I want to extend a BIG thank you to all parents and guardians of children ages birth to five, as well as every conference participant, along with representatives from the Department of Education (Guam Early Intervention Services-GEIS, Special Education Preschool Program, Head Start), Department of Public Health and Social Services (Project Karinu, Project Bisita), CEDDERS (Guam Early Hearing Detection Intervention-GEHDI), DPW, Synergy Studios, Erica's House, VARO, GPPT, my fellow Interagency Coordinating Council members, and everyone who made our conference a success! We were instrumental in empowering our families with the wealth of knowledge that was shared.
As the Chairperson and parent representative of the Guam Interagency Coordinating Council (GICC), let me take a moment to share with you who we are and what we do. We are advocates for the rights of children with disabilities and the parents who care for them. GICC is a federally mandated statewide interagency group that advises and assists agencies providing early intervention services to young children birth to 5 years old, with or at risk for disabilities and their families. GICC further advises and assists the lead agency in the development and implementation of policies constituting the island-wide system of coordinated services, participating public and private agencies who are involved with early intervention services for children, birth through five years old and their families.
In any event, we were pleased to help sponsor this valuable early childhood conference. Our participants had the opportunity to learn of the various services they can avail of, early childhood education, tips on raising happy kids, promoting language, use of assistive technology, nutrition and physical activity, parent-centered planning, social emotional development, dealing with challenging behavior, and more. There were also exhibits and resources available.
The committee worked very hard to put together an amazing early childhood parent conference, so that our parents can get the support that they need in parenting their ways through the early years.
Above all, let us remember that TOGETHER, we must build STRONG ROOTS TODAY, so that we can have HEALTHY BRANCHES TOMORROW!
THANK YOU! SI YU’OS MA’ASE’!
