THE PROMISING MINDS COMMUNITY LEILANI “Auntie Lei,” an early childhood educator, has a new toddler, Kai, in her group. Leilani is becoming worried that Kai always seems sad and withdrawn. He doesn’t show any interest in playing with toys and materials in the classroom or interacting with other children or with Leilani. When Kai’s mom drops him off, she looks stressed and is always in a hurry, so Auntie Lei has not been able to check in with her about Kai. Kai has a 4-year-old sister who attends the same program. Leilani doesn’t know if she should talk to her colleague who is the team lead for the age 4 group, to find out if Kai’s sister is showing any behaviors of concern. Leilani is desperate to find a way to understand and help Kai. She doesn’t know where to turn and is second-guessing herself about being worried about Kai’s behavior. Leilani wishes she had a place to go to get more information, training, and resources that could help Kai and all keiki in her group. She dreams of a program that would connect her to a group of colleagues to discuss similar concerns and get ideas to try.
PROMISING MINDS is a three-year initiative dedicated to improving early childhood behavioral health in Hawai‘i, especially for those at-risk of trauma, abuse and neglect, or dealing with their aftereffects.
THE PROMISING MINDS COMMUNITY is a program of Hawai‘i Community Foundation’s Promising Minds Initiative. The Community is designed to help teachers, like Leilani, and programs serving birth to five-year-olds in Hawai‘i. Over six months, groups of 15 people, comprised of leadership and program staff, will meet in-person and virtually to discuss strategies, share resources, and develop additional supports in meeting the needs of very young children and their families. Participants will deepen their understanding and build capacity in coping with challenging behaviors, physical and emotional responses to family and community traumas, and personal responses to stressors.
LEARN ABOUT • • • • •
Brain development during the prenatal to age 5 period Implementing adult-child strategies that can be used daily Collaborating with families, especially parents/caregivers, to identify supports to address challenges Enhancing staff supports to reduce stress and burn-out Developing reflective practice/supervision skills
Eligible candidates work in an early childhood program and interested in joining this exciting new project. SUBMIT application by the deadline of May 7, 2020. QUESTIONS? Contact Justina Acevedo-Cross, Program Director at (808) 566-5587, jacevedo-cross@hcf-hawaii.org