Southeast
Kansas Community Action
Program Technical Assistance Project
by Christopher L. Smith
This project is focused
on providing two key forms of technical assistance to a regional organization
(Southeast Kansas Community Action Program, Inc.) These two primary
emphases include data management and mental health consultation with
its early childhood providers. Details regarding each of these technical
assistance efforts include the following:
Data Management: Data management technical assistance
shall be provided by Dr. Christopher Smith and his colleagues at the
University of Kansas and shall include, at a minimum, the following items:
- Develop a calendar or timeline for all early childhood reporting
timelines including data entry, analysis, and reporting guidelines.
- Develop and maintain a monthly integrated reporting system for all
early childhood data sets.
- Develop and maintain a quarterly reporting system to meet current
state and federal reporting requirements.
- Develop and provide an integrated annual report that summarizes the
findings from all early childhood data sets.
- Collaborate with SEK-CAP, Inc. and other contractors to ensure successful
final implementation of the MCORE and GIVER data systems.
- Develop and implement site-based profiles for all center-based early
childhood programs.
Mental Health Consultation: This technical assistance
shall be provided by Dr. Smith who shall meet Head Start Key Competencies.
- Be available to respond (including by email and cell phone) to local,
site-based mental health consultation issues as identified by early
childhood program staff. This shall also include assisting with referrals
when the Head Start team determines other members of the child’s
family are having problems which may affect the mental health of the
child.
- Provide evaluation and follow-up of children needing special help
as requested by the Head Start Center Team. This is to include participation
on the Positive Behavior Support Team as identified by the team and
the development of written recommendations for classroom and home use.
- Review all other Mental Health contractor consultation notes for
content, quality, and training needs.
- Collaborate with the Director of Early Childhood Services to identify
mental health training needs and opportunities for Early Childhood
staff.
- Participate in training to provide educational opportunities for
staff as needed and requested by the Director of Early Childhood Services.
- Observe the overall workings of three identified classrooms and the
interactions of adults and children on a monthly basis and provide
written recommendations for quality enhancement to staff for classroom
and parent’s home use. The written recommendations must document
the best practice standards as identified in this document.
- Provide training and support for early childhood staff wellness as
needed.
- Participate in data collection as deemed appropriate by the Mental
Health Advisory Committee. This shall include working with the SEK-CAP,
Inc. Positive Behavior Support (PBS) contractor to ensure integration
of data collection and evaluation across Mental Health and PBS systems.
- Attend trainings (as needed and appropriate) to increase awareness
around the issues of Infant/Toddler Mental Health or any other issues
which will improve early intervention service delivery.
- Coordinate quarterly meetings with other Mental Health contractors.
|
