July 31, 2018

Change - The art is to change before we have to. . .

 "Culture does not change because we desire to change it. Culture changes when the organization is transformed; the culture reflects the realities of people working together every day." - Frances Hesselbein

DEC is in the midst of a restructure. For the last several months, we have worked with DEC initiative leaders to discuss the restructure, to answer questions, to receive feedback. On July 1, we launched the restructure for all initiatives. Existing groups are working on transition plans and action plans. 

Following is an overview of the initiative for full membership and our partners: 

Why? Spotlight on DEC Priorities

The DEC restructure finds its roots in alignment with the DEC Priority Issues Agenda. Read the Agenda and the Updated/Revised DEC End's Statements here. This commitment must permeate the work of DEC internally and externally. 

What? Who?

The DEC restructure was developed first by outlining the work of DEC as depicted on the Services, Supports, & Executive Strategy document. View the full document. After the "what" was clearly defined, next the "who" had to be defined. View the organizational chart.

The Executive Office, charged by the Executive Board, assures the work, based on the DEC Priority Issues Agenda and DEC Ends, is accomplished through DEC's most significant resource, its volunteer workforce. Therefore, the “who” includes the DEC Working Committees, DEC Development Teams, and DEC Communities of Practice. Subdivisions remain a critical component of the organization, serving as State level ambassadors for the work of DEC, promoting DEC membership, supporting advancement of evidence-based practices, the DEC Recommended Practices, and DEC policy priorities across all states. DEC Executive Board members serve as liaisons to the work in full partnership with the Executive Office and as active members of the work.  

And now, the How?

"Our dilemma is that we hate change and love it at the same time. What we really want is for things to remain the same but get better." - Sydney J. Harris

DEC will continue to grow and advance through this restructure and over the course of the future only through the work of each and every one of us. We hope that you find your place in the work— work that must reflect the diversity of our workforce; work that must reflect the diversity of the families and children we serve. There will be many opportunities over the course of this next year and beyond! We rely on the expertise of each of you to accomplish the task, to truly promote the policies and evidence-based practices that will make a difference. We must work together to assure we achieve all that we hope to achieve. Thank for all you do and all you will do! Because it Matters! 

Policy and Advocacy

DEC Members joined 266 advocates for the CEC and CASE 2018 Special Education Legislative Summit! Sharon Walsh, Governmental Relations Consultant for DEC, Kim Sopko, Advocacy Strand Chair to the Policy and Advisory Committee, and Peggy Kemp were joined by several DEC members at the Summit.  Please review the Issue Briefs and Legislative Recommendations here.

News

DEC Practice Based ECSE Standards Development Task Force 

DEC has launched the DEC Practice Based ECSE Standards Development Task Force. The Task Force is charged by the CEC Board with exploring the value and necessity of developing Professional Practice Based Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) Standards in accordance with CAEP standards development guidelines. The Task Force will meet over the course of two years. The work is supported by oversight from CEC and DEC. The Early Childhood Personnel Center (ECPC) through a subaward with DEC will support the work of the task force through dedicated staff, think tanks, support for task force member travel, and support for meeting logistics.Next steps include the development of a Standards Advisory Group. We will have listening sessions at DEC, CEC, TED, and other national conferences. We will keep the DEC Community informed with regular virtual updates.The Task Force members and their associated universities have offered their time, expertise, and resources to this important work! We are grateful to all involved. The full task force is listed here.

Meet the DEC Executive Office Team

Learn about the full Executive Office team.

DEC Leadership Attends the CEC 2018 Leadership Institute 

Learn about the Leadership Institute.

DEC Partnerships 

Call for Manuscripts: Young Exceptional Children Monograph Series No. 18: International Perspectives on Early Intervention, Early Childhood Special Education (EI/ECSE)

The call for manuscripts for the eighteenth edition in the Young Exceptional Children Monograph Series, International Perspectives on Early Intervention, Early Childhood Special Education (EI/ECSE), is now open.  Download the full call, author guidelines, and a sample article here. Submit your manuscript by August 20, 2018.

New Resources Within Reason - July 2018

This month's issue, compiled by Camille Catlett, features resources on the DEC Recommended Practices. View the full email here.

Resource Highlight

Upcoming Learning Deck Webinar - Play to Teach: Promoting Language Through Play in the Classroom

Presented by Rebecca Frantz, PhD | This webinar will provide early childhood personnel with evidence-based strategies for facilitating language among young children with developmental disabilities (DD) during play-based activities in early childhood settings. Learn more.

Purchase the webinar.

PEAT'S SUITE Leader's Guide and PEAT'S SUITE Service Provider’s Guide (PEAT – Physical Environment and Assistive Tools)

PEAT’s Suite is a comprehensive package of materials that helps service providers, families, and other partners support the participation of young children with differing abilities in typical routines and activities. Order PEAT's Suite at the DEC bookstore here.

The Division for Early Childhood Recommended Practices – Pocket Guide

This hard copy version of the DEC Recommended Practices is designed to improve accessibility and dissemination of the DEC Recommended Practices. The DEC Recommended Practices provide guidance to practitioners and families about the most effective ways to improve the learning outcomes and promote the development of young children, birth through age 5, who have or are at-risk for developmental delays or disabilities. Place an order here.

DEC Conference 2018

Division for Early Childhood’s 34th Annual International Conference on Young Children with Special Needs and Their Families will take place October 23-26, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. Visit the conference website and join the conference updates list to be notified of special events, volunteer opportunities, keynote announcements and more.

Wishing you well! 

Peggy Kemp

Executive Director

Division for Early Childhood

A Resource from DEC Partner - Dr. Kristie Pretti-Frontczak

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