Special Announcement: The Anaheim Marriott Hotel is now full. Please feel free to contact one of the overflow hotels. State rate reservations are not guaranteed. Neither Sac State nor First 5 California endorses these properties and invite attendees to solicit other venues as they feel appropriate. Attendees should check back with the Anaheim Marriott Hotel to see if/when reservations become available.

Mini-Institutes

 

In order to allow a more in-depth exploration of several topics, we have scheduled the following mini-institutes on Thursday afternoon. Mini-institutes will run concurrently with workshops but will be twice as long.

 

What Does It Mean to Be Culturally Proficient in Multi-Cultural California?
Cultural competence is a way of being that enables people and organizations to engage effectively in a variety of cross-cultural environments. It is not an off-the-shelf program, but rather an approach that starts with the core values and cultural expectations of the specific organization. This mini-institute will feature an interactive training by highly regarded author and consultant, Kikanza Nuri Robins. Her approach assists individuals and organizations in addressing issues that arise in a diverse environment. It has benefited a wide range of organizations across the country, including schools, hospitals, universities, not-for-profit organizations and faith based organizations. The four basic tools that will be introduced in this interactive session are: The Cultural Proficiency Continuum, The Essential Elements of Cultural Proficiency, The Guiding Principles of Cultural Proficiency, and The Barriers to Cultural Proficiency.

 

Changing Policy for Kids: What Is the Role of First 5?
Goal number one in First 5 California’s Strategic Plan calls for implementing a comprehensive policy agenda that elevates the needs of children 0 to 5. This is a goal widely shared by First 5 commissions throughout the state. First 5 California executive director Kris Perry will moderate this mini-institute, providing a forum to explore what it means to advocate successfully and win real policy change based on the experience of First 5. Harriet Meyer and a roster of seasoned policymakers, advocates and researchers will share their thoughts on how best to present the First 5 experience to influence lawmakers and change state and federal law. There will be an opportunity to discuss how to use program evaluation to develop policy, how to advocate successfully in tight budget times, the particular challenges posed in a term-limited Legislature, and the impact of national policy initiatives on First 5 work in California. This mini-institute will include small group exercises focused on developing state policy based on First 5 experience.

 

Reaching Families, Finding Children, Building Systems: Developmental Screening in Context
Through School Readiness Programs, early childhood mental health initiatives, the Special Needs Project, and home visiting programs, First 5 county commissions are rolling out developmental screening as a key component of their commitment to prevention and early identification of children’s needs. This mini-institute will explore a variety of best practices in screening, focused on the role of screening within various contexts and program designs. The mini-instute will begin with a presentation by Dr. Barry Zuckerman, chief of the Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at Boston City Hospital and professor of pediatrics at Boston University School of Medicine. Dr. Zuckerman will discuss the Healthy Steps Program and other multi-disciplinary initiatives he has been involved in that incorporate developmental screening. In the second half of the mini-instute, participants will present data from ongoing screening projects in their own counties that use a variety of screening protocols. Participants will have opportunities to explore ways to reach new families and develop successful screening partnerships.