Directors’ June 2024 BSPD Digest

Week 1 – June 4^th, 2024 Theme: Policy Statement on Inclusion of Children with Disabilities in Early Childhood Programs

Do you struggle to include Part C in your work? In 2015, the US Departments of Education and Health and Human Services released a joint policy statement about inclusion of children with disabilities in Early Intervention programs. It was updated and reaffirmed in 2023, and now includes a section about partnering to build a nationwide culture of inclusion. You can find the updated policy statement here: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ecd/policy-statement-on-inclusion.pdf

Week 2 – June 11^th, 2024 Theme: Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA)

The Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA) is the national technical assistance center for Part C. There are toolkits, webinars, and handouts for partners and families alike. If you need an Early Childhood resource, chances are you can find it here: https://ectacenter.org/

Week 3 – June 18^th, 2024 Theme: aRPy Ambassador Initiative

One of ECTA’s services is an Ambassador Program that joins representative partners from ECTA, the Division for Early Childhood at the Council for Exceptional Children and Parent Centers! They work together to bring recommended practices and the tools to improve the work to the forefront. Check it all out here: https://ectacenter.org/decrp/arpy_ambassadors.asp

Week 4 – June 25^th, 2024 Theme: CDC’s Act Early Ambassadors

Ready to start collaborating with Early Intervention partners beyond your state’s Part C Education Department? Find out who all the other partners in Part C work are right here: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/partners/index.html