CYC and Early Childhood Center of Excellence

11/19/2025

✨New glossary resource just launched! Check it out!

A family-friendly glossary of common terms and acronyms used in early intervention and special education.

11/17/2025

✨ Planning Transitions Just Got Easier ✨

Join OCALI’s FREE two-part training to support smooth and seamless transition from IDEA Part C ➜ Part B for young children

Start: Self-paced online module
Then: 4-hour in-person facilitation to strengthen your Interagency Agreement (IAA)

Who should join:
Early Intervention administrators and service coordinators
Local Education Agencies (LEAs), including Early Childhood Educators, supervisors, providers and State Support Teams (SSTs)
Head Start personnel
Family & Children First Council representatives

You’ll:
Understand the process & cross-agency requirements
Learn best practices for staff supporting children and families through the transitionprocess
Boost collaboration across agencies

🎓 Earn DODD CPD Units + Ohio Approved credits

🔗 Register here: https://ohioeducationstation.org/idea-c-to-b-transition

Hashtags

11/14/2025

OCALICON is next week! Get Ready!

Haven't attended before and are unsure of how to access the links needed for next week? View our attendee tutorial for step-by-step instructions! https://bit.ly/OCALICON-Tutorial

11/12/2025

Come see us tomorrow!

We'll have a couple of special guests tomorrow at Wiggle Giggle Read!
Read on for more info about tomorrow and also NEW kits to checkout for families with young children:

Geri McClung, a Family Support Specialist from OCALI's Center for the Young Child and Caitlin Nease from Help Me Grow - Early Intervention will be on hand to highlight Sparkler Kits from Bright Beginnings and the Sparkler Play for Parenting App.
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An OCALI Family Support Specialist is a parent who can partner with families of young children, birth to age 5, so they are able to access early identification services as soon as possible. Family Support Specialists provide families with information and resources so they can better support their child with a developmental delay or suspected delay. Early Intervention is a statewide system that provides coordinated services to parents of young children with disabilities and developmental delays. This is a great opportunity to speak to an Early Interventionist if you suspect your child has any delays in developmental milestones and will be a chance to learn more about how you can check out a Sparkler Testing Kit from the library.

11/10/2025

🗣️✨ AAC and Young Children: Supporting Communication in Infants and Toddlers ✨🗣️

Every child deserves a voice. Unlock the power of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) to support infants and toddlers with complex communication needs.

This engaging course will help you:
✔ Recognize when AAC may be needed
✔ Explore simple strategies to introduce AAC in routines and play
✔ Dispel common myths with evidence-based practices
✔ Support families and teams in building strong early communication foundations

💡 Learn how AAC can make a difference in the earliest years—and give children every opportunity to connect, learn, and grow.

👉 Access this module now on Ohio’s Education Station and start making an impact today! https://ohioeducationstation.org/m/3039
Ohio Department of Children and Youth

11/05/2025

Now available: In the Know Naptime Series on Education Station! 🎉
Explore the series today and level up your practice in just 30 minutes.

✔️ Quick, engaging 30-minute virtual sessions
✔️ For all early care and education professionals
✔️ Valuable insights, helpful strategies, and practical tips

Start learning during naptime—or anytime! 👉 Explore In the Know Naptime on Education Station today. 📚✨

https://ohioeducationstation.org

Ohio Department of Children and Youth

10/31/2025

Read all about it! The Scoop - Quarterly Newsletter from the Early Childhood Center of Excellence - https://mailchi.mp/ocali.org/the-scoop-quarterly-newsletter-october2025

10/31/2025

Happy Halloween from OCALI and C*C and Early Childhood Center of Excellence!

10/30/2025

Looking for resources to support Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) with young children?

The PBIS & Young Learners modules are designed for PreK–3rd grades settings and provide practical strategies for administrators, teachers, families, and community members who are involved in PBIS implementation.

✔ Build strong foundations early
✔ Support educators and families
✔ Strengthen school and community partnerships

Explore the modules to see how they can support your work with children and teams!
https://ohioeducationstation.org/the-pbis-and-young-learners-series

10/24/2025

✍️Apply Today!
https://ocali.org/ocali.../Family-Support-Specialist

Are you a parent in NE Ohio of a child with autism or another disability? Would you like to help other families in your community with your lived experience?

We are hiring a part-time (10 hours per week) Family Support Specialist (FSS) in Mahoning Valley (Mahoning, Trumbull, and Columbiana Counties) to serve as a peer mentor, providing guidance and helping other families with young children (birth through age 5) connect with and access early identification services.

The FSS must have excellent communication skills, an empathetic attitude to helping families facing developmental concerns, and must live in the local community in which they are hired.
If you’re ready to make a difference in your community, apply today!
https://ocali.org/ocali_employment_opportunities/Family-Support-Specialist