Attachment D - July Program Information Report

Attachment D 
 
 
Program Information Summaries 
 
Gurian Virtual Summer Institute 2021 
On June 26 and 27, two Head Start Birth to Five staff presented to over 300 education 
professionals and parents from around the country. The keynote speaker was Program 
Coordinator Marion Hill, who spoke on fathers' importance and impact on their child's 
education. Caseworker III Phyllis Aro-Trejo spoke to 150 early childhood professionals 
on the importance of school readiness for the entire family. She showcased the Head 
Start Birth to Five Program's work to prepare children and families to transition to 
kindergarten. Through the collaborative work with the Greater Phoenix Urban League, 
the City of Phoenix, and the Gurian Institute, an early childhood track has been added to 
the Institute's conference schedule, focusing on educators' impact on young children.   
 
Postpartum Support International 
The Head Start Behavior Support staff attended the virtual certification course on 
Components of Care: Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders on July 7 and 8.  Through 
this course, staff became certified in perinatal mental health screenings, which will assist 
in identifying new mothers in Head Start who may be experiencing depression, mood, or 
anxiety disorders related to the recent birth of their child.     
 
Onboarding of Contracted Behavior Coaches 
The Head Start Birth to Five Program began onboarding three behavior coaches from the 
new contractual partner Touchstone Behavioral Health. The Behavior Coaches will be 
assisting the behavior support team and classroom teachers with in-the-moment behavior 
strategies. The onboarding training this week focused on Conscious Discipline strategies 
and the foundation of building warm relationships. The virtual training was provided to 
new staff using videos and a workbook provided through Conscious Discipline.