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Effective Program Strategies
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| Child Find Pueblo of Laguna |
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Demographic Information:
The Pueblo of Laguna is located 45 miles west of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and is home to over 8,000 tribal members. Approximately 4,500 tribal members reside within six distinct villages, scattered within a 32-mile radius, centrally located on 560,000 acres of land. Laguna supports its own Department of Education, which encompasses a variety of life-long education programs. The Laguna Division of Early Childhood is serving more than 60 percent of Laguna's children under the age of five.
Type of Program:
The Laguna Division of Early Childhood is comprised of Head Start, Early Head Start, Early Intervention, and Child Care. A full continuum of quality care is offered 11 hours per day, five days per week, year round. A menu of service options is available to families, including part day, part week, home based, or Center based, in any combination. Ninety-seven percent of the 70 staff members are Native American, serving more than 230 families each year.
Effective Program Strategy:
Child Find is a continuous process of public awareness activities, screening, and evaluation designed to locate, identify, and refer as early as possible all young children with disabilities and their families who are in need of early intervention or preschool special education services. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires many organizations to participate in Child Find activities, including state agencies, public schools, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) schools, Head Start programs, and Early Intervention Programs.
The concept of "community-based" Child Find activities has been evolving in the Laguna community since 1993, when the first Laguna Interagency Coordinating Council (ICC) for Young Children was formed. The ICC is comprised of 12 agencies serving young children birth through eight years of age within the community. Representatives from Women, Infants and Children (WIC), Laguna Elementary School, Head Start Programs, Child Care, Indian Health Service (IHS) Medical Center, the Community Health Representative, Social Services, Audiology, Vision, and Early Intervention programs all participate collaboratively in the Child Find effort.
Pueblo of Laguna conducts comprehensive developmental and physical Child Find screenings once a year in each of the six villages and at the WIC office. Attractive posters and t-shirts promote Child Find activities. Participating children and families receive a host of "goodies" and incentives that encourage healthy child development, including: sippy cups (to discourage bottle use in older infants and toddlers), toothbrushes, children's books, parenting information, a photograph with Winnie the Pooh, and a free lunch for the walk home!
An annual summary of the number of children screened and referred from each Child Find is submitted to the Tribal Council, Board of Education, Policy Council, and other interested parties. An annual planning luncheon is held to show appreciation to the agency participants and to discuss "lessons learned." Plans for the next year's activities are made.
Resources:
The community agencies that have legal responsibility for conducting Child Find activities receive special funding each year for this purpose. In addition, parent education and training funds from Pueblo of Laguna’s early childhood programs are used to support the Child Find screenings.
Results:
Each year the number of children screened and referred for further evaluation and assessment increases. The community members are now familiar with the consistent routines of Child Find and look forward, with anticipation, as the event comes to their village. By reducing some of the stigma associated with developmental and physical screenings, Pueblo of Laguna has made families more comfortable with having their children participate in Child Find activities and receive early intervention and/or special education services.
Lessons Learned:
Consistency is critical. Child Find dates in each village have remained relatively consistent year to year. Once revamped and thought to be thorough, screening areas are not changed unnecessarily. No probing or uncomfortable screenings (such as immunizations or extensive physical exams) are allowed.
The event must include activities that are fun, enjoyable, and rewarding in order for families to wish to repeat the event.
It is very important to recognize the efforts of all agency participants and to reward them with a certificate of appreciation or a small gift, such as a t-shirt. A luncheon meeting provides a good opportunity to acknowledge the work of participating agencies and to engage them in planning for the next year’s event.
Contact Information:
Alayna Smith, Laguna Early Intervention Director
Ruth Kie, Laguna Head Start / Child Care Director
Address:
Pueblo of Laguna
P.O. Box 798
Laguna, NM 87026
Phone: 505/552-6467
Fax: 505/552-0701
Email: a.smith@lagunaed.net
r.kie@lagunaed.net
| NOTE: If you have information about an Effective Program Strategy in your Tribal community that you would like to share, please contact the Tribal Child Care Technical Assistance Center (TriTAC) at TriTAC@namsinc.org |
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