A View from the Front Row

1. A View from the Front Row FGRBI’s Story and Plan for Next Year

2. What happened last year… • Total chaos … • New and competing priorities • New administration with different style • Provider changes • Regulation changes • Funding horrors • Life, health, transitions

3. So what’s new? • More budget cuts and reduced payments • Co-director on sabbatical • Florida’s GSEG initiative- staff development plan • MOU with Co. Schools- improved transition • 2 experienced EI’s enrolling in program So get on with it!

4. Our plan includes: • Clarify the vision and broadcast it • To families in multiple formats • To community at large • To providers on every available opportunity • To fellow administrators and support staff • To referral agents, especially health care • Live the vision daily and make decisions based on its implementation

5. Increase Family Participation • Revitalize family membership on advisory committee • Connect our family activities to the school and community • Provide more resources to families to share with other providers • Increase “veteran” parents as connections for new families • Solicit input from families of high poverty about “intervention packages”

6. Just Do It! • Make implementation a priority • Allocate a percentage of time and don’t lose it! • Visit families • Observe providers • Coach select providers • Provide mentor and support interactions • Review data from families and providers • Read IFSPs, assessment reports • Watch videos • Listen during team meetings

7. Provide Feedback on Implementation • Private • Public • Specific and Immediate • Personal • Virtual • Email and voice mail • With families, community and providers • Include self reflection practices • Accept disagreement… it may move those who are struggling with change… • Uncertainty is demotivating, stress inducing, and limits job satisfaction

8. Do more… better Use the situational “teaching” model… for each purpose and person effectively There are times for each… • Directing – Let me explain exactly what I need • Coaching – Tell me what you think about this • Supporting – What do you suggest • Delegating – Let me know if you need help

9. Remember the Acronyms • LEAD • FAST • KISS • SMART • COACH

10. Getting the Best from Providers • Establish what the needs are with the team and assist in meeting them • Provide training in small and regular doses • Follow-up on training activities for value and implementation • Give staff chances to use and increase expertise by sharing with others • Use opportunities to share the vision’s success with staff… remember staff also learn from mistakes • Use no cost rewards for performance first • Communicate regularly… and personally • Recognize what effects your motivation also effects theirs

11. Increase Self-Evaluation and Mentoring- Joining in • Biweekly self checks • Monthly mentoring pairs (observation, coffee dates, video review) • Director observations each semester • Coaching for new staff across model • Video review and discussion at team meetings

12. Review Routinely • Don’t lose sight of the vision or the goals • Be willing to change based on data • Establish a tickler system for evaluating results • Use data collected • Involve staff in decision making with the data • Share data with families about their child and the program • Review effects of staff development and coaching