Caregiver Connections: Reaching Kids inside Daycares, Preschools, and Child Care Centers | |
The Baby Fold’s Caregiver Connections program is providing much-needed support to childcare providers and families, enhancing early childhood mental health and addressing social-emotional challenges that affect children’s well-being and success in early learning environments.
The program employs six early childhood mental health consultants who serve children from birth to age five in daycares, preschools, and childcare centers across 19 counties in Central Illinois.
On average, each consultant visits around 10 sites per month and handles up to 15 cases. Working closely with caregivers, the consultants observe children in their natural environments and identify behaviors that may be signs of underlying developmental issues.
The most common reasons for referrals? Aggressive behaviors and difficulty listening. This can look like biting, breaking toys, hiding under furniture, and more. The goal is to help providers interpret what the behavior is communicating, understand what is developmentally typical for young children, and identify when additional resources or interventions may be necessary.
| |
|
“We also help caregivers identify their strengths, reflect on their practices, and build stronger relationships with the children in their care. This leads to more positive outcomes,” says program supervisor Cris Hawk. The program also offers training and professional development opportunities to childcare providers on a variety of topics related to development and mental health in young children.
The impact of the program is evident in the feedback from providers, “Childcare providers are extremely grateful for the Caregiver Connections consultants and often send us notes and show appreciation by continuing to make referrals and encouraging other providers to reach out to us as well," shares Hawk, "Our work often prevents expulsions and allows childcare providers to connect with children and families on a deeper level.”
| |
|
Hawk continues, "When providers feel exhausted and frustrated, having a support person, to give them the boost they need to stick with it and lean into the relationships with the child and family, can make all the difference in a child’s life."
Early childhood mental health is an essential foundation for child well-being, and the Caregiver Connections Program exists to ensure that both children and caregivers in Central Illinois receive the support they need to thrive.
For more information or to request consultation and support services, childcare professionals and parents can visit The Baby Fold’s website.
| |
Empowering Excellence: Hammitt School Institute Day | |
|
Just before our special education students returned from winter break, staff from both Hammitt School campuses gathered for a dynamic conference-style Institute Day, an opportunity for professional development, collaboration, and reflection.
The conference helped our dedicated staff enhance their skills and boost their ability to support and empower the unique special education students in their care.
With a variety of engaging and thought-provoking sessions to choose from, attendees were able to tailor their learning. Across the day, a total of 253 slots were filled, with sessions including:
| |
|
Setting a Classroom Up for Success: practical strategies and creative ideas for optimizing classroom spaces to promote engagement, inclusiveness and effective learning environments.
Let’s Flex: LSI Modification: focused on using Life Space Interviews as a tool to identify skill gaps and needed supports to help students learn new ways of coping with difficult situations.
Executive Functioning Q&A: brought discussions and practical solutions related to executive functioning challenges, to meet students where they are, and take them to the next level!
Finding Ourselves in Nature: brought concepts of Ecopsychology and ways to connect to the natural world in order to improve our sense of wellness and connectedness to ourselves and our community.
| |  |
|
Zones of Regulation: provided tools to help students identify and manage their emotions, promote self-awareness and coping strategies.
Pillars of Youth: Staying Young While Growing Old: taught staff 5 key aspects of staying youthful, pain free, and healthy.
“Just Get Over It” and Other Stupid Things We Say: looked into why we can get stuck in unhealthy patterns of behavior that wear us down, and how faith can help.
Data Q&A: This session offered an open forum for Hammitt teams to ask questions about data collection, recording, and interpretation.
Vicarious Trauma: Impacts and Buffers: Staff learned to define, differentiae, and buffer vicarious trauma from burnout, compassion fatigue and secondary traumatic stress.
| |
Family Quick Tips from Baby Fold Therapists | |
Have you ever wondered how to help children "self-regulate" their big emotions? It’s a question many parents face, especially when their child is struggling with overwhelming feelings. The good news is, there are simple, effective strategies to help children learn to navigate their emotions in healthy ways.
These Family Quick Tips are designed to support parents in creating a safe, understanding environment that encourages emotional growth and resilience. By using these approaches, you can help the children in your care to develop the skills to calm themselves, express their feelings appropriately, and build stronger emotional connections!
Tip 1: Co-Regulation is Key
Before kids can master self-regulation, they need co-regulation—working with a loving caregiver to meet their needs. Be patient and offer support, like helping them recognize when they're hungry or need rest. Remember, co-regulation is a building block for lifelong emotional skills.
Tip 2: Regulate Yourself First
You can't pour from an empty cup! To help your child stay calm, make sure you're calm first. Model the behavior you want to see, and use playful moments to connect and teach. Your own regulation is a powerful tool for helping your child feel safe and supported.
Tip 3: Be Proactive, Not Reactive
Learn your child’s triggers and watch for early signs of distress—this helps you "catch it low" before emotions escalate. Talk about what works to help them calm down during peaceful moments and practice strategies together.
By working together to meet their needs, parents and caregivers are building the foundation for lifelong emotional skills. Click here to sign up for our trust-based relational intervention newsletter here for monthly tips and resources!
| |
Community Schools Partnerships Bring Support to Local Families in Need | |
|
What began as a simple toy drive has now blossomed into a meaningful holiday tradition, offering joy, fellowship, and vital resources for local families in need. Over the past six years, The Baby Fold's Community Schools program, Cedar Ridge Elementary School, and the Apostolic Pentecostal Church (APC) have come together to provide support for Cedar Ridge families facing financial struggles during the holiday season.
With each year, the event has grown, reflecting the community spirit of generosity. In 2020, a drive-through gift and food pickup was added to the event, and the following year, the event expanded to include deliveries of food and gifts directly to family homes. By 2022, the focus shifted to fostering deeper personal connections with Cedar Ridge families with the introduction of an on-site food pantry walk-through and gift shop.
| |
|
Thanks to Baby Fold donors, last year, parents were able to "shop" for gifts for their children at no cost! Cedar Ridge and APC volunteers guided families through the food pantry and gift shop, while their children enjoyed supervised play in APC’s Community Center.
Also in 2024, a newly added hot, grilled chicken meal with beverages and dessert, allowed families to relax and connect. Families also received a week’s worth of food, meats, and a gift certificate to Hy-Vee for additional holiday supplements, giving them peace of mind with food security.
The Baby Fold's second Community School site at Fairview Elementary School in Normal, also held its own holiday initiative through a "Giving Tree" program. This initiative provided holiday gifts for 90 students, thanks to support from several local churches including Normal First United Methodist Church, Our Savior Lutheran Church, Heartland Church, First Presbyterian Church, as well as donors.
These efforts go well beyond gifts, building lasting relationships and demonstrating how powerful community partnerships can be in uplifting local families in need. To learn more about The Baby Fold's Community Schools program, click here.
| |
Generations of Winter Wonder | |
|
Since The Baby Fold's move to Willow Street in 1910, countless winters have transformed the neighborhood into a snowy wonderland. The peaceful stillness of snow-covered rooftops and trees has long brought a sense of magic to the season.
These snowy scenes of winters past invite us to reflect on just how many children have laughed, played, and marveled at the beauty of winter here through the decades, building cherished memories in the snow-covered playgrounds and quiet courtyard. Each snowfall weaves a new chapter into the story of this beloved place.
| |
Your shares, likes, and comments help us spread our mission and make a bigger impact on the children and families we serve! | | | | |
