The Early Intervention Training Program at the University of Illinois (EITP) and IDHS Bureau of Early Intervention invite Child and Family Connections (CFCs) to join us for a Pre-Conference with Facilitated Discussions for Specialized Roles on February 22, 2024 and the CFC Conference, The Many Hats We Wear - the Many Roles We Share, on March 1, 2024. Connect with your colleagues in our interactive Zoom environments; listen and engage with expert presenters; and learn from our collective challenges and successes.
The keynote presentation by Dr. Neha Sangwan, a physician, engineer, author, speaker, and communication expert. Dr. Sangwan empowers individuals, leaders, and teams with effective communication tools that address stress, prevent burnout, inspire accountability, and empower collaboration. She consults for top organizations like Google, American Express, Kaiser Permanente, and the American Heart Association. Dr. Sangwan has shared her work across three TEDx stages and authored two foundational books: TalkRx: Five Steps to Honest Conversations for Connection, Health, and Happiness; and Powered by Me: From Burned Out to Fully Charged at Work and in Life.
Additional conference sessions include tips for efficient and effective organizational and time management skills, exploration of ideas, tools, and strategies for supporting families, deepening our understanding of infant brain development and its relationship with the adult regulation system, understanding the art of building strong relationships virtually, digging deeper into the knowledge and skills for service coordinators through practical application, developing IFSP outcomes and understanding trauma and its impact on child and family development. The conference will conclude by recognizing award recipients for their exceptional work and contributions to the field!
Materials and Resources
This section contains handouts and resources from the 2024 Virtual CFC Pre-Conference and Conference and will be updated with new items as they are shared by presenters, so please check in after the conference to see what is new!
Pre-Conference
Facilitated Discussion & Networking for Service Coordination (SC) Trainers by Rochelle McLarty and Dayna Jones
Facilitated Discussion & Networking for CFC Managers & Assistant Managers by Kathy Snyder
Conference
A Closer Look at Knowledge and Skills for Service Coordinators (KSSC): Scenarios and Reflections by Adriana Gallego, MS, CPM, Melissa Hardison, and Roxane Romanick
A Guide to Effective Time Management & Organization by Elizabeth Friedman, Melissa Hardison, Heather Waters, and Shawna Gurney
Authentic Partnership with Families in Early Intervention: A Pathway to a Child and Family's Success by Sadia Batool
Developing and Maintaining Relationships with Families during LVV: The Art of Your Online Presence by Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart
KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: The Prescription for Time Saving Communication that Builds Rapport! by Dr. Neha Sangwan
Nurturing the Stress System to Build Mental Health for Babies and Parent by Greer Kirshenbaum, PhD
- Nurture Neuroscience
- Kirshenbaum, G. (2023). The Nurture Revolution: Grow your baby's brain and transform their mental health through the art of nurtured parenting (1st ed.). BALANCE.
Six Ways to Well-Being by Kathy Snyder
Understanding Trauma and Its Impact on Development by Lili Gray
Conference Award Winners
Family Advocate
This person is always working toward one common goal: supporting families as they navigate the maze of EI. This person honors all families and ensures that their voice is at the forefront of all team discussions and decisions, helping them to feel seen, valued, and included. This person's advocacy efforts may improve families’ well-being, promote their understanding of relevant services, programs, or resources, and may connect them to other families who share similarities. Any family participating in EI would be lucky to have this person in their corner.
Rick Capatelli | CFC 14 |
Amy Smith | CFC 3 |
Hat Trick
This Service Coordinator has an artful blend of many skills and talents. This person is 1) scholarly and knowledgeable in infant/toddler development, milestones, functional skills, and assessment processes; 2) a strong and confident communicator fostering relationships with families, understanding their needs, and building their capacity to advocate for their children and family; 3) a team leader respected and able to engage all team members in critical conversations and leading them to effective outcomes; 4) organized and resourceful with strong time management allowing them to support many families in accessing services in and out of EI; and 5) professional - setting, maintaining, and respecting boundaries, demonstrating cultural humility, and prioritizing reflection and self-care. This award goes to the service coordinator with the confidence to continually wear many hats and utilize their blend of skills and talents (tricks) to meet the demands of the role while supporting positive outcomes for families!
Dayna Jones | CFC 22 |
Nicole Van Huis | CFC 1 |
Operations Specialist
This person understands the daily operations of the CFC office. Their organization, time management, and initiative help the CFC run efficiently and smoothly. Their keen intuition and experience help them anticipate and prevent operational glitches in the office. To boot, their friendly personality makes the office vibe more delightful! They know exactly what needs to be done and make it happen with a smile! Without this person and their efforts, things would turn into chaos.
Minnetta Gills-Walker | CFC 10 |
Beatris Alba | CFC 25 |
Resource Guru
This person is a walking “Central Directory” of resources. Whether it be connecting a family to child care or helping a service coordinator navigate a referral to an outside agency, this person knows all the resources available in their area and how to connect others to them. They generously offer their assistance by writing an introductory email, making a phone call, simply “name dropping” a resource and/or following up. They go above and beyond to ensure appropriate connections are made, supporting their co-workers, as well as families, and children participating in EI.
Pamela Pittman | CFC 9 |
Elizabeth Schaffer | CFC 4 |
Rising Star
This award recognizes an individual who has worked within the CFC office for less than 1 year. Although new in their position, this person truly understands the spirit of EI and embodies the principles that uphold it. This person’s passion shines through in everyday interactions with teams. Their stellar organizational and leadership skills promote timely and collaborative interactions and services. Their thoughtful approach with families in person, via phone, email, or LVV meetings, exemplifies sensitivity, empathy, and compassion. This person’s future in EI is bright!
Danielle Brown | CFC 5 |
Kayla Valdes | CFC 25 |
Technologist
This person understands all things tech related! They are there to lend a helping hand troubleshooting Cornerstone issues, setting up a live video visit (LVV) for a family, or connecting that printer/scanner to the internet/network. This person goes above and beyond the “have you tried turning it off and on again?” This tech guru always knows exactly what to do to fix the problem and does so kindly and patiently.
Gladys Haro Renteria | CFC 6 |
Shawntell Hullum | CFC 8 |
Zenist
This person’s Zen-like demeanor helps to ease others’ worries and tension, and overall promotes a sense of calm. They are exceptionally skilled at listening to others, offering validating or encouraging words, and supportive coaching and guidance. Their careful listening and inquiry help others feel a sense of lightness or relief. They are keenly attuned to knowing when someone needs a little pick-me-up, a funny text, or a simple check-in.
Leah Hammonds | CFC 22 |
Katie Spiller | CFC 21 |
Honorable Mention
CFC 14’s Jason Fischer, Jennifer Bartley, Chelsie Flanagan
"These SCs stepped up this past year to manage our waitlist. In April of 2023, CFC 14 started a centralized waitlist to manage all children waiting for ongoing services. These 3 volunteered to help with not only the planning and written procedures but also the day-to-day management. Their organization, time management, and desire for every child to get picked up as quickly as possible shows in what they do. With every new process, concerns arise, and they have been able to create solutions that fit both our families' and providers' needs. They have done all of this while maintaining their own large caseloads. I appreciate all of their time and our CFC would not run the same without them. Thank you!" - from CFC 14
