Accomplishments Overview

Biography

Connie Dunlap has over two decades of experience working in the Family Support field ranging from working with families through the child welfare system to universal primary prevention services. Her work has primarily focused on strengthening agencies and staff offering universal prevention services, such as local Family Resource Centers (FRCs), in providing high quality services to ensure families throughout Wisconsin have access to supports and services. She represents Wisconsin on many State and National committees to highlight the amazing work happening in Wisconsin to support families!

In her role as the Family Support Manager, Connie has spearheaded the robust services that are offered as part of SFTA’s administration of the Wisconsin Family Resource Center Network. These include creating and implementing the FRC of Quality Accreditation process, developing a statewide FRC infrastructure to support agencies in implementing quality services, co-creating the Wisconsin FRC Best Practices Guidelines, supporting development of Wisconsin’s Core Competencies for Family Support Professional, writing and facilitating high quality training content, and providing tailored technical assistance to family support professionals to enhance their knowledge and skills. As part of the training development, Connie co-wrote SFTA’s Play Group Best practice Training and SFTA’s Parent Leadership training, which has been recognized nationally and SFTA provided training of trainer opportunities so this training is now offered in Hawaii and Texas. Connie is very passionate about her work and supporting agencies to assist families to reach their highest potential and is excited to continue to advocate for the importance of the family support field in Wisconsin!

Education

• BS, Human Development & Family Studies, South Dakota State University

Licenses and Certifications

• Infant Mental Health Endorsed
• Early Childhood Mental Health Endorsed
• Accredited Practitioner, Triple P
• Certified Trainer, Brazelton Touchpoints Center
• Certified Trainer, National Family Support Network
• Certified Trainer, Awareness to Action
• Wisconsin Registry Level 15
• WI Registry Tier 3 Trainer Endorsement

Selected Accomplishments and Awards

• Co-Chair, Wisconsin Strengthening Families Statewide Committee
• Board Member, Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health
• Committee Member, Pyramid Model State Leadership Team
• Committee Member, Wisconsin Home Visiting Leadership Tea

Professional Memberships

• Child Care Aware of America
• National Family Support Network
• Wisconsin Partners
• Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health

Selected Presentations

• Wisconsin FRC Best Practice Model (2023): https://preventionboard.wi.gov/Documents/CANP_FRC%20Infrastructure_Final_nb.pdf
• Wisconsin Core Competencies for Family Support professionals (2022): https://preventionboard.wi.gov/Documents/CORECompetencies_2023%20Final.pdf
• Wisconsin Family Support Professional Code of Ethical Conduct (2023): https://preventionboard.wi.gov/Documents/Final.WiFamSuppProfCodeofEthics.pdf
• Healthy Early at Home, a guide for families on well-being, healthy eating, and physical activity (2023): https://healthyearly.org/resources/
• Wisconsin Family Resource Center Cost Analysis (2023): https://supportingfamiliestogether.org/wp-content/uploads/FRC-Cost-Analysis-Report.pdf
• Demystifying Reflective Practice: Defining Reflective Supervision and Consultation for Infant and Early Childhood Professionals (2020): https://wiaimh.org/demystifying-reflective-practice