My name is Brian Frisina, DCYF ESIT Tribal Program Consultant. Each week, I will provide a key term to help support us all in getting to know our Tribal Nations partners better.
This week’s term is: National Day of Mourning.
National Day of Mourning is observed annually on the fourth Thursday in November. The organizers of this observance consider Thanksgiving Day as a continued reminder of the democide and suffering of Native American people. Since 1970, participants in the National Day of Mourning have honored Native ancestors and their struggles to survive today. Part of the mission behind the event is to educate Americans about the history of Thanksgiving.
Source: National Day of Mourning, National Day Calendar ©2020.
Resources:
The article below, from the National Museum of the American Indian, is and an easy-to-understand lesson detailing an accurate and culturally informed history of Thanksgiving:
Watch Annawon Weeden & Tiokasin Ghosthorse speak on the National Day of Mourning:
Thanksgiving: A National Day of Mourning for Indians by Mahtowin Munro (Lakota) and Moonanum James (Wampanoag). Followed by article, What is Thanksgiving? By Thomas A. Ferguson:
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The ESIT form for Parent Prior Written Notice is now available in four additional languages: Amharic, Arabic, Punjabi and Telugu. The form is available in 16 languages total.
The Individualized Family Service Plan is now available as a PDF in two additional languages: Amharic and Punjabi. The form is available in 15 languages total.
Please help DCYF in honoring 28 more unsung heroes in February 2021 by nominating a parent, primary caregiver or guardian for the Unsung Hero award. For more information on how to submit nominations:
All nominations must be submitted by Jan. 11, 2021. For more information, contact strengtheningfamilies@dcyf.wa.gov.
Below is an article about the importance and benefits of ESIT services that was just published in the Washington Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, by Diana Castillo, Coordinator, Healthy Connections WithinReach:
The ERAP Grant is part of Washington State’s response to the COVID-19 disaster. The program intends to prevent evictions that would contribute to the spread of the virus by paying past due, current due and future rent. The ERAP is targeting limited resources to those with the greatest needs while working to distribute funds equitably. Its end date is Dec. 31, 2020. Rental assistance is provided through local housing providers in each community, not directly from the state of Washington. Please share this ERAP provider list with your network so community members who may be impacted know where to apply.
Innovations Human Trafficking Collaborative (IHTC) is an Indigenous survivor-led social justice non-profit based in Olympia, WA. IHTC is action-focused and our mission is to engage first responders, tribes and other stakeholders in eliminating human trafficking through solution-based knowledge and trauma-informed strategies, and to empower survivors to heal and build self-sufficient, affirming lives. IHTC's goal is to ensure that the voices of those with lived experience are elevated and inclusive of all forms of exploitation. Founder and Executive Director Jeri Moomaw. For more information and ways to support:
For more information on how to apply for ERAP:
The Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP) is working to conduct research on programs to support the evaluation and treatment of children, youth, and young adults, age birth to 21, with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and related conditions. We are seeking information on how states/jurisdictions are implementing autism services, how they are collecting outcome data from these programs, and strategies they are utilizing to address barriers that negatively impact access to services.
Our goal in conducting this survey is to establish a Community of Practice to improve autism services across the United States by facilitating cross-state/territorial learning and increasing the capacity of jurisdictions in developing and implementing systems of care for children and youth with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities. The information collected will only be displayed in aggregate form, no state/jurisdiction identifying data will be shared. The survey can be found HERE and will remain open until Nov. 25, 2020.
Please feel free to share this survey with colleagues and others who may have informative data and/or may be interested in joining an Autism Community of Practice. We are excited about this project and hope you will join us in this effort to strengthen access to quality autism services and resources!
To: County Lead Agencies (CLAs), Early Intervention Provider Agencies (EIPAs), and Direct Service Providers
**Please share with direct service providers widely**
As a part of the Child Outcome Summary (COS) process, Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) teams decide on descriptor statements for each child at entry and exit. Each descriptor statement, which corresponds to a rating from 1-7, explains the child’s level of functioning for each of the three global outcome areas. New descriptor statements are now available in the Transitional Data Management System (T-DMS). There is one statement for each of the seven ratings. The way a statement is added to the IFSP in the T-DMS will not change.
The new descriptor statements are based on input from multiple stakeholder groups. Parents, direct services providers and local/county administrators participated in a webinar to provide language for each of the statements. Members of ESIT’s Parent Institute for Engagement (PIE), as well as national technical assistance providers, completed additional review and input to finalize the statements.
We have updated several guidance documents to reflect the changes and posted them to the ESIT website.
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Decision Tree: The new statements will appear directly on the decision tree. They appear in the bottom row of the tree. The tree is available in 16 languages.
Questions? Please reach out to your ESIT Regional Program Consultant.
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