CEDDERS and Guam LAUNCH Co-Present at SAMHSA 2017 Summer Grantee Training Institute

by Guam CEDDERS Guam Launch

From June 13 – 16, Cohort 6 Project LAUNCH grantees gathered in Rockville, Maryland for the Summer 2017 Grantee Training Institute. The Training Institute was an opportunity to learn new strategies and gain support and guidance from national experts, graduated Project LAUNCH sites, and other Cohort 6 grantees. During the Training Institute, CEDDERS Training Associate, Bonnie Brandt, and Guam LAUNCH Project Director, Helene Paulino, co-presented during a break out session titled: Culturally Grounded Approaches to Supporting Families and Communities through Project LAUNCH. Their presentation highlighted the Cultural Cafés which CEDDERS facilitated in 2016 to gather and validate information about cultural values, strengths, and practices that might influence families’ participation in Guam LAUNCH activities. During the presentation, participants were provided with an overview of the cultural café process, key findings, and recommendations for how this strategy might support decision making related to cultural adaptations in service delivery and evaluation.

Guam Early Learning Council Quarterly Meeting

by Guam CEDDERS Guam Early Learning Council

On June 30, Vera Blaz, Guam CEDDERS Training Associate, and Elaine Eclavea, educational consultant and Guam Early Learning Council (GELC) co-chairperson, discussed the Early Childhood Professional Development Subcommittee at the GELC Quarterly Meeting held at the Dusit Thani Resort.
Christine Calvo, First Lady of Guam and GELC co-chair, calls the GELC quarterly meeting to order at the Dusit Thani Guam Resort on June 30. (Seated L-R) Vince Leon Guerrero, Office of the Governor; James Gillan, Department of Public Health & Social Services (DPHSS) Director; First Lady Christine Calvo; and Elaine Eclavea, educational consultant and GELC co-chairperson.

Guam CEDDERS Participated in Kariñu’s Strategic Planning Retreat

by Guam CEDDERS Project Kariñu

On June 2, Bonnie Brandt, Guam CEDDERS Training Associate, facilitated the Guam LAUNCH Community Evaluation Advisory Team (CEAT) meeting during the Kariñu Strategic Planning Event held at the Dusit Thani Guam Resort.
(L-R) Gerry Lunod, PEACE Office; Bonnie Brandt, Guam CEDDERS; and Helene Paulino & Terry Aguon, Karinu, pose for a picture during the Kariñu Strategic Planning Retreat held on June 2 at the Dusit Thani Guam Resort.
On June 2, Kariñu staff along with Guam CEDDERS Evaluation Team participated in team building activities lead by Gerry Lunod from the PEACE Office during the Kariñu Strategic Planning Retreat. (Sitting L-R): Bertha Kachita, Lolita Leon Guerrero, Antoinette Latson, Kariñu; and Bernadette Shisler, Guam CEDDERS; (Standing L-R) Tammy Bamba, Pauline Camacho, Lavina Camacho, Isabella Fagota, Kariñu; Bonnie Brandt, Guam CEDDERS; Gerry Lunod, PEACE Office; Helene Paulino, Terry Aguon, Marie Baleto-Sherwin, Jamie Freitas, JoBeth Aquino, Kariñu.
On June 30, Helene Paulino (standing beside flowchart), Kariñu, discussed the flowchart of services during the Kariñu Strategic Planning Retreat held at the Dusit Thani Guam Resort.

Guam CEDDERS Participated in the 7th Annual Healthy Hearts, Healthy Living Fair

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Model Services

On June 25, Guam CEDDERS participated in the 7th Annual Healthy Hearts, Healthy Living Fair held at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church located in Toto. (Pictured L-R) Brittney Cruz, Parents Empowering Parents (PEP); and Christina Jung, Guam CEDDERS Research Associate.
On June 25, Brittney Cruz (sitting left), PEP; Marie Wusstig (sitting right), Guam CEDDERS Training Associate; and John Wusstig (standing), gather for a group photo at the 7th Annual Healthy Hearts, Healthy Living outreach event held at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church located in Toto.

Guam CEDDERS Facilitated Routines-Based Interview (RBI) On-Site Training

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Training

GEIS Staff posed for a photo after the RBI Coaching training on May 25 (L-R) Pat Mantanona, R-Leen Mario, Elizabeth Blas, Ramon Castro, Bertha Cabrera, Tisha Sanchez, Mike Cepeda, Gajee Parsons, Francine Camacho, Rosie Tkaczuk, Sherry Cruz, Dr. Naomi Younggren, Grace Loyola, Cookie Treltas, and Joanie Manibusan.
Naomi Younggren, Ph.D., was on Guam from May 22 – 26 providing on-site Routines-Based Intervention (RBI) Coaching training and technical assistance to the Guam Early Intervention System (GEIS) Staff.

Document & Website Accessibility Training

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Training
On May 31, Sherolyn Guerrero, Guam CEDDERS Disability Media Specialist, and Leah Abelon, GSAT Coordinator, conducted a training on Document and Website Accessibility. 15 individuals attended the training, which include representatives from the Judiciary of Guam, Guam Law Library, University of Guam, Department of Integrated Services for Individuals with Disabilities, and the Guam Community College.

Guam Early Learning Guidelines Training

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Training
On May 27, Vera Blaz, CEDDERS Training Associate, facilitated a workshop on how to use the Guam Early Learning Guidelines to help nurture children’s growth and development. 64 child care directors and providers attended the training that was held at Guam Community College and conducted in collaboration with Joe Montague, Program Coordinator at the Department of Public Health and Social Services Child Care Development Fund.

Guam EHDI Evaluation Work Group Meeting With Stakeholders

by Guam CEDDERS Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention
On June 1, Elaine Eclavea, Guam CEDDERS Consultant, facilitated an Evaluation Work Group meeting with Stakeholders for the Guam Early Hearing Detection and Intervention, EHDI-IS system to review the EHDI data for 2016 and provide input in the areas of: Data Quality, Timeliness, Representativeness, Acceptability, Effectiveness, and Usefulness. Pictured (Left -Right): Christina Jung, Research Associate; Pat Mantanona, GEIS Program Coordinator; Leah Malanum, Sagua Managu; Therese Cruz, Sagua Managu; JJ Mendiola, Data Coordinator; Jenika Ballesta, Research Associate; Marie Wusstig, Training Associate; Elaine Eclavea, CEDDERS Consultant.

Project Bisita I Familia Advisory Committee Meeting

by Guam CEDDERS Department of Public Health & Social Services Project Bisita I Familia
Project Bisita I Familia staff held its Advisory Committee meeting on May 23 at the Lagu Resource Center, Dededo. (Standing; L-R): Maria Dixon, Administrative Assistant; Pat Mantanona​, Program Coordinator​​; Diana Santos, Social Worker; Nahleen Heard, HRSA/MCHB Project Officer; Vera Blaz, Training Associate; Terry Aguon,​ Human Service Program Administrator​; Helene Paulino, Program Coordinator; Relida Sumaylo, Project Supervisor; JJ Mendiola, Data Coordinator.(Kneeling; L-R): Sherill Tinio, Home Visitor; Audrey Topasna, Program Coordinator; Margarita Gay, Project Director; Jenika Ballesta, CQI Coordinator; Elizabeth Calvo, Social Marketing Coordinator.

DPHSS Project Bisita I Familia Staff Attend Site Review Exit Conference

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Training Project Bisita I Familia
Project Bisita I Familia held an exit conference on May 26, to discuss the summary of findings from the federal on-site visit conducted by the Region IX Project Officer and representatives from The Bizzell Group, project consultants. Pictured (L-R): Diana Santos, DPHSS Social Worker; Jenika Ballesta, Guam CEDDERS Research Associate and Bisita, Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI)Coordinator; Vera Blaz; Guam CEDDERS Training Associate; Margarita Gay, DPHSS Bisita Project Director; JJ Mendiola, Guam CEDDERS Interoperability Data Manager; Maria Dixon, DPHSS Bisita Administrative Assistant; James Gillan, DPHSS Director; Audrey Topasna, DPHSS Bisita Program Coordinator; Relida Sumaylo, DPHSS Bisita Project Supervisor; Sherill Tinio, DPHSS Bisita Home Visitor; Ronda Waller, Programmatic Reviewer, Bizzell Group; Nahleen Heard, KRSA/MCHB Project Officer; George Dines, Fiscal Reviewer Bizzell Group.