1st Annual Health Institute
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Radisson Hotel Lansing at the Capitol
111 N Grand Ave, Lansing, MI 48933
MHSA’s 1st Annual Health Institute will provide sessions for Head Start staff who work with
families on all aspects of health including mental and physical well-being, oral health,
developmental screening, obesity prevention, safety, disabilities, and much more!
Institute Schedule
7:45am – 8:45am
MHSA Registration & Breakfast
8:45am – 9:00am
Welcome Address
9:00am – 10:00am
Opening Keynote Speaker
10:15am – 11:30am
Workshop Sessions
11:45am – 12:45pm
Networking Lunch
12:45pm – 2:00pm
Workshop Sessions
2:15pm – 3:15pm
Closing Keynote Speaker
3:15pm – 4:30pm
Workshop Sessions
Audience
Managers, Consultants and Coordinators in the areas of Mental Health,
Nutrition, and General Health as well as Home Visitors and Family Advocates
looking to expand their knowledge in the area of health.
Registration Fees
Early Bird
After Sept. 18
MHSA Member - $150
MHSA Member - $175
Non-Member - $175
Non-Member - $195
In partnership with the Head Start State Collaboration Office
Opening Keynote Speaker
Colleen Kraft, M.D., Health Network by Cincinnati’s Children
Colleen A. Kraft, MD, is a graduate of the first Head Start class in 1965. She went on to receive her
undergraduate degree at Virginia Tech and her M.D. from Virginia Commonwealth University. She
completed her residency in Pediatrics at Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Kraft is currently is
the medical director for Health Network by Cincinnati Children’s (HNCC). HNCC is a communitybased network of providers in and outside of the Cincinnati Children’s family whose mission is to
improve the system of healthcare for kids in the Cincinnati community.
Dr. Kraft is the co-author of the book Managing Chronic Health Conditions in Child Care and
Schools. She has been actively involved in pediatric engagement in school and child care for children with special health
care needs. She serves on the National Medical Home Project Advisory Committee at the American Academy of
Pediatrics. She is a content expert for Text4Baby and chairs the National Health in Head Start Advisory Committee.
Developmental Science and Building Health in Head Start
The science of early brain development offers greater understanding into how poverty, food/housing insecurity,
and poor social-emotional buffering of adversity affect the development of our children in Head Start. This
presentation will discuss aspects of early brain development, toxic stress, activities to support the developing
brain, and the importance of parent/caregiver support. Head Start is a strategy to improve health and brain
development, and those attending the session will understand how Head Start can help prevent the
intergenerational transfer of health disparities.
Closing Keynote Speaker
Stefanie Williams-Hill, MSW, The Children’s Center
Stefanie Hill began her career in 1981 as a bachelors level foster care specialist in the Detroit Wayne
County Area. It was there that she was introduced to the importance of early relationships and how
they affect the overall development of children. She earned her Master’s Degree in Social Work in
1996 from Wayne State University. During her graduate work she completed various Infant Mental
Health classes. She returned to foster care as a Director and remained for 6 additional years. In 2006
she left her position as a Director of foster care to work as a clinician in the Infant Mental Health
Program at The Children’s Center. She was promoted to supervisor in 2009 where she remains today.
Currently she is co-leading a 4 part Learning Series for professionals working with Birth to Six
population. Stefanie was one of the first MAIMH Diversity Fellows. From that fellowship she co-lead a Reflective
Diversity group for 8 years. She earned her level III endorsement in 2013.
Using your Life Jacket in the Middle of the Storm
This session will visit characteristics of stress and how they these behaviors can subtly and unexpectedly alter
the way we handle life’s challenges. We will further explore how stress can affect the way we view our
profession as well as how we manage in our personal lives. This session will discuss the effects of long time
stress on our physical health and unconventional ways of moving towards wellness and stress relief.
10:15am - 11:30am
Impact of Parenting on Young Children
Presenter: Stefanie Williams-Hill, The Children's Center
We often underestimate how young children are affected by adult behavior. Living with a parent with mental
illness can leave a young child feeling isolated and alone. Mental illness in parents represents a risk for children
in the family. An inconsistent unpredictable environment can put stress on the parent-child relationship and alter
the fundamental social and emotional development of that child. We will discuss a circle of security and how
that is affected when a parent has mental illness.
Challenges of Childhood Food Allergies in Childcare and Schools
Presenter: Harvey Leo, M.D., Ann Arbor Allergy
The rise in childhood food allergies poses significant problems for many families and childcare workers. This
session will review new legislation that supports broader knowledge in schools and childcare settings of food
allergy recognition and response.
Getting a Head Start in Oral Health
Presenters: Chris Farrel, State of Michigan
Susan Demming, State of Michigan
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Oral Health Program (MDHHS-OHP) is working to
improve the oral health status of pregnant women, infants, and children in Head Start. This session will review
the current status of oral health in Michigan Head Start Programs, the activities of the Michigan Dental
Hygienist Liaisons for Head Start, and the promotion of oral health to overall health for Head Start families.
You Can Make the Difference in a Child’s Hearing Development
Presenter: Jennifer Dakers, State of Michigan
This session will review the Federal Head Start requirements with regarding to hearing screening, the Michigan
Public Health Code that mandates Hearing Screening and the differences in the requirements. There will be an
overview of hearing screening at birth, in early childhood and in the elementary school years.
How Psychosocial Stress and Parenting are Linked to Obesity among Children in Poverty
Presenters: Julie Lumeng, M.D., University of Michigan
Megan Pesch, M.D., University of Michigan
The common advice to eat less and exercise more has had a very limited effect on obesity prevalence over the
past several decades. A substantial amount of research is currently examining why low-income children are
uniquely at risk for obesity. In addition, researchers are trying to understand in a more detailed way why
mothers choose to feed their children as they do. We will review the latest research in these areas and consider
some novel reasons that childhood obesity may be particularly common among children in Head Start.
12:45pm - 2:00pm
The Child’s Capacity to Deal with Loss
Presenter: Phillip D. Hamberg, Head Start for Kent County
Death, Divorce, Separation and Neglect all represent Loss to a child. This workshop focuses on the child’s
symptomatic behavior that is an attempt to re-establish connection and safety. We will look at ways teachers
can openly talk about loss and analyze a list of pathological grief warning signs. We will also look at a quick
and informal “stress test” for young children.
Keeping Children Safe From Injuries in Child Care Settings
Presenter: Andrew Hashikawa, M.D., M.S., University of Michigan
A brand new curriculum from the American Academy of Pediatrics for early learning child care providers:
Learn the latest on injury prevention and strategies to keep kids safe in early learning and child care settings.
Topics will include an overview of burn, transportation, playground, helmet, and medication safety tailored for
child care settings.
Michigan Caries Prevention Program: A Statewide Initiative Integrating Dental Health into Head Start
and Early Head Start Settings
Presenter: Allison Rariden, Altarum
This session will provide an overview of the Michigan Caries Prevention Program, and its 3-year strategy to
reduce the burden of dental disease among Michigan’s children. You will have the opportunity to participate in
an interactive discussion around the obstacles to attaining optimal oral health and how Head Start staff can
assist children in receiving necessary oral health services. Finally, attendees will engage in a dialog around
challenges and previous strategies implemented for oral health integration in Head Start settings, and will learn
how they can utilize oral health tools and services provided through MCPP’s Head Start engagement strategies.
Visual Development in Preschoolers and the Importance of Vision Screening
Presenter: Rachel Schumann, State of Michigan
Visual development in preschool children is a critical part of the foundation for learning that evolves over the
first 6 years of life. Children are not aware of what their visual world should look like and any visual anomaly
should be identified and treated at an early age. Vision screening is an important step in determining the visual
health of a child. Testing protocols will be discussed as they relate to preschool visual needs.
Is it Autism? Autism Spectrum Disorders in your classroom
Presenter: Colleen Kraft, M.D., Health Network by Cincinnati’s Children
The CDC estimates the frequency of Autism Spectrum Disorders as present in 1 out of every 68 children in the
United States. This session will highlight the warning signs of Autism; what is involved in the evaluation of
children with suspected Autism; and what accommodations can be made within your classroom and curriculum
to include these children.
3:15pm - 4:45pm
Working With Teen Mothers: Understanding Needs, Building Relationships
Presenter: Jennifer Jonika, Starfish Family Services
This workshop will provide participants with information essential to building relationships with teen mothers
in daily work. The primary goal of the presentation will be engagement of teen mothers. Struggles and
successes will be discussed from clinical work as well as discussion in large groups. Information will focus on
the developmental, emotional and relational needs of teen mothers and assist participants in understanding the
struggles and strengths that come with early motherhood.
Social-Emotional Learning in Head Start
Presenter: Colleen Kraft, M.D., Health Network by Cincinnati’s Children
Children in Head Start often come from complex families where positive social-emotional skills are not
modeled. This session will describe developmentally appropriate social-emotional skills and strategies to
teach and promote these within your classroom and in the home.
Curriculum for Managing Infectious Diseases in Early Education and Child Care Settings
Presenter: Andrew Hashikawa, M.D., M.S., University of Michigan
This session is designed for ALL childcare providers. Learn the latest tips from the American Academy of
Pediatrics on how to prevent, recognize, and manage infectious diseases (pink eye, lice, fever) in child care
settings. We will include a question and answer period with the speaker.
Talking to Parents About Tough Topics – How to Use Motivational Interviewing
Presenter: Holli Seabury, McMillen Center for Health Education
Learn how you can more effectively communicate with parents/caregivers, especially when trying to encourage
a change in behaviors. Using Motivational Interviewing, you can re-frame your communication with parents to
achieve better results. This session will introduce the OARS approach by using examples provided by
participants and give you the tools to be more successful in working with parents to make positive changes.
Every Child Deserves a Chance at Academic Success: It Starts with a Good Night's Sleep
Presenter: Ann Raftery, Sweet Dreamzzz Inc
Sleep is critical to a child’s physical and cognitive development, yet most children do not get enough. Sweet
Dreamzzz is out to change that with our Early Childhood Sleep Education Program™. We create a triangle
of support between teachers, parents and students to get preschoolers the sleep they need for good health
and school readiness. Come learn about the importance of sleep, how many hours of sleep are required for
preschoolers, and a bedtime routine to follow! Sweet Dreamzzz: We help students get A’s and B’s by getting
their Zzz’s!