APRIL 10-13, 2019 Through Healthy Connections - Community Service Council
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Securing the Future
Through Healthy Connections
APRIL 10-13, 2019
Stoney Creek Hotel & Conference Center
200 W. Albany Street, Broken Arrow, OK 74012
An in-depth look at the importance of secure attachments
and building resiliency in infants & toddlers
COMMUNITY SERVICE COUNCIL
Welcome
to the 6th International
Infant & Toddler Conference!
@IITCTulsa | #IITC19 | csctulsa.org/iitc-2019
Greetings International Infant and Toddler Conference Participants!
On behalf of the Community Service Council and the 2019 IITC Planning Committee, I would like
to welcome you to the 6th International Infant and Toddler Conference. Together as teachers,
caregivers, mental health professionals, administrators and parents, we are making a difference
in the lives of young children. As data shows, children today face more trauma than ever before
and ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) scores continue to climb. The good news is you and I
can make a difference. Together, we can create nurturing environments and trusting relationships
that allow infants and toddlers to build secure attachments that lead to brighter futures.
Over the next three days, we will explore a myriad of ways we can have a positive lasting impact on the
development of children in our care. Our incredible IITC committee members and staff from the Community
Service Council have been anticipating your arrival and planning for the past two years, bringing amazing
speakers to teach and inspire you in this worthy journey. We hope you enjoy your next few days here. Let us
know if there is anything we can do to assist you throughout the conference.
Sincerely,
Collette Sawyer, 2019 Conference Committee Chair
Community Service Council’s Child Care Resource Center
First, welcome and thank you for sharing your time and expertise with us in our corner of
the world. How very grateful we are for each of you—world renowned experts, early childhood
specialists and community leaders—all convening with a shared goal of building better
lives and futures for our most vulnerable citizens. We encourage your input, feedback
and participation at every level. You are the strength and success of this conference.
In addition to participating in the highly acclaimed sessions, we hope you will take time to explore
the city we call home. We believe you will find our folks friendly and the amenities world-class—especially,
our newly unveiled Gathering Place.
Again, thank you for joining us for the 6th International Infant and Toddler Conference. Please let us know
if there is anything we can do to make your experience more rewarding.
Kindest Regards,
Pamela Ballard, MHR, CNE, CNC
Chief Executive Officer
Community Service Council
HELPFUL TIPS
MEALS In an effort to reduce conference costs for our participants, we have opted to not include breakfast
and lunch in the registration fee. There are several dining options within walking distance of the conference
center and we encourage you to enjoy what Broken Arrow has to offer! A dining guide is provided in your bag.
Also take advantage of Lunch & Learns - more information is at the registration table.
WIFI Complimentary WiFi provided courtesy of Stoney Creek Hotel and Conference Center.
CEUs We are pleased to offer professional development credit for this conference. If you need CEUs for LSW,
LPC, LMFT, please check in at the registration desk for your paperwork. For formal credit for early childhood
education through CECPD, certificate and information is in your participant bag. Although the International
Infant and Toddler Conference Committee has made every effort to provide training credit, the responsibility
is on the participant to secure proper documentation.
YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS THIS! Visit Tulsa’s brand new Gathering Place, named the best new attraction
in the country by USA Today! Enjoy outdoor learning opportunities and explore the 100 acre riverfront park.
Transportation to the Gathering Place will be generously provided for conference attendees by Muscogee (Creek)
Nation on Friday afternoon. Buses will leave the conference center at 3 pm, returning at 5:30 and 7:30 pm. Please
board the bus through the conference center main doors. For those who wish to spend more time exploring the
park or want to venture into Tulsa’s rich downtown history and nightlife, we suggest you make plans to call a cab,
UBER, or Lyft back to the hotel. If you need suggestions, please ask a conference committee member.
SILENT AUCTION BASKETS Bid through lunch each day. Winners will be announced at the afternoon general session.
THANK YOU!
We would like to offer our sincere thanks to the committee members that made this conference possible:
Collette Sawyer - International Infant and Toddler Conference Committee Chair, Carina Amrine, Sharon
Beaver, Teresa Berg, Cindy Blackshear, Brittany Brannon, Shyra Burrell, Jana Cornelius, Stephanie Daniels,
Christy Emig, Lisa Evans, Kelly Kruggel, Cynthia Mooney, Alice Moore, Jennifer Norviel, Barbara O’Neal,
Dawn Parton, Susan Patrick, Jessica Ruggles, Retta Seger, Jessica Smith, Margaret Tyner and Erin Velez.
Special thanks to the following agencies for your support: Tulsa Technology Center, Cherokee Nation, Muscogee
(Creek) Nation, Riverfield Country Day School, Kaplan Early Learning Company, OU-Early Childhood Education
Institute, OU-Center for Early Childhood Professional Development, Tulsa Community College, Lakeshore and
Northeastern State University. Thank you very much to our generous sponsors for this year’s event:
PLATINUM LEVEL
GOLD LEVEL
SILVER LEVEL
3
i 6th
nternational
infant & toddler
conference
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10 | PRE-CONFERENCE DAY
PROGRAM
PRECONFERENCE CHECK IN 8:00 - 8:30 am
OPTION 1: PRE-CONFERENCE AT HOTEL
8:30 am - 4:30 pm; One hour lunch Room: Salon C
Born for Love: Trauma Responsive Care for Infants and Toddlers
Dr. Barbara Sorrels
The birthright of every child is to be loved and nurtured by warm, responsive and safe caregivers. Unfortunately, infants
and toddlers are the most vulnerable members of our society, suffering rates of abuse higher than at any other age.
The effects of trauma in the first three years of life can last across the lifespan. The good news is that with early
identification, informed caregivers can provide the interventions and loving care necessary to set infants and toddlers
on a positive trajectory.
OPTION 2: PRE-CONFERENCE AT RIVERFIELD COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL
Bus leaves at 8:30 am; 9 am - 4 pm; Working lunch Location: Riverfield Country Day School
Learning in Supportive Environments
Join Riverfield Country Day School for a day of intrigue, investigation and creativity in connection with our school
environments and the natural world. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in hands-on experiences
throughout Riverfield’s environments, both indoors and throughout our 120-acre campus. Hear how children’s learning
encounters have been inspired and cultivated through deep and meaningful experiences, participate in both large
and small group discussion, and encounter the environments themselves through interactive atelier workshops.
THURSDAY, APRIL 11 | DAY 1
REGISTRATION 8:00 - 8:30 am
WELCOME, OPENING AND KEYNOTE
8:30 - 10:15 am Room: Salon A & B
Looking at What’s Strong, Not What’s Wrong…The Resilience Story
Allison Jackson, Ph.D.
In her keynote today, Dr. Jackson will discuss both the science of ACEs and resilience as well as her journey and experi-
ences with complex trauma as a child and caregiver. Most importantly, she will discuss the most important medicine for
this epidemic…connection. Together as individuals, families, support systems, organizations and communities, we can
take on this health challenge and build thriving future generations.
BREAK 10:15 - 10:30 am Beverage service in main lobby.
4
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
THURSDAY
DAY 1
10:30 am - Noon
Classroom Management for Terrific Twos, Including Autism Spectrum Disorder Room: Granite
Anita Ede, Ph.D., and Jody Legnon, Ph.D.
Positive guidance classroom management strategies in early childhood classrooms and ways to foster resiliency in
children will be the focus of this presentation. The presenters will include discussions on an important piece of class-
room management, incorporating effective strategies for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) characteristics.
With one in 68 children diagnosed with ASD (CDC, 2018), it is imperative for child care providers to know how to teach
these children and to serve their families in early childhood settings.
Infants and Toddlers Are Victims, Too Room: Marble
Karen Smith, M.S.
What is Polyvictimization and how does it begin in infancy? This session will present an overview of family violence,
polyvictimizaton, and the role it has on infants and toddlers’ growth and development. The session will discuss
strategies for calming and working with infants and toddlers who have experienced trauma, community resources
for stopping the cycle of violence, and communication techniques for supporting families that have experienced trauma.
Participatory Action Research: Using Photographs to Conduct Classroom Research Room: Desert Rose
Debbie Deibert, Shemeia Barnett, Opal Lewis and Carissa Lovell
This session will review a PhotoVoice study, conducted by faculty and student interns, used to examine personal practice
in the classroom. The goals of using PhotoVoice includes the empowerment of the educators to record and reflect on
their perceptions of community, support and persistence, and to promote critical dialogue and knowledge about personal
and community issues through large and small group discussion of their photographs (Wang, 1999).
Connecting through Motor Movement Room: Wood
Lesley Gudgel and Debbie McClellan
Understanding the link between physical development, emotional development and the brain is vital for teachers and
caregivers of young children. You will gain insight into how the brain prioritizes movement and connections on a child’s
developmental calendar. This session is grounded in best practices and current research from “A Moving Child is a
Learning Child” by Gill Connell and Cheryl McCarthy, and “Conscious Discipline” by Dr. Becky A. Bailey.
LUNCH: ON YOUR OWN
Noon - 1:30 pm (Please see the insert in your conference bag for nearby restaurant suggestions.)
LUNCH & LEARN
12:10 - 1:20 pm Pre-registration required - $15 fee
Saving Heroes: Are You Putting the Oxygen Mask on Yourself First? Room: Salon A & B
Allison Jackson, Ph.D.
This workshop will briefly review the ACEs study and what it means for all of us in the general population. However, the
real focus of this workshop will be to closely examine the special health risks human service professionals incur working
with at-promise children and families. What does it mean to live a life of linearity? And why is it important to oscillate
each day? Most importantly, this workshop will focus on changes individuals need to make to benefit our physical,
emotional and social health as well as changes that organizations can make to increase human service professionals
resilience and decrease the risks of working in often stressful and toxic environments. Surprising as it may be, you are the
most important person in the room with a client…so please put the oxygen mask on yourself first before helping others.
AFTERNOON GENERAL SESSION
1:30 - 2:45 pm Room: Salon A & B
Building Early Social-Emotional Health Two Generations at a Time
Ross A. Thompson, Ph.D.
Strengthening social-emotional health in very young children is a central challenge for all who are concerned about
infants and toddlers. But because social-emotional health is linked to the quality of children’s relationships with the
people who matter, this is a two-generational challenge.
5
THURSDAY
BREAK 2:45 - 3:00 pm Beverage service
in main lobby.
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
3:00 - 4:30 pm
Supporting Emotional Intelligence from Infancy Room: Stone
Sarah Howard
Understanding our own feelings and what others may be feeling is an important attribute. From infancy, a strong
foundation for emotional intelligence can be built through connection and mindful interaction. When talking about
emotions and feelings, what we say and how we say it matters. This session will include facilitated dialogue to reflect
on and evaluate current practices while exploring new ideas about how we can support emotional intelligence in infants
and toddlers as caregivers and parents.
Supporting Healthy Development Room: Granite
Stacy Dykstra, Ph.D.
Every child has tremendous potential. To ensure that potential is reached, the powerful influence of their parents must
be harnessed. Learn how to provide an environment for parents to share ideas, develop skills, increase their confidence,
and strengthen their relationship with their child. This session will help parents feel more empowered and will help their
children enter Kindergarten outperforming their peers on Kindergarten entry assessments.
Promoting Multicultural Practices in the Toddler Classroom Room: Marble
Cynthia Lee, M.A.
An interactive hour and half session that gives toddler teachers strategies to use in order to promote effective
communication and increase parent involvement with multicultural families. Participants will brainstorm ways of
promoting parent involvement among diverse cultures as well as brainstorm techniques that can build strong and
healthy relationships with minority families. This session will motivate teachers to become more culturally responsive,
and to model and teach cultural awareness in their classroom so that toddlers may develop resiliency.
Leading with Style Room: Desert Rose
Laura Clary
Participants at all stages of leadership will gain a better understanding of leading through their attendance at this
session. Participants will share collective knowledge related to recognizing what characteristics a leader processes
and how leaders might be viewed by others. Participants will share core characteristics of leadership and will discuss
why they want to lead and how they might inspire others toward leadership.
Infant Mental Health Play Therapy Room: Wood
Katherine Conner, LMSW, IMHE-I, and Sharolyn Wallace, Ph.D., LCSW
Play can increase resiliency and help build and strengthen relationships for infants and toddlers. “While spontaneous
play is a natural and essential part of the developmental process, Play Therapy is a systematic and therapeutic
approach. Play Therapy incorporates a growing number of evidence-based practices and techniques” (SAMSHA, 2014),
and “should only be utilized by specially trained mental health professionals.” (a4pt.org) This workshop explores the
importance of relationships in the play therapy process with infants and toddlers.
TRANSPORTATION TO SEED SOWERS EVENT 5:30 pm
Please board the bus through the conference
center doors. 2
formal hours
SEED SOWERS EVENT AT OU-TULSA 6 - 8 pm CECPD
How to Think Like a Baby
Presented by Ross A. Thompson, Ph.D.
Perkins Auditorium, Schusterman Learning Center, 41st & Yale
THURSDAY
Community Service Council
thanks our generous sponsors,
and extends a very special
appreciation to our top sponsors!
Begin a new chapter
with Bright Horizons
Now Hiring Early Childhood Teachers
Teachers and leaders at Bright Horizons® find unlimited opportunities for professional
development and personal growth with a company that values each individual and
celebrates our unique differences.
Do work that matters at a company that offers more.
www.brighthorizons.com/careers
EOE M/F/Disability/Vet ©2019 Bright Horizons Family Solutions LLC. All Rights Reserved.
FRIDAY, APRIL 12 | DAY 2
REGISTRATION 8:00 - 8:30 am
WELCOME, OPENING AND KEYNOTE
8:30 - 10:15 am Room: Salon A & B
It Starts in the Heart: Creating a Connected Culture
Jill Molli, M.S.
The most important part of any school or center is willingness. Teaching learning and life itself becomes one giant
power struggle without willingness. Learn the four critical ingredients needed to create willingness within your staff,
your children and yourself. Shift from resistance to willingness, and learn ways to create or enhance your school family
so that caring, contribution and conflict resolution flourish.
BREAK 10:15 - 10:30 am Beverage service in main lobby.
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
10:30 am - Noon
Encouraging Mathematics Through the Use of Loose Parts in Toddler Classrooms Room: Stone
Jill Davis, Ph.D., and Emily Riley
It is widely known that meaningful play activities, such as loose parts, help children construct knowledge. This session
will introduce the concept of loose parts and share ideas for provocations with loose parts that encourage toddler’s
mathematical thinking, including number concepts, geometry, symmetry, classification, patterns and seriation.
Participants will have the opportunity for hands-on play with a variety of loose parts and to share their own ideas.
Designing Curriculum to Create Goodness of Fit Room: Granite
Joetta Gatliff, M.A. and Kristin Hommel-Miller, M.A.
This session will engage attendees in creating a “blue print” to support young children in daily caregiving interactions.
In building the “blue print,” we will discuss and define temperament traits, goodness of fit, and the impact they have on
children’s learning. The presenters will show how observation drives caregiver and child interactions and sets the scene
for responsive caregiving and curriculum, thus building a “blue print” for providing goodness of fit for all children.
Supporting the Needs of Diverse Infants and Toddlers Room: Marble
Melody Redbird-Post, M.A.
Across the United States and in Oklahoma, there are increasingly diverse early care and education settings. Participants
will explore the various definitions of diverse infant and toddler populations, and discuss approaches and strategies
for supporting the needs of diverse infant and toddler populations. Through small group discussion and large group
debriefing, participants will have the opportunity to identify ways they can enhance supports for infants and toddlers
that are inclusive and culturally responsive.
Families are the Foundation Room: Desert Rose
Jami Swindell, M.S.
Families are the most important teachers in a child’s life. Research demonstrates positive outcomes for children when
professionals partner with families in education, health and community services. For children with special educational
needs or complex medical needs, including families in planning, decision-making and implementation of services is
vital. However, actively engaging families is challenging for many professionals. This session will explore collaboration,
teaming, and family-centered services when working with infants and toddlers with special needs.
Wire: A Story of Trust Room: Wood
Rachel Richardson and Elizabeth Rumsey
Truly believing that our youngest citizens have the innate right to explore and discover, educators construct trust,
respect and competency with and within their children through the work of intelligent materials. When the eager,
fearlessness of children crossed paths with the multifaceted allure of wire, educators pushed aside their own
vulnerabilities to dance alongside their children in unfolding the vast possibilities of this expressive media.
8
FRIDAY
LUNCH: ON YOUR OWN
Noon - 1:30 pm (Please see the insert in your conference bag for nearby restaurant suggestions.)
LUNCH & LEARN
12:10 - 1:20 pm Pre-registration required - $15 fee
Building Healthy Blueprints for Life: Using Conscious Discipline to Build Self-Regulation Room: Salon A & B
Jill Molli, M.S., Sponsored by Kaplan Early Learning Company
The way you respond to the needs of the infants and toddler in your care will help them or inhibit them from forming
healthy life patterns. Learn to create calm days of optimal stimulations for both you and the children in your care!
* Create safety through the development of healthy attachments that lay the groundwork for self-regulation.
* Build connections through attuned interactions that help us better meet the needs of all children.
* Coach children through problem-solving opportunities that teach social skills that will last a lifetime.
* Implement “baby doll circle time,” an innovative approach to meet the one-to-one
connection needs of infants and toddlers.
AFTERNOON GENERAL SESSION
1:30 - 2:45 pm Room: Salon A & B
Viewing of the film documentary “Resilience: The Biology of Stress & the Science of Hope”
Researchers have recently discovered a dangerous biological syndrome caused by abuse and neglect during
childhood. As the new documentary “Resilience” reveals, toxic stress can trigger hormones that wreak havoc on the
brains and bodies of children, putting them at a greater risk for disease, homelessness, prison time, and early death.
While the broader impacts of poverty worsen the risk, no segment of society is immune. “Resilience,” however, also
chronicles the dawn of a movement that is determined to fight back. Trailblazers in pediatrics, education, and social
welfare are using cutting-edge science and field-tested therapies to protect children from the insidious effects of
toxic stress... (kpjrfilms.co/resilience)
BREAK 2:45 - 3:00 pm Beverage service in main lobby.
AFTERNOON OPTION 1
3:30 - 5:00 pm Transportation provided; Leaves hotel at 3 pm
Explore Tulsa’s Gathering Place
Join us as we explore Tulsa’s Gathering Place. We will leave the hotel at 3 pm and return at 5:30 pm. Experience training
in the great outdoors with hands-on experiences such as story-telling, basket-making, loose parts, outdoor environments
and community engagement. There will also be time to simply explore this inspiring new park. Buses will leave the
Gathering Place to return to the hotel at 5:30 and 7:30 pm.
AFTERNOON OPTION 2
3:00 - 4:30 pm Room: Stone
“Resilience” Film Documentary Panel Discussion
Dr. Miri Keren, Dr. Barbara Sorrels, Mansur Choudry, M.S., Kymberly Daniels, M.Ed.
9
SATURDAY, APRIL 13 | DAY 3
REGISTRATION 8:00 - 8:30 am
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
8:30 - 10:00 am
How to Support the Development of Empathy in Infants Room: Stone
Jill Lee, M.A.
The goal of this workshop is to offer new understandings about the Educaring® Approach and how it supports the
development of empathy from the very beginning of life. Current research with school-aged children will be discussed
and tied into cutting-edge neuroscientific findings which will come full circle for an understanding of why it is crucial
for infants to receive the very best of care.
Respecting Infants and Toddlers as Active Participants in Their Own Care Room: Granite
Nancy Craighead and Bonnie Rives
This session will include discussion regarding the capabilities of infants and toddlers. How respecting their capabilities
will improve their self-esteem and nurture the formation of relationships. Real examples of how teachers interact and
talk with children in their care and eventual outcomes will be included. Group interactions during the discussion and
a final Question and Answer session will enable the participants to incorporate respectful caregiving in their own class.
Loose Parts with Infants and Toddlers Room: Marble
Joyce Hepler, M.S., and Rebecca Taylor
When children are seen as capable and deserving, then they are respected as inquisitive and creative beings. This is
then reflected in the materials chosen and the environments created for them. In this interactive workshop, discover
how to unlock the world of creative, innovative and independent-thinking people known as children. Presenters will use
open-ended play and exploration to assist in identifying the six discoveries of infancy and open a new way of thinking
about play in the classroom by using “loose parts.” Join this session and journey through the eyes of Simon Nicholson,
the scientist who coined the phrase “Loose Parts” in 1971.
Talking with Parents of Infants and Toddlers Room: Desert Rose
Persephoné Harkins and Linda Whaley, M.A.
Providers come to discover how positive relationships with parents is critical to providing the best care possible
to the children in their care. This session gives fresh tips and ideas on how providers should communicate with
parents in their program.
Cooking with Infants and Toddlers Room: Wood
Adrien Malek, M.S.
The best way to teach children about making healthy food choices is to involve them in the food preparation process.
This presentation will show participants through lecture, discussion and hands-on experiences that teaching children
how to cook is a cost-effective intervention strategy that will not only allow them to learn about health, nutrition and
food safety, but also build on their cultural awareness, math, science, literacy and fine motor skills.
BREAK 10:00 - 10:15 am Beverage service in main lobby.
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
10:15 - 11:45 am
Parent-Infant Relationships: A Dimensional Approach from Normality to Abnormality Room: Stone
Miri Keren, M.D.
We will define the paramenters of the parent-infant relationship, dyadic as well as triadic (both parents and infant),
and explore the difference between the constructs of attachment and relationship. We will discuss the ways and
settings where we can observe attachment and interactive behaviors between the caregiver/parent and the infant.
Clinical examples will illustrate how these dimensions are useful to describe the level of adaptation of the dyad
and triad, and guide us in deciding who needs professional support and/or intervention, and who meets the criteria
for relationship or attachment disorders.
10SATURDAY
10:15 - 11:45 am
Teaching Children with Autism Room: Granite
Mansur Choudry, M.S.
This session will provide discussions on the challenges of inclusion and demonstrates how changes in approach
and attitude will bring the desired results where every child can thrive to the best of their abilities.
The Risky Outdoors: The Value of Nature Exposure and Risky Play Room: Marble
Milarosa John
Confidence, resiliency, working memory and attentiveness are golden keys for thriving as humans in this world. Outdoor
play and risky play help to build and improve these skills in children. Immersing infants and toddlers into green spaces
is the beginning step of erasing the fear of risky play in the forgotten outdoors. This session will focus on the importance
of understanding and facilitating risky play and outdoor exploration in the younger years.
Wonder and Curiosity Room: Desert Rose
Lisa Frye
Infants are born curious about the world around them. When a child’s natural curiosity is nurtured, they are helped to
become lifelong learners. Brain research shows that curiosity is as important as intelligence in determining success
in school. This session will provide information on how to protect and support the natural curiosity children bring with
them from birth.
Making Relationships the Center of Your Classroom: The Nurturing Environment Model Room: Wood
Ava Armstead-Cozart, M.S.
Teachers take on a pertinent role in children’s lives once they begin classroom programs outside of the home. The
teacher-child relationship could arguably be considered the most important social relationship a child will have outside
of family relationships. This interactive session will use the nurturing environment model to explore relationships as
the center for all early learning. These types of environments minimize psychologically toxic events, teach, promote
and reinforce pro-social behavior, while limiting challenging behaviors and fostering psychological flexibility.
LUNCH: ON YOUR OWN
11:45 am - 1:15 pm (Please see the insert in your conference bag for nearby restaurant suggestions.)
LUNCH & LEARN
11:50 am - 1:00 pm Pre-registration required - $15 fee
Why Do They Do That? Exploring Temperament Room: Salon A & B
Lesley Gudgel, Sponsored by Community Service Council’s Healthy Start
Temperament describes the way children (and adults) approach and react to the world we live in. Understanding
temperament helps equip parents and caregivers with tools (a) to identify and explore our own temperament types
and traits, (b) gain insight into why we behave the way we do when our buttons are pushed, and
(c) how to use the knowledge to support young children we live and work with.
BREAK 1:00 - 1:15 pm Beverage service in main lobby.
CLOSING KEYNOTE
1:15 - 2:45 pm
Be the “ONE” Room: Stone
Miri Keren, M.D.
Join us as Dr. Keren highlights what we have learned and experienced over the past few days. Leave this session
and the conference challenged, inspired and ready make a difference in our sphere of influence as we help secure
a strong future through healthy connections for today’s infants and toddlers.
11KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Allison Jackson, Ph.D., holds her Dr. Keren has also served as the President of the World
PhD in Social Work and is a LCSW Association of Infant Mental Health (2012-2016) and is
and CSOTP in Virginia as well as currently on the Board as Past President and Honorary
a Certified Facilitator for Dr. Brené President of the Israel WAIMH Affiliate. Her academic
Brown’s Daring Way™ curriculums. position is Assistant Clinical Professor at the Child and
Her passion is to bring trauma and Adolescent Psychiatry department, Tel-Aviv Sackler
resilience informed practices to Medical School, Head of the Infant Psychiatry Post Graduate
professionals honored to serve course, Tel-Aviv Sackler Medical School, International Advisor
at-promise youth, families and adults in on the Editorial board of the Infant Mental Health Journal
their communities. She lives this passion and Member of the Diagnostic Classification for Early
by by by providing educational opportunities directly Childhood Revision International Task Force. Dr. Keren
to community members as well as to professionals at the teaches as a Visiting Professor at Valencia (Spain) University,
direct care and leadership levels of an organization. She International early childhood psychology program, sponsored
is a person of lived experience and a professional having by AEPEA. She is also involved in joint Israeli-Palestinian
provided services via Behavioral Health, Education, Child professional projects and has recently started to fill her
Welfare and Criminal Justice systems for over 20 years. position as Head of the Geha Child and Adolescent Section.
For 13 years, she served within an international healthcare
organization first as mentor and finally as their VP of Clinical
Operations and National Trauma Informed Service Line Leader. Jill Molli, M.S. Counseling,
Partnering with the National Council of Behavioral Health- has the uncanny ability to help
Care, she co-led 17 National Teams through the Council’s people laugh and learn at the same
Trauma Informed Learning Collaborative. time. Her past position in a Title
Today, Dr. Jackson is the CEO of Integration Solutions, 1 elementary school offered her
providing trauma and resilience informed care consultation opportunities to apply Dr. Bailey’s
to human service and healthcare organizations furthering Conscious Discipline® in a school
their integration of resilience practices to consumers via TIC setting and her own family offers
organizational culture principles. She challenges herself her constant real-life experiences to
to live an authentic life and step into “the arena” each day. share with her audiences. Jill was selected
Her hope is her work in collaboration with so many others as as as a Loving Guidance Associate because of her
will increase the empathy and self-compassion of those no-nonsense ability to get to the heart of a situation and
impacted by trauma and influence next generation health. her commitment to living Loving Guidance principles at
school and at home. She is an entertaining, motivating
and heart-felt presenter.
Miri Keren, M.D., was born in Jill is a “connector” for family needs. She began her teaching
Paris, France, immigrated to Israel career in a behavior disabilities classroom, moved into a
in 1970, and graduated in medicine regular third grade classroom, and then completed her
at the Ben Gourion Medical School requirements as a guidance counselor. In this role, Jill
(1975-1981). After her residency helped implement Conscious Discipline® school-wide using
in Child and Adolescent Psychia- the 3-year implementation plan. She has a Master’s Degree
try and certification of the School in Counseling, a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education
of Psychotherapy at the Tel Aviv and 20+ years of working with children with behavior
University Sackler Medical School, problems. Since 2003, she has been the owner and operator
Dr. Keren spent two years at Brown of Connecting with Kids, a business whose mission is to
Uni- University (USA) for a fellowship in Infant build connections in families and classrooms. In an effort
Psychiatry (1993-1995). Since 1996, she has served as director to stay current and up to date with recent issues in the
of the community-based infant mental health unit, affiliated classroom, Jill volunteers weekly in preschool and elementary
to Geha Mental Health Center in Petah-Tiqwa, which was settings and quarterly in an alternative high school.
the first Community Infant Psychiatry Unit. From 1996 to
2006, she supervised the Israeli national project of preschool
mental health units implementation, under joint sponsorship
of the Ministry of Health and Sacta-Rashi Foundation.
Bio continued >
12Mansur Choudry, M.S. is the Director of
the Autism Clinic at Special Care, a NAEYC
accredited facility in Oklahoma City, Okla.,
which enrolls 135 children, aged six weeks
to 21 years; two thirds of children enrolled
are children with special needs. This center
Ross A. Thompson, Ph.D., serves children with a variety of physical and
is Distinguished Professor of emotional needs. Choudry holds a Degree in
Psychology at the University Mechanical Engineering, a Master’s of Business Adminis-
of California, Davis, where he tration, and a Masters in Special Education from University
directs the Social and Emotional of Central Oklahoma. He has received numerous awards
Development Lab. Thompson is an for his work in the special education field, specifically his
internationally-recognized authority work with autism. Choudry is an officer and member of
on the psychological development many early childhood associations. He conducts work-
of young children, parent-child shops in Oklahoma, regionally and nationally, as well as in
relationships, and the applications of countries around the world. His presentations are intended to
deeeedevelopmental science to public policy make people aware of different disabilities, especially autism.
problems such as early childhood mental health, child poverty,
early education, and the development of school readiness. Laura Clary is Associate Director of
His work integrates understanding of the developing brain Admissions and Recruitment for CAP Tulsa,
with early experiences in both typical and at-risk children, has her Bachelors of Science, and has
and he consults extensively to legislative committees, public focused her career in Child Development
agencies, and private foundations. He has published five through non-profit organizations who
books, several best-selling textbooks, and over 250 papers support children birth through eighteen.
related to his work. Clary has worked in the Camping and
Dr. Thompson is President of the Board of Directors of Recreation field, Non-Profit Recreation (YMCA)
Zero to Three, a national nonprofit devoted to the healthy and currently works in the anti-poverty and education
development of young children and their families. He is on sector with CAP Tulsa. Clary is currently in the process
the Executive Committee of the Center for Poverty Research of obtaining her Masters of Administrative Leadership
at the University of California, serves on the boards of the though The University of Oklahoma.
National Institute for Early Education Research and the Buffett
Early Childhood Institute, and was a founding member
Katherine Conner, LMSW, IMHE-I, is a Play
of the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child.
Enhancement Program Head Start CREOKS
He received the Ann Brown Award for Excellence in
Play Therapist. She provides consultation
Developmental Research in 2007, the University of California,
for the Oklahoma Child Care Warmline.
Davis Distinguished Scholarly Public Service Award in 2011,
Previously, Katherine was employed by
and the Urie Bronfenbrenner Award for Lifetime Contribution
CARD Early Head Start for six years as
to Developmental Psychology in the Service of Science and
a Home Based and Mentoring Specialist.
Society from the American Psychological Association in 2017.
Nancy Craighead has a Bachelor’s
SPEAKERS
Degree in Child Development from Walden
University. She has worked with infants,
toddlers, and preschool-age children for
twenty years.
Ava Armstead-Cozart, M.S., holds
a Master’s of Science degree in Human
Jill Davis, Ph.D., is an assistant professor at
Development and Family Science. She
the University of Central Oklahoma where
works as a professional development
she teaches a variety of classes, including
specialist for a non-profit organization
a math methods course for early childhood
that assists lower-income families in
and elementary majors. Her Doctorate,
Oklahoma counties. She has served as an
Master’s, and Bachelor’s degrees are all in
eaearly childhood educator for over 15 years
early childhood education. She has experience
and currently teaches coursework in parenting, early
teaching young children in pre-kindergarten,
childhood, and life-span at a state university. Presently
kindergarten, and in a kindergarten-1st grade multi-age
she is completing her Ph.D. at Oklahoma State University.
classroom. Dr. Davis has presented at several international,
Armstead-Cozart has been involved in a number of studies
national, state, and local conferences, including previous
on trauma informed practices, prevention programs, early
International Infant & Toddler Conferences and for NAEYC.
childhood education, and relational care.
She also has publications on toddler engagement in mathe-
matics and family involvement with math.
13SPEAKERS
i 6th
nternational
infant & toddler
conference
Debbie Deibert is Associate Professor
Lesley Gudgel has over 24 years of
clinical experience in early childhood
development. She has been a part
of several multidisciplinary pediatric
of Child Development and Education at
Tulsa Community College. In her session, teams focused on early screening,
Participatory Action Research: Educators Using diagnosis and intervention. Gudgel has
Photographs to Conduct Classroom Research, a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood
she joins Shemeia Barnett, Opal Lewis and DeDevelopment and a Master’s of Human
Carissa Lovelle, all of whom are students working Relations, with a focus in Counseling, both from the
toward Child Development majors at Tulsa Community University of Oklahoma. She has served on several
College and are currently serving as interns with Educare community advisory boards and worked as a trainer/
in Tulsa. consultant for a number of groups including parents
and foster parents, child care providers, Head Start,
Stacy Dykstra, Ph.D. has worked Educare, Community Schools and various public
in the early childhood arena in various schools. Lesley was the Director of the LINK Project
capacities since 1991, driven by the desire to at Children’s Medical Center/Community Service Council,
make a positive impact on the lives of chil- the founder and Director of the CARE Program at the
dren. As an early childhood certified teacher, Laura Dester Shelter, and the founder and Executive
she has taught both Pre-k and Kindergarten, Director of Sprouts Child Development, all focusing
directed an after-school program served as on young children’s optimal development.
project director for a collaborative longitudinal
evaluation study, and served as a principal. Her thirst for Persephoné Harkins serves as the
knowledge led her to graduate school, where she earned her Infant and Toddler Manager for the
master’s degree from the University of Central Oklahoma Oklahoma Child Care Resource and
and her Ph.D. in Instructional Leadership and Academic Referral Association. She holds an
Curriculum from the University of Oklahoma. Dr. Dykstra joined Associate’s Degree in Family Services
the Smart Start Central Oklahoma Team in the summer of and Child Development (2013) and a
2006, working to support parents in their most important role. Bachelor’s degree in Family Life Education
and Child Development (2015). She has been
employed by Rainbow Fleet Child Care Resource and
Anita Ede, Ph.D. is Associate Professor Referral as a statewide Referral Specialist and Child Care
of Curriculum and Instruction at Northeastern Consultant, as a Master Teacher for Community Action
State University, Oklahoma. She teaches both Ruth Dropkin Head Start, and as a Master Teacher for
undergraduate and graduate courses in early the Linwood Early Learning Center. She has owned and
childhood education. Additionally, she spent operated a Family Child Care Home. Harkins is experienced
more than ten years teaching children in in providing professional development on a variety of
Preschool, Kindergarten and first grade settings. topics and has presented at several state professional
development trainings as well at a state conference.
Lisa Frye holds a Bachelor’s of Science
in Human Development and Family Sciences Joyce Hepler, M.S. is a Senior
and has been working in the early childhood Educational Project Specialist for CAP
field for over 13 years. She is a Resource Tulsa. She holds a Master’s of Science
and Referral Specialist working with Child in Teaching, Learning, and Leadership
Care Centers, Family Child Care Homes, Early with an emphasis in Curriculum. Hepler
Head Start, Head Start, School-Age and Tribal has been in the Early Childhood Education
programs across nine counties in Oklahoma provid- field since 1995 and is a Program for Infant
ing training and technical assistance. Frye also serves as and Toddler Care (PITC) trainer. Her passion is
an approved educator for the Center for Early Childhood connecting teachers, children, and families to nature and
Professional Development. holistic learning.
Joetta Gatliff, M.A. is a graduate of Lesley Kristin Hommel-Miller, M.A. is a
University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, graduate of Utah State University with
obtaining her master’s degree in Curriculum a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood
Instruction with an Early Childhood Education Education and her master’s degree in
emphasis. She is a National Board Certified Family, Consumer and Human Develop-
Teacher and holds a current Oklahoma teaching ment. She has spent the majority of her
certificate in Early Childhood, Special Education/ career working with children and families in
Autism. Gatliff has spent the majority of her career in a variety of settings. Currently, she is a faculty
working with children and families. Currently, she is a faculty member at both Rose State College and University of
member at Rose State College teaching courses focused on Central Oklahoma teaching courses focused on child
child growth and development. growth and development.
14SPEAKERS
Sarah Howard has a Bachelor’s in Child
Development from Sacramento State
University and is a Certified Lactation Adrien Malek, M.S., has a Master’s of
Educator. She has over 10 years of Science in Family and Child Studies and
experience directly supporting families is currently a doctoral student at the
and young children in a variety of settings. University of Oklahoma–Tulsa. She is
Howard is passionate and dedicated to working toward her Ph.D. in Instructional
providing and sharing about respectful care Leadership and Academic Curriculum
of infants and toddlers. Instagram: @sarah.thelittleyears with a focus on Early Childhood Education.
Malek is a Registered and Licensed Dietitian and
received her Bachelor’s of Science in Nutritional Sciences
Milarosa John received a Bachelor’s from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
of Science in Marriage and Family, and in 2005. She has experience working with infants and
is currently pursuing her Master’s of toddlers in the classroom setting as well as in home-based
Science in Family and Child Studies with early intervention services.
emphasis on Infant and Child Specialist
at the University of Central Oklahoma.
Deborah McClellan earned her Bachelor’s
Degree in Early Childhood Education 1991
Cynthia Lee, M.A., is currently and then spent seventeen years in the
pursuing a doctorate degree in Early classroom, teaching Pre-K, Kindergarten
Childhood Education from North and First and Second Grades in both tradi-
Central University. She currently holds tional and multi-age classrooms. During her
a Bachelor’s degree as well as a Mas- time in the classroom, she earned her Early
ter’s degree from Ashford University Childhood Generalist National Board Certification. She went
with a specialization in Families and on to earn her Master’s Degree in School Administration.
Communities. Following her classroom experience, she spent ten years
in Instructional Leadership as Instructional Coach and then
as a site Principal. She is now Principal at one of four district
Jill Getto Lee, M.A. of Los Angeles, Calif., Early Childhood Centers within Broken Arrow Public Schools.
is the mother of twin boys and is a RIE®
Associate who specializes in twins and
triplets. Lee’s great passion is to advocate Melody Redbird-Post, M.A., holds a
for children’s physical and mental health Master’s of Education degree in Instruc-
rights. She holds a Master’s Degree from tional Leadership and Academic Curriculum,
Pacific Oaks College in Human Development specializing in Early Childhood Education
with a Specialization in Early Childhood, and a from the University of Oklahoma. As an
Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Psychology from Central enrolled member of the Kiowa Tribe, she
Michigan University. She is part of a study group on has worked in the early childhood education
affective neuroscience with Dr. Allan N. Schore of the UCLA field for the past fifteen years with experience serving in
David Geffen School of Medicine. She currently teaches various roles in Head Start, Child Care, and home visit-
RIE® Parent-Infant Guidance™ Classes at the Los Angeles ing, primarily working in tribal communities throughout
RIE® Center and at BINI Birth Center in Sherman Oaks. She the southern plains and southwestern United States. Her
instructs the RIE® Foundations™ Theory and Observation passion lies in tribal language revitalization in early care and
Course, Before Baby™, and Nurturing Nanny™ Courses at education settings including exploring strategies to engage
the Los Angeles RIE® Center and serves on the RIE® Board families, educators, and elders in implementing language
of Directors. Jill is a registered consultant for the County of revitalization activities that meet their program goals and the
Los Angeles, and also serves as a community member on needs of their community. She currently serves as the Project
California Safe Schools LA Unified School District Integrated Director of the National Center on Tribal Early Childhood
Pest Management Team. Development and maintains her standing with the Oklahoma
Professional Development Registry.
Jody Legnon, Ph.D. has her bachelor’s,
master’s, and doctorate degrees in Early Rachel Richardson is an infant educator
Childhood. She has worked in child care at Riverfield Country Day School in Tulsa,
settings, been a classroom teacher, and is working alongside children as young as
currently a professor at Northeastern State eight weeks. She is a state certified Early
University in Broken Arrow, Okla. Dr. Legnon Childhood educator and has received her
serves as the Director of the Special Needs Bachelor’s degree from Northeastern State
Ministry at First Baptist Church in Jenks, Okla., and University. She and other professional educators
is on the board for Lead Learn Live, a non-profit organization from Riverfield Country Day School will share
that helps those with disabilities attend college. She is the powerful stories of how education, with even the youngest
mother of twin teenage boys, one is on the autism spectrum. citizens, is limitless.
15SPEAKERS
i 6th
nternational
infant & toddler
conference
Emily Riley is a graduate student pursuing
partnerships within IDEA Part C Early Intervention.
Swindell enjoys working with families, Early Interven-
tion service providers and other professional educators
to support evidence-based practices in the field of Early
her Master’s in Early Childhood Education Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education.
from the University of Central Oklahoma She is passionate about advocating for young children,
(UCO), and will be graduating in May 2019. families and educators within early childhood special
Her Bachelor’s Degree is in Physical Education education and early intervention. She has worked as an
from Illinois State University. While studying at infant/toddler teacher, early interventionist, inclusion
UCO, she has done extensive research on loose specialist, professional development specialist and
parts and has created and implemented many ac- adjunct professor in early childhood education. Swindell
tivities that involve loose parts. She also has taken numer- has an undergraduate degree in Human Development
ous math courses in which she has worked with and Family Studies from the University of Missouri and
students in early childhood education and implemented a Master’s in Science in Early Childhood Education. She
authentic assessments and her own activities and lessons. also has advanced training in Child Forensic Psychology,
She is currently starting an action research project with Quantitative Statistics and Special Education Law.
Dr. Jill Davis titled “Analyzing Children’s Board Games for
Mathematical Content.” Rebecca Taylor is a Professional
Development Specialist for the Oklahoma
Bonnie Rives has a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Program (OPEC) through
Elementary Education from Shippensburg CAP Tulsa. She supports the OPEC infant
University of Pennsylvania. She has focused and toddler classrooms across the state.
on working with infants, toddlers, and She holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Early
preschool-aged children for twenty years. Childhood Education and has been in the Early
Childhood Education field since 2008. She is a
certified Program for Infant and Toddler Care (PITC) Trainer.
Elizabeth Rumsey is a toddler educator
at Riverfield Country Day School in Tulsa. Sharolyn Wallace, Ph.D., LCSW,
For four years, she worked alongside Registered Play Therapist Supervisor,
Riverfield’s youngest citizens in the infant has been the Professor of Human
classroom. In the spirit of cultivating teacher- Services at Tulsa Community College
child and family bonds, Rumsey is currently (TCC) for over 25 years. She is also the
in her first year of building a sustained community director for TCC’s Center for Addiction
of research and care through looping. This is her Prevention and Recovery Support. Dr. Wallace
second time presenting at the International Infant and has received numerous awards and recognition
Toddler Conference. for her work in social work and mental health. She is a
Board Member and the 2018 Chair for the Association for
Play Therapy. Dr. Wallace has been in private practice for
Lawana Sexton has an Associate’s Degree over twenty-five years specializing in child sexual abuse
in Child Development from Tulsa Community and trauma, and has led teams of mental health workers
College. She has been teaching infants and providing crisis intervention and play therapy following
toddlers for twenty-eight years. disasters in the United States and around the world.
She has published articles on play therapy and relapse
prevention with child welfare families, and is the author
of a series of children’s books.
Karen Smith, M.A. has Bachelor’s and
Master’s Degrees in Human Development Linda Whaley, Program Manager II for
and Family Studies from the University of OKDHS - Child Care Services holds three
Arkansas. She has worked with children, Master’s degrees - Early Childhood
families, and early childhood professionals Education, Organizational Management,
for 38 years in direct service, educational and and Elementary Education. She has been
administrative roles. Smith currently serves as an adjunct instructor at Oklahoma State
the Director of Camp Hope with the Family Safety University/Tulsa, University of Central Okla-
Center, Tulsa’s multi-agency provider of services to victims homa and Oklahoma City Community College
of family violence, sexual assault, and stalking. (OCCC). She has experience working as the OCCC Lab
School Infant, Toddler, and Two’s teacher, child care center
director, Sylvan Learning Systems, as a Regional Education
Jami Swindell, M.S., is a Doctoral Quality manager, and an educator at Moore Public Schools.
student at the University of Illinois, Whaley has served on the board for the Oklahoma Association
Urbana-Champaign in the Department for the Education of Young Children (formerly Early Childhood
of Special Education. Her research Association of Oklahoma) as President. She has presented
interest focuses on family-professional at various Oklahoma, regional, and national conferences on
Bio continued > a multitude of topics related to early childhood.
1617
BUILDING LAYOUT 18
GROUNDBREAKING
NEW INSIGHT INTO
THE PSYCHE OF
VERY YOUNG
CHILDREN
Does Time Heal All? Exploring
Mental Health in the First 3 Years
By Miri Keren, Doreet Hopp, and Sam Tyano
The notion that a baby might develop symptoms of
psychological distress and that these can be diagnosed and
treated is still a matter of great international debate.
Not a guide, nor an ordinary textbook, Does Featuring case
Time Heal All? weaves together complex case
discussions
and treatment descriptions that focus specifically
on the interplay between genetic, biological,
utilizing definitions,
psychological, and cultural variables present both in the formulations,
child and his or her environment. The resulting insights and criteria from
will fascinate and enrich all who seek to trace the thin line DC:0-5TM.
between normative behavior, even if extreme at times, and
abnormal behavior caused by a psychological disorder requiring
www.zerotothree.org/shop
therapeutic intervention.
About ZERO TO THREE
ZERO TO THREE is a membership organization that works to ensure all
babies and toddlers benefit from the family and community connections
critical to their well-being and development. Since 1977, we have advanced
the proven power of nurturing relationships by transforming the science of
early childhood into helpful resources, practical tools, and responsive
policies for millions of parents, professionals, and policymakers.
17BS-22-03About the Community Service Council
The Community Service Council (CSC) has been a non-profit leader in community planning since 1941. Working with area
partners, CSC confronts challenges to health, social, education and economic opportunities and strategically advances effective
community-based solutions. This is done though research, planning, networking and mobilizing resources across our core
investment areas that include child and maternal health, housing and homelessness, incarceration reduction and veterans support.
COMMUNITY SERVICE COUNCIL
16 E. 16th Street, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74119 | csctulsa.org | csctulsa
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