Thom Child & Family Services

Battelle Developmental Inventory Basics
2019-06-05 09:30 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | Thom Child & Family Services, 251 West Central Street, Natick, MA, 01760, United States
Cost
Thom Child and Family Services employees only with a maximum of 18 participants. Thom programs will be charged $10 per employee sent. Please contact James Young (508-655-5222 x139) to register or for more training information.

Credits
CEIS 2012 Competencies: 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.6

Description
The Battelle Developmental Inventory™, Second Edition (BDI-2™) is an early childhood instrument which helps measure a child’s progress along the developmental continuum by both global domains and discrete skill sets. This workshop will provide Early Intervention clinicians with basic knowledge on how to use the BDI-2™ to determine eligibility in Massachusetts Early Intervention. Topics to be discussed will include an overview of the tool, a review of administration, scoring instruction, how to interpret the results, and how to share results with families.

Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this workshop, participants will be able to:

Utilize the BDI-2™ testing manuals and materials.
Demonstrate an understanding of eligibility determination for EI services in MA.
Use the BDI-2™ in the EI setting.
Demonstrate the ability to accurately score the BDI-2™.

Presenter Biographies
Katrina Veidins, MPH, CEIS, is a Developmental Specialist (DS) and a Certified Early Intervention Specialist, with a Masters Degree in Public Health. She has been involved in early intervention for over 5 years; first as a Northeastern Co-op Student, then as an intern completing the Early Intervention Certification program, and finally moving into a career as a Developmental Specialist in 2008. Katrina has a great interest in both the clinical aspects of one-on-one Early Intervention care as well as Programming Planning and Development. She has been using the Battelle Developmental Inventory™, 2nd Edition for the past 3 years, and looks forward to helping her fellow clinicians master the tool.
Katie Timmons, DS, CEIS, is a Developmental Specialist and a Certified Early Intervention Specialist for Thom Boston Metro Early Intervention (BMEI). Katie graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2012 with a BS in Biological Sciences and Communication Disorders. Prior to working at Thom, she worked at a residential/day program for students diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder with intense behaviors. She has been at Thom BMEI since 2013, and has continued her passion for working with those diagnosed with ASD. She is currently the Autism Resource Specialist at Thom BMEI and manages many of the clinical supports surrounding ASD and red flags in the EI population. Katie is a Battelle trainer, and has recently attended DPH’s BDI-2 Institute in 2019 to help further her training abilities and understanding of standardized assessments in early intervention. In her spare time, she enjoys trying to get her two cats to like her.

Deadline for Fazzio Scholarship Applications
2019-05-03 | MA
Thom Child and Family Services is committed to supporting our employees’ ongoing professional development. To both encourage ongoing learning and honor a longtime friend of Thom Child and Family Services, the agency’s Board of Directors has established the Phyllis A. Fazzio Scholarship. This scholarship is designed to encourage and support employee development in two distinct training areas: advanced clinical skills, and leadership and management skills. To learn more about the Phyllis A. Fazzio Scholarship, please click here.

The Preterm Infant: Medical, Developmental and Psychosocial Considerations for Early Intervention Clinicians
2019-04-25 11:30 - 16:30 | Chicopee Public Library, 449 Front St., Chicopee, MA, 01013, United States
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

Battelle Developmental Inventory Basics
2019-04-03 09:30 - 15:30 | Thom Child & Family Services, 251 West Central Street, Natick, MA, 01760, United States
Cost
Thom Child and Family Services employees only with a maximum of 18 participants. Thom programs will be charged $10 per employee sent. Please contact James Young (508-655-5222 x139) to register or for more training information.

Credits
CEIS 2012 Competencies: 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.6

Description
The Battelle Developmental Inventory™, Second Edition (BDI-2™) is an early childhood instrument which helps measure a child’s progress along the developmental continuum by both global domains and discrete skill sets. This workshop will provide Early Intervention clinicians with basic knowledge on how to use the BDI-2™ to determine eligibility in Massachusetts Early Intervention. Topics to be discussed will include an overview of the tool, a review of administration, scoring instruction, how to interpret the results, and how to share results with families.

Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this workshop, participants will be able to:

Utilize the BDI-2™ testing manuals and materials.
Demonstrate an understanding of eligibility determination for EI services in MA.
Use the BDI-2™ in the EI setting.
Demonstrate the ability to accurately score the BDI-2™.

Presenter Biographies
Sandy Brown, MSPT, CEIS, has worked as a physical therapist in early intervention since 2010. She graduated from Boston College with a BA in Special Needs Education. She received her Masters Degree in Physical Therapy from Simmons College. Sandy has been administering the Battelle for over 8 years. She is looking forward to supporting new Thom employees as they become proficient in their use of the BDI-2. Sandy works as a supervisor at Thom Neponset Valley Early Intervention and hopes to be able to share her Battelle skills with her fellow clinicians.
Danielle Johnson, MSEd, has worked at Thom Neponset Valley Early Intervention since 2014. She graduated from the University of Vermont with a BS in Early Childhood Education and Psychology then received her Masters degree from Wheelock College in Child Development (focusing in Birth to Three, Early Intervention). Danielle particularly enjoys working with children who may be on the autism spectrum or already have an ASD diagnosis. She likes being a support to families as they go through the process of getting a diagnosis, acquiring additional services, and then continuing to work with the family. Danielle has been using the Battelle Developmental Inventory – 2nd Edition for more than four years and is excited to support colleagues as they learn how to administer the tool.

Development of Play in Young Children
2019-03-21 12:30 - 16:00 | Chicopee Public Library, 449 Front St., Chicopee, MA, 01013, United States
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: 1.7, 6.4

Description
Come learn how to support the most important occupation of children! Early intervention clinicians will discuss how to support children’s play skills and partner with families in finding fun ways to challenge and teach children new skills. This is a great workshop for those new to early intervention or who are seeking playful inspiration to guide their therapy sessions.
NOTE: Please car pool if possible as parking can be tight. If available, on street parking is recommended.

Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this workshop, participants will be able to:

Recognize the characteristics, functions and importance of play in the lives of children and families.
Identify how children learn through play, within and across developmental domains.
Discuss interventions and play strategies to enhance child’s play and support family members as play partners.

Presenters
Karen Pellan, DS, CEIS
Melissa Stern, MS, OTR/L, CEIS

Battelle Developmental Inventory Basics
2019-02-07 09:30 - 15:30 | Thom Child & Family Services, 251 West Central Street, Natick, MA, 01760, United States
Cost
Thom Child and Family Services employees only with a maximum of 18 participants. Thom programs will be charged $10 per employee sent. Please contact James Young (508-655-5222 x139) to register or for more training information.

Credits
CEIS 2012 Competencies: 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.6

Description
The Battelle Developmental Inventory™, Second Edition (BDI-2™) is an early childhood instrument which helps measure a child’s progress along the developmental continuum by both global domains and discrete skill sets. This workshop will provide Early Intervention clinicians with basic knowledge on how to use the BDI-2™ to determine eligibility in Massachusetts Early Intervention. Topics to be discussed will include an overview of the tool, a review of administration, scoring instruction, how to interpret the results, and how to share results with families.

Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this workshop, participants will be able to:

Utilize the BDI-2™ testing manuals and materials.
Demonstrate an understanding of eligibility determination for EI services in MA.
Use the BDI-2™ in the EI setting.
Demonstrate the ability to accurately score the BDI-2™.

Presenter Biographies
Kim Chevalier, RN, BSN, CEIS, NCSN, MEd, has been a nurse for over 15 years. Her nursing experience has been focused on the pediatric population with 10 years spent in Early Intervention (EI) where she has worked with numerous families of babies born pre-term. In addition to her EI experience, she has worked for 8 years in an urban school system and 3 summers as a residential summer camp nurse. Kim is a certified Infant Massage Instructor, a CPR/First Aid Instructor, and has experience mentoring nursing students. Presently she is employed by Thom Westfield Infant Toddler Services.
Courtney Moreno, MA, CCC-SLP, is a Speech-Language Pathologist and a certified Early Intervention Specialist. She has practiced at Thom Westfield Infant Toddler Services for over ten years and serves as the programs’ SCERTS Coordinator. Courtney has a particular interest in serving children challenged by autism spectrum disorder and childhood Apraxia of speech. In addition, she has mentored numerous graduate students and Clinical Fellowship Year placements. Courtney is an experienced presenter conducting several workshops focusing on early literacy development, AAC techniques for daycare providers and specializes in supporting programs in incorporating the SCERTS model into early intervention services.
