Our staff are making a difference far beyond Westchester, helping caregivers statewide care for children and themselves! Infant Toddler Regional Coordinator Jami Flynn and Infant Toddler Mental Health Consultant Susan Panarella, LMSW, spoke at the recent New York Association for the Education of Young Children (NYAEYC) Annual Conference, a sold-out event with 500+ educators and early childhood professionals in attendance. Together, Jami and Susan presented "Caregiver Wellness: You Can't Pour from an Empty Cup," to encourage caregivers to incorporate self-care into their daily routines. (Did you know that research shows that the well-being of early childhood providers and the social emotional development of the children in their care are interconnected?) Jami also presented "Inclusion of Infant and Toddlers with Disabilities: Coordination and Collaboration for Comprehensive Services, "teaching participants about their legal obligations, the importance of connecting with families and early intervention service providers, and how to make easy, inexpensive changes to materials in their spaces. The session also featured a productive conversation about the best ways to approach parents when a child care provider believes a child may be experiencing a developmental delay.
