, disease, developmental impairment or cumulative risks, unsafe buildings, and fire. Most importantly, these formal requirements are set to establish expectations in the child care environment that help children achieve their highest potential and meet expectations. A draft of the proposed policies was shared with lawmakers and providers on April 18. DPHSS, in partnership with Guam CEDDERS and various stakeholder groups, developed the draft. All stakeholders share similar values that children are Guam's greatest treasure and resource. While everyone desires what is best for children being cared for in child care facilities, and while there is support for needed changes, there may be questions or concerns regarding implementation of the newly proposed standards. These concerns may be addressed during a series of public forums on July 3, 11, & 17 (see Calendar of Upcoming Events on back page). Parents, caregivers and others are invited to participate in these meetings to air their opinions. Text in colored Boxes Research shows high quality child care during the FIRST FIVE years influences lifelong success. Look for these key elements when deciding where to place your little ones for child care. 1 Safe and healthy environment. 2 Positive and nurturing adult and child relation-ships. 3 Lower number of children per staff. 4 Staff who are knowledgeable and trained in early childhood development. 5 Planned activities that nurture children’s healthy growth and development. Impact of Quality Care on Young Children Short term: * better language skills * better general knowledge * more cooperative * better prepared for school Long term: * less likely to be placed in special education * less likely to commit juvenile crimes * less likely to receive public assistance * more likely to complete high school * more likely to attend a 4-year college * show gains in IQ, math, and reading *References: Burchinal, M.R., Roberts, J.E., Nabors, L.A. & Bryant, D.M. (1996). Quality of center child care & infant cognitive & language development. Child Development, 67,606-620; Ramey, C., & Campbell, F. (1999). Early learning later success: The Abecederian study. Birmingham, AL: The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Civitan International Research CenterReynolds, A.J. (2000). Success in early intervention: The Chicago Child-Parent Centers. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press; Berrueta-Clement, J., Schweinhart, L., Barnett, W., Epstein, A., & Weikart, D. (1992). Changed lives: The effects of the Perry Preschool Program on youths through age 19. Ypsilanti, MI: High/Scope. 2008 Guam Rules and Regulations for Licensed Child Care Facilities: Key Recommendations (1) Lower child to caregiver ratios. Birth to 12 months: 4 children to 1 caregiver 13 - 24 months: 6 to 1 4 - 5 years: 18 to 1 25 - 36 months: 8 to 1 3 - 4 years: 12 to 1 (2) An approved Professional Development Plan for child care givers. (3) Requirements for playground safety. Page 12 Project Håtsa Achieved Major Milestones This Year Year Three of Project Håtsa, Guam Public School System’s Teacher Quality Enhancement Grant, in partnership with Guam CEDDERS, saw many challenges. In spite of these challenges, significant progress continues to be made towards meeting the goals of the project. Major accomplishments for the year include: ? The Educator Certification Stages and Professional Growth Program was adopted by the Guam Educator Policy Board on August 9, 2007. Orientation sessions on this policy have taken place on-site at 21 schools attended by 843 teachers as of May 14, 2008. ? Criteria for approval of teacher preparation programs was endorsed by the Joint Board-Union Textbook Curriculum Committee and the Superintendent on August 17, 2007. ? The alignment of teacher preparation programs is currently being addressed. Standard operating procedures for review and approval of teacher preparation programs are in the development stage. Various constituencies have been involved in policy development through focus groups, stakeholder meetings, and meetings at school sites. Administrator Preparation Program Review Standards were endorsed by the Joint Board-Union Textbook Curriculum Committee and the Superintendent on May 13, 2008. ? Administrator Certification Requirements were conditionally approved. ? The Mentor Program has 122 teachers for SY 2007-08 who voluntarily participated in the program. An external evaluation of the program was recently completed. ? Criteria for GPSS approval of Alternative Routes to Teacher Certification have been drafted and are currently being reviewed by the Certification Advisory Council. ? The Mini-Grant Program has provided funding support to 28 schools to increase the use of instructional technology in classrooms. Photo with caption: The Project Håtsa Joint Leadership/Stakeholder Group held its last meeting of the school year on May 27. Comprised of representatives from the community including UOG, GCC, DODEA, the Governor’s Office, and administrators and teachers from GPSS, the Group provided input and recommendations on project activities. (Seated, L-R) Doreen Pereda, Gayle Hendricks, First Lady Joann Camacho, Dr. Helen Whippy, & Dr. Lawrence Kodiyanplakkal. Standing, middle row: Menang Diaz, Aline Yamashita, Roberta Abaday, Nieves Flores, Cathy Cardenas, Doris Faisao, & Tish Sahagon. (Back row, L-R) Pat Bennett, Michelle Santos, Mike Diekmann, John Sanchez, Thelma Hechenova, Colette Beausoliel, Sandra Leon, June Timpe, & Marie Barretto. Page 13 Teacher Seeks Nat’l Certification Aileen Canos, an 8th Grade Science teacher at F.B. Leon Guerrero Middle School, is currently the sole Guam teacher candidate undergoing the process to earn National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certification. Part of the application requires the submittal of a videotape demonstrating her teaching skills. She completed the candidate process by taking a written examination in Honolulu on June 4th. Ms. Canos received support from Project Håtsa to complete her application portfolio. Photo with caption: Aileen Canos, (standing) provides group instruction during the videotaping of one of her class sessions. Transition TV Ad Completed Guam CEDDERS recently produced a 30-second video ad for the Guam Public School System’s Division of Special Education. The ad publicizes the availability of Transition Services for students who are making employment, post secondary education, or other decisions that affect their lives after they leave high school. Photo with caption: Jonas Macapinlac, Guam CEDDERS Disability Media Specialist, (left), takes a still shot of consumers Marlon Molinas and Megan Heart Certeza, the main subjects of a GPSS TV ad on Transition, as they rehearse their scene. NATTAP Conference Guam CEDDERS staff attended the Rehabilitation Services Administration Specialized Training Workshop for Statewide Assistive Technology Programs, Alternate Financing Programs and Telework Programs during the National Assistive Technology Technical Assistance Partnership (NATTAP) Conference on May 6-8 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The program performance review process and data collection were the main topics of both sessions. Photo with caption: (L-R) Mike Terlaje, Guam CEDDERS Assistive Technology Specialist, Terrie Fejarang, Guam CEDDERS Associate Director, Jeremy Buzzell, Management and Program Analyst, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Rob Groenendaal, Program Specialist, Rehabilitation Services Administration, Nell Bailey, and Nancy Meidenbauer, Executive Director and Interim Project Director at RESNA, respectively, met during the NATTAP Conference in May. Not shown: Dee Palomo, AT Center Assistant. Guam Tri-Agency Directors Meet with ADD Officials Guam Tri-Agency Directors met with Dr. Patricia Morrissey, Commissioner, Administration on Developmental Disabilities and Faith McCormick, ADD Director, on April 18 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Monitoring and Technical Assistance Review System (MTARS) Reports were the top of discussion during the meeting. (Seated, L-R) Dr. Heidi San Nicolas, Guam CEDDERS Director, Dr. Morrissey, and Manny Cruz, Executive Director, Guam Developmental Disabilities Council. (Standing, L-R) Rebecca Perez Santo Tomas, J.D., Director, Guam Legal Services, & Ms. McCormick. Page 14 GSAT Conference Draws Over 150 Participants The Guam System for Assistive Technology held its 14th Annual Conference on March 7 at the Westin Resort and Spa followed by the Tri-Agency Conference the next day. Consumers, family members, service providers, and policy makers attended the events that covered a broad array of topics. Photos with caption: Mike Terlaje, Assistive Technology Specialist, was the main facilitator for the Conferences. He also conducted two workshops on Assistive Technology. Dr. Mary Jane Miller was the keynote speaker for the AT Conference. She shared her personal experience as Guam’s first recipient of a Cochlear Implant. (L-R) Legislative Speaker Judy WonPat, Dan Cobb from the Guam Independent Living Center, and Senator Tina Muña-Barnes listen attentively while Paulina Torres, (right) makes a point. Jeannie Hollis, (right), interprets for Rebecca Perez Santo Tomas (far right, partially hidden) during a session at the Tri-Agency Disability Community Conference & Exhibition. Former Guam CEDDERS Advisory Council member Tom Manglona, right, asks a vendor some questions during a break in conference workshops. Senator Frank Ishizaki spoke with several members of the deaf community during the Tri-Agency Disability Community Conference & Exhibition. (L-R) Fred Castro, President of Guam Association for the Deaf, Eufrocino Porto, Bryan Eduen, John Felipe, Senator Ishizaki, & Richie Abastas. Page 15 Transit Drivers Complete Passenger Assistance Training Transit personnel completing Passenger Assistance I training on May 29 gather for a presentation of Motor Coach Training materials to KEI General Manager, Travis Kloppenberg. (Front row, L-R) Jesus Duenas, John Penaflor, Remedio Aguon, Lisa Ogo (contributing presenter), Evelyn Duenas (contributing presenter), Tony Quintanilla, Derrick Salas, Alberto Pacho, Travis Kloppenberg (General Manager), & Ginger Porter (Guam CEDDERS); (back row, L-R) Kirino Yoichi, James Hudson, Vicente Torre, Policardio Carlos, Larry Nelson, Robert Quinata, Ichiro Chiepot, Eugene de Guzman, & Joey Tibajares. CEDDERS Partners with PEPNet Guam CEDDERS Associate Director, Terrie Fejarang, recently joined the staff from the Postsecondary Education Program Network (PEPNet) at its Bi-Annual Conference held in March in Columbus, Ohio. PEPNet West, under the leadership of Dr. Cathy McLeod, Director, has asked Guam CEDDERS to conduct a needs assessment in the Pacific jurisdictions of the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Palau, and the Marshall Islands, to help determine training needs for personnel who serve youth and adults who are deaf or hard of hearing. The mission of PEPNet is “to improve transition services and educational access for students who are deaf or hard of hearing including those with co-occurring disabilities, thus enhancing educational opportunities.” Photo with caption: (L-R) Dr. Judy Coryell, Coordinator, Gallaudet Outreach Center, Kapiolani Community College in Hawaii; Terrie Fejarang, Guam CEDDERS; Mary Morrison, Associate Director, Rural Institute, University of Montana; & Dr. Cathy McLeod, PEPNet West Director, met during the Bi-Annual PEPNet Conference in April. Page 15 Calendar of Upcoming Events June 2008 ? Jun 1-UOG Commencement ? Jun 2-3-Passenger Assistance II Training, GSAT Training Center ? Jun 3-Jul 1-Graduate Course ED894 Character Education Standards & Performance Indicators (Grades 6-12), Håtsa Office, Ste 10 Castle Mall, Mangilao, TTH, 1-5 p.m. ? Jun 6-Guam CEDDERS Advisory Council Mtg., GSAT Training Ctr., 3:30 p.m. ? Jun 7-Family Child Care Social-Emotional Training, Session 2, GSAT Training Center, House 19 Dean Circle, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. ? Jun 9-13-Palau GSEG Onsite TA Visit ? Jun 10-11-Transit Operator-Passenger Relations I, GSAT Training Center ? Jun 14-Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL) “Promoting Social Emotional Competence in Children Ages 2-5 Years, Day 1, Catholic Social Services Conference Room, Barrigada Hts., 8 a.m.-4 p.m. ? Jun 21-CSEFEL “Promoting Social Emotional Competence in Children Ages 2-5 Years, Day 2, Catholic Social Services Conference Room, Barrigada Hts.,8 a.m.-4 p.m. ? Jun 23-24-CSEFEL “Train-the-Trainer” Training, Westin Resort & Spa, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. ? Jun 23-24-Transit Operator-Passenger Relations II, GSAT Training Center ? Jun 26-27-Project Håtsa McRel “Power Walkthrough” Training for Administrators Professional Training, Project Håtsa Office ? Jun 30-CSEFEL “Train-the-Trainer” Training, Westin Resort & Spa, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. July 2008 ? Jul 1-CSEFEL “Train-the-Trainer” Training, Westin Resort & Spa, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. * Jul 29-Aug 9-Pacific Consortium for Instruc-tional Materials Accessibility Project (CIMAP) Training, Time & Venue TBA August 2008 * Aug 5-9-Pacific CIMAP Training, Time & Venue TBA * Aug 4-8-GSEG III PACIFIC Project Regional Institute #1, Venue & Time TBA * Aug 5-7-Leadership Institute for Child Care Directors, Venue TBA, 9am – 4:00 pm * Aug 5-7-ORC Macro System of Care Assessment Site Visit * Aug 16-Project Fo’na Graduation * Aug 20-UOG Fall 2008 Classes Begin * Aug 23-Project Tinituhon Family Fair, Agana Shopping Center, 10 a.m.—2 p.m. * Aug 29-30-Positive Behavior Intervention Support Conference, Time & Venue TBA September 2008 * Sep 5-Guam CEDDERS Advisory Council Mtg, GSAT Training Ctr., 3:30 pm * Sep 6-Birth to Five Conference on Social Emotional Development, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Venue TBA * Sep 13-Governor’s Early Childhood Summit * Sep 15-19-Regional System of Care Conference, Time & Venue TBA Text in Colored Box University of Guam Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, & Service (Guam CEDDERS) Newsletter Guam CEDDERS Office of Academic & Student Affairs University of Guam, UOG Station Mangilao, Guam 96923 Phone: (671) 735-2480/1 Fax: (671) 734-5709 TTY: (671) 734-6531 Email: heidisan@ite.net I Tellai is a quarterly publication of Guam CEDDERS. Director: Heidi San Nicolas, Ph.D. Editors: Terrie Fejarang, June De Leon, Ginger Porter, Layout & Design: Margaret Johnson This issue of I Tellai was made possible by contributions from the following Guam CEDDERS staff members: Bonnie Brandt, Elizabeth Borja, Carmelita Ogo Connelley, June De Leon, Elaine Eclavea, Terrie Fejarang, Ginger Porter, June Quitugua, & Dr. Heidi San Nicolas. Alternative formats (e.g. Braille, large print, or audio tapes) of I Tellai will be made available upon request. Please contact Margaret Johnson at (671) 735-2477 (v), (671) 735-6531 (TTY), or (671) 734-5709 (fax) for more information.