The Child Labs community participated in CT Children’s Medical Center’s Pajama Day on Friday December 13th. Children, college students and staff wore pjs to school and made donations to CCMC to support children experiencing extended hospital stays. The Child Labs community raised more than $200!
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Joan and Richard Fenton receive Distinguished Service Award
Congratulations to Joan Fenton (HDFS alum), who, together with her husband, Richard Fenton, are this year’s recipients of the James C. Fallon Distinguished Service Award, the highest award given by the Brockport, NY Board of Education for their service to the district, the students, the community and the college. Learn more about their careers and work here: https://westsidenewsny.com/schools/2024-10-06/community-members-presented-with-james-c-fallon-distinguished-service-award/
UConn Jump Start joins in reading program with HDFS Child Labs
UConn Child Development Labs welcomed members of UConn Jump Start to participate in Read for the Record 2024. The Jumpstart members read the picture book Piper Chen Sings by Phillipa Soo to the preschoolers at Child Labs and engaged the children in conversation about the book. From the Read for the Record website: Jumpstart’s Read for the Record is the world’s largest shared reading experience, celebrating early literacy and supporting children’s early language and social-emotional development. The annual initiative raises awareness of the critical importance of early literacy and access to inclusive, high-quality books through shared reading.
ECS and Child Lab faculty greet students at UConn Family Weekend
Anne Bladen and Marianne Legassey represented Early Childhood Specializations and Child Labs at UConn’s Fall 2024 Family Weekend. Anne and Marianne greeted students and their families attending Family Weekend events and shared information about applying for Early Childhood Specializations as well as the various ways for students to be involved at Child Labs.
New website for UConn Drag Queen (DQ) Research Project
Check out the new website for the UConn Drag Queen (DQ) Research Project: https://dragqueenresearch.hdfs.uconn.edu/ led by Brian Chapman and Laura Donorfio, with collaboration from Alaina Brenick and others. The team especially wants to acknowledge the efforts of Emma Chamberlin (HDFS BS ’24), who was integral in designing the website!
Early Childhood Specializations at UConn Waterbury
Check out the recent UConn Today article on the regional campuses, which highlights the addition of the Early Childhood Specializations at UConn Waterbury! Read the article here https://today.uconn.edu/2024/08/uconns-regional-campuses-gear-up-for-exciting-new-academic-year/
Rong Huang new Asst Prof position at Austin Peay State University
Congratulations to Rong Huang, recent HDFS postdoctoral scholar working with Rachel Chazan Cohen, who just started a position as assistant professor in the Department of Psychological Science and Counseling at Austin Peay State University!
HDFS faculty and grad students present at ISSBD Conference
HDFS faculty and graduate students will be presenting at the International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development (ISSBD) conference this June in Lisbon, Portugal. Find the full list here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1krHhezJHNnCLEvXZD_jFbiG9iqYWHhn4t03mYPca1_U/edit#gid=0
Caroline Mavridis and Sue Pappas conduct FDC Leaders course
From Mar. 25-Mar. 27, National Family Development Credential trainers Caroline Mavridis and Sue Pappas (with support from Claire Forest, Director, and Amy Knight, Program Coordinator) conducted a three-day “Empowerment Skills for Leaders” Instructor Institute. A small but highly engaged group of seven leaders representing family service agencies from Missouri, Oklahoma, Florida, and New York received their certification to lead the 30-hour “Family Development Credential for Leaders” course. “FDC for Leaders” is the companion curriculum to the 90-hour FDC course for frontline human service workers and involves concepts and skills for empowerment-based staff supervision and support.
Governor Lamont visits HDFS class, article in UConn Today
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont visited an HDFS class in UConn Waterbury! Thanks to Associate Professor Laura Donorfio for opening her class to the governor and also the Commissioner of DCF. Read the article here.