1. Hilton/Early Head Start Training Program
Training Strategies and Resources that Support and Sustain Community Inclusion
Linda Brekken, Ph.D
Rob Corso, Ph.D.
Tamanika Odinga, Ed.D.
California Institute on Human Services
Sonoma State University
Sixth National Early Childhood Inclusion Institute July 25-27, 2006

2. Inclusion Training: Challenges and Strategies
What are the biggest issues that you face in facilitating inclusion?
What are the most effective strategies for creating changes that last over time?

3. Mission
To support Early Head Start and Migrant and Seasonal Head Start staff, and family members, in collaboration with Early Intervention and other community partners to develop skills and strategies for including infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families.

4. Program Facts
Public-private partnership between the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation and the Head Start Bureau.
Purpose: to augment learning opportunities for Early Head Start staff and families in serving infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families.

5. Hilton/Early Head Start Training Program Components
SpecialQuests - Team-based, intensive learning opportunities, provided over time
Learning Coaches provide supportive on site follow-up
SpecialQuest Training Guides and Videos - provide resources so participants can “share the training”
Continuous Improvement - logic model driven evaluation process which provides data for program improvement, decision-making and assessing impact

6. Key Themes
Goal: To create change in communities to promote the inclusion of infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families.
Themes
Belonging
Families as Informed Decision Makers
Collaboration and Teaming
Reflection and Continuous Improvement
Implementation and Sustainability

7. SpecialQuests
Intensive, interactive learning experiences, using a sequential, skill-building curriculum, spanning 4 days
Teams from each EHS/MSHS grantee and their community partners annually participate in regional SpecialQuests over the course of 4 years
The Hilton/Early Head Start Training Program conducts intensive training events called SpecialQuests - to put into practice what we know about how to create sustainable change using effective staff development strategies.
The training continues over the course of 4 years.
Teams include families of infants and toddlers with disabilities, EHS administrators, teachers and disabilities coordinators and their Early Intervention partners.

8. Learning Coaches
A Learning Coach works with each team during SpecialQuests in developing goals
Learning Coaches provide on- site follow-up to support implementation
Learning Coaches are the heart of the Program and provide support and follow up to assist teams in implementing their goals and what they learned at SQ

9. SpecialQuest Teams Family members of children with disabilities
Early Intervention Partners
EHS Administrators
EHS Disabilities Staff
EHS teachers or home visitors
Child care partners
Head Start partners

10. Participants Phase I (1998-2002)- SpecialQuest Graduates:
240 EHS/MSHS programs participated for 4 years
50 SpecialQuest Ambassadors
Phase II ( ) Current Participants:
263 EHS/MSHS Programs
All Regional Offices

11. Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities
Infants and toddlers with disabilities are those from birth to three years, as identified under the Part C Program (Individuals with Disabilities Act) in their state.
45 CFR (a)(2)

12. HSPS (c)
At least 10% of enrollment opportunities in EHS/MSHS programs must be available to infants and toddlers with disabilities.

13. SpecialQuest
SpecialQuest provides support to participants in developing the attitudes, knowledge and skills to welcome and appropriately serve infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families in inclusive settings. Participating programs individualize and support quality services to all infants and toddlers.

14. What we’ve learned from SpecialQuest Graduates and Participants
EHS programs increased the number of children with disabilities served
Programs developed strategies to support family advocacy and leadership
Collaboration between Early Head Start and Early Intervention resulted in increased services to families.
Teams shared the training with others in their community

15. Enrollment of Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities

16. Supporting Families as Informed Decision-Makers

17. Implementation & Sustainability
Of the 817 Action Plans developed in SQ II, 73% were completed or are still in progress.
Across all of the content strands of SpecialQuest, teams report to be moving towards fully implementing sustainable practices to support high quality services to infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families.

18. Share the Training: Phases I & II

19. 5-Year Action Plans

20. Phase I Programs Still Meeting

21. Using SpecialQuest Training Guides & Videos

22. Our Training Model Head Heart Hands Materials SpecialQuest
Continuous Improvement
Learning Coaches
Graduates & Ambassadors

23. Framework of the “Hilton Model”
Relationships Relationships
Relationships
Parallel Process
Modeling

24. One Piece is not Enough

25. Without all of the Pieces the Picture is Incomplete

26. Sustainability Clear Direction and Vision Administrative Support
Active Involvement by All
Reciprocal Community Partnerships
Time and Practice
Continuous Improvement

27. Clear Direction and Vision

28. Administrative Support

29. Active Involvement by All

30. Reciprocal Community Partnerships

31. Time and Practice

32. Continuous Improvement

33. Sustain The Quest
What stood out for you as you listened and watched?

34. Shareback one or two strategies
Application
What sustainability strategies did you observe in the video that might be useful for you?
What other sustainability strategies do you use in your training/practice?
Shareback one or two strategies

35. Reflections and Planning
What were the most exciting or innovative ideas that you heard today?
What ideas could you implement when you return to your program?
What supports would you need to implement these ideas?

36. SpecialQuest Multimedia Training Library
Coming Soon: November 2006!
Features:
Award Winning DVDs in English and Spanish
Facilitators’ Guide - to learn how to provide effective, engaging training
Facilitators’ Planning Worksheets
Facilitators’ Scripts - to guide the facilitators in training
Handouts in English and Spanish

37. SpecialQuest Multimedia Training Library
These easy-to-use, interactive materials are perfect for early care and education professionals, parents, inclusion specialists, early interventionists, training and technical assistance providers, and college or university faculty.
Titles available in the library include:
Volume III
Collaboration and Teaming
Volume I
Including Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities
Volume II
Building Relationships with Families

38. www.specialquest.org For More Information Learn About: Contact:
SpecialQuest Ambassadors
Resources and Links
Evaluation data and relevant articles
Academic Credit and CEUs
Training Model
SpecialQuest Curriculum and Follow-Up
Family Stories
Contact:
Hilton/Early Head Start Training Program Staff
Current SpecialQuest teams ( )
SpecialQuest Graduate teams ( )
SpecialQuest Ambassadors

39. Clear Direction and Vision
“Since our last SpecialQuest training each team member has returned to their job with a renewed vision in their support of infant and toddlers with disabilities and their families. Our jobs are such that we are fortunate enough to meet again and again and have been able to return to our SpecialQuest goals that support this vision.”

40. Administrative Support
“Three years ago a plan was developed to transition children. A meeting was held with staff from all service areas, including Early Head Start and Head Start teachers to discuss any issues. Changing the system has been slow. We're making positive changes thanks to SpecialQuest. Higher level administrators are now more on board, and as a result, we are having smoother transitions.”

41. Active Involvement by All
“SpecialQuest has been presented to the interagency council, and participation on SpecialQuest helped with building relationships between all levels of the Early Head Start staff. Program staff are working to help therapists and direct service staff feel comfortable working in natural environments rather than pulling children out for services.”

42. Reciprocal Community Partnerships
“The structure and expectations of SpecialQuest provided the opportunity and face-to-face time with key partners and our team. Now we feel as though we are all on the same page. We completed formal agreements in each of our seven counties. We started with one draft that was adjusted to fit the needs, expectations and focus/philosophy of that particular partnership. It took conversation, thought and more discussion to develop each agreement. An important "by product" of the process of developing each agreement was the strengthening of each of the seven partnerships.

43. Time and Practice
“SpecialQuest was the "seed" that has "taken root" and is "blossoming". Even though staff has changed, our long-term goals are in place and we are making progress in achieving them.”

44. Continuous Improvement
“ We maintain quarterly meetings. We review and revise the referral process and the communications notebook for continued improvement. Teachers are a part of the evaluation process. It helped to improve collaboration.”