Training & Professional Development
Thom Child and Family Services is committed to providing high quality early intervention services to infants, toddlers, and families across the state. We also work closely with child care professionals and provide training and consultation services to others in the early childhood community.
We feel passionately about the importance of supporting the professional development of our staff. Early Intervention is an intricate blend of disciplines and fields – early childhood development, allied health and nursing, social work, education, home visiting, service coordination, and community-based programming all come together in this family-centered system. To encourage employees to advance their professional development, Thom Child and Family Services has established two specific programs to support staff seeking training opportunities:
- The Phyllis A. Fazzio Scholarship program – an initiative supported by the Thom Child and Family Services Board of Directors which allows for advanced clinical training, or leadership and management training for experienced employees. Click here to learn more about this exciting opportunity.
- Thom Academy – a time-limited, tuition reimbursement initiative created by the agency to support ongoing professional development for all employees. Click here to learn more about this exciting opportunity.
Thom Child and Family Services takes great pride in being able to offer high quality professional development opportunities covering a wide range of topics. Training topics vary annually and are grounded in current research, supporting evidence-based practice.
For more information about professional development opportunities through Thom Child and Family Services please contact James Young, Coordinator of Continuing Education and Professional Development (508-655-5222 x139).
- This event has passed.
The Preterm Infant: Medical, Developmental and Psychosocial Considerations for Early Intervention Clinicians
April 25, 2019 @ 11:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Cost
Free to early intervention staff. Please contact Amy Clark (413-783-5500 x116) to register or for more training information.
Credits
CEIS 2012 Competencies: 1.5
Description
Participation in this workshop will provide the learner with a basic foundation for working with preterm infants and their families. The participants will learn about causes, complications, and specific medical conditions related to prematurity. The psychosocial impact of giving birth prematurely and the associated parental reactions will be discussed. Participants will learn about infant subsystems and the ways that infants communicate. Motor issues related to prematurity, as well as positioning and handling techniques will be reviewed. Information will be provided to help parents understand the developmental outcomes of prematurity.
NOTE: The intended workshop level for this session is that of a beginner. Please bring a newborn sized baby doll along with you to the class.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the premature infant including characteristics and medical issues associated with prematurity.
- Understand an infant’s five subsystems: autonomic, motor, state, attentional-interactive, and self-regulatory system.
- Develop intervention strategies to help infants connect with their environment, including positioning.
- Recognize that parenting a premature infant is different than a full term infant; explore the emotions the parents may be experiencing.
Presenters
Kim Chevalier, RN, BSN, MEd, CEIS
Melissa Stern, MS, OTR/L, CEIS
COVID-19 Awareness Training
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COVID-19 Vaccine Resources
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In-Person Services
Click here for a PDF guide to our In-Person Services Playbook (last updated on 5/2/2022).
Recently Updated Documents:
- 2.1_Home Visiting Guidelines–edited
- 2.2a_Intro to EI Services Letter–edited
- 1.3_Clinical Considerations for In-Person Visiting–archived
- 1.5_In-Person Visit “Daily Dilemma” Scenarios–archived
- 2.1a_Letter to Families–archived