Guam Cohort #2 Completes ADOS-2 Training

by Guam CEDDERS Interdisciplinary Pre-Service Preparation

Cohort #2 members with Cohort #1 and Dr. Irina Zamora take a team photo to celebrate the end of the third training visit. (L-R) Alma Terbio, Educational Evaluator; Janice Almoguera, Consulting Resource Teacher-Technical Assistance (CRT-TA); Marie Wessling, CRT-TA; Nicole Duenas, Cohort #1 Speech/Language Pathologist; Jessica Atoigue, Cohort #1 CRT-TA; Melanie Torre, Speech/Language Pathologist; Elizabeth Blas, Early Intervention Speech/Language Pathologist; Ron Gogo, CRT-TA; Dr. Zamora; Anna Perez, Social Worker; Felice Camacho, CRT-TA; Norine Guzman, CRT-TA; and Christine Hernandez, CRT-TA. Cohort #2 member not shown: Marie Tenorio, CRT-TA.

In partnership with the University of Southern California, University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (USC-UCEDD) and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), Guam CEDDERS facilitated the continuation of the comprehensive autism assessment training to build the capacity of Guam Department of Education (GDOE) providers to identify and assess children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) symptoms. November 13-17 marked the third and last on-site visit conducted by Irina Zamora, Psy.D., Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at Keck School of Medicine, USC, to work with GDOE’s Cohort #2 comprised of 11 early intervention and special education personnel. The third visit continued with the training on the administration, scoring, and interpretation of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, 2nd Edition (ADOS-2). With assistance from GDOE’s Cohort #1 members, Dr. Zamora provided additional practice activities in preparation for Cohort #2 members completing the Western Psychological Services (WPS) ADOS-2 certification examination. In 2016, GDOE’s Cohort #1, comprised of five early intervention and special education personnel, completed all training requirements, including passing the WPS ADOS-2 certification examination.

Training Focuses on Refinement of Continuous Improvement Road Map for Improving Reading Achievement

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Technical Assistance Community Services: Training

Dr. Nieves Flores (standing, middle), Guam CEDDERS Consultant, checks in with the 5th grade teachers from J.M. Guerrero Elementary School as they work on the aimsweb practice activities on October 23.

Guam CEDDERS facilitated the second SY2017-2018 Guam Department of Education professional development (PD)session for the four State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP) schools on October 23, 2017 at the Westin Resort Guam.

As a continuation from the August PD, the full day training focused on navigating the aimsweb screening system to generate reports and using the reading screening data for improving reading instruction, refining their continuous improvement steps, including the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle, for implementation; and reaching agreement on the activities and timelines for implementing the screening/assessment and progress monitoring procedures for school year 2017-2018.

The morning session of the training had each school’s grade level logged into the aimsweb program to practice inputting scores, generating reports, graphing and analyzing screening results, and determining the level of intervention needed.

The afternoon session was facilitated by the Instructional Coaches and Consulting Resource Teachers – Technical Assistance, who provided participants with a review of the eight continuous improvement steps as well as identifying what’s working, challenges, and questions participants had with completing each step. The grade level teams worked together to complete the activities, learning from each other on how PDSAs are implemented in the four SSIP schools. Photos and videos taken in the classrooms on “what’s working” were also shared with the participants as encouragement for the teachers to continue implementing PDSAs in their classrooms.

Palau Drafts Coordinated Approaches for Disability Services Plan

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Technical Assistance

Since July 2017, the Republic of Palau, Ministry of Education – Special Education Program staff in partnership with the Head Start Coordinators and technical support from Elaine Eclavea, Guam CEDDERS Early Childhood Consultant, have been working to develop a process for ensuring coordinated approaches for serving children enrolled in Head Start settings. The team inclusive of both Special Education and Head Start staff reviewed the Head Start Program Performance Standard (HSPPS) 1302.101(b) Coordinated Approaches for Disability Services (CADS): “At the beginning of each program year, and on an ongoing basis throughout the year, a program must design and implement program-wide coordinated approaches to ensure full and effective participation of children with disabilities.” This standard requires appropriate supports and protocols are in place prior to and throughout the school year for preschoolers with disabilities.

The CADS plan ensures that all preschoolers with disabilities enrolled in Head Start will have access to highly individualized teaching that will result in active participation and increased learning to achieve the goals and objectives identified for the child. On August 21 and 22, Special Education and Head Start staff participated in a two-day training on early childhood coaching that was facilitated by Ms. Eclavea. During that same week, Special Education staff, in partnership with the Head Start teachers from the two pilot centers, developed coaching plans based on the priorities identified by the teachers to support the inclusion of preschoolers with disabilities in their center. For the past three months, Special Education providers have been coaching and mentoring Head Start teachers and teacher assistants in achieving the goals identified in the early childhood coaching plan. The results and progress achieved discussed during the team meetings held on November 28 and 29 were all positive.

Congratulations to the Parents, Head Start Teachers and Teacher Assistants, and Special Education Providers for their continued commitment to supporting preschoolers with disabilities in Head Start settings!

During an Early Childhood Coaching session, the Olbedekall Head Start Center celebrates the progress Elika (sitting on her mother’s lap) has made since being enrolled in the program.

Elaine Eclavea (far left), Guam CEDDERS Early Childhood Consultant, conducted training on Early Childhood Coaching in the Republic of Palau. The Olbedekall Head Start Center Team received incentives as part of their participation in the Early Childhood Coaching pilot program.

Follow-Up Webinar on Guam Common Core

by Guam CEDDERS Uncategorized

CRT-TA and Transition Specialist “walk-through” the “live binder” website during the webinar. (L-R) Janice Almoguera, Norine Guzman, Portia Topasna, and Ron Gogo.

Guam CEDDERS Consultant Mary Schillinger (shown on TV) facilitates the three-hour webinar on December 6.

As a follow-up to the August 2017 on-site training on the Common Core and the Special Education Student, Guam CEDDERS Consultant Mary Schillinger conducted a three-hour webinar on December 6 with 15 Guam Division of Special Education Consulting Resource Teachers – Technical Assistance (CRT-TA) and Transition Specialists. The purpose for the webinar was to continue strengthening the supports provided to schools for students with disabilities to have access to the general education curriculum aligned to the Common Core State Standards. The session served as a refresher on the Common Core, with facilitated practice on developing Common Core aligned Individualized Education Program goals. In addition, the session provided a review of the resources available on the “live binder” website, which is intended to be a resource for ongoing support to the schools.

Project Bisita Celebrates First Graduation

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

Sherill Tinio (right), Project Bisita I Familia home visitor, poses with one of her families that graduated from the program on September 16.

Relida Sumaylo (right), Project Bisita I Familia home visitor, poses with one of her families that graduated from the program on September 16.

Project Bisita I Familia graduates 10 families from the program on September 16 at the Pacific Star Resort and Spa. The families pose for a group photo following the ceremony.

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.