Browsing all Early Childhood Initiatives

Birth-to-Three Program Early intervention services are provided in the home for young children, birth to age 3, who have been identified with disabilities, and their families; services include parenting support and collaboration with early-intervention providers.

Child-Specific Consultation & Assessment Comprehensive evaluation and on-site observation are available to districts to assist teachers in selecting the most appropriate instructional or behavioral management strategies for individual children. We offer a full range of specialists, from those in early childhood to professionals across the entire spectrum of special needs, preK to grade 12.

Connecticut Accreditation Facilitation Project (AFP) The Connecticut Accreditation Facilitation Project (AFP) is an established resource system of regional teams providing critical leadership and support for the achievement of quality standards and excellence in early childhood programs. AFP services include: overviews of NAEYC's Program Standards and Accreditation Performance Criteria; technical assistance with the process of accreditation; and individualized support for programs engaged in the self-study.

Connecticut Preschool Assessment Framework Web-Based Software This reasonably priced, Web-based application is available for teachers and program directors who use the Connecticut Preschool Assessment Framework. Teacher-friendly and secure, this database eliminates the need for handwritten reports and allows teachers and administrators to view individual, classroom and program results.

Early Childhood Council Development & Facilitation EASTCONN staff with experience in community collaboration, early childhood policy and practice and comprehensive services, will work with your community to support the development and implementation of an Early Childhood Council.

Early Childhood Parent Education/Parenting Workshops Workshops on a range of topics are available to support parents in increasing their parenting skills, improving their knowledge of children's growth and development and learning how to support learning. Early childhood specialists are available to provide regional or on-site training.

Early Childhood Program Monitoring & Evaluation Our early childhood specialists can help to create or improve early childhood programs, birth through grade 3. Consultation can include program and curriculum design, as well as facility and learning environment design and evaluation.

Early Childhood Staff Training & Consultation EASTCONN provides training and consultation to early childhood educators, birth through kindergarten. Training and consultation are designed to meet program and staff needs. A lending library with curriculum and assessment resources is also available.

Early Childhood Training, Consultation and Coaching Early childhood specialists provide a range of professional development services customized to meet your program and district needs. Professional development related to curriculum, teaching and assessment is directly connected with state and national standards. On-site training and coaching is aimed at accomplishing program improvement goals that lead to increased child outcomes.

Early Head Start EASTCONN administers the Early Head Start program in Windham County. This program serves income-eligible pregnant women and children, birth to age 3, and their families, in a home-visiting and center-based program. EASTCONN offers Early Head Start in northeastern Connecticut, while Windham Public Schools provides the program for the greater Windham area. Stafford Public Schools offers a home-based program in the Stafford area. Benefits of Early Head Start include strong family involvement and support with health, dental, nutrition and mental health needs.

English-as-a-Second-Language Family Literacy EASTCONN Adult Services partners with Head Start to provide Family Literacy classes to eligible Windham families. Families in need of English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) classes are targeted for this program.

Head Start EASTCONN administers Head Start, a comprehensive, federally funded program for income-eligible preschool-age children and their families in Windham and Tolland counties. Center-based programs are available in Killingly, Plainfield, Putnam, Stafford, Vernon, and Windham. The home-visiting program, combined with a play group, is available for families in the Putnam, Killingly, Plainfield and Windham areas. Stafford and Windham Public Schools provide the Head Start program in their respective regions. Benefits of Head Start include strong family involvement and support with health, dental, nutrition and mental health needs.

Multidisciplinary Consultative, Assessment and Support Services Access our in-house team, which specializes in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and other developmental disabilities to build internal capacity through training and support in an optimal, inclusive educational environment. Let us complement your in-house team and support your individualized programming for students in their home school.

NAEYC Accreditation Consultation Information, consultation and training are available to preschool and kindergarten programs that want to pursue accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

Preschool Curriculum Assessment & Learning Training and consultation are available to your staff on curriculum and assessment (with an emphasis on linking teaching to curriculum and assessment) and aligning the preschool curriculum with that of the primary grades. Training for the Connecticut Preschool Curriculum and Assessment Frameworks is also available.

Strategic Data-Driven Planning for Early Childhood Programs & Services EASTCONN can help communities or programs create long-range or short-term plans for the development, implementation, or improvement of comprehensive, quality programs and services for children and their families. Collaboration within and across communities and service providers is emphasized. Assistance with grant-writing is also available.

Teaming & Conflict Resolution EASTCONN can provide training, coaching and support to groups that must function as high-performance work teams. Learning how to manage conflict resolution is a critical part of effective team performance. Provide your teams with the skills they need to achieve their outcomes.

Transition Planning - Birth-to-Three and Preschool-to-Kindergarten Early childhood specialists offer consultation to communities and schools regarding best practices for transitioning children into kindergarten. By facilitating a broad-based group, we can assist communities and schools in developing comprehensive transition plans that support successful, positive experiences for children and families.