2017 Early On Conference, Fill Your Bucket: Connect, Strengthen and Reflect - FULL

Dates:

November 15-16, 2017

Location:

Radisson Plaza Hotel & Suites
100 West Michigan Ave
Kalamazoo, MI 49007

100 West Michigan Ave
Kalamazoo, MI 49007

Cost:

$187.00
Single Day Cost: $95.00

Details:

This year’s conference, Fill Your Bucket: Connect, Strengthen and Reflect, offers opportunities for early intervention personnel to consider the foundation of quality practices in many areas of early intervention, including: building the capacity of parents to support positive social-emotional outcomes, support for roles as providers, feeding, autism, infant brains and language acquisition, trauma, hearing loss, and much more. A variety of sessions are offered that meet the needs of providers, administrators, faculty, and parents. This year we’re pleased to feature Diana J. LaRocco, our opening keynote, who will also offer workshops throughout the conference.

Register early and save!
Early bird conference registration is $154.
After October 9, registration is $187.

Click here to download the 2017 Early On Conference Brochure.

This page is for Conference registration ONLY you must register for the Pre-Conference here.

Hotel Information

We have taken over the Kalamazoo Radisson Plaza Hotel & Suites! Our participants have filled the Early On block; there are only a few rooms available, outside of the block and at an increased rate at the Radisson.

Holiday Inn West
2747 S 11th St, Kalamazoo

To accommodate overflow, we also have a block of rooms available at the Holiday Inn West. To access our rate at this hotel, please contact the Holiday Inn West directly at 1-269-375-6000 and mention the Early On Conference or the Early On block code of R0S (R zero S).

Radisson Plaza Hotel
100 West Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo

For conference participants, a block of rooms is reserved at the Radisson Plaza Hotel in Kalamazoo’s downtown, at the nightly group rate starting at $119.00 for a single or double standard room, with a 5% accommodation tax and any additional taxes that apply. These rates are applicable for overnight accommodations Monday, November 13, through Wednesday, November 15, 2017. The Radisson Plaza Hotel is offering a reduced self-parking rate to all conference participants and overnight guests at $5.00 per day.

The Radisson Plaza Hotel is happy to honor the Early On discounted group rate for our block of rooms until October 23, 2017. Please note that the group rate may not be able to be offered should the room block fill before the cutoff date. Please remember to bring your tax exempt ID information with you to supply to hotel staff upon check-in.

Reservation can be made by:
Calling the Radisson Hotel directly at 1-269-343-3333
Or my using the online system: http://radissonkz.com/

Agenda:

View the Agenda

Hide the Agenda

Wednesday - November 15, 2017

Session 1: Wednesday - 10:30am to 12:30pm

A - Why It’s Wrong to Assume Infants Are Resilient: The Effects of Pathogenic Care and Attachment on Infant Neurological and Behavioral Development

Stephanie Grant, Ph.D., Developmental Enhancement Behavioral Health

Infants are often incorrectly assumed to be naturally resilient. The development of resiliency, along with other developments in infancy, is in part dependent on attachment experiences the infant has. This workshop will give an overview of infant resiliency, how early adversity affects an infant’s development and how early interventionists can help encourage the development of many skills in at-risk situations.

Arcadia Ballroom 1

B - Winning with Different People

Michelle Burkhard, MA, ECE, Ph.D. Student, Grow By 1, LLC

This fast-paced session will provide many thought-provoking activities, discussions, and ideas for working with parents, children, coworkers, family members and friends to form positive relationships. Practical strategies, based on research and best practices, will be shared within relevant examples. Participants will leave with ideas and strategies they can use immediately to encourage good connections and positive relationships.

Great Lakes IV-V

C - The Monsters Under the Crib

Susan Wit, MEd, OT, Early On Oakland
Lynn Legg, PT, Early On Oakland and Royal Oak Schools

Positioning children on their backs to sleep has resulted in unintended “monsters.” Research indicates a rise in motor delays, torticollis, and plagiocephaly since implementation of the Safe to Sleep campaign. This session will help Early On providers to identify and understand these “monsters” and learn simple strategies to promote typical development within daily routines.

Prairies

D - “Why Can’t I Connect with This Family?” (This session has reached capacity)

Kellie Gritzmaker, MSW, Ingham ISD
Kathy Schubert, MA SLP, Ingham ISD

This session will assist the early interventionist to recognize different factors that present challenges in the parent-provider relationship and offer tangible strategies to improve the parent-provider relationship.

Oaks

E - Feeding: A Holistic Approach (This session has reached capacity)

Patricia Henton, OTD, OTR/L, ICA, Huntington University
Lorraine Hemmeter, MHS, OTR/L, Livingston ESA

This session will provide an overview of the complex factors involved in feeding difficulties and review the evidence that supports a holistic, relationship-based approach. Participants will have many opportunities to reflect on their feeding experiences. Participants will also discuss ways to implement evidence-based interventions that support family relationships and improve occupational performance in feeding.

Meadows

F - Engaging Families: Michigan’s Early On Providers’ Perspectives on Involving Families in Everyday Practice

Tricia Foster, Ph.D., Eastern Michigan University
Kalli Decker, Ph.D., Montana State University

This session shares the results from a survey conducted at the 2015 Early On Conference exploring providers’ services related to engaging families and utilizing everyday routines. Practitioners and researchers will gain insight into early intervention practices in Michigan and their alignment with DEC Recommended Practices. The presentation of study findings will be followed by group discussion on engaging families and addressing barriers (faculty track).

Stone Theater

G - Early Literacy and Language Through Play

Ann Gendron, MA CCC-SLP, Marquette-Alger RESA
Michelle DenBeste, MA CCC-SLP, Marquette-Alger RESA

This session will explore what the experts are saying about the importance of play and how play has changed for today’s children. Participants will become familiar with how play may impact language development and early literacy skills as well as characteristics of a child and adult during play and strategies to assist with early literacy and language development.

Glens

Session 2: Wednesday - 1:45pm to 3:00pm

A - Mobilizing and Supporting Advocacy: One Face of Leadership

Diana J. LaRocco, Ed.D., Goodwin College, East Hartford, CT

Participants in this highly interactive session will assess their awareness of current political and social issues and advocacy. Participants will also identify advocacy activities in which they might engage and formulate a plan to mobilize and support the advocacy for young children and their families.

Oaks

B - Supporting Listening and Spoken Language: The Partnership of Early On, the Medical Team and the Family

Amy Miller, MNS, CCC-SLP, Ingham ISD
Ellen Thomas, MA, CCC-SLP, LSLS, CertAVT, University of Michigan Health System

Many children with profound hearing loss are receiving cochlear implants as early as one year of age. Effective collaboration and coordination between Listening and Spoken Language Specialists (LSLS/Cert AVT), Early On service providers and families is crucial. This session will outline a model for this, including shared outcomes, communication and progress monitoring.

Stone Theater

C - Increased Funding for Early On Providers

Edward Wollmann, MUP, Michigan Grants Funding, Inc.

Federal and state funding for Early On programs has been shrinking for years. One possible alternative source of funding would be grants from the 2,500 or so Michigan foundations that award over $800 million in grants every year. But most of these funders don’t have websites; they are Michigan’s ‘hidden’ funders. This workshop will present new research that Early On providers can use to develop an effective, evidence-based grant seeking system to find and connect with Michigan’s ‘hidden’ funders.

Great Lakes IV-V

D - Motor Development: Allowing Time and Space for Gross Motor Skill Development (This session has reached capacity)

Terra Dodds, MPT, Clinton County RESA

Learn how to recognize typical and atypical gross motor development in infants and toddlers. Tips and strategies that parents and early interventionists can do to support motor development will be shared.

Arcadia Ballroom 1

E - Caregiver Coaching Experiences of Early Interventionists in Michigan

Sarah Douglas, Ph.D., Michigan State University

Caregiver coaching is a recommended practice in early intervention. This session will highlight a mixed-methods study to understand early interventionists’ experiences and perceptions of coaching caregivers. Survey, interview and coaching log data from our study of early interventionists in Michigan will be presented. Implications to practice will be discussed (faculty track).

Prairies

F - Reflections in the Water: Tipping the Trauma Bucket (This session has reached capacity)

Rachel Harmon, LMSW, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
Corrie Reil-Erickson, BA, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
Mark A. Sloane, DO, Children’s Trauma Assessment Center at Western Michigan University

Early On service providers receive mandated CAPTA referrals from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services so they are often times working with families who are involved in the child welfare system. This session will delve into a discussion of parent-child engagement and families involved in navigating the child welfare system, which includes working with various service providers (like Early On). This session will also touch on secondary trauma.

Glens

G - Inclusion Matters: Ability, Opportunity and Dignity

Sandee Koski, MA, Michigan Alliance for Families
Kelly Orginski, BS, Michigan Alliance for Families

Knowing the lifelong impact of inclusion for people with disabilities can seem very far off in the future for infants and toddlers. As champions for infants/toddlers and their families, your knowledge and experience can help families make informed decisions. Join us for an opportunity to broaden your understanding of social inclusion and social exclusion in education and beyond.

Meadows

Session 3: Wednesday - 3:30pm to 4:45pm

A - Your HERO: Personal Capacities of Hope, Efficacy, Resilience and Optimism

Diana J. LaRocco, Ed.D., Goodwin College, East Hartford, CT

In this highly interactive session, participants will learn about an evidence- and strengths-based model for building personal capacities. Participants will engage in a facilitated discussion and activities about how they can assess, develop, and sustain the psychological capacities of confidence, hope, optimism, and resilience in themselves and others.

Great Lakes IV-V

B - Lil’Snackers: An Early Intervention Family Training

Patricia Henton, OTD, OTR/L, ICA, Livingston ESA
Lorraine Hemmeter, MHS, OTR/L, Livingston ESA

Lil’ Snackers is a family training program that provides early intervention for children with picky and problem eating. Lil’ Snackers provides learning activities, play, and a combination of evidence-based strategies to help children become healthy eaters. This session provides many hands-on activities to help participants understand the developmental process of eating and learn strategies to support families.

Prairies

C - SLEEP: Information, Strategies and Studies

Terra Dodds, MPT, Clinton County RESA

Difficulty with sleep is a consistent concern raised by parents during Early On assessment, but it is a difficult issue for providers to address. Respecting family culture and acknowledging the complex factors that go into successful sleep training can feel overwhelming. This session will go over the basics of why sleep is important, why young children aren’t getting enough of it, and what early interventionists can do to help.

Glens

D - Impact of the Environment on a Child’s Interaction and Attention (This session has reached capacity)

Teri Melchert, OTR/L, South Lyon Community Schools
Jacquie Voss, BS, South Lyon Community Schools

This session’s purpose is to identify environmental impacts on a child’s interaction and attention during daily routines. Information presented will include foundational sensory processing concepts, task analysis of routines and what contributes to a child’s attention and interaction. Early interventionists will walk away knowing how to help a child’s family organize their environment for success.

Arcadia Ballroom 1

E - Our Journey to a Primary Service Provider Model

Barb Perry, MA, Ottawa Area ISD
Melissa Black, MA, CCC-SLP, Ottawa Area ISD

This session will highlight our journey to implement the Primary Service Provider (PSP) model of service delivery. Beginning with the administration’s research through our current use of the model, we will discuss the struggles as well as the successes while sharing tips we have learned along the way. Time will be allotted for questions from those service areas who are thinking of, or are actually beginning, the process.

Meadows

F - Facebook 101: Best Practices and Tips to Maximize Your Page

Victoria Meeder, BA, Office of Innovative Projects, Clinton County RESA
Jennifer Koenigsknecht, BS, Office of Innovative Projects, Clinton County RESA

Social media is one effective strategy for meeting the child find and public awareness requirements of Early On under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. This session will provide a variety of strategies for outreach that can be implemented at the local level, using both Facebook pages and Facebook groups.

Oaks

G - Preparing Pre-Service Professionals to Work with Infants and Toddlers with Special Needs and Their Families: Tools for Trainers and Instructors

Claire Vallotton, Ph.D., Michigan State University
Tricia Foster, Ph.D., Eastern Michigan University

This session may be of interest to those wanting to support early intervention competencies for their service area. This duo will present a competencies framework for faculty teaching pre-service professionals to work with infants and toddlers with special needs and their families, and a tool, the KiDS-WITS, to assess these competencies (knowledge, dispositions and skills). Three competency dimensions include strength-based approaches to young children, family-centered practice and policies for inclusive practice (faculty track).

Stone Theater

Thursday - November 16, 2017

Session 4: Thursday - 10:30am to 12:30pm

A - Maternal Responsiveness and Its Application to Early Childhood Development

Megan Webb, MEd, Van Buren ISD
Jamila Beulle, MA, CCC-SLP, Van Buren ISD

This session will help Early On professionals and caregivers explore how maternal responsiveness (contingent responsiveness) affects a child’s early development. Participants will learn what contingent responsiveness is, how it impacts child development, and what intervention techniques can encourage parents to develop responsiveness in natural environments. Resources and strategies for improving caregiver responsiveness using the coaching model will be provided.

Meadows

B - There’s More to Communication Than Just Speech: Using Daily Routines to Encourage Language Development in Young Children

Sheryl J.S. Covington, MPA, MA, CCC-SLP, Detroit Public Schools Community District

Early language development doesn’t happen in isolation. It requires continual interaction between the child, the parent (or caregiver), and the environment(s) in which the child exists. This session provides an overview of typical language development and presents strategies that caregivers can utilize to improve the language development of their children as they engage in their everyday routines.

Prairies

C - Setting the Stage for Future Success: Linking Early On Practices and Transitions to Long-Term Outcomes!

Sondra Stegenga, MS, OTR/L, MEd Ph.D. Student, University of Oregon
Sharon Field-Hoffman, Ed.D., Wayne State University
June Gothberg, Ph.D., Western Michigan University

This session will provide a unique overview of evidence-based practices (EBPs) across the lifespan including the critical role of Early On providers in setting the stage for successful transitions and long term outcomes. Information on EBPs across the lifespan with special focus on early social emotional and self-determination skills will be covered. Resources for providers are also included.

Stone Theater

D - Good Thing You Are Cute! Addressing BIG Problem Behaviors in Little Ones with ABA Principles You Can Apply Today

Ben Woiwode, MEd, BCBA, Ottawa Area ISD

What do you do when he throws his toy car at your head, or when she screams every time you ask her to pick up the toys? If you are exhausted after your visit with the family, then surely the caregiver is as well. This session will share how you can take four principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) into homes with you today.

Arcadia Ballroom 1

E - Strategies to Support Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Lisa Brewer, MOT, OTR/L, Saginaw Valley State University
Holly Nichols, S.PSYS, Ionia ISD

This session will review evidence-based strategies to support early intervention practices in working with children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families. Specific frames of reference for intervention will include sensory-based strategies, behavioral intervention and relationship-based approaches to support children with ASD in the context of their typical daily routines.

Glens

F - Musical Visits: Nurturing Relationships with Music, Movement and Literature (This session has reached capacity)

Gari Stein, BA, Music for Little Folks

Sing and dance? You can do it. When working with young children and their families, music can be your best friend, whatever the setting. Infants are seemingly wired for music, toddlers for movement, and that is how they learn. This session will provide research, benefits, methodology and simple activities to share with families for use during caregiving and daily routines. Join us to nurture relationships, lift spirits, share laughter, hugs and more.

Oaks

G - Reinventing Service Coordination and Teaming Meetings

Tara LaCross, MA, CCC-SLP, Ingham ISD
Amy Miller, MA, Ingham ISD

This year, we had several team members on a workgroup with the goal of improving our teaming process. Utilizing the work of Dathan Rush and M’Lisa Shelden, we modified the teaming process and implemented changes within our team meetings. This session will share our experiences with implementing successful team meetings.

Great Lakes IV-V

Session 5: Thursday - 1:30pm to 3:30pm

A - This is Your Brain Online: The Impact of Digital Technology and Social Media on Child Development

Scott Becker, Ph.D., Michigan State University
Aislinn Saap, MA, ABD, LLP, Michigan State University

A growing body of research from a variety of disciplines indicates that the widespread use of digital technology – including computers, the internet, video games, and smart phones – has a measurable, negative impact on the development and adaptation of the human brain, resulting in significant changes in our sleep, mood, concentration, memory and learning, as well as behaviors such as risk-taking and aggression. This effect appears to be more pronounced for the younger generation of so-called “digital natives”: those who have been using digital technology and social media during their critical stages of neurological development. This session reviews the current research on this topic and explores the implications for the education and psychological development of children, adolescents, and young adults.

Arcadia Ballroom

Deadline Passed:

The registration deadline for this event has passed.