2026 MCEA Fall Conference

This session will provide an in-depth discussion of the essential components for sustaining social/emotional learning at the early childhood level. After a decade of Pyramid Model Implementation at Pearson Early Learning Center, the team has identified the following essential components for sustainability: strong social/emotional curriculum, consistent language, well-developed scope and sequence of social/emotional learning, community and family engagement activities, staff training and motivation, and a clear fundraising plan. 

Key takeaways:
-Participants will gain an in-depth understanding of the essential components for sustaining social/emotional learning at the early childhood level (and what this looks like on a day-to-day basis).
-Participants will walk away with specific ideas that can be implemented in their own sites.

Learn from us! In this session, Winona ECFE shares how we moved our early childhood programming from nest to network through intentional internal coordination, increased family engagement, exciting community collaborations, and meeting families where they’re at. Through trial and error we filled empty seats, connected with new corners of our community, and learned a few lessons on what didn’t work. 

Attendees will learn:

1. How we’ve enlarged the reach of our program by expanding our focus from birth to third grade. 
2. Several ways that we’ve partnered and collaborated with community organizations.
3. How we have increased access to our programs through unique family engagement events.

In this session, participants will gain understanding of the importance Early Childhood Mental Health.  We will cover what typical development and how to identify mental health concerns.  Based on concerns participants will gain insight into pathways to getting mental health services and what it will look like for families getting services. 

Key Takeaways:
-Understand why Early Childhood Mental is important and what it looks like.
-Individuals will have an understanding of development and how and why it can go off track.
-Understand behaviors from the lens of development and when is behavior clinically significant to assess resources.
-Understand how resources work and the process of getting mental health services.