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
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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.
CDL recognized as CT Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care Program
The Child Development Labs (CDL) has been recognized as one of CT’s Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care Programs. Master Teacher in the Infant Program, Kelly Clark, applied for this recognition on behalf of the Child Development Labs. Kelly Clark described how Child Development Labs policies aligned with known practices that support breast feeding. The recognition came with a $500 honorarium for the Child Development Labs to support best practice in providing a supportive environment for breast feeding families, staff and students. One of the many ways the Child Development Labs supports breastfeeding members of our community is by providing a peaceful, private room for feeding or pumping.
HDFS Child Labs visit the Benton Museum of Art
Children, professional staff and college students from the Child Labs, visited the Benton Museum of Art to participate in their Learn to Look program for introducing young children to the arts. The Child Labs and the Benton plan to continue this relationship.
Child Labs children and teachers help UC Pack Leaders Book Drive
Child Labs preschool teachers Debbie Muro and Sara Pickowicz and Student Teacher, HDFS undergrad (23) Julianna Kingsbury, along with their preschool friends, volunteered as a drop off location for the UConn Pack Leaders book drive. They painted collection boxes, advertised to families and collected books which the Pack Leaders will distribute to those who might not have access to books this summer. After collecting, the books were delivered to the Dean of Students office via a wagon pulled by the proud 3 and 4 year olds. The Child Labs children and teachers are connecting and collaborating with other organizations within the UConn community to help make a difference because they know even the smallest among us can impact others in a positive way.
Local high school students tour HDFS Child Development Labs
The Child Development Laboratories recently hosted Berlin High School and Torrington High School students for tours of the facility. The high school students observed the infant, toddler and preschool classrooms and learned about the Early Childhood Specializations HDFS program at UConn.
8 UConn grad students awarded CHHD Graduate Certificate
The UConn Daily Campus had a story about the granting of 8 graduate certificates in Culture, Health, and Human Development. Read the article here.
UConn Child Labs hosted their first Lunar New Year Celebration
The UConn Child Labs hosted their first Lunar New Year Celebration, organized by Child Labs families and classroom teacher Heather Leeman. The event was attended by children and families enrolled in the Child Labs, Professional Teaching Staff and HDFS ECE students. Families led art and music activities and classroom teacher, Debbie Muro, led families through a child friendly yoga practice themed around the Lunar New Year. It was a great success and we hope to have many more opportunities for families to share their cultural practices with others in our community.
HDFS Welcomes Kelsey Hammermann, Educational Program Assistant
Kelsey Hammerman grew up in Windsor, Connecticut, and completed her bachelor’s degree in Political Science and History, with a minor in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies here at UConn in 2017. During her time here as an undergrad, she worked in Dining Services, in ResLife as a Resident Assistant, Game Room Monitor, and Student Supervising Assistant, and as a Public Programs Facilitator at the New England Air Museum. It was this latter experience, combined with classroom volunteering and mentoring, that inspired her to pursue education as a career.
In 2018, Kelsey joined Teach for America, an AmeriCorps program that places prospective educators in hard to staff positions. After a brief summer of training in Houston, Kelsey was placed in Payette, Idaho. For two years, she had the privilege of teaching first grade in a small, rural community. And while she knows Idaho is home to the famous potatoes (it is, after all, on the state license plate) the most surprising thing about Idaho was that the region she was in instead had a plethora of onions and beets, many of which ended up on the roadside when trucks would turn.
After the completion of her commitment with Teach for America, and in the middle of the global pandemic, Kelsey made the decision to move back to Connecticut in 2020 to be closer to family. She started work as a first grade math and science teacher and greatly enjoyed her time with her students. At the same time, many of the people she went to college with started working in Higher Education and Student Affairs, a field that Kelsey had never considered as a career possibility but aligned with her interests and strengths. So, seeking a different work environment, Kelsey made the leap from teaching to college admissions at Goodwin University in East Hartford. She most enjoyed getting to know many of the students she enrolled.
While she enjoyed and excelled in admissions, she continued looking for a long term career that better aligned with her interests. So, when the position to work for HDFS at UConn opened up, she jumped at the opportunity to apply. When Kelsey isn’t at work, she is completing course work toward her M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction from Boise State University–and is expected to graduate May 2023 after many long years– meeting up with friends over reality television, or pampering her two cats, Lewis and Clark.