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Pre­conference October 20, 2010 Conference October 21st & 22nd 2010 Caesars Windsor Hotel & Casino, Windsor, ON 

 

The Power of Relationships: Families, Professionals & Policy Makers

Presented by

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General Information

Who Should Attend? 

Registration 

Conference Description 

We are pleased to invite you to attend the 30th annual OAICD conference hosted by Children First. Our theme this year is The Power of Relationships: Families, Professionals and Policymakers. The conference will bring together theory, research and implications for clinical practice in early intervention. It will provide great opportunities for sharing among the inter and multidisciplinary teams that work with infants, young children, fellow professionals in allied disciplines, families, communities and policy makers. The presentations and professionals will cover a broad range of relevant topic areas related to family-centred practice, collaboration and partnerships, ecology and intervention, culturally responsive practices, maternal mental health, parent child relationships in the early years and much more.

This conference will be of interest to all those who work with young children and/or families. A forum for networking, education and professional development will be provided for Infant and Child Development Consultants, Therapists, Psychometrists, Resource Teachers and Consultants, Early Childhood Educators, Infant Mental Health Specialists, Child Welfare Professionals and the Community. Professionals will not only obtain current knowledge of the topic but will take strategies back to apply in their service delivery.

By Fax: Fax completed registration form with credit card payment information to: 519-948-0330 By Phone: (please have Mastercard or Visa ready):

519-250-1850 ext 290 or toll free: 1-877-396-3052 ext. 290 By Mail: Send completed registration form with cheque (made payable to Children First) or credit

card payment information to: Sharri Hamelin

Children First 3295 Quality Way, Suite 102 Windsor, ON N8T 3R9

Refund/Transfer and Cancellation 

Policy 

Refunds will be made (less a $50.00 processing fee) if written notice of withdrawal is received by August 31, 2010. No refunds will be granted for withdrawal after that date. In case of a registration transfer, there will be a $25 replacement charge. Please contact us prior to September 20, 2010, if you cannot attend and would like another person to come in your place. In case of conference cancellation due to low registration, registration fee will be refunded with a deduction of $50 as handling charges.

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Conference Description 

Tourism Information 

Accommodation Information 

Conference Location 

The conference will be held at Caesars Windsor Hotel and Casino, 377 Riverside Drive East, Windsor, Ontario. Telephone 1-800-991-8888. Complementary valet parking is provided for hotel guests. Complementary self-parking is available for visitors of the conference centre, in the Casino parking garage.

You are responsible for your own accommodation. A block of rooms have been booked for conference participants at an excellent rate of $120 (Standard Deluxe room) at the conference hotel, Caesars Windsor Hotel and Casino,377 Riverside Drive East, Windsor, Ontario.

Early Bird Special: If you book your room before August 31, 2010, you will receive a free upgrade from a Standard Deluxe room to a Luxury room ($30 per night value).

We suggest that you book your room NOW as we anticipate that our room block will fill up quickly. Please call the hotel directly at 1-800-991-8888 to make your reservation or go online: www.caesarswindsor.com. The Group Name/Code is AON1020.

By Bus:

Greyhound Canada is the largest provider of intercity bus transportation in Canada, serving nearly 1,100 locations. It has become an icon of bus travel, providing safe, enjoyable and affordable travel to 6.5 million passengers each year. In Windsor, the TRANSIT Centre is located at 300 Chatham St. West, Windsor, ON, just minutes from the conference centre. For more information or to book your ticket, contact Greyhound at 1-800-661-8747 or Greyhound’s website at www.greyhound.ca.

By Train:

In the Quebec City - Windsor Corridor, VIA Rail provides intercity passengers with fast, convenient and affordable service, downtown-to-downtown between Canada’s largest business centres. The Windsor station is located at 298 Walker Rd., Windsor, ON. For information on passenger rail service in Canada, please contact VIA Rail at 1-888-842-7245 or visit VIA Rail's website at www.viarail.ca For special rail packages or tours, please contact a local travel agency.

By Air:

Windsor International Airport, located at 3200 County Road 42 Windsor, ON, offers all year round scheduled airline and charter flights. Flights are available through Air Canada, Sunwing and Westjet on a daily basis. For more information, or to book your ticket on-line visit www.yqg.ca.

Windsor, the southernmost city in both Ontario and Canada, is wonderful to explore on foot or bicycle. Travel along Riverside Drive to enjoy six kilometers of connected parkland plus eight other parks and gardens located along the Detroit River. From the large scale contemporary sculptures located in the Odette Sculpture Park to naturalized gardens, Windsor parks feature elegant flower gardens, heritage monuments, and fountains.

The Charles Brooks Memorial Peace Fountain in Coventry Gardens and Reaume Park is the only international floating fountain in Canada. The contemporary reflecting pool and fountain in Bert Weeks Memorial Gardens is adjacent to downtown and within walking distance of the naturalized waterfall in Dieppe Gardens and the traditional Italian fountain in Plaza Udine. Don’t forget to admire the Detroit skyline gleaming beyond the graceful span of the Ambassador Bridge.

For more information on things to do and places to see, visit www.tourismwindsor.com.

Travel Information 

Location & Travel Information

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Julie Ribaudo, Clinical Assistant Professor at the School of Social Work, University of Michigan. 

 

 When the Bough Breaks ­ Helping Infants and Toddlers in Foster Care  Children  who  have  been  maltreated  in  infancy  and  early  childhood  build  their  understanding  of themselves  and  their  relationships  through  the  lens  of  inconsistent,  frightening  caregiving.    Those earliest  experiences  often  create  difficulties  in  attachment,  which  affects  emotional  regulation  and response  to  caregivers.  This workshop will  address  the  early  attachment  patterns  and  how,  using  a relational  model  based  on  Selma  Fraiberg’s  early  work,  the  neuroscience  of  emotion  and  mirror neurons, we can begin to help infants, young children and their caregivers build or rebuild a sense of how safety & calm and the ability to use caregivers as a secure base.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pre‐Conference   Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Key Note Speaker  

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At a glance: 

8:00 am:       Registration/Breakfast  8:45‐9:15 am:     Welcome Conference Chair/OAICD President/Ministry Rep.  9:15‐10:30 am:    Key note Dr. Clyde Hertzman  10:30‐10:45 am:     Break  10:45am‐12:15 pm:     Concurrent Workshops ‐ Series A  12:15‐1:00 pm:     Lunch  1:00‐2:30 pm:     Dr. Deborah Weatherston  2:30‐2:45pm:     Break  2:45‐4:15 pm:    Concurrent Workshops ‐Series B  4:15‐5:00 pm:    Poster Sessions  4:30 – 5:00 pm:    OAICD Annual General Meeting  6:00 pm – 12:00 am:   Networking in the ‘Vu’ Lounge  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conference Day 1  Thursday, October 21, 2010 

You are invited...    

Come  learn  about  the  birth  of  Canadian  Club  and  the  history  of  Hiram  Walker.  You  will experience a guided  tour  through the original 1894 office building, highlighting the periods of 1920‐1932. We’ll visit  the Speakeasy and see where the rumrunner’s meetings took place,  the boardroom  that  now  features  group  of  seven  paintings,  and  the  sampling  room  that  outlines Canadian Club’s key markets. The tour ends with a formal whisky tasting of the Canadian Club portfolio. 

After our tour, we will head to the dining room for a delicious meal catered by Koolini, a  local Italian  eatery.  Guest  will  enjoy  a  full  dinner,  sure  to  delight  even  the  most  discriminating appetite.  

Cost: Tour, tasting, dinner and transportation is $60.00. (Includes taxes & gratuity)   

This activity is not included in the conference registration fee. Participation is limited to the first  45  interested  registrants.  Please  indicate  on  your  registration  form  if  you would  like  to participate.  

Optional Evening Program 

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9:15­10:30 am: 

 

 

Dr. Clyde Hertzman, Director, Human Early Learning Partnership and Professor, School of Population and Public Health at UBC 

 

Focus:  The Power of Relationships in Infant and Child Development ‐ current research and knowledge of social determinants of child development at all levels of society and community.  

 

1:00­2:30 pm: 

 

Dr. Deborah Weatherston, Executive Director of Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health 

 

 

Awakening within the Context of Relationship: Reflective Supervision Content, Practice & Process

1. What is at the heart of reflective supervision and consultation? 2. Let's take a look at reflective supervision practice: nuts & bolts. 3. Let's consider the process: observing, listening, wondering & responding.  

 

 

Conference Day 1                

Key Note Speakers  

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Concurrent Workshops Series A 

    Family Centred Outcomes 

 OAICD Best Practices state that family centred service ensures that families are in control and that  the  families  use  and  expand  their  own  capabilities.    Families  have  the  right  to  informed decisions including developing their own outcomes, priorities and the level of their involvement with  services.    Supporting  the  family’s  outcomes  requires  that  services  establish  direct connections between resources, processes, and program goals. 

Services are facing added pressures in this era of declining resources.   The use of personal and family outcome orientation focuses organizations on what matters most in supporting families to  achieve  outcomes  for  themselves  and  for  their  children.  As  a  program  within  Simcoe Community Services, Simcoe County Infant Development Program has incorporated OAICD Best Practices  and  Personal  Outcome  Measures  for  Families  with  Young  Children  into  service delivery.  We believe it is crucial to ensure that intervention services look beyond the needs of the child and consider the family as a whole.  Outcomes focus attention on the whole child and his/her  family.    There  are  no  boundaries  between  the  family’s  needs  and  those  of  the  child.  Using personal and family outcomes presents challenges and rewards for services.  The family’s own experiences, preferences, challenges, and personality can guide the learning format. 

This  presentation  will  encourage  participants  to  explore  the  value  of  adopting  an  outcome based approach to service delivery.   Discussion will focus on research and best practices, case studies, as well as tools to assist staff in supporting families to identify outcomes.   

Presenters: 

Jo Lovering – Developmental Services Diploma, BA Sociology, Infant Mental Health Certificate  

Jo is currently a front line staff member with the Simcoe County Infant Development Program, Simcoe Community Services, in their Orillia office.   Jo has worked in the Simcoe County Infant Development Program for the past 25 years as both front line staff and supervisor.  

Melanie Enwright – Developmental Services Diploma  

Melanie  has  been  a  front  line  staff  member  with  the  Simcoe  County  Infant  Development Program,  Simcoe  Community  Services,  for  the  past  5  years.    Prior  to  that,  Melanie  was  a program facilitator with the Ontario Early Years Centre in Innisfil and Barrie, also with Simcoe Community Services.   

Dianne McLean – BA Psychology, Infant Mental Health Certificate  

Dianne  has  been  a  front  line  staff  member  with  the  Simcoe  County  Infant  Development Program, Simcoe Community Services, for the past 10 years.  Prior to that, Dianne worked in a 

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Concurrent Workshops Series A 10:45 am –  12:15 pm 

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group  home  setting  for  adults  with  intellectual  disabilities,  also  with  Simcoe  Community Services.   Dianne also volunteers at Season’s Centre for Grieving Children and is a relief foster parent. 

Patricia Kneeshaw – BASc. Child and Family Studies, Infant Mental Health Certificate 

Patricia  has  worked  in  the  Simcoe  County  Infant  Development  Program,  Simcoe  Community Services,  for  the  past  22  years  as  both  front  line  staff  and  supervisor.    She  is  currently supervising  the  program.    Patricia  has  been  certified  through  the  Council  on  Quality  and Leadership  as  a  Certified  Interviewer  for  Families  with  Young  Children  using  the  Personal Outcomes Measures within Simcoe Community Services. 

 

  The Right People Providing the Right Service at the Right Time ­ Community Guidelines for Infant & Young Child Mental Health Service in Halton  Do you every wonder whether you are the right provider to be providing service to a family? Do you ever question your role and whether the intervention you are using is appropriate? Do you ever wonder who  else  you  can  consult  and work with  to  figure  things  out?  If  you  have  these questions you are not alone.  

We are getting better at defining infant mental health interventions within our own agencies and scope  of  practice.  However,  in  order  for  infants,  children  and  families  to  receive  the  right services  at  the  right  time, we need  to work  collaboratively  across  agencies. Our  experience  in Halton  has  shown  that  by  using  a  collaborative  community  approach,      infants,  children  and families  receive more  timely  and  suitable  services;  providers  have  increased  role  clarity  and; overall, we strengthen community relationships. 

This presentation will share how a community model and a tool  for planning services has helped providers to begin to identify types and levels of intervention  required and who best to provide the  service.    Staff  from  children’s  developmental  services,  children’s  health  services  and children’s  mental  health  services  has  piloted  the  use  of  this  model  and  tool  in  Halton,  and outcomes will be shared.   

Participants who attend this workshop should come away with: 

• Awareness  of  a  collaborative  community  model  for  mapping  infant  mental  health services across a Region. 

• Awareness of a  tool    to assist providers  in  identifying    types and  levels of  intervention that may be appropriate for infants, children and families in the field of infant and young child mental health  

• An understanding of how working collaboratively benefits infants, children, families and service providers.  

 

Presenters: 

Diane Randall, B.A.Sc; M.A., Clinical Manager, Zero to Six Team, R.O.C.K. Reach out Centre for Kids, an accredited children’s mental health agency.  

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Certification in Infant Mental Health (2004), 20 years plus experience in children’s mental health settings, current focus: infant led psychotherapy and parent‐child psychotherapy 

Jean Gresham, R.N., B.Sc.N.,  Public  Health  Nurse  with  Regional  Municipality  of  Halton  since 1984  

Focus  of  her  work  has  included  Maternal‐Child  Nursing,  Parenting,  Healthy  Babies  Healthy Children  and  Service  Coordination.  She  is  currently  a  supervisor  with  Halton  Region  Health Department Baby & Parent/Healthy Babies Healthy Children Program (since 2000.) 

Bonnie Hewitt, R.N., B.Sc.N., M.S.W., Halton Region Social and Community Services 

Bonnie has been in Public Health as a PH.N. and now a supervisor for 22 years. She has worked in  a  variety  of  positions,  including  one  as  a  policy  analyst,  across  the  ages  and  stages,  though continues to have a passion for families with young children. 

Lee Demerling, Developmental Consultant, Halton Region Social and Community Services 

Lee has been involved in working with families and in supporting healthy relationships for over 25 years. Her work experience includes child development and resource consultation, intensive child and family services work and community college continuing education instruction.  

   

 Preterm Pathways: Updates, Review and Networking    This workshop is a full day workshop. Please select B3 for your afternoon series when registering.  *Please note: this session is only for people who have previously attended the 2­day Preterm Pathways training.  

Infant and Child Development Consultants from over 30 programs in Ontario have been trained to use the Preterm (PT) Pathways over the last 5 years. In an effort to maintain consistency and to ensure  that everyone  is  following  the most up‐to‐date procedures, we are offering a 3‐hour session that will outline changes to pathway criteria, family history and psychosocial variables. We will also review the most common scoring questions, use of the ASQ‐3 as a replacement to the  ASQ‐2,  and  parts  of  the  PHQ‐9  to  determine whether  further  screening  for  depression  is necessary. Time will also be set aside for networking and addressing issues that have arisen as programs have implemented and used the preterm pathways.  

Presenters: 

Philippa Bodolai,  Psychometrist,  Infant  and  Child  Development  Services  Peel:  Philippa  has worked  as  a  Psychometrist  at  Peel  Infant Development  since  1992.  Since  the  inception  of  the Care Pathways for Premature Children, she has been primarily responsible for the co‐ordination of services for premature children at Infant & Child Development Services Peel. Philippa has also taught  a  fourth  year  assessment  and  intervention  course  at  the University  of Guelph‐Humber, Early Childhood Education Program.   

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Rosanna McCarney, Psychometrist, Infant and Child Development Services Durham:  Rosanna has worked as a Psychometrist at Infant and Child Development Services Durham for the last 10 years. She  is a Certified Child Psychotherapist and Play Therapist. Since 2005 she has been an OAICD Board Executive and has worked on a variety of initiatives including the implementation of  the Second Edition of Best Practices, 2006 “Maintaining Excellence” and development of  the Standards for Infant and Child Development Services in Ontario. 

Dr. Virginia Frisk, Consulting Psychologist, Central West Region and Durham: Dr. Virginia Frisk was a psychologist  in  the Hospital  for Sick Children Neonatal Follow‐up Program from 1990 – 2008.  In  2008  she  joined  the  Dufferin‐Peel  Catholic  District  School  Board  and  is  one  of  two psychologists who provide neuropsychological  assessments  for  the  school  board.    Since  2002, she has been the consulting psychologist for the Central West Region and Durham Initiative. 

  The Role of an Early Intervention Consultant in a Diverse Community: Role Definition and Challenges  Early intervention for children with special needs has undergone tremendous change in the last two or more decades. There has been a paradigm shift in the approach of service delivery from direct service, expert/medical model to indirect, mediator /consultant model. 

Current workshop will identify and define roles and responsibilities of an itinerant consultant in early intervention in an interactive workshop. Presenter will share the theoretical framework as well as some research in the emerging role of an itinerant early interventionist from clinician to consultant. 

This shift  from clinician to a consultant role has had  its challenges both for the consultant and the consultee. During the workshop the challenges and issues specific to early intervention and education will be discussed.  

Due  to  transnational  migration,  the  cultural  fabric  of  North  American  society  brought demographic changes which have introduced new values, beliefs, understanding and practices to the  human  service  providers.  How  ethnic  culture  is  embedded  in  each  stage  of  consultation process will be discussed. During group activities and discussion,  the  focus will also be on  the approaches and strategies  that a consultant might consider  in order  to engage  in effective and productive consultation.  

This  presentation will  help  the  service  providers  in  early  intervention  services  to  understand their  role  and  responsibilities  through  interactive workshop.  In  addition,  they will  be  able  to introspect  how  culture  is  embedded  in  their  day  to  day  living  and  how  their  clients  are submerged in their cultural world. Assessing the families through  micro and macro‐vision will also be discussed. Concept of ‘Intersectionality’ of diversity factor will be introduced. 

Presenter:  Rita Bagai Ph.D.,  Full  Time  consultant with  Early  Intervention  Services,  Region  of  York.  Part time faculty, School of ECE Ryerson University. Educational background: Child Development and Family Relations. Applied Psychology and Special Needs. Dr. Bagai  teaches a variety of courses including  ‘Inclusion and Consultation’ and  ‘Diversity  in Canadian Families’ and  is currently  the Chair of the Planning Committee, OAICD Conference 2010. 

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B1 

Concurrent Workshops 

 

 

 

 

Grassroots inter­collegial relationships: a foundation for service integration for "hard to engage" families.   In order  to reach,  serve and maintain participation of  ‘hard  to reach’  families with very young children,  it  is  crucial  for  community  agencies  to  ‘work’  together.      Through  innovative  and informal relationship development, the beginnings of an emerging system of integration can take root.  Creating  strong,  trusting  and    reciprocal    relationships  of  cooperation,  and  information sharing  and acquired experience has been  shown to lead to prevention, early identification and facilitated  referrals  and    intervention        In  this  cooperative  environment,  families  invest  in programmes where    services work well  together,    thus   providing      the potential  of  improved access to a variety of services for their children.  The  presenters  will  share  aspects  of  their  process  of  inter‐collegial  work,  in  which  building relationships initially with each other laid the foundation for future partnership development in two high needs  communities  in  the  region of Peel. Ample  time  for  round  table discussion and scenarios will be provided.  Audience:   This  interactive workshop  is  intended  for  front  line and management workers who are  called  to work  collaboratively with  colleagues  from  difference  disciplines  and  agencies  to enhance outcomes for the families with whom they work.  Presenters:  Anaar  Shariff  is  an  Infant  and  Child  Development  Consultant  in  Peel  (ICDSP) partners with community  agencies  in  high  risk neighbourhoods  and  runs Infant Massage Groups  for  families with  special  needs babies. Anaar,  a  Public Health Nurse,  (B.Sc.N.),  has  extensive  experience  in outreach work both in Ontario and the United Kingdom.  Judy  Cantwell  de  Macz  is  currently  the  Facilitator  for  4  school‐based  family  programs, promoting early learning, parenting and family literacy. Judy's previous work includes outreach, coordination,  neighbourhood organization,  refugee  settlement,  child welfare,  family  resources, early  identification/intervention,  and  training  in  cultural  competence.  Judy  holds  a  M.S.W. (Community Development).    Cleo Rios  is  a  Program Facilitator  at Malton Neighbourhood Service/Ontario Early  Years.  She has worked many  years  as  Parent Relief  and Outreach Worker  in  Family Resources Programs with  isolated  and low  income  families/caregivers.    She  has  graduated  with  honor  as  Early Childhood  Educator  at  Seneca  College.  She  speaks  Portuguese  and  thrives  when  working  in multicultural settings.   

Series B 2:45 –  4:15 pm 

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Outcomes for Families of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Involved in Early Intervention    This  session will  present  findings  from a  randomized  control  study  that used both qualitative and quantitative methods to document  family outcomes.   The experimental group consisted of families who  received DIR  (Developmental,  Individual Difference, Relationship Based)  and  the control  group  received  a  variety  of  autism  interventions  (including  Intensive  Behavioural Intervention).    The  Autism  Spectrum  Disorder  Family  Outcomes  Questionnaire  (Mastrangelo, 2009)  was  developed  to  measure  family  outcomes  in  families  whose  children  are  receiving autism  intervention  services.  The  areas  of  family  outcome  measurement  contained  in  the questionnaire include: a) Understanding the child’s strengths, abilities, and needs; b) Helping the child  develop  and  learn,  c)  Family  well‐being/resiliency,  d)  Family  Support  Systems,    and  e) Impact of intervention on the family.   

A  secondary  component  of  the  research  involved  a  qualitative  analysis  of  parent  perceptions (pre intervention) of having a child with autism spectrum disorder and the impact on both the personal and family  life  in order to ascertain which families demonstrated qualities associated with resiliency. Responses were coded (negative and positive) and categorized into themes. On the  post  questionnaire,  the  qualitative  questions  required  parents  to  describe  the  impact  of intervention  on  the  families’  relationship  with  the  child,  to  document  positive  and  negative effects of Early  Intervention on  the  family,  and  to  list  the most  important  things  learned  from involvement  in  the early  intervention program. The purpose of  the qualitative  analysis was  to determine  if  there  was  evidence  of  resiliency  in  the  families  post  treatment  and  to  uncover family outcomes attained as a result of their participation in the study. 

Participants  in  this  session  will:  develop  an  understanding  of  how  to  measure  family outcomes, familiarize themselves with a new web based tool to measure family outcomes called the  Autism  Spectrum  Disorder  Family  Outcomes  Questionnaire,  learn  about  the  research  on family  outcomes  as  it  relates  to  autism  intervention  in  this  specific  study  and  develop  an understanding of the challenges inherent in doing this type of work. In addition, attendees will be invited to participate in an ongoing research study on family outcomes and early intervention for  those  raising  a  child  on  the  autism  spectrum.    Practitioners  will  hear  about  the  parent perspective  in early  intervention and what  families are  looking  for  in a quality program. They will  also  be  exposed  to  concepts  such  as  family  resiliency  and discover ways  to  empower  the families they are currently servicing.  The session will also provide practitioners with important baseline data for future comparison with other groups of families. The ASDFOQ to be presented is a useful tool and others can begin to norm it by using it with larger samples.  In addition the ASDFOQ can be used for program evaluation and as  a family satisfaction measure in a variety of early  intervention  settings.  Lastly,  this  session will  be useful  for  families  looking  to  choose  an intervention model that demonstrates positive family (as well as child) outcomes. 

Dr. Sonia Mastrangelo, Assistant Professor, Department of Education, Lakehead University  

Dr.  Sonia  Mastrangelo’s  research  is  focused  on  the  education  and  treatment  of  children  with autism  spectrum  disorders,  cognitive  developmental  systems  theory,  family  outcomes,  and special/inclusive  education.  An  Assistant  Professor  in  Education  at  Lakehead  Orillia,  she  is  a former  special  education  teacher  for  the  Dufferin  Peel  CDSB  and  is  currently working  on  the development  of  a  family  outcomes  instrument  to  be  piloted  for  families  whose  children  are receiving a variety of autism interventions in Ontario. 

B2 

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B4 

B3 Preterm Pathways: Updates, Review and Networking    

**Continuation of Morning Series A3**   

  Early Referrals in York Region – using E.R.I.K.  (The Early Referral Identification Kit)  

Early  identification,  referral  and  intervention  for  children  with  communication  and/or developmental delays is critical to their optimal development and long term success and is the aim  of  developmental  surveillance.  In  2007,  York  Region  Preschool  Speech  and  Language Program  and  York  Region  Early  Intervention  Services,  which  share  a  Central  Referral  Intake, developed  E.R.I.K.,  (Early  Referral  Identification  Kit),  a  screening  and  referral  tool  for preschoolers  to  be  used  by  medical  and  community  professionals.  The  speech  and  language norms used in E.R.I.K. were taken from those developed by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services  in  2007, which  are  currently  being  validated  as  part  of  the  revised Nipissing District Developmental Screening Tool. 

E.R.I.K.  is  a  one‐step  referral  form  including  age‐appropriate  checklists  and  “red  flags”  for children  aged  6,  12,  18,  24,  30,  36  and  48  months  with  a  focus  on  identification  of  risk  for cognitive  delays,  autism  spectrum  disorders,  stuttering,  language  delays,  motor  speech disorders, articulation delays, voice disorders, feeding/sensory difficulties, motor, social or other developmental delays.  E.R.I.K referrals are faxed to the shared Central Intake line, which allows children  to  access  simultaneous  referrals  to  assessment,  intervention  and  family  support services offered by both these programs (a situation which is unique to York Region). 

In 2009 a parent friendly Growth Chart was developed and distributed to parents to encourage early referrals. 

This paper will detail E.R.I.K.’s development, it’s marketing, use and the training of doctors and early years professionals in York Region. E.R.I.K. has been adapted by Simcoe County for use in a system where  services  for preschoolers  are managed by  separate agencies.  These  adaptations will be described and a discussion about adaptations  initiated with attendees. Lessons  learned from marketing this new tool to doctors and early years professionals will be shared. 

Presenters: 

Marlene  Green  (Speech  Language  Pathologist)  works  as  community  educator  for  the  York Region  Preschool  Speech  &  Language  Program,  educating  Early  Childhood  Educators  in identifying  and  supporting  children  with  communication  delays.  She  often  collaborates  with Early  Intervention  Services  in  service  delivery  and  joint  projects  including  developing  E.R.I.K. She co‐edited York Region’s revised Red Flags Guide (2009).  

Melanie Tsironikos  (Early  Interventionist)  has  been  supporting  children with  Special Needs, their  families and community programs  for 15 years. She has presented at  conferences across North  America  on  the  importance  of  early  identification  and  early  referrals  to  ensure  early intervention. Melanie has taught E.C.E. students at the College and University level.  

 

 

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 At a glance: 

 7:45 am:       Breakfast  8:30 am‐ 1:45 pm:    Key Note Concurrent sessions ‐ Series C: Dr. Wendy Roberts/ (15 min. break)      Dr. Peter Lévesque  11:45am‐ 12:30pm:    Lunch  12:00‐ 12:30 pm:    Poster Session  12:30‐ 2:00 pm:      Concurrent Workshops ‐ Series D  2:00‐ 2:15 pm:    Break  2:15‐ 3:45 pm:     Dr. Jean Clinton  3:45 pm:       Wrap up and Closing Remarks  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conference  Day 2        Friday, October 22, 2010

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Key Note Speakers Series C 8:30 am‐ 1:45 pm 

 

 

 

 

C1   

Dr. Wendy Roberts, Developmental Paediatrician, Director of Autism Research, with her team from Autism Research at Hospital for Sick Children 

 

 

Focus: Early identification, diagnostic markers at early stages of life, monitoring of siblings’ development as well as strategies for intervention. 

 

C2  

Dr.  Peter  Lévesque,  Knowledge  exchange  specialist  of  the Knowledge Exchange Centre of the Provincial Centre of Excellence for  Child  and  Youth  Mental  Health  at  the  Children’s  Hospital  of Eastern Ontario.  

 

 

Focus: More information to come! 

2:15­ 3:45 pm: 

 

Dr.  Jean  Clinton,  Child  Psychiatrist,  Associate  Professor McMaster University and Associate member of  the Offord Centre for Child Studies. 

 

   Focus: More information to come!  

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D1 

Concurrent Workshops 

 

 

 

 

Early intervention with multi­risk families: Putting an integrative approach into practice.  

Research and clinical practice now suggest that an integration of various intervention strategies is essential for work with multi‐risk families because, very high risk families have various risks and  needs  and  multi‐system  approaches  adapted  to  these  needs  is  crucial.  In  this  workshop participants will be introduced to an integrative approach to early intervention with multi‐risk families.  Participants will first learn to consider a variety of theoretical perspectives in order to understand major  issues,  risks  and  strengths  of  a  family  and use  this  approach  to  conduct  an assessment  and  to  choose  and  provide  appropriate  intervention  for  the  child  and  family. Participants will then consider ways to engage and support families and to coordinate available services. 

Presenter: 

Rosanne  Menna,  Associate  Professor  and  Director  of  Clinical  Training,  University  of Windsor 

Dr. Rosanne Menna is Associate Professor and Director of Clinical Training in the Department of Psychology  at  the  University  of  Windsor.  Her  research  interests  include  development  of competence  and  coping  in  at  risk  young  children  and  adolescents,  and  the  development  and evaluation of intervention efforts. She has co‐authored a book on Early intervention with multi‐risk families: An integrative approach.  

 

 

Parents as Consultants:  An innovative model for family leadership within organizations  Adopting  a  family‐centered  care philosophy  requires  a  shift  in  organizational  practices  and  in the  attitudes  and  behaviours  of  individual  providers  from  a model  in which  professionals  are seen as the only people in possession of expert knowledge to a model that is based on knowledge exchange and partnership.  For  10  years,  Community  Living  Essex  County  and  Ensemble,  a  parent‐directed  aspect  of  the organization  have worked  together  and  have  put  the  philosophy  of  family‐centered  care  into practice.  Parent consultants are hired to offer expertise from a family’s perspective.   The results of this partnership have seen a marked improvement in the balance of support between families and professionals; has enhanced the quality of support and service, and fostered a true value for family leadership within the community.  

Series D 12:30‐  2:00 pm:   

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This model: 

• Empowers families to help to drive the vision forward with the Board of Directors  • Facilitates a true partnership and working relationship between families and staff.  • Fosters recognition of a clearer understanding of family issues and family dynamics  • Increases overall family involvement in all areas  • Ensures a family voice in planning and decision‐making.  

The presentation  is  intended  to  assist  staff with  identifying  strategies  for  enhancing  strengths and  strategies  for  the  involvement  of  families  in  treatment  and  support  planning,  decision‐making and  in  the planning, monitoring and evaluating of  services  for  families.   The  following questions will be explored:  

• What are best practices for a family philosophy?  • What are best practices for involving families in the delivery of supports and services?  • What  are  best  practices  for  designing  and  delivering  professional  mental  health  and 

support services to families?  • What are best practices for facilitating families helping families? 

 Participants will be offered a concrete model  for  family  leadership and family‐centered care to implement within their organization and community.  Presenters: 

Lisa Raffoul , Consultant, Ensemble 

For over 10 years Lisa has provided leadership and guidance to families, professionals and to the broader community toward improving the lives of people who have disabilities. She is a certified teacher (OCT) and as the co‐founder of Ensemble.  Lisa has been a catalyst developing a model of family  leadership  and partnership with organizations  to  strengthen  families  and professionals alike. 

Nancy Wallace­Gero , Executive Director, Community Living Essex County 

For over  20  years Nancy Wallace‐Gero has been  the Executive Director  for Community Living Essex County.  She was instrumental in the development of Safeguards Training for Children and Adult  Services  and  is  a past Chairperson of  the Board of Directors.   At  the  start of her  career, Nancy  was  a  program  supervisor  for  the  Ministry  of  Community  and  Social  Services  in  the Kingston area. 

  Lights, Camera, Interaction!   This presentation will provide an overview of the basic tenets of Interaction Guidance and how videotaping can be used as a tool to promote positive parent child interactions.  By underscoring parental involvement and removing the interventionist from the role of the “expert”, parents are able to further develop their ability to understand child development and increase their level of sensitivity  to  their  child’s  cues  by  observing  a  videotaped  play  session  with  the  provider’s guidance.    We  will  explore  how  this  relationship  based  intervention  can  increase  a  parent’s ability  to  be  self  reflective  and  the  resulting  impact  on  their  relationship  with  their  child. Participants  will  have  an  opportunity  to  observe  parent  child  interactions  and  identify  the 

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strengths  and  struggles  that  may  be  highlighted  while  reviewing  the  video  with  the  family. Videotapes and case examples will be used extensively throughout this training to demonstrate various aspects of  the  intervention and how  it  is being used by an early  intervention program with parents who have children with special needs.   Group work and activities will be used to practice and apply these skills.    Presenters: 

Rosario Dizon , ECE, RT 

Rosario has over 12 years experience directly working with children from ages 0‐12 in various community programs.  Extensive experience planning and facilitating workshops and programs for  parents  as  it  relates  to  general  parenting  and  specific  to  strengthening  parent‐child relationships  with  families  of  diverse  backgrounds.    Successfully  implementing  Interaction Guidance in a variety of her clients with York Region Early Intervention Services.         

Michelle La Fontaine, ECE, B.A.A., CLStDipl. 

Michelle has been working in the community with children and families for 10 years, incorporating Child Life philosophies and principles to support family centred practice.  Interaction Guidance is a natural fit with Michelle’s passion of working with families to strengthen relationships.  Michelle is an experienced presenter, including workshops in the community and teaching in the Child Life Studies programme at McMaster University. 

Sandra Cronin, B.A.Sc.  

Sandra has been working with children with special needs and their families for 15 years.  She is a specialist in child development and atypical skills.  Sandra is a presenter and facilitator of Interaction Guidance as well as a mentor to colleagues on this strength based tool. Portfolio items include presentations to community partners on topics related to children with special needs.  

   Managers and Supervisors’ Networking Session   

        Facilitator:  

Mark Donlon, M.S.W., R.S.W., Executive Director of Children First.  Mark  has  been  in  the  children’s  mental  health  fields  for  more  than  30  years.  Prior  to  joining Children First as Executive Director, he held the position of Executive Director at Glengarda Child & Family Services. For the past 11 years, Mark has been a Clinical Investigator for the Office of The Children’s Lawyer. This work  involves  completing  court  ordered  custody &  access  assessments when parents have gone  to  court  to  resolve  their  differences.    He  also  has  a  private  practice  where  he  completes assessments  &  family  mediation  around  the  same  questions  where  families  have  not  yet proceeded to court. 

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Registration Form                          

PLEASE WRITE IN BLOCK LETTERS: One registration form per person. Please photocopy more if needed.                   Last Name         First Name                        Organization Name                   Mailing Address                   City      Province     Postal Code                   Daytime Telephone Number/Extension     Fax Number                   E‐Mail                  Please Inform Us of Any Dietary Requirements  

Please refer to the program for session descriptions. You must enter your 2 choices or YOU WILL NOT BE REGISTERED. Example shown below:  

1st Choice   2nd Choice Example:      ___ A1___  ___ A4___      Please chose your first and second choices from the Concurrent sessions:  Thursday Day 1:   1st Choice   2nd Choice  Series A               Series B             Dinner & Tour     Yes     No  

Friday Day 2:     1st Choice   2nd Choice 

Key Note (C)           

Series D            

Registration Fees: Pre‐registration prior to August 31, 2010 is strongly recommended.  All rates are quoted in CAD and include HST. Please use one registration form per person. A copy of valid student photo ID must be sent with registration in order to secure the student rate. The registration fee includes conference material, lunches, coffee breaks, a conference bag & and certificate of attendance.              Member    Non­Member        Student Pre­Conference  

Preconference only      $125         $185         $125     With main conference      $90            $150         $90       

2 Day Main Conferece 

Early Bird (by Aug. 31/10)    $300         $395         $175       Late Registration (Sept. 1/10)    $395         $495         $175       

 Dinner & Tour Thursday October 21, 2010  $60                  TOTAL $     

Method of Payment: We are unable to register anyone without one of the following: 1. Payment by Visa, MasterCard or Cheque received at the time of 

the registration 2. Letter of Authorization from the manager on the organization’s 

letterhead stating that they will be paying the registration fees. The letter should include the amount of registration fees, name and contact information of the manager 

3. Signed cheque requisition form  

Mailing Address & Payment by Cheque: Please make your cheque payable to Children First and send to: Children First, 3295 Quality Way, Suite 102, Windsor, ON, N8T 3R9 Charge by phone/fax: Local/International: 519‐250‐1850 ext. 290;  Toll free within Canada/USA: 1‐877‐396‐3052 ext. 290 Register by Fax: 519‐948‐0330 Please See General Information Page for Cancellation Policy 

Please fill out this section if you are paying with a credit card:     VISA      MasterCard               Credit Card Number          Expiry Date                Name of Card Holder (Please Print)  Signature:             

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Poster Presentations 

 

 

 

 

 

Unity ABA Training for Parents of Preschoolers with ASD: Children’s Progress and Parents’ Experiences.

Background: Research supports the effectiveness of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) for improving the functioning of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Although early intervention is important for positive outcomes, wait-lists for ABA are long, as demand is high. Thus, finding alternative ways for parents to access earlier treatment is critical, including training for parents to implement ABA in their homes. Research findings, however, have been mixed, with some studies finding that parents experience higher stress, and others reporting improved parental outcomes in empowerment, self-esteem, and social support. Unfortunately, many studies have measured parental experiences at only one time point.

Rationale: To investigate the effectiveness of Unity parent training for children’s progress and parents’ experiences during intensive ABA training.

Methods: Twenty parents of preschool children with ASD were selected for high social support, motivation and learning skills. Parents learned to apply ABA with their children during 180 hours of centre-based ABA training across 12 weeks. Children’s cognitive and adaptive development was assessed before and after Unity. Parents completed weekly surveys rating their perceptions of training. Each month, they also completed individual interviews, and measures of stress, empowerment, social support, and belief in ABA.

Results: Major progress in children’s cognitive and adaptive development was found. Parents’ stress significantly decreased between the initial workshop and the end of Month 1, and between the initial workshop and the end of training. Family empowerment, perceived social support, and belief in the efficacy of ABA remained high throughout training. Overall, parents’ perceptions of their experiences and competencies became more positive over the course of Unity.

Discussion: These highly selected parents found intensive ABA training to be a challenging but positive experience. Parents were effective in improving their children’s functioning. Data collection is ongoing.

Presenters:

Debra Barrie, B.A., Doctoral Student, University of Windsor Department of Psychology; Graduate Practicum Student, Summit Centre Preschool Children with Autism

Marcia Gragg, Ph.D., C. Psych, Assistant Professor University of Windsor Department of Psychology; Clinical Director, Summit Centre Preschool Children with Autism

Vanessa Bruce, M.A., Doctoral Student, University of Windsor Department of Psychology; Graduate Practicum Student, Summit Centre Preschool Children with Autism

Hellena Herbert, M.S., Executive Director, Summit Centre for Preschool Children with Autism

Jennifer Scammel, B.A., Doctoral Student, University of Windsor Department of Psychology; Research Assistant, Summit Centre Preschool Children with Autism

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Car Seat Safety and Car Seat Testing In Low Birth Weight and At-Risk Infants

Many premature infants are either just above or below the recommended 5 lbs. for use of car seats when they are to be discharged from hospital. Other infants have health issues that put them at risk of breathing problems in car seats. While the car seat test is one way many hospitals assess whether babies are positioned safely, the methods by which this test is conducted can vary widely. Furthermore, improper car seat use may pose additional safety risks for vulnerable infants. This poster presentation will review the current research knowledge of car seat safety for low birth weight and medically at-risk infants and the variability of car seat testing protocols and legislation. What are the risks, and what are the implications of car seats and car seat testing for infants in our programs? What is ‘best practice’ and what knowledge is lacking that would aid in decision-making? Is there a role for front-line staff in educating parents? A review of a current research study that explores the clinical issues related to car seat testing will be shared. As well, eight car seat tests were videotaped at McMaster Children’s Hospital in order to evaluate the strategies, approaches, and problem solving that occur in mandatory car seat testing for high risk infants prior to discharge from hospital. Knowledge and new issues arising from this initial phase of the study will be reviewed. This study is being conducted as part of a larger research project examining car seat safety and education for families and young children, as well as the development of a car seat insert to improve positioning of infants for discharge from hospital. This study is also an example of collaboration between researchers, front-line staff, and the auto industry in improving infant safety while in motor vehicles. Presenter:

Heather Boyd, Clinical Specialist, McMaster Children’s Hospital.

Heather formerly worked at Infant and Child Development Services Peel and Trillium Health Centre’s Neonatal Follow-up Program as an Occupational Therapist. She completed research measuring family-centred service in Infant Development Programs for her Master of Science in 2008. Heather now incorporates research in her new role as clinical specialist of the Neonatal Follow-up Clinic at McMaster Children’s Hospital in Hamilton.

Parent-Child Interactional Synchrony, Limit Setting, and Preschoolers’ Physical Aggression: A Mediation Model

Previous research has found links between the quality of the parent-child relationship and childhood aggression. Specifically, interactional synchrony, which is a measure of the quality of the parent-child relationship, predicts physical aggression levels in preschool-aged children. Interactional synchrony is the degree to which two individuals are engaged in a balanced and coordinated interaction characterized by joint focus, reciprocity, mutual engagement, and shared affect. The current study aimed to determine if the relation between synchrony and aggression could be explained by mothers’ limit setting. Mothers’ ability to establish clear rules (i.e., limit setting) was tested as a mediator of the relation between synchrony and physical aggression. It was hypothesized that higher levels of synchrony would predict better limit setting, which would in turn predict lower levels of aggression in children. The level of synchrony displayed by the mother-child dyads was assessed by observing them during an unstructured play task. Limit setting and aggression were measured with questionnaires. Participants were 3-6 year old children and their mothers (N=67). Consistent with the hypothesized meditation model, both the level of synchrony exhibited by mother-child dyads and the mothers’ limit setting significantly predicted children’s physical aggression levels, but interactional synchrony’s predictive ability was reduced when limit setting was accounted for in the equation. The results suggest that limit setting may be the mechanism through which interactional synchrony levels affect children’s physical aggression levels.

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These results add to our understanding of interactional synchrony’s affects on children’s outcomes and emphasize the importance of limit setting. The findings suggest that parents’ limit setting techniques are most beneficial when parents feel in control, have set firm guidelines for their children, and follow through with predictable consequences for misbehaviour.

Presenters:

Holly N. Ambrose, M.A., University of Windsor

Holly is a PhD candidate in the University of Windsor’s Child Clinical Psychology program. Her research interests include aggression in children, parent-child interactions, parenting styles and beliefs, and prevention and intervention programs for at-risk children and families.

Dr. Rosanne Menna, Ph.D., C. Psych., University of Windsor

Dr. Menna is a registered clinical psychologist and a professor at the University of Windsor. Her research interests include early intervention with at-risk children and families, aggression in preschoolers, parenting and parent-child interactions, adolescent help-seeking and intervention efforts, and competence and coping in early childhood and adolescence.

I Can Play Too!

Typically developing children naturally build relationship with those around them – adults and children alike – through play. Even though play is the language of children it is often the most difficult thing to teach. Since children with autism and other developmental disabilities have communication & social weaknesses, they do not naturally realize the potential of play. Teaching parents and professionals how to play with these special children gives them the foundation to begin to create a bond that lasts a lifetime.

This poster is designed based on the scientifically proven method of Applied Behavioural Analysis – breaking down the play into smaller steps and using items which motivate each child. Emphasis is given on how to teach the beginning level skills, how to expand a child’s play who has limited interests, and the beginning of socialization and game playing.

Presenters:

Laurie Leeming has been Senior Therapist at the Summit Centre for Preschool Children with Autism for nine years. In addition to supervising staff and volunteers, developing programs and working with the children she also trains parents to create and run their own ABA program. She makes presentations throughout the community and enjoys educating everyone on how special these kids are!

Cheryl Abbott has worked as a Behavioural Therapist at The Summit Centre for Preschool Children with Autism for six years. She has also taken on a new position within the centre as a Unity Behavioural Therapist training parents to create and run their own ABA program.

The Ontario Association for Infant and Child Development (OAICD) Best Practices and Standards Development Project

This poster presentation outlines the multi-year, multi-phase project that moved the first edition of OAICD Best Practices document from revision to implementation across the 49 Infant and Child Development Services (ICDS) in Ontario and then to the development of Program Standards. The Best Practices are grounded technically in the most up to date research and knowledge available in the field and laid the foundation for the

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development of Program Standards. The Standards promote consistency and quality in service delivery across ICDS.

ICDS professionals fundamentally believe in working collaboratively with families, professionals and policy makers to ensure that every child has access to evidence-based best practices and quality services. The development of the Program Standards supports this belief and aligns with Ontario’s vision of …”a province where every infant and child has the opportunity to achieve his or her full potential…” This project demonstrates a unique collaborative process that included the support of the Provincial Ministry of Finance and the Ministry for Children and Youth Services, ICDS, OAICD and families.

Conference registrants will be left with a framework that can be replicated to assist in the development of standards that support collaborative relationships with families, professionals and policy makers.

Presenters:

Ellen Boychyn, B. Sc. Phys. Ther., PT Reg. (Ont.), Manager, Infant and Child Development Services Durham, Region of Durham, Whitby, ON., Ontario Association for Infant and Child Development

Lorna Montgomery, B.Sc.,Dip.P.&O.T.,Reg.Pht.(ON), Manager, Infant & Child Development Services Peel, and Service Resolution Peel, Trillium Health Centre, Mississauga, ON

Wendy Perry, B.A. (Psychology), Project Coordinator, Ontario Association for Infant and Child Development, Mississauga ON

Cathie Smith, Family Worker, Early Intervention Program Children's Centre, Thunder Bay, Schreiber Office, ON

Roxanne Young - BASc, E.C.E.C., Manager of Early Intervention Services, Region of Halton, Ontario Association for Infant and Child Development, Oakville, ON

Powerful Relationships: Unity Intensive Training for Parents of Preschool Children with Autism

Powerful relationships develop when parents participate in intensive training in implementing Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) interventions with their preschool children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). In the Unity program, parents and their young children with ASD attend an ABA preschool for 180 hours over 12 weeks. Parents learn to apply ABA with their children in structured and unstructured settings, to develop short and long-term goals, and to train support people to implement ABA.

Parents of children with ASD in general report higher levels of stress, compared to parents of children with developmental disabilities or typical development. Social support for parents is built into the training program on multiple levels. A Parent Advisor (a Unity graduate) is involved in planning the Unity program, to ensure that parents’ needs are always considered. Parents complete the training in pairs to provide a buddy system. An experienced behaviour therapist provides initial one-on-one, and later one-on-two coaching. Parents are trained alongside professional behaviour therapists working with other children with ASD to provide modeling. A Psychology doctoral student provides instrumental and social support to the parents, children and staff. Monthly parent support groups and follow-up consultation groups are held.

As of April 2010, twenty parents have completed the 3-month training program. Our research has found that the 12-week process of training helps to reduce overall parent stress levels.

An accompanying research poster will provide data on the effectiveness of Unity parent training for the children’s progress, as well as for the parents’ stress, empowerment, social support, self-efficacy as therapists, and belief in ABA.

Presenters:

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Vanessa Bruce, Doctoral Student, University of Windsor Department of Psychology; Graduate Practicum Student, Summit Centre Preschool Children with Autism

Tracey Garrant, Unity Parent Graduate, Summit Centre Preschool Children with Autism

Dr. Marcia Gragg, Assistant Professor University of Windsor Department of Psychology; Clinical Director, Summit Centre Preschool Children with Autism

Hellena Hebert, M.S., Executive Director, Summit Centre Preschool Children with Autism

Heather Jones, Unity Parent Graduate, Summit Centre Preschool Children with Autism

 

Further Poster Presentation to be posted as they become available.