Consistency is Key
We at SFTA, are proud to announce that we have been awarded federal funding through the Medical College of Wisconsin’s American Rescue Plan (ARPA) for the initiative ‘Consistency is Key: Enhancing Family Support Services with Essential Infrastructure’.
Our project aims to improve the health of mothers and children in Wisconsin, and we are confident that this investment will have a significant and positive impact. Stay tuned for more details about this project and the services that will be available in select local communities through our SFTA Member agencies!
Aim 1: Build capacity to address the need for early identification of developmental delays in young children and supporting referrals when appropriate through increasing the number of trained staff to implement and score.
Aim 2: Increase awareness and value of developmental screening and early identification, and how to find screening opportunities and resources.
Aim 3: Address social determinants of health through the expansion of parenting support programs to increase social networks, provide concrete supports and resources to families, increase parental knowledge of child development which all aim to reduce risk factors associated with child abuse and neglect.
Aim 4: Create an infrastructure to incorporate the MITM 7 Essential Life Skills content in local communities through providing ongoing training for agency staff and community partners.
- Aim 5: Public awareness of the global free Vroom App to support families with science-based tips and tools to help give children a great start in life, and an even better future.
- Aim 6: Provide funding to local FRC and CCR&R agencies (SFTA Members) throughout the state to implement the infrastructure components designed to ensure quality support and services in their communities
What are MITM’s 7 Essential Life Skills?
Executive functions integrate social, emotional, and cognitive abilities to solve problems and achieve objectives, forming the basis of life skills that are critical for success in both academics and real life.
You can read Mind in the Making’s 7 Essential Life Skills sheet here.
Learning Module Training
MITM training offers a valuable opportunity for adults to explore child development research and learn how to promote executive function-based skills in children aged 0-8. Over the past 10 years, in-person Learning Modules training has been provided to more than 100,000 educators, community leaders, families, and professionals from various fields such as education, libraries, medical facilities, museums, home visiting, parent education, churches, and juvenile justice.
For more information on trainings, click here.
Skill-Building Book Tips
These Book Tips are free resources that offer science-driven learning, fun and engagement between children and adults, by providing tips for building children’s life skills based on diverse children’s books.
Book Club Discussion Guide and Workbook
The companion discussion guide and workbook serve as a tool for readers to reflect personally on how executive function (EF) skills take shape in their own lives. They make for a great pairing for parents and educators who aim to inspire lifelong learners and for anyone with an interest in understanding the life skills and how they can positively influence our thinking and behavior.
ASQ
Accurate, reliable developmental and social-emotional screening
Ages & Stages Questionnaires® (ASQ®) offers precise developmental and social-emotional screening for children aged between birth and 6 years. It leverages the expertise of parents to identify developmental progress and detect any delays in young children. This helps in taking appropriate steps toward learning, intervention, or monitoring, thus paving the way for meaningful progress.
Screening with ASQ: how does it work?
The information below is pulled from ASQ’s website. For more details, click here.
Simply, accurately, and effectively. Nearly four decades of research and user feedback have shaped ASQ®, which is designed to fit in with early childhood routines and engage parents.
- Select the questionnaire. Select the questionnaire that matches the child’s age—easy with the automated questionnaire selection in ASQ® Online or with our ASQ® calculator.
- Ask the parent to complete the questionnaire. Questionnaires may be distributed online through secure, customizable ASQ® Family Access; or in paper format—which can be easily distributed through mail, on a home visit, or in-person.
- The parent answers the questions. ASQ’s items are easy for parents to try with their child and respond to. Questions such as “Does your baby pick up a crumb or Cheerio with the tips of his thumb and a finger?” The parent answers yes, sometimes, or not yet then moves on to the next item. This process takes about 10–15 minutes.
- Score the questionnaire. With ASQ Online, the results are automatically scored quickly and accurately. The paper format can be easily scored by hand in just 2–3 minutes. Then, compare the child’s scores to the cutoff points listed on the scoring sheet.
- Discuss results with parents and determine next steps. Communicate the screening results to the child’s parents, and suggest resources for follow-up, monitoring, or further assessment if needed.
- Share activities with parents. Help parents encourage the child’s development by sharing fun, fast learning activities.
Parents Quick-Guide to ASQ Screening
“We’ll be screening your child with ASQ.” As a parent, it is normal to have many questions when a doctor or teacher tells you your child will be screened. You know your child better than anyone else, and the idea of assessing what they can and cannot do might make you feel uneasy or even angry. You might wonder how a questionnaire can accurately measure all your child’s abilities and if the screening process might lead to a label or diagnosis. As a busy and concerned parent, you might also have practical questions, such as how long the screening will take and what will happen next.
The PDF Screening Guide for Parents provides an overview of why your child may be screened and what is involved in the process.
ASQ Videos
Get an inside look into ASQ® with these clear and engaging videos. Learn about developmental and social-emotional screening with ASQ®-3 and ASQ®:SE-2.
Vroom
What is Vroom?
The first five years of life are crucial for establishing a strong foundation of lifelong learning. Vroom offers science-based tips and tools to encourage families to transform shared, everyday moments into Brain Building Moments®. You can download the FREE App now and experience it for yourself!
Right at Your Fingertips
Vroom is a platform that believes in making early learning accessible and fun for everyone. They provide various tools that include the Vroom by Text™ app and Alexa skill, which utilize technology to create more engaging learning experiences. Whether you need something to do with your child or want to find age-appropriate activities, Vroom is here to help. Additionally, they offer print-at-home resources that caregivers can easily access to support their child’s education. Vroom is committed to making the learning journey enjoyable for both caregivers and children.
Boost Your Child’s Learning with FREE Vroom Tips
Want to give your child a head start? Get some fun and fast learning tips via text! Help them prepare for school, friends, and all the adventures life offers!
- Get weekly Vroom Tips™️ to you and your child with Vroom by Text
- Tips are chosen based on your child’s age.
- Every short activity will help you teach your child different life skills that will help them blossom.
Vroom by Text makes it easy to turn everyday moments into brain-building opportunities! You don’t need another app or to use your data plan, plus you can register multiple children under one phone number.
This is available in English or Spanish. Register here.
Questions?
If you have any questions about this program, please email Penny Chase at penny@supportingfamiliestogether.org.
